Can someone remind me of the "good bits" of dog ownership please

[TwyfordM]

.. Because at this moment i would cheerfully beat my dog around the head with a big stick! (i wouldn't really before someone jumps on me ..)

He's currently walking round the house whining, whinging, destroying whatever he can get his paws on and generally driving me up the flipping wall! He doesn't need to go out (only wants to check if the gates are open so he can leg it im assuming ..) he's been fed today (at the normal time ..) has an endless supply of toys to play with, plenty of water, his own sofa. Has been out several times today. So why oh why is he still playing up!?
He knows the boundaries, but day after day when he's in one of his tantrums he will test them. He's not allowed in the bedrooms but keeps running straight into them to wind me up (have actually had to put on child gates as he will force open shut doors) he usually doesn't touch the bin but he's just come trotting through with a load of rubbish so that's now had to be put up higher. He's knocked all my clean washing off the radiators with his pacing, everytime i walk past his bed hes launching off and into the back of my legs and knocking me flying (my balance is horrific!) and I've just about had enough of the whinge whinge whinge noise he's making!
This is all because my mums not home (she's the soft one, im the one that doesn't let him get away with murder)
God forbid the poor dog be left with me!

This is also the dog who has absolutely zero recall no matter what you do/where you are no matter how many times I've attempted to train him. After ending up on a main road for the second time we had to call it a day.
Will not be left alone (there wouldn't be a house to come back to believe me!)
Will steal whatever he can get in his gob, scare our elderly cat for no reason other than he can and jumps on anybody who comes to visit so their entire visit is spent with us telling a certain dog to lie down/go to bed.

I have quite honestly reached a point where i have no love for him anymore and as much as i hate to admit it i don't even like him, he's from a rescue so could theoretically go back to them to be rehomed
It was me who wanted a dog originally, did alot of research into the right breed, went through rescues to ensure the right match and spent a long time convincing my mum (still live at home)
Have spent a long time training him (to see it all go down the drain the minute my mum returns home)

Amazingly now its my mum who loves him and wont even consider him being rehomed

He's put me off dogs for life frankly.
Im sticking to cats in the future!

 

[blackcob]

What breed of dog is he?

 

[EllenJay]

The good bits about taking on a rescue dog is when you realise they trust you. It seems like you have a long way to go with this little dog before you have earnt his trust - but when you get there you will realise how great being owned by a dog really is.

 

[PorkChop]

He sounds like quite a handful!

Nothing helpful to add I'm afraid!

 

[vieshot]

The good bits?

Like when you wake up in the morning to an upside down puppy with her bum in your face? Or when you fall asleep with them snuggled in your arms? Or when you bring them in wet and they roll around the floor like lunatics trying to dry off? Or when your out on the horse with them and you can have a good race? Or when they have a full on conversation with you and you realise you prefer their conversation to that of any human on the planet? Or how about when you have been at work all day and you get in and they are soooo excited to see you? Or when someone comes to the door late at night and they growl ready to have your back at the stranger who has turned up out of hours? Or when they wag their tail so vigorously that it smacks you in the face? Or when you lay on the floor and they all play bundles? Or when your on the forest and you see a squirrel and you tell them to 'see em off' and they take chase?

 

[MissJael]

Mine test my patience daily. But then Casper (bichon without the brains he was born with him) does something so stupid it makes me laugh. Generally the raucous welcome any time I walk in the room is enough to remind me why I spend silly amounts of time and money on them.

 

[TwyfordM]

What breed of dog is he?

Greyhound - but he wouldn't even chase

 

[TwyfordM]

The good bits about taking on a rescue dog is when you realise they trust you. It seems like you have a long way to go with this little dog before you have earnt his trust - but when you get there you will realise how great being owned by a dog really is.

We've had him 3 years, if anything he's got worse now he trusts that we wont throttle him!
And not so little - try 40kgs greyhound!

 

[CAYLA]

He sounds like fun to me ....I would maybe swap those toys for something more stimulating like big juicy bones/pigs ears/stuffed kongs.

 

[TwyfordM]

The good bits?

Like when you wake up in the morning to an upside down puppy with her bum in your face?

He cant be trusted in the bedrooms anymore!

Or when you fall asleep with them snuggled in your arms?

Bit big for that anyway!

Or when you bring them in wet and they roll around the floor like lunatics trying to dry off?

