help with dukey howler of the year !!!

[duke]

Hi all I am very new to here and could do with some advice. I adopted my lovely blue boy duke in june but within four days ended up in hospital and only got home a week ago. Duke went to stay with my sister who has a couple of greys herself. Now hes home he settled right in but for one thing - hes howls the place down if I leave him. I have got a natural plug in for him which works at night as hes grand then but I have been looking on the net for day time help so can leave him for a bit. Theres so much to choose from I am a bit overwhelmed. I think it may be because he isnt with the other dogs but would appreciate any advice. Thanks kate

[andywillow]

Hello and welcome to Gap, I've moved your post to advice and help, have you had a read on here?

greyhoundgap.proboards.com/thread/29758/okay-late-seperation-anxiety

[duke]

Hi

Thanks for that. Most of what was listed I have already tried, other than the rescue remedy. I shall send someone for some today and try it . Our dukes a bit of an odd ball, I have a wooden gate on my kitchen door which currently is open and hes chosen to go and have his post brekkie snooze in there, rather than come into the lounge where we are. Hes in the kitchen at night too with no problems, but even with radio two on he doesnt like being left. I shall try him again today if not I will get a crate sorted. I have been reading on line about thundershirts, are they of any use ? Also dap collars ?

[vickyb]

I suspect that what he actually wants is another greyhound! My guess is that he feels lonely when left and I doubt a crate would do much so I'd probably try to borrow one rather than buy. I think a dap collar is worth a try if you think the plug in helps overnight - you would need the large one. Was he ok left at your sisters?

[duke]

Hi

He was ok when he was there, however he was blamed alot for puddles often found in the kitchen. He has been 100% clean here, so I have taken great delight in telling her that it must be one of her crew at fault ! (Fingers crossed I have not had an attack of smugg too soon ). I will keep on for now with the 20 thing and see how we go. I am just panicking a bit as I am due back in work in another week . My sister had said she will have him when shes not at work as she only works 2 days a week but I have concerns about him becoming confused as to where he should be etc..... its minefield !!!

[sassbu]

Personally I don't think he will get confused about where he is as long as it becomes a routine that he settles in to. After all some dogs do go to dog daycare anyway and dont seem to become confused. It does sound like he enjoyed the company of being around others, whether that be dogs or humans, hard to tell. If he's happier at your sisters when you're at work then why not. I would see how he gets on in the week you have remaining before you return to work and continuing with the separation tips and then make a decision. My friends dog is shared between her and her mum as neither could fairly to the dog, manage one full time and it has worked out well as they stick religiously to a routine.

[duke]

Hi thanks for that , when I can I will take him there. I got him on the rescue remedy today and he has been so chilled ! Hes always a hungry bog but he didn't even mooch round the kitchen when the chicken came out of the oven. We did a very short trial of leaving him today, trying the coats on for 20 minutes technique and he seemed better, although not completely quiet, however as long as its all moving in the right direction that's all I can hope for really. Many thanks for all the advice, I will no doubt be back asking for more !!!

[julies]

Apoligies cos I'm doing this quick so haven't re-read the other advice thread .. I'd make sure he has a really good long walk each night - 45 mins to an hour and where there are lots of nice (tiring) smells like a country park, bridle/footpath etc and 45 mins in the morning ... just so he's more tired and likel;y to settle .. once you get him into a routine you can reduce the length of teh walks if he's ok. I'd use two Kongs as he's alone, fill them with mashed potatoe mixed with liver, cheese, chicken etc etc to occupy him when you're not there ... and nice things happen when you're gone

Thundershirts can be great but are expensive so you could start with a childs tee shirt, sleep on it so it smells of you and either put it in the crate or on him (head thro neck, front legs thro armholes and tie up any loose middle bit). If the tee shirt helps a Thundershirt would also probably help.

When you're at home, get him settled with a Kong then don't look at him or speak and just leave the room thro a child gate (not a solid door that can spook them), stay in view come back into the room he's in, don't look at him or speak, settle down yourself then you can call him for some quiet fuss Build up the time you leave him and then you can go out of sight for a very short time and build that up too. If he gets worried go back a step Think too about how you leave him ...don't make a big fuss of him and you can start ignoring him a little while before you leave- my dogs know if the chairs etc go on the furniture I'm leaving them at home so they settle on their beds.

