Help... Unsettled greyhound

[Glenn]

Hi all, Sorry I know these kinds of questions will have been answered 100s of times but I have spent hours with my head in a book or searching online for some kind of answers... I thought maybe someone could help or someone else may have had the same problems.

Around a month ago me and my partner adopted 2 retired racers (Pebbles and Egor) the reason we had two was because they had always been at the kennels together and on previous occasions had tried to be re-homed alone and both had to be returned. Also as both me and my partner work 7 hours a day we thought they would be company for each other.

The first few days went well to say the least, no accidents in the house no crying etc.

However around 4-5 days into their stay the male (Egor) started crying at night, the first time he did this we rushed down stairs knowing it was the wrong thing to do but he hadn't done it before we didn't think this would be attention seeking. It turned out that is what it was.

the crying then started to become regular at night - crying some nights as soon as we went to bed others 4-5 hours after bed time. At the moment they sleep in our dining room / kitchen area and we would like to stay away from letting them upstairs if possible. He always seems to want to get into our living room (open plan with dining room but we separate at night time with a baby gate) we don't want to let him down there in case this doesn't help and he is the same down these as there are alot more things that can damage and that can damage him!

The crying then got worse we could hear a very loud banging when we got down stairs he had been jumping into our conservatory door there was nose marks right up to head height (he must have really launched into it with the noise he was making)! One of the first things we taught him was that he couldn't walk through glass and he never really trys!! we are very concerned as we wouldn't want him to get his collar caught on the handle and cause himself any harm!

as far as we know he is fine in the day - we have him checked up on randomly just in case and we have never found anything that would suggest he has been doing anything he shouldn't have. He spends the day in the same place as he spends the night. He does seem to be worse in the week rather than weekends - could it be something to do with being left on his own in the day so he crys at night?

Following a few nights of this when out walking he started stopping randomly - just frozen to the spot it seems the only way to get him to walk is to turn around and go the other way. At first we thought something maybe scaring him on the route we walk. However since he has stopped on nearly every walk at least twice no matter where we take him. He even stops in the middle of the road sometimes which obviously isn't good for him or us!!!

We followed every hint, tip and piece of advise we could find in regards to sorting this and the crying sometimes it seems to get better for example from Friday to Sunday this week we have had nothing all night!!!

We have thought about using a DAP collar or plug to try and calm him down at night. We really do not want to have to return him or both of the dogs to the kennel but we haven't had sleep properly for nearly a month and more importantly he is going to cause himself some serious harm sooner or later!

Any help with this would be great...

Thanks guys!!!

[kittie87]

You've definitely come to the right place.
One of the moderators will probably move this into the advice section, so don't worry if it disappears.

There are loads of people who will be able to help.

I don't have greyhounds myself, but it sounds like its possibly separation anxiety. Are they Crate trained, as this may help them feel a bit more secure.

Katy

[Glenn]

Sorry couldn't find the help section until I posted here. Not a great start. Haha. We have never kept them in a crate but he has a bed he very rarely gets in

[kittie87]

When my parents were settling in their greyhound Daley, he avoided his bed like he didn't really know what to do with it. He had found a 'safe spot' in the house, where he would sit and observe his new world in safety. He was allowed to sleep in that spot for the first two months. Does Egor have a special place in the house that he tends to lay in when he isn't playing?

Perhaps someone with more experience can advise on whether training Egor to feel safe in a crate, or other area will help with his crying at night.

Don't worry about posting in the wrong place, it's more important that you post so you can get advice from all the wonderful gappers here.

[Glenn]

He seems to lay most of the time around the sofa (not on it) but we havent been letting him sleep in this room

[julies]

Um just a quick idea or two ... most of us 'give in' due to lack of sleep TBH and have our greys with us at night ...sleep deprivation makes us allow most things we swore we wouldn't You'll probably find that if you put a child gate on your bedroom door and their beds on the landing or even in another bedroom he'll settle because he can see you and you'll get a good nights sleep ... you'll probably also have to teach him to go down stairs but I'd suggest getting two large towels- loop one under his tum in front of his hind legs and the other round his chest and 'walk'/help him downstairs like a puppet. A crate downstairs might help instead of upstairs- Amazon or Ebay have some good prices but make sure it's a huge one and let him/both wander in and out with the doors open and nice treats in it- there'll only be room enough for one to be left in it but greys do like them as a den

The RGT always suggests that you put stickers or similar on glass as greys won't ever have come across glass before and if there's a fox or cat on the other side they'd forget that glass doesn't give as they charge at the cat- I know of greyhounds who have broken their necks running into glass and other things like trees when galloping - they never have anything in front of them when they race or trial so why should they expect it ? It might have been he saw abird or something that made him jump - could that be why he's unsettled at night? Are there things outside he might want to chase? If so a crate might work well ...

The freezing on walks is usually because they are frightened by their new world ... take some liver or similar high value treats with you and see if you can tempt him along -if not just turn and go another way ... you're understanding him, not giving in If you can find some nice country walks which are quieter and full of interesting smells he'd probably be happier to walk ..the RGT, GRWE and others do regular greyhound walks that you could join and he'd love that

They usually get used to our routine but it's very early days for them both still oh and do they have nice long walks? They will settle better if they are nicely tired - a good hour morning and night with a late wee walk helps get them into a routine and you can ease up on the long walks both ends of the day eventually.