He doesn't - demands to be towel dried or starts whining/barking until he gets it!

Or when your out on the horse with them and you can have a good race?

He wouldn't come back!

Or when they have a full on conversation with you and you realise you prefer their conversation to that of any human on the planet?

This usually consists of him burping in my face then going to bed lying down with his bum towards me and farting!

Or how about when you have been at work all day and you get in and they are soooo excited to see you?
Don't even get a hello glare!

when someone comes to the door late at night and they growl ready to have your back at the stranger who has turned up out of hours?

He usually wags his tail and tries to make friends

Or when they wag their tail so vigorously that it smacks you in the face?

He does do this to be fair to him!

Or when you lay on the floor and they all play bundles? Or when your on the forest and you see a squirrel and you tell them to 'see em off' and they take chase?

I don't think he realises what cute is, and that squirrel wouldn't stand a chance - he's worse than a cat when it comes to bringing back dead animals. Any bird that lands in our garden has a death wish!

Keep trying with the reminding! That's all the things i wanted with a dog but unfortunately haven't had :

 

[TwyfordM]

He sounds like fun to me ....I would maybe swap those toys for something more stimulating like big juicy bones/pigs ears/stuffed kongs.

Want him?

Has all 3, he usually just ends up cutting his gums on the pigs ears though - resulting in more whinging/glares!

 

[{97702}]

I've owned and known of dozens of greyhounds and not one of them has displayed the behaviour you describe - I would suggest you look at the way you treat the dog which results in him behaving like that, it is not greyhound behaviour at all

 

[ibot]

Its actually my baby birthday today he is now two. I have to say he went throu a stage when he was teething when I could have given him back he treated my youngest son as one of his brothers. So my poor son had scratches and bites all over him, but he never minded loved him to bits.
But now I have a truly wonderful pup. he comes riding with me and loves it. he is great with the kids and my horse. He is quite energetic but then he gets over tired and then a bit of a tit but he is my tit.
I think you need help its not going to be doing either of you any good to keep on in this situation

good luck
x

 

[TwyfordM]

I've owned and known of dozens of greyhounds and not one of them has displayed the behaviour you describe - I would suggest you look at the way you treat the dog which results in him behaving like that, it is not greyhound behaviour at all

I know, greyhound seemed like the ideal dog for us as time/my health means i cant have a dog that needs hours of exercise. Its not like he's kept in 4 walls all day. He goes out several times a day for short walks, to my nans when i go to the yard so gets a change of scenery. Its like he's constantly hyper, everytime someone moves/theres a noise outside he's up and whinging. He's also waking me up at 6 every morning which isn't improving my affections for him, he's let out at midnightish every night and i get up at half 6. If i ignore him he starts barking and there's a baby in the house so cant leave him to whinge. Its like being held to ransom by a flipping dog! If he doesn't get what he wants he has a tantrum

 

[Alec Swan]

Greyhound - but he wouldn't even chase

We've had him 3 years, if anything he's got worse now he trusts that we wont throttle him!
And not so little - try 40kgs greyhound!

As both his life, and yours, sound to be a misery, then in your shoes, I'd put him to sleep. He's obviously got the better of you, and despite the advice which you may receive, as he's gained the upper hand, a reversal is highly unlikely. Greyhounds, generally, are perhaps the easiest dog ever, a fool could care for them. Every now and then one comes along which through no real fault of its owner, forms opinions and attitudes which have little in the way of rationality attached to them, and they'll make theirs, and their owners life, a misery. Straightening out such kinks, assuming that it's achievable, are very rarely long-lasting, and most unacceptable behaviour is very easily reverted back to. Sorry, but you've asked for an opinion, and that's mine!

Alec.

 

[NinjaPony]

Sounds like a bit of a nightmare, I'd get a behaviour specialist out and get their opinion before you do anything. It might be that he is suited to another sort of home.
The good bits of dog ownership are many for me. Walking down the stairs and getting jumped on by my fluffy papillon puppy, watching her ears flap when she runs, her snuggling in my lap for a cuddle, watching her roll around after a bath, teaching her fun new tricks and seeing her intelligence in action, the weird and hilarious positions she falls asleep in, when she lets me know people are at the door plus how good she is with my cat and the horses.
I've only had her since august, she's my first dog and I wouldn't be without her. She can be a pain, she can bark when bored, chews things, is the sock/slipper/tissue/glove thief extraordinaire and can be pretty chewy but its all worth it in the end.