Has he a soft bed in teh lounge with you? You could give him a Kong on there too to encourage him to stay with you but TBH greys in training have a lot of quiet time and there's so much going on in our real world I guess it must overwhelm them so they seem to like to get away and have time out


Welcome to Gap and greyhounds

Julie

[duke]

thanks Julie for the advice, its really appreciated. I will get the t shirt on him tomorrow.

 Its been a bad last few hours ,  I started duke on the rescue remedy yesterday and he seemed very chilled , and this morning managed to leave him for 20 mins - I was only in the front garden. I  could not stop smiling , thought there was some real progress there. However about 6.30pm dont know what happened but something outside spooked him (even though he was inside) and he refused to even go into the kitchen, never mind out into the back garden.  He was panting and pacing for over an hour and a half.  he wouldn't even come to me , and to be fair hes usually that close I generally look like a pantomime cow (minus the costume !) when I am walking around ! He eventually started to calm down and some little s.o.b ;-|let off a firework somewhere nearby and we were back to square one.  Hes finally conked out now - albeit with one eye open !!  I have ordered him a dap collar and hope that should arrive soon.  He already had a Kong but wont engage with it at all.  I used to put food in the one that I had for my last dog but haven't with Duke so far as he has a very ticklish belly.  when the rescue got him his guts were so bad that he was bleeding from all the pooping and had collitus.  After a few hit and miss episodes they got him on burgess sensitive but he can only tolerate certain flavours - they told me to keep him off anything with gluten, chicken etc in.  Do you think he would be ok with mashed potato ?    I know its about as bland as you can get but I am like a mother hen - far too fussy over him but as hes my fur baby I think its allowed !He  cant tolerate oily fish so that's out to add into the mix too.  Is  there any value in getting him a bone ?  its would be a knuckle bone  - uncooked - thought it may help with his teeth too - although I am working on these too.

I have looked after my sisters greys and been on holidays with them so am a fair bit used to the " grey way" but any hints or tips are very very VERY gratefully accepted.  Failing anything else working I am going to "borrow " one of my sisters greys when they get back off their hols and see if hes better with a pal here - as he seemed to settle at her house before with them - or maybe her neighbours are just more polite than mine !!


thanks again

kate

[vickyb]

Mashed potato seems to suit most delicate tummies so I would try mixing some of his kibble in it and putting it in his kong. Sweet potato is usually ok too.
I wonder if he heard a bang earlier that you didn't hear and that set him off? If he's been in such a state it might upset his tummy for a day or so. I hate fireworks, my Maddie is terrified of them so sending lots of sympathy.

[duke]

I have the spuds on the boil as we speak so fingers crossed . Will let u know later x

[Letty's Mum]

No advice from me Kate, but wishing you and Duke well

[lurchernut]

All the advice seems to have been covered so I can't think of anything extra, apart from the dap spray which works well on their bed etc, but it is not cheap

But I just wanted to say good luck with your fur baby

[julies]

Great, sounds like you're making progress

My lurcher gets Colitis on most processed foods he's had so I feed him raw and he's absolutely fine .. raw bones are great too and may take him mind off stressing ... In my experience (and others may have different experiences) greys can be intolerant to wheat, beef, chicken, rice and everything in between but usually a fish and potato diet is ok if you want to feed a complete.

My grey was awful with fireworks when I got her but has improved tho she'll scarper back into the house even if she hears one at a distance so maybe that's what he heard - and my neighbours slammed their back door the other night and she shot back into the house

Try smearing something round the Kong hole to encourage him - greys aren't brill at perserverence I'd usually suggest peanut butter or pate but not sure if that'll upset his tum

[duke]

dear all

just a quick update. I purloined a kong from the sisters dalmation as the "large" one that I ordered from amazon was not even big enough for a yorkie !. After a few failed attempts my lovely forrest gump wannaabe realised that there was food inside and demolished it. so I disappeared sharpish. Was only out 20 minutes or so but all seemed quiet and the evil one from next door was not glaring at me so fingers crossed ! The howling only started after I came back in but was totally ignored. The dap collar is due for delivery tomorrow so that should help. I am not certain I am giving duke the rescue remedy in the right dosage though, the bottle says minimum of 4 times a day bit I assume that this is the 2 legged dose, how much and how often should I be giving it to him ? overall hes doing grand although we had a cracking squirrel moment today which has left me black and blue - apparently humans are not meant to be dragged 20 ft through cut down bushes and trees ! duke came out totally unscathed though and I will heal. We saw another grey whilst on our hike and he was overjoyed so I think he is still missing his buddies. I think there may be another set of paws in this house before too long...........