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Post by grettathegreyt on Sept 5, 2015 11:18:12 GMT -5
Help!
We've had Gretta for a little over a month and she is totally beside herself. She does okay with me- runs around sometimes and gives me an occasional kiss. But she acts like a completely different dog when my husband comes home. She is skittish and defensive and wants to run away from Chris. We also have two cats that she typically pays no mind to but snapped at one last night and growls when they get too close. She's tried to run away twice. My heart breaks for her! When she is around other greyhounds she does much better but we cannot get another dog just for her!
Iis this the right home for her or do I have to be more patient?
Amy
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Post by Nettie on Sept 5, 2015 12:18:32 GMT -5
Sounds like she is frighted of men. Ask Chris not to interact with her, just completely ignore her, no eye contact, nothing. When he sitting quietly get him to drop treats for her, again no interaction at all, just drop the treats, make sure they are really high value, chicken, cheese, sausage. In time she should start to approach him, carry on treating her when she does this, she should eventually start to take treats from his hands and realise that actually this 'man' is a great treat dispenser and maybe I should start to make friends. It will take time and consistency but she will learn that he's not going to hurt her. Just don't rush her, home life is still very new to her.
As far as the cats are concerned don't leave them together unsupervised. How do the cats react to her? Has she got a crate, somewhere she can go to relax and get away from the cats and just chill?
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Post by grettathegreyt on Sept 5, 2015 12:26:54 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply. We will definitely try the treats with Chris- maybe him feeding her only will help too?
The cats are very social and would probably cuddle/ groom the dog if they could. They check her out once in a while and then leave her alone. She does have a crate but hates to go in it.
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Post by kamkay on Sept 5, 2015 12:44:18 GMT -5
Welcome to Gap. Did Greta come straight out of racing ? If so, she has such a lot to get used to. Greyhounds are often shut down when they first come home, but with time they start to come out of their shell and show you their true character. As Nettie says it's all about patience and consistency. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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Post by greybeard on Sept 5, 2015 19:30:13 GMT -5
Hi Amy - welcome to Gapland.Nettie and Kay have already given you good advice - and take the time to trawl through this section cos Lisa has at least 2 threads on settling in your new girl and she knows what she's talking about.If Gretta is newly retired, she has a whole new and alien world to adjust to and it's overwhelming.Like Kay says patience,patience and yet more patience and consistency.Or in other words baby steps - cos each little step forward is a major milestone for Gretta.And it does sound as if she's scared of men - probably with good reason.Heartbreaking - but you can work through it,we had that with our little lurcher.She ended up adoring my OH, but was always wary of Men.We accepted that and if she got used to them on her limits,she was fine - and our Gap friends really helped.Good luck,and like Kay said - keep us updated.Cath
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Post by Ted on Sept 6, 2015 1:32:40 GMT -5
Many Greyhounds straight from racing do not know what has happened to them. Kelly who came straight from a trainer in Kent where she was living with her family, Mum Dad Two Brothers and Two Sisters suddenly found she had no longer any contact with her family, and was missing them very badly. She had come into a strange world at the age of 4 with me, two other Greyhounds and a Ibizan Hound, Mickey my very large Black Greyhound who was the same age as her took her under his wing, they became a loving pair. However Kelly had a set back when she was neutered in that they had given her Vetagestic and that caused her terrible pain for the next 24 hours. It took her quite a while to forgive me. I found she would scream if her ears were touched, that was over 3 years ago now she loves her ears touch. I have also found she is good off the lead and comes running back to me for a treat. These days Kelly loves all Humans for cuddles and loves to meet and play with dogs of all types and sizes but gets worried if a dog is aggressive to her, Merlin my 11 year old Greyhound runs to protect her when that happens as I am unable to let Mickey off the lead as he has no recall even though many dog trainers had attempted to train him with treats, he is not interested in treats.
Very many Greyhounds do not like men as women are usually their carers whilst racing and the men are the ones who force them into the racing trap and also shout at them to run faster. I always remember just after I lost my First greyhound Jagger to an inoperable tumour I had gone to Hersham Hounds to look at their Greyhounds who needed a home and it was a meet day there. I was sitting have a cup of coffee when this female Greyhound came up to me for a cuddle. I had some strange looks from her female owner and friends, I asked why. They said you are the first man she had ever gone up to as she normally stays clear of men. I said she must know I needed comfort after losing Jagger, after that I was told she was more at home with men with treats. It is easier when there is a settled in Greyhound or other dog in the household that they can relate to. Cats can be a problem as none of my 4 hounds are safe with furries of any sort. Jagger learnt to live with our two moggies but it took time and they became the best of mates but he would still chase any other cat etc.
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Post by sharonhigh45 on Sept 6, 2015 2:57:51 GMT -5
Welcome to the Gap, as you will already have noticed there is great advice given on this Forum, when I first had my lurcher nearly two years ago from the Gap he was very nervous of men, but with a bit of patience he is a lot better, he still is a bit nervous of men when out on walks but is now allowing people to fuss him without treats, thankfully we don't have the cat problem as my two adore our cat and vice versa,I hope that Gretta settles down soon, the by word in a lot of cases is Patience, good luck, and let us know how things are going on.
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Post by greysrus on Nov 11, 2015 10:29:27 GMT -5
Hi, I was wondering how your grey is doing. I have a grey who is fearful of my partner who has been working away.
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Post by allthehounds on Nov 11, 2015 10:59:40 GMT -5
Welcome to gap and I'm sorry to hear that your greyhound has some fear and anxiety issues. We adopted Lily three years ago and she'd been pulled from the pound in Ireland at the last minute on the day she was due to be put to sleep and she's got lots of issues. She's ok with my husband and I now but despite knowing other family members well like my parents, she still won't go near them and barks whenever anyone else comes to the house. We don't know what happened to her in Ireland except that she suffered a lot of abuse and when she was rescued she wouldn't come out of the kennel, she used to hide at the back and shake. It took quite a while before she could be rehomed and as I say three years on she's brimming with confidence at home with the two of us but if we go to visit family she either refuses to go in the house or hides under the dining table! She was rescued with her brother and sister and as far as I know they're both exactly the same if not worse so I think it's just something we'll have to live with. I would definitely give your greyhound more time but hopefully following the advice already given you'll get there in the end. Nervous or frightened dogs are a challenge and do take a lot of work but it's so rewarding to see them grow and start to enjoy life but it can be difficult when they refuse to accept others. Not much help I know but just wanted to let you know that I sympathise with your situation and wish you well.
Sian. x
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