 

[Copperpot]

I love having dogs! I've found rescue dogs to be the most rewarding once they trust you. One of mine is trying his best to annoy me lately. He's 8 months old and has realised he's a big boy now and his hunting instinct has kicked in and his recall which was great, his disappeared. He also has taken to chewing up my payslips which he gets off the table. Really most of the cheeky stuff makes me laugh.

I love coming home to waggy tails and happy faces. However bad my day has been, my dogs can always cheer me up. My staffy in particular never fails to put a smile on my face. He always knows how I'm feeling and when I need a cuddle.

 

[2Greys]

He sounds a bit of a anxious lad tbh, if he gets so wound up when your mums left him behind. How old is he?

Plenty of greyhounds don't have sufficient recall to go offlead safely in unsecure places, but are much easier to tire out walking than many breeds.

I miss my mischievous, chatty, attention seeking greyhound, he did eventually mature to be more trustworthy though still had a naughty streak, would make me laugh though. All 3 of my dogs do my head in sometimes, but I love em, especially cuddling up on the sofa with them & hearing their soft dream barks always makes me smile.

 

[TwyfordM]

He sounds a bit of a anxious lad tbh, if he gets so wound up when your mums left him behind. How old is he?

Plenty of greyhounds don't have sufficient recall to go offlead safely in unsecure places, but are much easier to tire out walking than many breeds.

I miss my mischievous, chatty, attention seeking greyhound, he did eventually mature to be more trustworthy though still had a naughty streak, would make me laugh though. All 3 of my dogs do my head in sometimes, but I love em, especially cuddling up on the sofa with them & hearing their soft dream barks always makes me smile.

He's 4 now, we got him at 18 months old.
Its not the typical greyhound chasing and ending up somewhere no recall situation - that i could understand! He purposefully jogs just ahead of you and ignores you calling him back, oh and stops, watches then shoots off the minute you get close enough and all the way to the park gates and slips out, past our front door which is right outside the gates and wanders off up the road. He only started doing this in the last year or so, before that his recall was perfect

Its almost like a switch goes in his brain and he goes into barsteward mode. You can see it in his eyes.

Sometimes he's perfect, but the "barsteward" mode times are becoming alot more frequent.

Alec - thanks, its something I've thought about before, obviously my mum would be 100% against it. But glad to know im not the only one thinking it, I've cut all ties with this dog but unfortunately living in the same home i still have to deal with it Hate to think of doing that to any animal, love all of mine to bits and it scares me when i think that he's driven me to feel that way.

My horse would probably be a better behaved house pet

 

[twiggy2]

sounds like a dog that needs strict routine, lots of excersise and crate training to me, your dog is Not doing stuff to annoy you or wind you up-they don't think like that. it sounds very much like you mum has left the house the dog has got anxious,your stress/energy levels have risen due to dogs behaviour annoying you, this in turn has increased the dogs anxiety/stress levels as the dog now has no calming influence to help him feel safe.

contact CAYLA on here for a crate guide and get some help with tackling the dogs behaviour (and your feelings towards the dog), sounds like it will take a fair bit of work and effort to get things straightened out and a bit of trust and love back in the house but if you want to get things straight i reckon it would be doable.

some greyhounds are high energy and many have very high stress levels, they are not all chilled out laid back couch potatoes-try and adaptil diffuser too it really works for my lurcher at times of stress.

good luck

 

[Dobermonkey]

He just sounds bored to me and is making his own entertainment?

If I'm busy doing something in the house and the boy hasn't been out yet he will get up to all sorts to try and draw attention to himself and get you to join in.

I'd walk his legs off and see how you get on and maybe interact with him more so you are ;fun bobby' not that miserable sod who just glares at him and is dull as dish water (his words, not mine )

So you didnt get what 'you' wanted well you gotta suck it up butter cup cause it sounds like hes staying put.

Stop hating and embrace the grey its not his fault hes a bit spesh

 

[Crugeran Celt]

It sounds like you have a very bored dog to me. Mine are walked three times a day but if for some reason they can't be the young one will do exactly what yours is doing. Walk, walk and then walk him again and I bet you will see a massive difference. Also is his desire to run out and also his lack of recall down to the fact that he is not having enough exercise.

