mik
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Post by mik on Feb 15, 2016 14:36:38 GMT -5
Hello, first time dog owner and first time poster! We've adopted a lovely 4 year old boy called Toast, he's had a stressful first week having to have his nail removed by the vet as well as moving into a new house after retiring a year ago, rotting in a kennel then moving into a foster home for two weeks before we got him.  He's very sheepish but affectionate, loves to be near us, leans in and positions his head for a tickle. He seems to be very bright, responds well to 'no' when he's doing the wrong thing. He now leaves us alone when we eat dinner, waiting patiently outside the kitchen:). But I'm worried we've paid him too much attention in week 1 lol, we haven't left him on his own yet as my wife works from home. Would you recommend we started leaving him even if we don't need to right now? We aren't crating, but have his bed set up in the living room (quite a small house, downstairs is just living room and small kitchen (can't trust him in the kitchen alone because he isn't shy about stealing stuff lol). He also is not drinking water AT ALL so we are adding more to his food when soaking it. If we drop a bit of something into his water he will drink the entire bowl and then proceed to pee a lot haha. He doesn't play, totally not interested in toys, all he wants are strokes, food and sleep. He just seems so...sad. I can't wait for his personality to start to develop, very worried we are making new owner mistakes, the internet is full of a lot of contradictory information, either 'be the alpha!' or 'the alpha thing will make your dog stressed' etc etc |
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Post by kamkay on Feb 15, 2016 16:18:36 GMT -5
Welcome to Gap and welcome to the weird and wonderful world of greyhounds. I am not very good at the tech stuff, but there are some excellent threads on the Help and advice board about settling a new hound. Follow the instructions carefully they really do work. Toast is very new to being in a home and has a lot to get used to-it's a bit like us being dropped in a foreign place where we don't understand the language or the rules or even what is expected of us. We want them to be happy because we have taken them from a less than ideal situation, but they need time to adjust. He probably isn't sad, just trying to work things out. Give him time and you will see his true character blossom. He probably doesn't know how to play-racing greyhounds do not have a puppyhood like other breeds. I would be starting to leave him for short periods of time-again look in help and advice. Do ask questions there is a wealth of experience on here and let us know how you get on. BTW, Toast is gorgeous: I love the black lads:-)
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 15, 2016 16:29:50 GMT -5
kamkay - Thanks for the response, very reassuring. I did have a question I forgot to ask. I've read a lot about their 'sleep startle' thing - Toast often sleeps on the sofa while we are watching TV, he likely has his head or paws on us, I worry a little bit though that a loud noise might shock him and he may accidentally nip us lol. So far so good no signs of waking up suddenly when we move or anything, I like to think he's aware of our breathing, talking and moving etc
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Post by kamkay on Feb 15, 2016 16:41:18 GMT -5
My lad Guinness, aka The Great Galumph, often drapes himself over me to sleep ( no joke as he weighs 35 kilos! ) and we have never had a problem. I always make sure to say his name out loud before touching him when he's sleeping. It is particularly important that children are taught to respect a sleeping dog. And did you know that some greyhounds sleep with their eyes open-something else to be aware of!
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 15, 2016 16:52:34 GMT -5
kamkay - lol yeah Toast sleeps with his eyes open often, I don't think he's getting as much sleep as he would like because every time we move he follows, so he settles to sleep, then I go the bathroom and he gets up and whines because the door is shut, then I go downstairs (which is a bit of a stress for him) but he follows, then I'm upstairs etc - I hope he can settle down and just sleep when / where he wants to
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Post by greybeard on Feb 15, 2016 18:38:05 GMT -5
Kay has pointed you in the right direction - lots of good advice on here.I would say forget the "alpha" thing.I could be wrong but seem to remember that this theory was based on wolf studies and also mainly on ones in captivity,not in the wild.Dogs have been domesticated for so long and selectively bred,so I'm not quite sure how wolves fit in - unless you've got 1 of those very rare recent crosses.I think all Grey owners will say they don't behave like other breeds - they are sensitive souls and cos most are ex- racers need a routine.It's early days for Toast - as Kay says he could almost have come from another planet and has to get used to an alien enviroment.It will take time for his true personality to emerge - but meanwile get to know him,enjoy his babysteps, encourage him and most of all follow Lisa's advice,it works!Oh,and lots and lots of love and PATIENCE - enjoy.Cath
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Post by sharonhigh45 on Feb 16, 2016 3:32:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the Gap, exactly the right place for help and information, Toast looks lovely and am sure as time goes on his real character will come out, my little bit of advice from experience over the years with different pets is Common sense and lots of patience and love, I have just had to get my silly lurcher Moss used to another member of the family totally different an African Grey parrot,but after only three weeks we have a happy house, the internet is useful for information but can also make you over analyse, good luck and let us know how you get on.
