Naughty Greyhound!

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Chopandchips

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10 days ago my parents rehomed a rescue ex racing Greyhound, he's 7yrs old raced until he was 5 spent a year in a home but was returned as their circumstances changed (he was left at home alone and barked a lot).

He's quite a timid dog and a little stand offish which led to him taking a while to rehome, he didn't show any response to his name (Azure) so Mum changed it to Mouse ... he's been as good as gold except for one thing he keeps escaping! and has absolutely NO sense of recall - he trots off just far enough away so you can't catch him!

Is this something that will resolve? is he just testing the boundaries? Help!! Mum and Step-dad are at the end of their tether (both quite elderly with health probs) and are talking about sending him back as they are worried that he will cause an accident on the main road he crosses to get to his favorite destination :(

I know they need to make sure he doesn't escape in the first place but he is a total opportunist!

Any ideas??

xx
 
Other than working on his recall with treat based rewards, cheese and a long line:rolleyes: then there is not alot u can do, X racers have usually lived a life of kennels and on lead exercise only, so very little would have been done in regard to his recall, some are pretty wooden in nature, more so the ones that have been more like machines than dogs and never had any affection, so lots of calling him in the house and garden and treating him when he gets there, and lots of walks on the long line, let him saunter to the end, call him and if he does not come then a little tug to encourage him and reel him in then give him a treat and let him wonder off to the end of the lead again, this may help towards encouraging him back if he does escape.
Good on you for offering him a home and I hope they put a little training in and give him a chance it's really not his fault and they do make the lovliest of pets, and obs escape proofing, all us dog owners have to do it:rolleyes::D and where are the pics?:D
 
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Just to add after re-reading, it won't help that he is non to responsive to his name's:D so treat and calling his name frequently name will atleast familiarise his name with something positive:rolleyes::D
 
Now MrsO, we both know perfectly well that there is no such thing as a naughty greyhound dont we :p:D

All of my ex-racers have done this to some extent, I still remember the first time I let my first rescue off the lead (Jura, the brindle in my sig) - she just trotted very firmly off across the field in a straight line, completely ignored us, just kept on going :eek: In the end it was literally a case of running to get past her, then standing in her way to stop her, she was completely 'in the zone' and was oblivious to everything around her

Then of course you get the down right badly trained ones like Amy :p who just skip around just out of reach and wont be caught :p

I am so glad that your parents have given a greyhound a home, they are fabulous dogs, so fingers crossed that they can overcome this - if not, pass him my way :D
 
Lol ... never naughty, just misunderstood!! ;)

Cayla description of 'wooden' is quite apt, 'wooden and switched off' would describe him well, he is friendly but seems in a total world of his own (no bounding up for cuddles!)

Sounds very similar to your experience with (lovely looking) Jura, what's she like now? I've just rung Mum and she said he's been sat by her feet all afternoon as if butter wouldn't melt!

.... tomorrow's another day :D :D we'll take him for an extra long walk - tire the bugger out!

xx
 
Dont worry, they are absolutely all like that when they are re-homed, and sometimes you wonder what on earth you have done. They are distant and unresponsive, like they are in a world of their own - and lets face it, who can blame the poor things :(

You MUST stick with him though, they can take anything up to 6 months to relax 100% and show their full affectionate, friendly, loving personalities - please dont give up on him, it will come, he just needs time :)

Sadly Jura was PTS in 2008, but now I have Islay (black, on the left in my sig), Flick (2nd left, white with black splodges) and Amy (black, centre of my sig) who are just fantastic. Quite distinct in their personalities, but loving, affectionate and a joy to own.

Mouse will be like this too, I would say dont worry or stress, just let him be himself, and over the weeks he will relax more and more :):):)

Oh, and perhaps secure the garden so he cant get out :D:D:D:D but wearing him out sounds a great idea :D:D
 
azure.jpg


a picture of the beast!

Thanks Gazehound, it does help to know that this is common and his true personality will shine through soon :D - we will hang on in there

xx
 
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