Good luck with them and welcome to Gap

Julie

[Glenn]

Hi thanks for your help. Yeah he has 2 long walks usually 45 mins in a mornin and up to a hour and a half at night. We close the blinds in the conservatory so I wouldn't have thought he could see anything but their vision seems to be much better than mine maybe he's chasing shadows. I think something might be scaring him in the night to be honest maybe its a combination of sounds he isn't used to and us not being around.
We love him to bits and are scared he is going to cause himself some harm so maybe the landing might be his new bed

[samburns]

Hello and welcome to Gap

You have come to the right place for help, advice and support

Have you had a read of these threads, unlike other things you may have read they are all greyhound specific:


greyhoundgap.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=29756

greyhoundgap.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=29759

Have a read of those first

It really sounds as you say that Egor is unsettled, which is no great surprise if he has already been to another home and returned to kennels No wonder he feels so insecure and worried You will get there but it will take some patience and understanding

One of my greyhounds was exactly the same: fine to be left during the day but - when we were in the house - at night would wake and cry We alternated sleeping downstairs with him at night for the first few weeks. I don't agree that its 'attention seeking' he just wanted to know we were there, he couldn't see us but knew we were in the house and I wouldn't be surprised if Egor bumping the window is him going on the prowl looking for you

I was a bit confused reading your post whether you are putting the dogs somewhere different at night to where they are allowed during the day? Consistency is absolutely key with greyhounds and it may be that he is unsettled by being kept out of somewhere he is comfortable that is stressing Egor?

Personally I would happily have my dogs near me at night if it means they (and we) sleep happier, but one of mine doesn't 'do' stairs which is why they stay downstairs, but they are in the living room, same as during the daytime when alone.

In terms of Egor putting the breaks on when outdoors, I think its another symptom of his insecurity. Do you always do the same walk? Routine and familiarity will help, so the same (possibly boring) walk each day will give him that. It *may* be that something that you haven't thought of on that walk is bothering him (they are funny creatures like that) but until he settles better it may be better not to push him outside of his comfort zone

[greybeard]

Perry has been unsettled since I was signed of sick ( ? indefintley) .He's now used to me being around most of the time and objects to bedtime.No room for a crate and he doesn't do stairs (probably cos they are quite steep). Through trial and error he is much happier if all downstairs doors are left ajar- he comes and goes as he pleases and there is far less "singing"to disturb us and the neighbours. Saying that - they are dog people too and don't object.hope you sort this soon -Cath.

[Glenn]

hi everyone thanks again for all the help!

Sorry the part about where he sleeps in the day and at night is a little unclear. we leave him in the day when we are out in the same place we leave him to sleep at night. when we are home in the day they are allowed the run of the downstairs of the house.

I think tonight we might try letting him in the living room where he sleeps in the day when we are around and see if he is any happier there. if not it will have to be the landing.

He is such a big strong dog it seems strange he is a bit of a wimp but makes him all the more lovable.

We wasn't being funny not allowing them upstairs all the other dogs we have had in the past have been allowed but there are alot of cats around and the front door is at the bottom of the stairs we didnt want them to get a sight and shoot through as someone was coming in. I guess if they are coming to bed with us we will have to lock the door at all times

I feel bad not mentioning pebbles but she is always the quiet one - straight to bed when she is ask and stays there until its time for a feed!

Thanks again for all the advise - loving this site already can't wait to report back with some good news!!!

[sassbu]

When i get a new foster i sleep downstairs in the same room the first night and then on the second night and for the following couple weeks i leave a radio on low, usually a classical channel so nice and soothing. They sleep downstairs but in the same room we are all in when we are together at the bottom of the stairs and as our room is the first at the top of the stairs i can call out to them if i hear them which usually settles them as they tend to think youve gone up the stairs then climbed out the window down the guttering and left them ;D

I agree whole heartedly about routine very critical to start with. Same with walks, some can find it quite disturbing to do an evening route on a morning for example keep the same route so they get to know their patch, the smells etc. and then you can mix it up a bit

Sarah x

[Melanie]

With my Greyhound, the crying at night started ages after we had him. We think something must've spooked him. Nothing worked and he was so upset at night.
We finally let him upstairs with a dog gate on our door and he sleeps soundly, only occasionally whining in the morning when he thinks it's time for the day to start! It's helped a lot and especially as we're out at work (me only part time) I think it's nice to all sleep close as night
Good luck with whatever you do and hope you can report back some good news too - and maybe even a picture of the pair

[kamkay]

They really are a breed apart aren't they? Sorry no advice to offer just the hope that everything sorts itself out soon. Welcome to Gap.

[danhodson]

Jun 26, 2012 15:25:27 GMT -5 julies said:

... most of us 'give in' due to lack of sleep TBH and have our greys with us at night ...sleep deprivation makes us allow most things we swore we wouldn't

Yep, been there, said that, my dog Dave just doesnt settle unless he is in with me. He paces, whines and carpet scratches all night. Just getting him to sleep on his own bed in my room instead of my bed was a mini victory for me ;D

[Glenn]

So then its decided we will try the landing tonight!!!

Thanks everyone for your help. Will post some pictures later