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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2012 18:24:34 GMT
Update on Ted!
He was left on his own today for three hours and the only thing 'disturbed' were some items on the windowsill where he had obviously been looking out of the window. He was fed before I went out, had a drop of Rescue Remedy and his muzzle put on. Needless to say he was well rewarded when I got home!! I think this will be the pattern for a while so it becomes natural behaviour. No exceptions just because he has a 'poorly' leg!
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Post by andic on Jul 15, 2012 21:25:16 GMT
Phew, glad that combination worked, it will def get easier, back to basics as they say. My last dog, a boxer, was pure evil for a while and ate my house, but thankfully with lots of patience (and walking out the room to count to 10 by me) we got there, even to a stage where she could go 8-10 hours why I was at work. Sounds awful now thinking about it, but it didn't do her any harm and she knew she would be mega rewarded :0)
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Post by sueb on Jul 16, 2012 9:13:38 GMT
For some reason I completely missed this thread! But lots of good advice and so glad Ted was ok last time you went out. Well done him and you!
Ann, I laughed at your post about Trevor- what scallywag he was, but just goes to show how they often need time to settle. To be honest, I never understand people that think a new dog (puppy or rescued) will just fit in immediately and return them if they don't... if we were suddenly transported to Katmandu we would have some issues re immediate adjustment! (Brens issue @ first was nocturnal barking)
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Post by pat on Jul 16, 2012 21:17:05 GMT
hope all goes well for ted tomorrow pat
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codiesmum
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Post by codiesmum on May 8, 2016 12:55:57 GMT
Hi Sallydog, I've just read your post re: Trevor being a demolition dog and am having a similar, but not quite as severe, problem with my recently rehomed g-hound, Codie. He's settled in lovely and just has two antisocial habits (hates all other dogs and cats (but slowly, slowly improving on this and am rewarding him for "ignoring" them) Doesn't seem to mind, horses, donkeys, cows and lamas :-) and is also possessive over bones/chews - but this isn't a major deal and I am working on it. Having adopted him, about 3 weeks into the process, he decided to have a "go" at some pot pourri that I'd stupidly left in a bowl on the windowsill (old house, v. wide windowsills). A week or so later he then had a "go" at a huge pine cone that was in the open fireplace. Didn't eat it, just chewed it all up. He's subsequently had a small lampshade that I foolishly left on the same, said windowsill and also chewed the wooden end off the fire grate brush. Came back from being out yesterday to find he'd been in the kitchen, got hold of an empty tupperware box and chewed it. He does have his own toys (kong, squeaky toys, nylabone etc) and does play with them to some extend. He gets three solid walks a day (averaging 4 miles a day) and is fussed and loved and well fed. I live alone and am getting rather distressed that the habit seems to be getting worse, not better. I am getting fearful now re: leaving him at all. Clearly I do have to go to work, and am out of the house 2 days a week and work from home the other 3 days a week. He's even taken to getting my attention, when I am working from home, by chewing the corners of large reference books on the book case but making sure I am WATCHING him when he does it! He even tried picking up a wine bottle with his mouth the other day, whilst blatantly watching me the whole time he was doing it to get a reaction - which obviously worked as I told him to "leave it". :-( My neighbour tells me that I have made him this way by fussing him and loving him tooooo much - so it's my fault :-(. She's told me to fuss/talk to him less - so I am trying to do this. Got so bad last night that I was in tears over it as I really do not want to send him back to the dogs home but I have to be practical. It would be his 4th time of being returned to Dogs Trust so I fear that no-one would ever take him out again and his fate would be sealed. First time, owner returned him as was diagnosed with a terminal illness, 2nd time was returned after 3 months for biting the owner having stolen a wooden spoon from the kitchen worktop, third time was for nipping/biting (not sure which) a 4 year old granddaughter who had dropped some food at the tea table and went to pick it up - and then I adopted him. (By the way, I did not know his entire history when I got him from DT - they only gave me edited highlights - now I wonder if this was why). If I were to return him it would be his 4th return. Poor lad. He's a lovely, affectionate and loving dog but I don't want him to end up living in a crate in the kitchen because I don't trust him not to destroy things every time I nip out for 15 minutes to the post office. At present, he is always restricted to the living room and kitchen when I am out. I love him so much that most of last night was spent weeping over the prospect of giving him up. Just need help with this bad habit. He's a big dog and there is a limit as to how much stuff I can remove out of his way. As a stop-gap am going to shut him in the kitchen - starting off with slowly leaving him in there for a few minutes at a time. Please can someone give me some sound advice. Codie's broken-hearted mum.
