New Greyhound lover and want to check I'm doing ok

[mazjaz]

Hi I'm new to this site so sorry if this would have been more appropriate somewhere else.

So as of 3 days ago I became the proud owner of Tommy, a 3 year old, former racing greyhound. Its the first time I've had a dog as a grown up and my first experience with a greyhound as a pet, so just wanted to check I'm doing ok and to gather any tips people have. Sorry this is so long.....

We are using a crate for bedtime and when Tommy is home alone. 

So my partner and I both work during day and a greyhound was recommended to go with this as they sleep so much and are generally very chilled. After the first day and half together, we began the seperations. I started with 2.5 hours, then built up today to 5 hours and tomorrow wil be 6/7 hours. We have left the radio on when go out for some noise (and I have had the radio on when I am home so this seems normal). Tommy cried when I first left yesterday but judging by my neighbour (and a little secret listening) this seemed to stop quickly.  He wasn't crying when I got back and seemed excited to see me when I came back. Today, we practiced a morning work routine, which seemed to go well, other than some slight resistance to going in his crate and he didnt cry when we left. Again he was very excited when I came back. He does not seem to have urinated in his crate either time.

At bedtime we have tried to get a routine going. We have a walk round the block (about half mile) around 30mins to an hour before bedtime so Tommy is tried and can do all his toilet business. We then come home to quieter tv or radio, dimmed lights and just let him relax. There is then some coaxing into his crate, a sit for 5mins to settle him and then up to bed for us. We have put a blanket over the crate as I read this helps and we leave a lamp on in the next room and the door open for him so it is not completely dark. Our first night was not great and I slept downstairs. 2nd night we were firmer, ignored 30-40mins of crying and he then slept (was quiet/settled) till we got up. Last night there was no crying just a reluctance to go in the crate but he was quiet again till we got up. He does seem very excited when we get up and we take him straight out to pee. 

We are feeding Tommy twice a day approx 200g of complete dry. Shortly after he wakes up and then shortly after I get in from work. He eats most of his food as soon as its out but I do hold a little back and refill his bowl so he doesn't eat too quick. He has treats hidden in his crate to find during the day and in a kong toy. He will get some other treats for other good behaviour and as part of training. He doesnt seem that bothered by treats when we are out walking.

His water bowl is near his food bowl and both are clipped to his crate. He doesnt seem to drink lots - some after food and walks but not a load else. I am trying to encourage a bit more water but he's not that bothered.

We are going for 3 walks a day at present -1) morning, half mile, 10-15mins after breakfast and allowing 10-15min settle time before crate and work. 2) when we get back from work, 1 mile, shortly after or before tea. 3) bedtime walk, half mile, with a little settle time after before bed. All are walks on a lead. There is no running about - I just vary walking pace a bit for now. 

Tommy goes out round the garden first thing to pee and as soon as we come back in and when he has been in his crate. This consists of at least 1lap round the garden and a few pee"s. He then does a lot of wee and poo on walks. If he needs to go other times we think we have already got him to let us by going to the door. We've had a few accidents but generally this seems to be going ok.

I am trying to encourage Tommy to play but he is not fussed. He will play with a knotted rope toy for about 20secs a time but not on demand (if you get what I mean). I am trying to get this going for stimulation when out of his crate. 

I have spent quite a bit of time sat on the floor, rubbing his belly, ears, paws, neck etc. He does seem to be responding to this and I feel we are bonding a bit through this. 

I am trying to let him find his way and settle. I am trying not to fuss all the time but let him know that I am bothered, love him and am there. I talk to him to tell him what I'm doing and reassure him. He is very sleepy and lays out on my rug, in front of the tele most of the time, sometimes just looking at me, the tele or room or snoozing. I just keep worrying he is fed up, bored or doesn't like me.

We are working on the positive/negative voice tone approach for learning and discipline. We are currently trying to work through letting us eat and not trying to get in on what we are eating.

Do I sound like I have things undercontrol? 

I so want him to have a a nice life and know he is very loved. 

If anyone has any tips or comments of reassurance I would really appreciate them

Thanks for reading my crazy long post x

[lurcherlot]

I appreciate that you're new to having greyhounds and I'm sure several folks will have advice to add, but the first thing I would say is that I think he's in a crate for too long. You are both out all day, during which time he is crated .... he really should be let out at lunch time for a wander around and a pee at least. You then crate him all night too, which he clearly doesn't like - as you say, he doesn't want to go into the crate again, and he cries.
Could you possibly employ a dog walker/sitter for an hour at lunch time? It would break up the day for him. Could you also perhaps leave the crate door open for a few hours a day? You may find he settles far better.

[alexandsteve]

Agree with Liz, we are out at work all day and we have a dog sitter come in to let them out/walk etc....
7 hours is too long for me to not pee so I think it's too long for the dogs too.

I like the fact you are trying to teach your dog your food is yours. My husband is still trying with that old chestnut, I gave up back in 2008 Sharing is Caring lol.