 

[Dobiegirl]

To me he sounds like a dog with separation anxiety that has never been addressed.,and under exercised, get yourself a long line so he can have a good run around without him bumming off. Greyhounds are terrible whingers and are not the brightest of dogs but they make up for it in other ways by being very loving It also sounds like you mum is his world and gets anxious when she is not around which again points me to SA.

 

[{97702}]

To me he sounds like a dog with separation anxiety that has never been addressed.,and under exercised, get yourself a long line so he can have a good run around without him bumming off. Greyhounds are terrible whingers and are not the brightest of dogs but they make up for it in other ways by being very loving It also sounds like you mum is his world and gets anxious when she is not around which again points me to SA.

Exactly that DG you got there before I could post it Hoover would be like this if I let him be - but I dont let him do it. OP you are pandering to his every need, so he is getting more and more demanding and pushing the boundaries? I would strongly recommend re-homing him via the charity you got him from, it doesnt sound like he is suited to your needs at all & would be much happier in a different sort of environment

 

[lexiedhb]

Such a shame that you"cut all lties with the dog" who lives in the same house as you instead of addressing his separation anxiety, and actually putting in a bit of effort to help said dog.

 

[RLS]

The good bits?

Like when you wake up in the morning to an upside down puppy with her bum in your face? Or when you fall asleep with them snuggled in your arms? Or when you bring them in wet and they roll around the floor like lunatics trying to dry off? Or when your out on the horse with them and you can have a good race? Or when they have a full on conversation with you and you realise you prefer their conversation to that of any human on the planet? Or how about when you have been at work all day and you get in and they are soooo excited to see you? Or when someone comes to the door late at night and they growl ready to have your back at the stranger who has turned up out of hours? Or when they wag their tail so vigorously that it smacks you in the face? Or when you lay on the floor and they all play bundles? Or when your on the forest and you see a squirrel and you tell them to 'see em off' and they take chase?

you forgot:
when they eat the fresh cat ***** out of the litter tray and then throw it up on your bed in the middle of the night! lol I do LURVE doggies!

 

[{97702}]

Such a shame that you"cut all lties with the dog" who lives in the same house as you instead of addressing his separation anxiety, and actually putting in a bit of effort to help said dog.

I completely agree Lexie - it makes me so cross when someone will not either put the effort in or rehome a rescue dog to someone who will put the effort in. He should never have ended up like this, as I said before OP it is down to your/your families treatment of him that has made him like this

 

[TwyfordM]

Such a shame that you"cut all lties with the dog" who lives in the same house as you instead of addressing his separation anxiety, and actually putting in a bit of effort to help said dog.

3 years of single handedly trying to turn around a dog while the rest of the family undermines you everytime can leave you feeling like this.
I appreciate its not just his fault totally i know exactly who the blame lies with but no matter WHO the blame lies with i still have to deal with the fall out daily.
He wont be going anywhere unfortunately, even though a perfect home for him has been offered in the past, and im sure the charity he came from would be more than happy for him to go live with a person he has respect for, he absolutely adores and has two fully trained gun dogs. But again im not the one standing in the way of that. I've had just about enough of the situation I am stuck in but am currently unable to do anything about it!

Again i can understand why he glares at me as im the "bad guy" but what else am i supposed to do? Let him walk all over me too!? Id rather be ignored than that.

He IS walked several times a day, unfortunately just for 10/20 mins rather than hours. He gets to run around in the garden, play with all the neighbours dogs and have a good blast.

Im not saying he's the most fulfilled/happy dog in the world but its not as if he spends his life in a box either.

 

[pippixox]

how big is your garden? do you know anywhere near by where there is an enclosed space he can run around in? sounds like he needs a good sprint to use up energy, in different places, with new smells, not just the same garden. not meant to- but at night when fenced playgrounds are empty these are good enclosed spaces! i agree with others that he is bored. he also needs to learn to be more independent- not constantly attention seeking. if he trashes your house have you not considered crate training?
I don't think anyone is suggesting he lives his life in a box, but you haven't actually said what raining you have done.
i think as you are stressed he picks up on it, the more worked up you are the worse he is probably. dogs are amazing at picking up on things like emotions

 

[Spring Feather]

The good bits of dog ownership? The whole 14 years they spend with you. But I worship my dogs, not everyone is cut out to be a dog owner.