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Post by sallyannh on May 8, 2016 21:37:10 GMT
Hi,
I'm sorry I haven't had any experience of this sort of behaviour so I can't offer much advice. A couple of things occurred to me though.
When you are out at work, how long is it for? Is there anyone who could come in while you're out, or if you already have someone, could they spend a bit more time with him?
A short term solution is to use his muzzle if you're just nipping to the shops, in the bathroom etc. Our dogs are confined to the living room and kitchen when we're out, it's where they spend most of their time anyway.
A solution to unwanted behaviours in dogs and children always seems to be ignore the bad, praise the good. Not always easy to put into practice, especially when there's a large hound eating your house! Would it be practical for you to clear a room of anything chewable, apart from something you don't value (toilet roll, old magazine etc) and then totally ignore him when he goes for it, to the extent of turning your back or walking out of the room? Then when he stops, praise him like mad, reward him with lots of fuss.
Hoping this will bump the thread back up again, someone else with more experience may have a solution. Have you contacted the DT for advice? I'm not sure where you live but do bring him along to one our our events if you can, he may enjoy the company of other houndies.
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codiesmum
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Post by codiesmum on May 8, 2016 22:34:36 GMT
Hi Sallyann - thanks so much for the reply. Basically I work from home 3 days a week and go into the office on the other two - Monday and Tuesday. I have a couple, Keith and his wife, who walk Codie and ruck load of other dogs in the village. I walk Codie first thing in the morning for about 45 minutes then head out to work and the dog walkers come in at 1pm and walk him for 40 mins - then bring him home, settle him, give him a Bonio. He's restricted to the living room and kitchen when I am not in. (He can't do stairs anyway, thankfully) I talk to him a lot (I live alone) and he gets three solid walks a day in the countryside. I have Kong toys for him, chews, knuckle bones (which he had today), squeaky toys, balls etc. I was told I have "over fussed" on him, having only got him a couple of months ago - so today I eased off on the fuss and talking to him and he was certainly quieter and was sad to see he couldn't figure out what had changed, but something had. Walked him this evening, talked to him but not as much as normal, and still rewarded him with biccies for walking past other dogs on leads (he hates all other dogs and REALLY hates all cats!!) so walking him three times a day isn't exactly stress-free for me, for sure. Came home, at 8pm and went to spend an hour in the garden, doing a few jobs. He was out with me, pottering around, and then disappeared. I figured he'd gone back into the house to have a snooze after his walk. On my way back up the garden path, however, I saw that he had stolen the chunky padlock off my garden tool store and chewed all the plastic covering off it. :-( So on this basis, he is being destructive whether I am here or not - and only on occasions when my focus is not entirely directed at him. The other day, to get my attention, he started pulling books off the bookcase and also picked up a full wine bottle out of the winerack - both times he was looking at me, making sure I was watching him misbehave. This evening my neighbour phoned to see if I was okay as she knows how upset I am about the situation with Codie and, because the attention wasn't on him again, he went and sat in my spot on the sofa - he is not allowed on the furniture and he absolutely knows that. I had to go and drag his house collar to get him off - but did reward him for doing so. He then sulked with me by putting himself to bed and facing the wall. At 10pm we were due to go on a night walk for him to have a quick wee, and he absolutely would not get out off his bed to come out with me - sort of like "scr&w you" type look. Eventually I had to bribe him with a wee biccie and he got up and went for the walk. He's now settled in his bed but it breaks my heart because you can see him trying to puzzle out what he's done wrong. If dogs could cry, I am sure he would be sobbing. I can't stand looking at him - but was told to ignore him if he does something naughty. I have been trying to reward for good behaviour and he has improved in some of his other, undesirable habits. I don't have any faith in DT as basically they did not tell me his full history (how many times he had been bounced back to them) and I only found out afterwards - plus they said he had been returned because he bit someone - but in the next breath they said that their policy is to destroy animals that have a track record of biting - so why did they rehome him then? He's an adorable boy - very affectionate and loves his mum - but I've had a rough ride since adopting him, not all of it his fault, poor lamb. He is certainly getting enough physical exercise but don't think he is being challenged enough mentally - but not sure what more I can do. He doesn't really "play" interactively with me - God knows I have tried. Also, chewing on items right in front of me and making sure I am watching, is attention-seeking behaviour - but why? He has loads of affection and attention. I must just be an awful mum :-( Very sad, I am afraid. I feel I have failed him.