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 16, 2016 15:45:33 GMT -5
greybeard & sharonhigh45 Thanks!That's amazing about the parrot Sharon, Toast really leans towards cats, I think he's okay with other dog breeds but not taking the muzzle off just yet heheh. Advise is great, I worry that we've already messed up the whole ignoring him thing, so getting to be comfortable alone may be problematic for a while until we sort of reset the situation. He does this cute thing when he's alert where one ear is all the way forward and the other all the way back, lol no idea what that means. Thanks all!
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Post by greybeard on Feb 16, 2016 21:39:50 GMT -5
Mik - by the way I'm Cath,just highjacked my husband's registration cos he hardly ever posts,so usually sign off with my name,Gappers are used to this!And yes- I'm having yet another 1 of my sleepless nights,good job I'm retired!
As to seperation- go out in the garden for a bit(Kay used to sit on her front wall) and build it up,they do get used to this and realise you're coming back.So if your wife works from home,she could take a break and leave him for a short time,then build it up.Litte Jem was hard cos we were both retired,but just going into another room worked.
Keep the muzzle on - it's too early yet to know what he's like.It's been over a year since Jem was was muzzle free, and then cos it fell out of the car and someone ran over it.We kept her muzzled cos she's an ace scavernger, I will always remember Kay and Q being mortified that she caught and ate(think a shrew)despte being being muzzled.Thank god we had good friends that came across and walked our houndies when we were both inapacited -Cath.
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 17, 2016 6:37:48 GMT -5
greybeard - thanks, great advice my wife is trying this today 
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 17, 2016 12:40:55 GMT -5
Do I have to worry about him getting bored? All he does is sleep lol I know that's a trait for the breed but when he's awake he's all about finding food, doesn't know how to play. We are trying to train him and it sort of works but again it's all about the food. Gonna get him a Kong or something like that I think.
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Post by kamkay on Feb 17, 2016 13:24:56 GMT -5
On average greyhounds spend 23 hours a day sleeping and one resting:-) He will let you know if he is bored, usually by destroying things-not a problem I've had with either of my hounds. You can entertain him by trying to teach him simple commands. I have managed to train ( I'm smiling as I use that word lol) Guinness to give paw-almost-for a treat. He's only been with you a short time, I would concentrate on getting his routines in place and learning to be left for longer periods of time. Try not to over think it-just enjoy having him.
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mik
I'm New Here
Posts: 10
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Post by mik on Feb 18, 2016 4:44:58 GMT -5
kamkay - haha yes I'm aware I am totally overthinking it. Kerry was saying that he has started doing a weird thing in the day, when she is working (from home) he'll sleep but then get up and start whining and rubbing himself against the walls like a cat. We give him ample opportunity to pee in the garden and walk him 3 times a day so it's not that.
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Post by sharonhigh45 on Feb 18, 2016 5:20:58 GMT -5
Hi, I would say try not to overthink as well, but it does show you care about your hound and want to do the right thing by him, I have been a bit like that with my parrot as you have to know what to do and what not to do, we are all settling down now as a routine kicks into place, my staffie loves rubbing herself up and down the wall outside.
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Post by kamkay on Feb 18, 2016 12:06:41 GMT -5
On average greyhounds spend 23 hours a day sleeping and one resting:-) He will let you know if he is bored, usually by destroying things-not a problem I've had with either of my hounds. You can entertain him by trying to teach him simple commands. I have managed to train ( I'm smiling as I use that word lol) Guinness to give paw-almost-for a treat. He's only been with you a short time, I would concentrate on getting his routines in place and learning to be left for longer periods of time. Try not to over think it-just enjoy having him. Oh hubris! Guess who came home today to find the contents of the rubbish bin all over the kitchen! Heaven only knows what he has eaten! |
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