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Post by michele on Nov 24, 2008 10:39:49 GMT -5
We have a lovely greyhound, who is my pride and joy. Around 6 months ago he bit a friend in our house, unprovided and out of the Blue.
As a result my husband made me agree to kennel him on the weekends his 6 year old daughter stays with us. It was the only way I'd get to keep him so I agreed. It's been working fine, he actually trots into the kennels when we take him. His behaviour is getting better, he's such a softie really, but seems to have issues when someone is in our house. He growled and snapped at my mum in law a few weeks back, luckily though we muzzle him if anyone comes in the house.
Big problem though, we have the step daughter from boxing day for 2-3 nights, and I can't find anywhere that will accept dogs on boxing day. I really don't want him to be in kennels from Christmas eve, and miss his first Christmas in a home. I'm really not happy about doing it.
I can't persuade the other half to let him stay with the step daughter there, it's a real no-go area.
Anyone have any suggestions at all? We're in Norfolk.
Thanks
Michele
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Post by Flaperoo on Nov 24, 2008 15:56:32 GMT -5
Oh Michelle what a nightmare  Your dog must prove himself with your OH. I don't know what your circumstances are and you can always have a rogue dog that defies the breed norm, but greyhounds are (and I have had 6 over time), gentle passive, calm dogs. My latest dog Roo could appear agressive, and even bit me on one occasion, but this was out of fear  . It is important that you and yoour other half do not escalate this, but deal with it. When people come to visit can you control the space he/she has access to? Do you have a crate? They are not cruel, geyhounds can be overwhelmed by the amount of space available in a house compared with a kennel and actually both gain reassurance and a feeling of comfort and protection until they are properly introduced to a world they have no knowledge of. Do you have the committment of the entire family to help this racing/kennel/working dog integrate into your family? You will need this to make it work. Be honest with yourself, Is your OH willing to work with the dog to rehabilitate them into your family or not. This is a big question, because with any rescue dog, ALL members of the family have to be prepared to work on the integration of that dog into a loving home environment. I live in in Kent, if you want the address/tel number I do have the number of a kennel who will look after your greyhound please pm me, (although I do think the bes option would be to buy a crate). Mx |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2008 16:27:47 GMT -5
I agree with what has been said your dog will be acting this way for a reason. Do you have a crate for him yet?
He needs to have a safe place where he can retreat to & know that he isn't going to be disturbed. When you have visitors he can be safely put in his crate with a kong or treat & he will associate visitors coming with being a good thing & not be on edge. He will probably go in there of his own choice once he realises it's his space, & that he is safe & won't be disturbed.
Have you tried using a DAP diffuser, that may help as he must be a scared dog to be acting like this?
Have you considered consulting a behaviourist, can the rescue you got him from help you?
Kennelling isn't the long term solution, you really need to address his issues although I appreciate that isn't going to help you in the short term for Xmas.
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Post by michele on Nov 25, 2008 11:08:55 GMT -5
Thanks for replying, I think that Blue (my beautiful hound) has done really well. We had a behaviorist in, and boy did he snap when she was there! He's such a softie normally. We have both committed to him, we have taught him to sit, and stay, and control his food before we give it to him.
We don't get many visitors, and if we do the rule is muzzle on, and Blue is kept in the front room while we let them in, then we ask them to ignore him. He has his bed in a corner of the room now, as we were told he was guarding the middle room, which has the stairs in, and people walk through to get to the living room. In fact the other day we had a young girl visit, and he voluntarily went off on his bed, I use a clothes horse as a temporary gate for him.
Believe me, I don't want to pack him off to a kennel every together weekend. But it really is the only way. We got married in August, and the wedding would have been off if Blue was sent back to the rescue centre. But my OH is worried about his little girl, I can understand that. We have had so many arguments about it, and this is the best compromise we can come to.
We have a great kennel who know the whole story, and where he doesn't mind going. It;s just they are booked for Christmas, then I found out that most kennels don't open on boxing day. I REALLY don't want him to be away when he doesn't need to be, and we don't get the step daughter until boxing day.
Flapperoo, did you think the place you know would be open on boxing day? I've been ringing round all the kennels in the phone book, and all are full! We have secured a place, but it means dropping him off on Christmas Eve.