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Post by sueb on May 9, 2016 8:11:01 GMT
Hi Codies Mum
You are doing well, stick with it and I'm sure he'll settle. Greyhounds do usually settle quickly, BUT, just like humans they are all different and will go at their own rate. Given Codie's background the poor boy is still settling, he's probably really bonded with you now, and wants to be with you all the time. He will get used to YOUR routine, after all he has lived in other homes, so he needs to really get used to what is expected of him this time. One of my partners friends took on a greyhound who had been bounced back to kennels so many times and it turned out to be a wonderful dog! Have you tried leaving an old jumper when he's left, so he can be comforted by your smell. Likewise, talk radio can comfort some dogs.
To be honest I would use a muzzle quite a lot, if he's an ex-racer (and virtually all of them are) he will have been used to wearing one, anyway. I'm not sure whether the Dogs Trust would have given you one, if not you need a greyhound one, to fit their long snout. They are able to drink with the muzzle on, so no problems accessing water when you're not there. A small thing, a muzzle, but could make a big difference to Codie and you, until he's really sure he should not be eating your house!
Our third dog - who we re-homed in February-took a lot longer to settle than the other two and was quite difficult at first (the main worry was being really horrible to the other 2. I would be lying if I said it never crossed my mind to consider whether she would be better off in a home where she was the only dog, as she was making our other 2 unhappy). She is a chewer, so whenever I go out and leave her at home I always put her muzzle on (she managed to get 2 off and chew up the leather straps, so I now I put the muzzle strap through her collar!) She also did things which she knew she shouldn't over and over, like jumping on the sofas! There were things in her background, before she was put up for re-homing which I think accounted for a lot of her issues. But she has turned a corner and, dare I whisper it, is now a good girl (apart from if she sees a squirrel or cat!) She was making slow progress, with lots of backward steps along the way, but then almost suddenly she calmed down and started being good most of the time.
Greys are usually loving and quite eager to please, once they've realised what's expected of them, so that's a good starting point. I did buy some drops that you put between the ears to calm dogs, but never used them, but I found them in Pets at Home (a neighbour, who has rescued cats used the feline one and found it quite helpful for a newly arrived one).
I personally think that when they have settled down, you get an extra special relationship with a hound who has been returned. Our 2nd dog had been in a home for 3 years and was taken back. Strangely she still had a very high prey drive, but after working on that she's no problem with small furries. She is now 10 and the most loving, obedient and wonderful dog, I think she is so "thankful" ( I know that's not really a doggie attribute, but I really do think it applies in her case!) that we have given her a home, she loves us so much! Hopefully soon you will have that relationship with Codie very soon! Good luck, remember Codie has already made progress and I'm sure will continue to do so. Let us know how you're getting on.
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Post by sallyannh on May 9, 2016 22:34:13 GMT
Codiesmum, you're not an awful Mum - as Sue said, if Cody has been bounced a few times he probably has a few issues.
Greyhounds aren't always very interactive - throw a toy for our Darcy and he will grab it and take it to his bed with a 'don't chuck my toys around' look on his face. Roma is marginally more playful but she prefers to kill her own toys in her own way rather than play with me. Neither of them are openly affectionate, but anyone here will tell you how much they both love a fuss. Darcy will roll on his back and if you don't fuss him, he raises his head and glares at you! Roma will come up and stand by me if she wants a fuss. Neither of them turn down a fuss if they're lying in their beds either.
We have a couple interactive treat toys for them, Roma is completely bemused but Darcy has the hang of it, it mainly involves removing covers from treats. Have a looke at Pets at Home, they've probably got something.
