I have a rescued 3 year old greyhound. We've had him for about 4 months. We've had the hardest time housetraining him. I feel bad about doing the crate thing, since it's all greyhounds know when they are racing and he's been out of one for those 4 months now and will be hard to put him back in one. I know he understands going outside, because when we are around he wont go in the house and will let us know he needs to go outside. We have him on a rigid schedule. But at times he will still go inside the house when we are gone. Even after we've JUST taken him out and he did his businesses. We've let him out and he will go, then we'll leave for a half hour and come back and there is pee and poo on the floor. This behavior also applies to other things like the trash and cat food. He wont do it when we are there, but he does when we are gone. And I know he can hold it, because he's done it before. What is wrong with him and why cant he get it that its NOT ok to go inside when we are gone?
2006-12-18 15:46:19 · 14 answers · asked by Tee 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Nothing is wrong with him. Sadly, racing dogs are not given much training or care beyond what is needed to race them. It's a tragedy that nobody has been able to stop this sport yet. It's very likely that in his 3 years of life, nobody has ever bothered to teach him that going inside is wrong, because he was probably kept in a kennel whenever he wasn't racing or being worked out.
I'm a groomer, and I see a lot of retired racers. Usually they are very shy, and have overgrown nails and bad skin/coats from lack of proper care during their racing days. It's sad, but I'm glad so many people are willing to give these beautiful dogs homes.
It may be something he'll never fully master. You could try putting down some puppy training pads in the house, they have a scent that attracts dogs to them. If you can't get him to stop altogether, at least you can keep it neat and tidy.
I do agree that he has probably been given too much freedom too quickly, however. If you can't bring yourself to crate him, at least consider penning him into a room where he can't get into trouble. But really, a crate is not an inhumane thing- he probably considers it a bed and home, as this is where he spent so much time. My boyfriend's dog sleeps in his open crate when we're home! He just considers it a place to hang out. Just get one large enough for your dog to stand, sit, lay down, and turn around comfortably, and since greys are so bony, put down a thick cushion or blanket for him to lay on. Also, don't give him access to food or water while you're not home, it will only aggravate the problem.
Good luck!
2006-12-18 15:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm thinking the main reason why he does his business when no one is looking is that because he may have suffered some incident that makes him feel insecure when going in front of others. (Example: my black lab hates it when someone stands behind him because my little brother used to jump on his back).
I suggest that when you leave the house but your greyhound in his crate/kennel and lock it so he can't come out. Dogs don't usually go in their sleeping areas so he will probably hold it in. When you get back from wherever you've gone out to, open his crate and let him go out. Chances is that he will go right then and there because he's been holding it in for a while.
Soon he'll learn that there is a time to go and not to go. He won't go in his crate but he will go outside.
If he goes inside the house you have to take him out anyway. If you catch him in the act of committing disastrous smellyness you shoo him into the yard where he can do it. He'll learn (although it may take a while since he is 3 years old and not a puppy).
2006-12-18 15:52:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many greyhounds raised in a racing environment get anxious when their new family disappears: it's called separation anxiety and behavior problems often accompany it. It's like smoking or nail biting in humans: it is caused by his anxiety. He should be in a crate when you're not home, maybe with a special comfort toy or one that dispenses food if he chews at it. Don't think of a crate as a bad or cruel thinig: he was raised to be comfortable in a crate and as dogs are naturally den animals, it probably feels safer to him to be in one than left to wander and try to figure out how to handle being alone. Every time he DOES go in the house, it reinforces that it's okay to do it. Use the crate for a while and if you like you can eventually remove the door or block it open so he can go in or out when he wants to.
2006-12-18 16:37:04 · answer #3 · answered by wollam43 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have two rescued greyhounds myself. When we got the first one, we had the same problem with her not being housebroken. As you know, there is a tragic amount of mistreatment of greyhounds at the tracks. However, they are USED to their crates. He actually won't see the crate as punishment as you think he will. In his first three years of life, the crate was a place of safety. He didn't need to fight for attention while he was in his crate, nor did he need to worry about protecting his area while he was in his crate. The fact that he'll go right after you leave (even if it's only for a short time) probably means that he's still not certain that you're going to be coming back. He's displaying alpha dog behavior by marking his territory. My first greyhound took about 6 months before she really started opening up to me. My second greyhound had a rougher life at the track and even after a year and a half he's still a very nervous dog. He will get used to life with you, but he will probably benefit from having the security of the crate when you leave home.
2006-12-18 16:02:17 · answer #4 · answered by Exochos Andras 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Alyssa J, and Exochos andras, i dont know where you get your proof that greyhounds are mistreated, I have been in the business for 15 years and havent seen one example of it. And if you are so sure about the abuse and killing of greyhounds you go to your local track and look around- i dont think you will find any abuse or dead greyhounds anywhere! Why would you want to take away a sport that they LIKE TO DO? As for your dog i think he has some sort of separation anxiety and that isnt caused by racing!
2006-12-21 06:58:49 · answer #5 · answered by coreboy7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He sounds like he has a little bit of separation anxiety.I also rescued my puppy (katie) who is a walker hound.We had the absolute hardest time to keep her from going in the house when we were gone.She also chewed things when we left her for any amount of time.When I went to the vet he said she had separation anxiety which is common in dogs that have been rescued.We have a prescription that she takes and that helps alot but we still make sure we reassure her that she's not going anywhere and we love her.
2006-12-18 15:59:37 · answer #6 · answered by amanda c 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like your greyhound has a very typical greyhound problem: seperation anxiety.
Retired racers are particularly prone to having seperation anxiety because they're so pack oriented and used to having constant companionship. Without that companionship, they become destructive, whine, howl, or, as your dog is doing...urinating and defecating inappropriately.
You can find more info about seperation anxiety here:
http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm
It has NOTHING to do with how smart your dog is, or the fact that he doesn't 'get it'...seperation anxiety is a psychological disorder in dogs. Please read up on it.
2006-12-18 17:14:41 · answer #7 · answered by strayd0g 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He needs more training. At three years its different from training a puppy. A mature old dog who was used to a different lifestyle is still confused what exactly you are expecting him to do. He needs to be rewarded every time he poos outside and be sure to atleast scold him or a give him a mild whack whenever he dirties inside.
2006-12-18 15:58:44 · answer #8 · answered by pakir poyum 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog is not used to having so much freedom. If you have not got a crate for him, please get one to help to show your dog how to be right! You must crate your dog whenever he is not being supervised.
Remember that punishing your dog after the fact will never actually "teach" him anything (well, except that you are crazy and not to be trusted!) Instead, crate him when you leave. It is against a dog's natural instinct to soil where they sleep.
2006-12-18 15:49:50 · answer #9 · answered by Misa M 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get a dog psycic... maybe a past relative of the dog is haunting it!?
2006-12-18 15:55:16 · answer #10 · answered by evoboi21 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