Our first and current hound (Lurcher) was crated when she first came, we gained trust in her and after about a month she had the run of downstairs when we were out etc and a Whippet and another Lurcher later we still let them have the downstairs when we're out. In the evening they get to choose where they sleep. Up stairs for our girlie and our boy chooses to sleep down on his bed but does come up at about 5am before morning walkies

I guess, just take it how it comes. Some play some don't.
You'll get used to each other and be very happy I'm sure xxx

[gazer]

I agree with Liz, far too long in a crate, 6/7 hours, then again at bedtime, why do you crate him at bedtime, is there really a need for this, what do you think he's going to do ?

[mazjaz]

Thank you both for replying.

I am concerned about working hours. 3 days my partner should be home just after lunch/mid afternoon. If not he is going to pop home at dinner for pee breaks and a stretch. 

When we are home the crate is open and he chills elsewhere downstairs. It is only used at night (for now hopefully) and when out. Once he settles and we trust each other more I would like to use it less if possible. 

We are both home at the weekend and there will be plenty of walks and affection.

[Andy & Justine]

I can't say about crate usage as we have never used one. Our first two used to sleep in the hallway with a stairgate at the bottom of our stairs and now we have three, they get full use of the front room sofa and armchairs and three floor dog beds. The only thing that I would say is that we've always been advised to leave best part of an hour between walking then feeding or feeding then walking. We don't always stick to the full hour but tend not to leave much less than 45 minutes' gap. Certainly as your walks get longer (and in warmer weather) I would suggest 10 - 15 minutes gap before or after feeding may risk bloat and that's not something you want to have to deal with but obviously, this is your decision and perhaps you may have received different advice re this. All the best J

[ragsysmum]

Agree with the rest, far too long crated and certainly shouldn't be needed at night as well if used all day. Let him sleep on a dog bed beside yours. Never used a crate in forty years of dog ownership and never let a dog wait more than 4/5 hours for a leg stretch and toilet opportunity so pleased to hear you are trying to improve this situation for your hound. Otherwise, just love and enjoy him.

[Ted]

In all my years of dog ownership and from the beginning of 2001 when I was taught by my first Greyhound Jagger (Manor Lamp) what wonderful pets they are I have never used a crate for any of my dogs. I have four Hounds at the moment Merlin, my eldest Greyhound sometimes comes on my bed for a cuddle but at night usually sleeps on a dog bed alongside my bed, Mickey my largest Greyhound has his own full size human single bed alongside my bed and all my other Hounds know that is Mickey's bed. Kelly my youngest Greyhound sleeps quite often in the front room on one of the two sofas, keeping my Blind Diabetic Wired Haired Ibizan Hound Menta company. I think anything over two/three hours is too long for no human company, a dog walker would definitely be a requirement daily, plus no crating at night.

[kamkay]

Welcome to Gap! Guinness has learnt the phrase ' Not for dogs' which means it is human food and his nose needs to stay out !! He has free access to downstairs at night and usually chooses to sprawl on the sofa ( he also gets in the OH's chair , but don't tell him!! )Greyhounds often need a while before they learn to play as it is not something they will have done before - some of them never play, sadly. I would agree with everyone else that he needs to be at least let out into the garden in the middle of the day. Give him time to come out of his shell - if he is only recently out of racing he has a lot to learn about life as a pet rather than a racing dog. Good luck with Tommy and keep us posted on his progress.

[mazjaz]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.

You will be pleased to know that this coming weekend after he has had a week with us, we are going to try just sleeping downstairs, with his crate just open if he chooses to go in (reason being is that he is currently seeing it as a safe places with firework)

We intend to keep using the crate while at work for now but this may all change as we settle down together. My partner is getting home most days around lunch so Tommy can pee and stretch if nobody is going to be home by mid afternoon. And we are looking at other options if he cant get home and cant finish by mid afternoon.

We are new to this and just trying to see what works for the 3 of us and is feesable

[alexandsteve]

You will get there.
If you are looking into options for when you can't get home, have a good ring around/look on face book etc I was very nervous about getting a dog sitter but I did spend time looking around and meeting local sitters. Ours sends us daily pics and texts whilst I'm at work and also posts on her business Facebook page too.
I think give it a couple of weeks you could start to try building up time out of the crate when you go out, leaving the door open if he wants to go in etc, that's what we did, they do serve a purpose like anything but I'm sure over time you'll use it less and less xxx
Keep us updated xxx

[ritab]

We have a dog bed upstairs for night time - we used to have a crate in the bedroom as well as downstairs, we covered it but took the door off. Our first grey settled very well this way. They are used to being ignored when in racing kennels, but the point of adopting one is to give it a better and more interesting life. I have noticed that most people on this forum seem to let them sleep in the bedroom. Another option would be to put a dog gate across your bedroom door and put the dog bed on the landing.

The other thing I noticed in your first post was the amount you are feeding - 200gms seems a small amount for a greyhound. Of course I don't know what the food is but most kibbles recommend 250-300 gms for our 25kg small girls. Or did you mean 200gms per meal?

I check this forum regularly to see what problems and solutions other people have - found it invaluable at first - and still ask the odd question as there is always someone who knows an answer.