As I've said, I am not an expert in dog behaviour, but it might be worth contacting a dog behaviourist. Some of the advice I would give would contradict what your neighbour is telling you. It's a bit like having a new baby - people give you well-meaning but contradictory advice and you end up feeling like a total failure. Stick with him and I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.
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codiesmum
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Post by codiesmum on May 15, 2016 7:28:08 GMT
Many, many thanks Sueb and Sallyannh - your notes both made me smile and quietly weep, in equal measure. I have indeed got a muzzle for Codie and he has to wear it, by law, each time we are out in public. He hates it, which is strange considering as an Irish ex-racer he would have worn one a lot. I've spent lots of time making it as comfy for him as I can - which v. thin memory phone lining to the bridge of his snout to make it snuggy on him - and also filing down all the plastic edges to make smooth. The one the DT gave me when I brought him home was sooo uncomfortable and he rubbed his face so much in it, that he took a lot of skin off the end of his nose - ouch! Anyway, a lovely lady, Andrea off this site, incredibly kindly sent me one in the post which fits the boy much better - and with my touches and modifications, he's happier with it than he was with the last one. He can indeed remove his muzzle - and does try to if left with it on. Had a builder round one time to quote for a job and he was/is nervous of dogs so I put Codie's muzzle on just to give the guy some assurance. Came back into the room to find that Codie had managed to remove it - naughty boy :-) Seems like he objects to wearing it as he can't properly "greet" people when we stop and say "hello" to them whilst out on our walks. If you slip the muzzle off him, his behaviour changes entirely to one of being much calmer. Anyway, I cannot go without a muzzle in public as he's just not animal-friendly enough at this stage. Was in the garden last night, planting up sunflower seeds into little cardboard potting tubes. As the attention wasn't all on him, he snuck up, pinched up one of the tubes I had just planted, and ran off with it. I ignored it, hoping it would stop him doing it again, but he came up and did it again. Basically attention seeking and taking out his frustration on whatever object I seem to be giving "my love" to at that time. The dog walkers are very good with him, but I don't think they'd be able to sit and spend time with him after his walk. I did take the precaution of moving everything tempting out of the kitchen or up high on shelves, so that I can shut him in the kitchen when I go out, should I choose to, so that I don't spend the whole time I am out fretting about what trouble he is getting into. Did it yesterday for 2 hours and he didn't seem to mind overly. Also, thanks for the advice about over-fussing him. You're right. Everyone's a well-meaning expert when you talk to them - and this from a lady whose (little) dog barks soooo much she can't take it anywhere so locks it in the kitchen a lot of the time. Personally I think her dog is bored rigid as it's only a young dog and gets, on average, 2 shortish walks a week!!! Codie-boy gets 3 good walks a day!! When her dog stops barking at nothing, I'll perhaps take her advice ;-) Do leave the radio on low (Radio 4, of course!) when I am out and at night for Codie and also have given him a PJ top which smells of me in his bed which seems to have settle him and night, and stopped him waking up whining wondering where I have gone. Have been recommended a dog behaviourist by the local vets and am going to drop her an email. She's got a good reputation and will now only take on new clients if referred by the vets. Am sure I can ask my vet to do this should the dog behaviourist deem it necessary once I've talked to her. As always, I will keep you posted as the boy settles in. Think he's had rather a rough and turbulent time and is just soooo keen to be loved. He's a lovely boy and I just want us to get to a harmonious existence for us both. Codiesmum
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Post by codiesmum on May 20, 2016 16:29:20 GMT
He is an odd fellow indeed. He snapped at me last night and I was doing "nothing" in my mind = I am sure I was in his mind :-) I'd given him an old pyjama top to sleep with which smells of me, and when he put himself to bed last night, (as he does straight after his night wee walk), I always give him a bit of fuss and say night-night to him. I went to move my PJ top which was scrunched up in his bed, from under one of his blankies and he flew at me! No growl before hand to warn me, just leapt up at me. As before, he didn't connect with me and I am sure he could if he really wanted to - so clearly did not want to - but it just unnerves me and makes me fearful of him - which I am sure then transmits to him. Today, he had a lovely brekkie, had a poo and wee in the garden and half a hour later, we went out on a 1 hour walk. We came back in and he settled himself in his bed basically because I got the Hoover out, as I do every morning. I finished Hoovering and walked into the living room. He was in his regular snuggle bed, but I could see that he'd peed on the blanket which covers his day bed, memory foam mattress. It was only a very small wee - although he had only just got back from a walk with me. I can only imagine that he did this as he was hacked off because the attention wasn't on him because I was busy. I am probably reading too much into it but he sure is a challenging dog in a lot of different respects and I actually am starting to understand why he was bounced so often back to the Dogs Trust. It upsets me so much as I am trying to do my best for him. Watching videos, learning to be pack leader, feeding him well, exercising him a lot.. if he doesn't make it with me under those conditions he wouldn't make it with anyone quite frankly. So sad.. not sure what more I can do for the boy. Codies Mum
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Post by codiesmum on May 20, 2016 16:36:33 GMT
By the way, should have said in my last post, I have the Dog Behaviourist coming out to meet him on 2nd June for three hours. She wants to assess him to see if she can find solutions/training routes to fix some of his odd behaviour. It is unfathomable to me, but I am a human and he is a dog. Hopefully she will shed some light on it for me - fingers crossed! Codies Mum.
