My greyhound won't go out for walks! PLEASE HELP!!

[poppygreyhound]

We got our greyhound from the retired greyhound trust. She's an x-racer. Her last race was 21.07.2012. We have been told about her amputated toe and we have gravel outside our house so ,we went to the vets and they found black material in it thankfully they removed it. Now 5 months later she is still not willing to go outside for a walk we have been to the vets again and nothing popped up in a blood test or x-ray!!!

We need advice!!!!!!!!!

Lucy

[nataliesian]

Hi Lucy where abouts do you live ?

[ragsysmum]

Does she just not like walking on the gravel you mean? We put a row of paving slabs along one side of our gravel drive so the dogs can walk on that out to the smooth pavement. Will she get in the car so you can drive somewhere and try her walking somewhere new? If there is no physical reason then maybe it's a mental thing expecting her foot to hurt. Is she OK round the house and out in your garden. At our house I'm afraid we all just 'go' regardless unless the dogs are ill or injured.

[julies]

Hi Lucy

Some of the ex-racers are just so worried by this whole new world they decide to stay put Where are you? If you're trying to walk her around town she's probably really scared by all that's going on especially if she hurt her foot when you first had her If she's sound now you could put her in the car, take some liver or similar and go off into the country ... find a nice long bridlepath or footpath put her on a harness and long lead and just let her sniff and walk and hold on in case she sees a bunny Use the high value treats to tempt her to walk tho you'll have more chance of success if you're somewhere she doesn't find frighteneing and most greys are trained on the edge of towns and will be used to being walked there where it's quiet ...

If she came from the RGT they usually have organised monthly walks you can take her on and ask your home checker if she'll come and walk her greys with you for a while ...

Good luck with her

Julie

[ritab]

Our first grey had to be dragged kicking and screaming (not really but you know what I mean) to go for a walk, but she was a nervous type and after nearly 18 months she now goes for walkies without objecting but not enthusiastically. It did take a long time and she was nervous of heavy traffic, but has now got used to the buses.
Our newly arrived second grey has been with us a month now and she was racing till early November and appeared to be very confident when we chose her. However she doesn't like traffic either.

As Julie says - taking them somewhere quiet for a walk works quite well - but my (limited) experience tells me just to be patient and things will improve. It seems to go on for ages when you have a problem like this, but when I look back now I don't know why I was so worried.

Good luck.

[3doggies]

Hi!

We have had our greyhounds for about four months. Our youngest greyhound (hes roughly two years old) absolutely REFUSED to go on his walks as well. When he saw that we were getting ready to go out he would run to his bed and play dead Then refuse to get up, refuse to step outside of the front door. We finally had to hire a dog trainer to come and work with him. She was fabulous and got him out the front door during her first visit. Now he LOVES going on walks (only 2-3 sessions with the trainer and only cost us $25.00 per session, SO WORTH IT).
My dog trainer explained that he was not socialized as a greyhound (common) and was absolutely terrified about all things in the outside world. Cars, noises, leaves blowing across the street, oh...all of the things in the world that can eat you So, when he would lay on his bed he was just throwing a little temper tantrum and we had to just be very patient but not give into his temper tantrum. We would put his leash on and pull gently (just enough so the leash was nice and taut and he understood he needed to get up) until he would get up. He would cry and whine while we were pulling on his leash, but then eventually he realized that he needed to get up. After this exercise repeats itself as many times as needed (he kept trying to go back to bed)...then we would let him rest as he stood up (i.e. let the leash go slack and you relax...try not to talk much to the dog because if they are anxious it can often reaffirm their anxious behavior). Eventually work your way to the door. let the dog stand in the entryway. If he tries to run away, keep his leash taught and stand in the entryway until he relaxes and stops freaking out. (Treats help if they will take them). Continue in this same assertive coaching all the way out the door (let them hang out first on the porch, then on the side walk, etc. Letting them become relaxed at each milestone). Do not allow them to run back into the house. My dog trainer did a great job with this, like I said...she got him out of the house on the first visit. Second visit he was walking up and down the block. Third visit he was enjoying himself. So on and so forth. Now he is one of our best walkers out of all three dogs. Good luck and let me know if you need more details on our experience!