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Post by jojohedgehog on Jun 11, 2013 14:44:48 GMT -5
Hello, I am new here. I wondered if I could get some advice from you all.
We recently adopted a beautiful, gentle greyhound called Jack. Everything has been going really well and he has settled in with us really well. The only problem that we have is he seems to have an issue with my youngest son (who is 8 years old).
Jack doesn't seem to interact with him in the same way that he does with my daughter and myself (his trainer was a woman not sure if this has any bearing on it) and whilst we can happily walk past him or play with his toys with him, he reacts aggressively when my son does. Also he doesn't look at my son when he strokes him and actively moves his head away. (although he will happily allow tummy tickles from him)
I have been very strict about the children leaving him alone when he is eating/sleeping etc and they do not invade his space and I have explained about how different retired racers lives are to the one they live now and that he needs lots of time to adjust. So they are really good with him and they totally understand his boundaries.
I have been doing positive training with him and he is responding really well and he does not come near us when we are eating our food, however we got distracted by a call at the door during tea time the other day and when we returned to the room Jack was eating from my sons plate. As he got nearer to his plate Jack turned on him, growling and snapped at him. Thank god my son turned and he caught the back of his head and not his face but it was nasty and he did draw blood.
Now I know that had that been myself or my daughter Jack would not have reacted like that and one 'No' from us and he would have been back on his bed quick sharp. In fact even though it happened so fast when I shouted NO he did retreat sharpish with his head down.
I am so worried by this that I have started muzzling him when the kids get home until they go to bed. Better safe than sorry.
Somebody mentioned that Jack see's my son more as a 'kennel mate' and lower down in the hierarchy than him so I just wondered if anyone had any experience with this who can help me to change this behavior? I don't really want him permanently muzzled and even though they are not left on their own with him obviously my son's safety comes first and I can't risk another episode like this.
Thank you in advance for any help, advice or tips.
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Post by Flaperoo on Jun 11, 2013 15:34:47 GMT -5
I can't reply in full now but it sounds like you are doing all the right things. For now always supervise your son when eating.
I am sorry he was injured and hope he is OK.
I'm sure others will come along to offer advice in the meantime but be reassured the situation is almost certainly retrievable.
Maryxx
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Post by jojohedgehog on Jun 11, 2013 15:58:23 GMT -5
Thank you Mary. I don't blame Jack and neither does my son, he was protecting what he deemed to be at that point 'his food,' I know that. I just really don't want another situation like this. We will not give up on him and really want to get him past this as my son adores him.
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Post by julies on Jun 12, 2013 1:44:02 GMT -5
Sorry can't probably think of everything ... but ... forget that dominance/hierarchy stuff ... read Dominance in Dogs - Fact or Fiction by Barry Eaton or better still look at L David Mech's recent articles as he was one of the scientists who promoted pack structure, pack leader etc etc and is now admitting they got it wrong for a number of reasons. Difficult without seeing the interaction and I'm not sure how long you've had him .. with ex-racers weeks and even months is not long in their rehabilitation, I leave my new dogs alone to settle into their new life- I don't play with them for a good couple of weeks, I don't stroke them unless they come asking for interaction as I want them to relax not feel stressed by this whole new world and then strangers impose on them  If Jack is moving his head away then (tho difficult without seeing it) I would suggest that's Jack sending out a calming signal and telling your son he (Jack) is not ok with him .. who knows why, could be your son is a bit rougher when he strokes him, walks directly at jack so seems aggressive, could be Jack remembers bad times with a small boy and links that to your son (also check out Turid Rugaas' book On talking terms weith dogs - calming signals .. or a similar title.) Like you say Jack was just helping himself to what he saw as 'his' food so you need to manage the situation .. like most of us don't leave food anywhere that our dogs could reach them, if Jack has been short of food then he needed to protect his resource and I bet he gave a number of little signals that it was his .. we humans ognore the signals so he feels he can only escalate to a bite Not the dogs fault .... if you've not had him long then check he's getting enough food - we find they stress when first retired so often need more food than usual - you should be able to see the last 3 ribs (just) and a little bit of spine where it rises over his loins .. anymore and I'd increase his food by a third and probably give an extra little feed. Greys do respond very well to positive training BUT they usually need a lot of time to come to terms with their new life, when I get newly retired greys into my class they usually do very