Bit worried about neurotic greyhound

mil1212

mil1212

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Sorry this is long! I've had my 2 retired greyhounds since November last year. They settled in well and I am very proud of them! However, my little black bitch Roo has progressively got more and more neurotic over time. I've just found her cowering in the corner, shaking, in the living room on her own.

I live in a pretty secluded spot and am at home with them most of the time, they have free run of the yard and house. There is a minor road about 50 meters away from the house behind trees.

She started off by not wanting to go for a walk, she gets excited when I get the leads out, but when I put them on, she won't leave the house. She appears to be scared of the cars that pass down the road, and they unnerve her, especially the loud ones.

Now, in the mornings when I do the horses I force her to come out with me and shut the door behind me. She then spends most of her time dashing between the stables and the house door. Also, in the last month there has been an accident nearly every night.
She has recently nibbled a door frame in the night and she appears to have nibbled the door frame on the outside when she's been shut out with me.

If I force her to walk she ends up panting and shaking all over - to the point her teeth chatter!
The only time she seems truely happy is when she is sat on our laps on the sofa! She likes going out in the car, but doesn't like getting out to go anywhere!

What could I do to make her feel more settled? She appears to keep having panic attacks for no obvious reason. She was just fine for the first few months. My other greyhound is happy as larry. She eats all her dinner, they never get told off (not needed) and basically live the life of luxury...
 
My eldest lurcher was 'rescued' from the most appalling home. If you can imagine a dog in the midst of having a nervous breakdown, that was it. She's ten now and there are still the odd occasions when she has 'a moment'. That is, she reverts back to that poor, pathetic creature that we saw nine years ago. There are triggers. The hoover, raised voices, people walking behind her etc. I dread to think what some of these ex-racers have been through and unless there is a neurological cause for this change in behaviour, patience and figuring out what her trigger is, is the key. Once you establish the trigger, I have found ignoring my girl and not fussing works. With these dogs, lots of generous praise is necessary, even for things that with emotionally balanced dogs we take for granted. Taking her to your yard with all the hustle and bustle may well be too much for her. Mine hates it. Try getting her to enjoy her going out time again. Short, quiet bursts with lots of encouragement. :)
 
thanks blazingsaddles. Although my yard is attached to my house and it's only me there, you are probably right, if I limit her trips outside instead of making her stay out or leaving the door open she may learn to appreciate the outside more! I just find if I don't force her out she won't go and wee's on the carpet, and my dog just wants to follow me everywhere.
I can't begin to imagine what has happened to them in the past. A friend came round the other day and was playing with the hounds, he spoke in a funny deep voice to them and they instantly both became really frightened and ran away... leads me to wonder.
I have given her some rescue remedy, so maybe I'll just leave her be.
 
Give it time. Her faith in humans is lacking and now she needs to learn to trust you. Don't pressure her. Get her into a routine regarding wee times, as you would with a pup. Ex-racers are generally kennelled, so you've got to start over with the house-training. Good luck :)
 
TBH you are still in early days with them both at the moment, I know five months seems a long time to you but generally rescue greyhounds take at least six months to settle properly and if they have been badly traumatised it can take anything up to a year :(

I agree with what BS has said about not pushing it about asking Roo to come to the yard, from what you have said it seems that she just needs a little more time to relax and learn to trust again :(

But how fabulous that they have a loving permanent home with you :):):)
 
Agree, take your time with her. For cars and the like, eventually, pop her in the boot, take her to a layby on a busy, but not mental road. Pop the boot, keep a tight hold or sit in the boot with her, everytime she shows fear, ignore it, the more relaxed she becomes, talk nicely to her, give her a pat, bit of cheese or chicken etc.
Eventually, take her out and have a dawdle around the layby. Then move it to the park or wherever.

Also be careful not to over-fuss or feel stressy yourself when she is having kittens, it is the easiest thing in the world to do but both will reinforce that she was right to be scared.

Offer her something else to eat apart from the doorway, and has she a crate/den/safe place?

Good luck, and thanks for doing right by her :)
 
Thanks guys, all I want to do when she is shaking is give her a cuddle, so perhaps not the best thing to do! I guess she'd have settled better somewhere where there were lots of traffic when she moved and she probably wouldn't have noticed, the odd car / lorry / tractor is probably worse.

I shall continue being patient and perhaps start frequenting laybys :D

They share a room which contains their beds which I would consider their safe place, and she spends the vast majority of her time in there in her bed.

If someone could just tell her that she has a home for life and nobody is going to hurt her, it'd make our time easier! Even Tigger (the dog) can't get through to her :)
 
BTW CC - she does have more than wooden door frames to eat! She has a chewey bone which she has been chomping for a while and lots of toys which they haven't a clue what to do with
 
I thought you might :)

I am a cruel heartless biatch who keeps her dogs outside but they would still rather eat bits of kennels than expensive chewy things :p

If we could only talk to them properly, oh how easy things would be, especially when my boy starts eating...himself...
 
Although granted, greyhounds always look like they need a good meal, and have a depressed expression about them!

Your poor guy sounds underfed, fancy having to resort to chewing yourself for food :p

If only I could dog whisper.... but then my hounds can't hear me shout them let alone whisper to them... :)
 
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