Sorry for the long winded reply!
michele
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Post by Flaperoo on Nov 25, 2008 17:23:05 GMT -5
Michelle,
I have pmd you with the details.
It is a racing greyhound kennel, so I'm pretty sure it will be open.
It is very basic, but for one night I am sure it will be ok. In an emergency he has always helped me out.
I know how difficult is, but it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job trying to accommodate all members of the family whilst caring for your pride and joy ;D
Mary
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Post by michele on Nov 26, 2008 4:26:37 GMT -5
Hi Mary,
I'm being daft, but where would the PM go? I've not had it in my normal email inbox, or the spam box. Could you possibly send the details to michele_storer@hotmail.com
Thanks for understanding the situation we're in!
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Post by shellie3 on Nov 26, 2008 4:30:57 GMT -5
Hi Mary, I'm being daft, but where would the PM go? I've not had it in my normal email inbox, or the spam box. Could you possibly send the details to michele_storer@hotmail.com Thanks for understanding the situation we're in! Michele...it will be on the Gap board itself....go to the top right hand corner of the main window...it will say 'you have xxx messages'...click on that and then open the mail ! |
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Post by michele on Nov 26, 2008 5:14:30 GMT -5
Thanks, just spotted it!!
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Post by michele on Dec 2, 2008 18:17:20 GMT -5
I thought I'd update my thread, as I have some good news. A compromise has been reached. I found a kennel nearby, who can take Blue at 8.30 am the day after boxing day. I have persuaded the in laws to look after him overnight on boxing day, so problem solved. We will get the step daughter mid afternoon, boxing day. I can keep Blue muzzled and in a different room, drop him off for his sleepover late evening, and take him to kennels the next day.
As I've said before, it's not an ideal situation, but it is the only way my husband has agreed to keep Blue. He is a very happy, loving dog, who seems to be coping very well.
I'm so much happier now he will be away for the minimum time possible, and I get to give him his very first Christmas day.
Michele
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Post by vickyb on Dec 2, 2008 18:27:10 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2008 3:29:03 GMT -5
I'm glad that you sorted something out, is there any reason that you don't use a crate?
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Post by shellie3 on Dec 3, 2008 3:54:48 GMT -5
Glad you've found a good way for you all to have a happy Christmas!
Do think about a crate, though.......most dogs love them as long as they are used as a 'den' or safe place, and not a punishment. I really think it would be worth trying ;D
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Post by michele on Dec 3, 2008 4:35:22 GMT -5
we did order a crate when it all kicked off. It arrived and was about the size of our living room! It was just so huge. It didn't fit in the area we are using as his bed now. We have a very small cottage, and just no spare area anywhere to put one.
We have made a corner his now, it is a nice enclosed space, the arms of two sofas and 2 walls make it crate like (without a roof) and if anyone comes round I put the clothes horse in front and he knows he's to stay on his bed.
Before he used the corner he used to just lie in the middle of the room. We're hoping to build an extension soon, so there would be more space, and less of a problem!
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Post by spencekelliem on Dec 9, 2008 10:49:59 GMT -5
Hi Michelle, It may be a bit late for a solution for xmas, but have you thought about a pet sitter that does home boarding? My OH runs his own pet sitting business and we have all kinds of dogs staying with us very regularly. We have 4 dogs over xmas including Ellie, my greyhound, and they all love to get together and have nice long walks. Its nice for the owners as they know that their babies are having a nice time in a family environment. Website for OH's company is www.wolverhamptonpetsitters.co.uk obviously not very local for you but gives you an idea of the sort of things that are on offer. Hope you guys have a stress free xmas |
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Post by michele on Dec 9, 2008 11:32:28 GMT -5
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. We had thought about home boarding him at first, it was run by the first place he went to stay. They were trying him out at first to see if they would trust him in a home. He hated it, he was in a stable block at the home of the dog behaviourist we used.
He was by himself, out there and she left so many messages on my phone when we were out one night, saying he was so stressed he was about to have a heart attack. She couldn't cope. I picked him up at 6am the next day, and never ventured back!
There is a home boarding place near us, so I could try them after Christmas. We were always a bit concerned what would happen if he bit the person he was staying with.
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