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Post by sueb on May 21, 2016 18:17:37 GMT
Codie's Mum
He couldn't have been asleep and suddenly woken up, when he went for you, could he? If so, waking suddenly can spook them and they can growl in self-defence before they have properly woken up and realised what's happening.
I'm sure a good animal behaviourist will help enormously and give you back your confidence. I know it can be confusing trying to interpret why they are doing the things they do. I was approaching one with Willow, our third hound, who surprisingly for a greyhound was showing aggression to our other bitch. Looking back I think this was mainly insecurity/fear and now she knows she will not have to compete for things she's settled enormously.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
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codiesmum
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Post by codiesmum on May 29, 2016 19:29:16 GMT
Many thanks Sueb for the words of encouragement. He's just so unpredictable and it does put me on edge, which I am sure he senses. Nope - he was wide awake but suddenly got possessive over his bed area, whereas he never was before. On Friday, we had something dreadful happen. It was very early in the morning, and he woke me up by whining as he needed the loo (good boy!), so I came downstairs and let him out into the garden. He sniffed about a fair bit and then went to his usual spot to have a poo and spotted next door's cat taking a dump in the corner, behind the bushes!! I can't go into all the details but have to say it did NOT end well for the cat and I had the upsetting job of going and telling the neighbour that my dog had killed their cat. Very, very upsetting for all. This is sadly the same cat that has been coming into my garden for the last 4.5 years to dump twice a day, despite my trying everything (including v. expensive solutions) to try and stop it. Nothing worked. Once the boy arrived home, the cat got the message not to come into the garden, as we had a couple of "brushes" on occasions when we came back from our walks and walked through the tall gate into the garden to find the cat in there. Each time the dog gave chase and the cat fled - and survived. Then he stopped coming in at all for a couple of months, until Friday!! So upsetting to witness. I tried everything to get Codie to release the cat but to no avail. The cat died in my entrance hall as I was speaking to the emergency vets - this was all at 7am. Horrid. This evening he's snapped at me, when wide awake.. seriously this boy has issues a plenty - no wonder he'd been bounced so often. If I don't get any words of hope or practical advice from the behaviourist who is out seeing us on Thursday this week, then I am sad to say, I will seriously have to re-evaluate our options. I got my dog to hopefully enrich both his and my life, but this far, it's pretty much a one-way situation. I live alone I don't want to live in fear of him raring up at me (note: he has NEVER actually connected with me at all - but still very frightening and every time it happens, it makes me love him that little bit less inside.) So sad. Will let you know how the visit from the dog whisperer goes. (She's very well recognised, been in it for years and recommended by my vets) Codiesmum (stressed and worried) :-(
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Post by sallyannh on May 30, 2016 10:45:10 GMT
Hi codiesmum, Horrible experience for you with the cat, but he is just behaving like a dog, it's not really a behavioural problem and it's not something that's confined to greyhounds. There's another thread greyhoundhomer.proboards.com/thread/3141/high-prey-drive-advice-needed which goes into it a bit more deeply. I hope all goes well with the behaviourist for the other problems that you're having.
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