little- just lie and watch maybe walk a circuit or two of the hall and then spend the rest of the time being given lots of treats on their bed so be careful you're not being too enthusiastic for Jack and blowing his brains so he takes his stress and fear out on the most vulnerable person in his new family. My friend has a grey that went to a home where they took him to a real dog training class, kept him at the edge but walked him around the class a few times each week ... this dog just became so terrified he began to lunge and bark- he'd jump 8 ' into the air luckily they brought him back and we rehomed him - he's taken a long long time to regain his confidence. Don't be fooled that greys are alaways quiet ... they shut down to cope .... I'd keep his muzzle on for now until he is happier around your son, don't force any interaction, once you see Jack begin to make eye contact with your son tell your son to blink and turn away but tell jack in a quiet tone he's a good boy, alos watch your children don't run around him or at him nor hug him .. greys have rarely seen children and can be quite scared of them. Cadbury on here does lovely light muzzles which are nicer than RGT ones, make sure you're feeding him less than 20% protein food and not one with lots of bright colours or sugar in them. Patience is the key and letting Jack settle in without trying to 'make' him be friendly - all that will come but only in his time. Trfy to walk with your local RGT as well and any other greyhound walks plus don't try to socialise him with other breeds too soon and too quickly - lots of posts on here about that .. again greys will rarely have seen other breeds and they can be terrifying. Oh and keep asking questions ... greys are amazing but need understanding  Good luck with him Julie |
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Post by jojohedgehog on Jun 12, 2013 6:02:01 GMT -5
Thank you very much. I will look at the soft muzzle as I don't really like the one he came with. I am feeding him on John Gold for working dogs and I mix it with sardines a few times a week. I was told to give him three cups (I am assuming mugs) twice a day? He doesn't seem underweight (certainly bigger than when he first arrived) so would you recommend I up his food intake? Funnily enough he went to my son this morning for a stroke much to his delight. Thank you very much for the reading resource information I will check that out.
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Post by Flaperoo on Jun 12, 2013 13:48:48 GMT -5
I'm sorry this is my third attempt to reply to you but I have such poor signal that my posts have lost connection and disappeared. I have tears of frustration.
In essence never feed him from the table, if you want to give him leftovers wait until you have all finished, leave the table then put them in his bowl. Greyhounds love consistentsy and routine,they do not understand language just our consistent behaviour s and get confused when we are inconsistent..
It is such a long time since I only had one that I have forgotten how difficult it was when I did. What I can say is he was worth it. He died last year but became my heart dog and the most wonderful dog imaginable. He is the reason I have so many today and was soooo worth the effort.
Please keep us informed and thank you for adopting a greyhound, Jack will learn and you will never regret it - they are wonderful.
Maryxx
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Post by julies on Jun 13, 2013 1:41:11 GMT -5
Hiya Oh great that sounds promising Greys are incredible but don't always show how worried and frightened they are ... they do shut down to cope so appear 'OK' when they're far from it. Check the back of the sack for the protein content- working dog food is often very high in protein and resting dog or mantenance food is much lower ... not everyone agrees but I've certainly found it can have a bad affect on their behaviour so go for less than 20% protein and see It might be worth adding something like pasta (carbs) to his food to make him more sleepy/settled, really the best test is to look at him and see if he needs a bit more but they usually do when they first retire .. it doesn't stop them always thieving tho bless 'em LOL You should see his last three ribs and a bit of spine just over his loins and hopefully a slab of muscle along the rest of his spine but it depends what state he was in when you got him and I always suggest an increase in exercise if they're a bit feisty .. my grey gets about 25 mins round the block in the morning but a good hour in the woods on a harness and longline in the afternoon Just watch he doesn't get scared by loose dogs running up to him if you walk in the park- greys have never met other breeds if theyve raced so other dogs can be very frightening ..either walk where he can see them at a distance so can get used to them or keep him road walking until he's settled in more and you can find a nice real dog class to go to Cadbury's muzzles are great, very light but similar to the RGT muzzles (she's a member on here so you could PM her ) .. beware the fabric ones as they don't allow the greys/lurcher to open their mouths enough to pant and the fabric ones can still let the dog have a nip Good luck and keep asking We've all gone thro similar so know how worrying and upsetting it is but they are definitely worth perservereing Julie x |
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Post by emmajane on Jun 13, 2013 2:00:02 GMT -5
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