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Post by michele on May 22, 2008 5:46:22 GMT -5
Hi, I'm new here, but I adopted a ex racing greyhound in January. He has a few times growled when someone came into our house, invited by us. In fact he did snap at our neighbour a few months ago, he grazed her hand. Got told off, and we have been careful with anyone coming in since then.
he's normally a very timid, quiet dog. But the ohter night a friend came over, Blue (the dog) let him in OK, and was happy to have a tummy tickle on his bed. Then as Rick was goign to leave, he walked passed Blue who was lying on his bed, he jumped up, no warning, and grabbed Ricks hand, with an agressive growl. He has broken the skin, but luckily let go straight away.
He got shouted at, and removed from the room. He's been very quiet and sheepish since. I take him to work every day with me, and he is fine there, it seems to be at home.
My partner wants to take him back, but that would be the end of the world to me, I love him so much. I have booked a conultation with a dog listener on Monday, who will come over for up to 4 hours, and try to teach us all soem things. I;m worried my other half will never trust him again though. he has refused to talk to him, pet him or feed him since it happened.
Does anyone have any advice, or a similar situation? I'd really appreciate knowing if anyone else has a dog who does this.
Thanks
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Post by Lisa on May 22, 2008 6:09:06 GMT -5
I think you will find that the problem is *safe space*. Greyhounds when racing share their kennel with another dog and are usually muzzled. They learn that when they are disturbed or stamped on that they can fire up but as there is a muzzle there is no repurcussions. As this happens they dont learn bite inhabition and beds can often become a flash point.
I would invest in a crate. Take all his other beds up and set up the crate in his favourite spot, keep him off sofas because again this will become one of his beds. Put his favourite bed in the crate and then start to teach him bed, you will probably find that as a greyhound he will bolt into it and love it anyway most do. Dont allow him any comfort anywhere else only there so that when he wants to lie down he will always make for that space. Then YOU teach people that when he is in there he is OFF LIMITS period nobody touches him, speak to him or disturbs him. This makes it his souly and he will feel relaxed there. Feed him in it aswell to get him use to it. All this you do with the door open until he is comfortable and then after a few days once he is sleeping quietly close the door.
His behaviour isnt un common and usually does get better the more they relax but if you have a dog with a nervous edge and no bolt hole or safe space for him when visitors come he will become more wary and apprehensive. You can also visit your vets and purchase a DAP diffuser and plug it in next to his crate also to help him feel more relaxed.
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Post by michele on May 22, 2008 6:13:47 GMT -5
Hi Lisa, a lot of this makes sense, thank you. I always thought of a crate as cruel, but he does love to sneak into the kennels when I go walking at the rehoming centre every week. he also seems to feel very secure in the car, he comes to work with me every day, and is quite happy left in the car if I pop into a shop for a few mins.
It's good to know there might be a reason for the behaviour, and I suppose a crate is a way through, which might just appeal to my other half, for when my step daugher visits. I'm sure we can work though it, but he's just not sure.
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Post by Lisa on May 22, 2008 6:24:56 GMT -5
Hi Lisa, a lot of this makes sense, thank you. I always thought of a crate as cruel, but he does love to sneak into the kennels when I go walking at the rehoming centre every week. he also seems to feel very secure in the car, he comes to work with me every day, and is quite happy left in the car if I pop into a shop for a few mins. It's good to know there might be a reason for the behaviour, and I suppose a crate is a way through, which might just appeal to my other half, for when my step daugher visits. I'm sure we can work though it, but he's just not sure. If you give him a safe space to call his own im sure he will be fine. There are alot on ebay at the moment going at ridiculously cheap prices. As he is a nervous dog go for a plastic bottom as opposed to metal that will clank. You want a 48 inch one cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-VALUE-Dog-Puppy-Cage-Cages-Crate-Crates-48_W0QQitemZ120262652372QQihZ002QQcategoryZ20745QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemCrates are a fantastic safe haven for the dog and if the door is open in the main then they are chosing to use it as opposed to being forced into it and will simply see it as a bed. Crates the same as anything else can be abused and I dont agree with longterm crating just to solve a behaviour problem, they are okay with doors shut for a transitionary period of a couple of months whilst a dog settles and gets familiar with its environment to stop it doing damage alongside the behaviour being worked with. Once the dog sees it as its safe spot in times of flash points then its fine to close the door to keep them and others safe. Our crates are down as they fight over them  Here is the pictures I always show when people worry they dont like them   |
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Post by michele on May 22, 2008 6:39:49 GMT -5
aww, how gorgeous are they???
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2008 7:20:56 GMT -5
I have booked a conultation with a dog listener on Monday, who will come over for up to 4 hours, and try to teach us all soem things. I would just say if you are having a behaviourist visit make sure they are a member of the APBT & beware of any heavy handed fixes as with a nervous dog you are going to make things a lot worse. |
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Post by lyndajayne on May 22, 2008 15:48:26 GMT -5
Michele I have emailed you.
Lynda
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