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Post by lindsay on Aug 26, 2008 11:22:21 GMT
help i have taken on a retired racing greyhound shes three years old and terrified of every thing including people i have had her just over a week and shes starting to follow me around the house where at first she hid away i took her out on the lead only to have her go into a complete panic when someone slammed a car door her coller gave and she ran i managed to catch her i have bought a harness but at the moment she wont go over the step shes a lot more relaxed in the house and quit happy to lie next to me on the setee and she is starting to venture out into the garden for short spells i have been told i have to force her to go out but is this the right thing to do i have found out a little about her background and apparently she came from a peticulaly cruel owner along with 4 or 5 other greyhounds she was in the best condition as others had broken ribs from the kicking they used to recieve from him i wont give up on her but could do with some suggestions as to how to handle this
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Post by Johnny on Aug 27, 2008 7:09:43 GMT
Hi & welcome to the boards.
Just a few questions to get an idea as to the background relating to this -
1. Is this the first dog you've ever had?
2. How long have you had her?
3. Did the dog come from a reputable rehoming organisation (eg-Dogs Trust, RGT, Kerry's, NASA etc)?
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Post by lindsay on Aug 27, 2008 18:06:48 GMT
no this isnt the first dog i have had but it is the first greyhound i have had her for 2 weeks and got her through the greyhound trust shes 3 years old today she whent to the top of the garden by herself thats the first time
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Post by lindsay on Aug 29, 2008 10:51:09 GMT
hi thought i would give you a quick update on poppy my nervous greyhound i have had her 2 weeks know and have noticed a slight improvement she is going up to the top of the garden b y herself or with my little yorkie and taking notice of things and although she still wont go outside , i have pulled back my net curtains and pulled the settee up to the window and today she has been sat up there looking out watching traffic and people go by i hope this is going to help her get used to every day things
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Post by Johnny on Aug 29, 2008 19:43:46 GMT
Taking on a dog that has been abused can be a challenge. It's a long process, and requires much love, understanding, and above all - patience. You now know that this dog has these special needs. As you've only had her for a short while you will have to be brutally honest with yourself now, and ascertain whether you have the patience and neccsary skill to give this greyhound what she needs. It's impossible to say whether she will ever overcome her nervousness completely, although as she settles in, she will definately become a lot more confident in the home environment. The only problems you may face, is when you take her outside the home, and out into the big world. Then, loud noises (such as car doors banging), could bring back that "flight" mechanism that she's had instilled within her, due to being previously owned by an abuser, who should (if there was any justice in the world) be serving a prison sentence. On reflection, if you feel the challenge is too much, then to be honest, it's probably best to go back to the Greyhound Trust you got her from, and replace her with another that would suit your needs more. The dog can go to someone else who is perhaps more experienced with dogs that have been abused. If you do decide to keep hold of you, then the very best of luck. I usually find that the dog's who have suffered the most abuse, are usually the ones with the most love to give, once they gain the trust in you. Keep us updated with how you get along with her.  |
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Post by lindsay on Sept 2, 2008 11:46:45 GMT
oh what a welcome i was called into work to day to help out and was away a couple of hours when i got back she ran around like a puppy bouncing all over the place and her tail going ten to the dozen i cant part with this girl she loves me and i love her we will get there as i write this she is sat next to me with her chin resting on my head
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Post by blueeoghan on Sept 2, 2008 17:56:53 GMT
Hi Lindsay, Poppy sounds like she's making great progress, I've so far had 10 greyhounds 5 are still with me some have been nervous jellies who would quake at the slightest noise others tried to take over & rule the house. Take it from me it's far easier to give a nervous dog "time" & I mean give her time NEVER force her to do anything you will only make her worse, let her wander in the garden & gain confidence she does'nt need to go for a walk yet, when you think she's ready take her somewhere quiet so there's less to scare her.
In june 07 Mai joined my hound family she seamed ok at the rescue but when we got home she walked in & panicked,she cowered against the front door shaking. I left her there for a while & when she did'nt move put a nice comfortable bed infront of the door for her, she stayed there for 3 weeks (we used the backdoor) only moving for food, walks & to occasionally peer into different rooms, she found a dog bed in the sitting room & moved into it.
It took 9 months for her to stay in the lounge with us as the tv terrified her.
She was also terrified of men, children, loud voices & any sudden movements, although still nervous she has improved a lot.
I love Mai to bits she has made so much progress
Good Luck with Poppy
(Last week Mai was diagnosed with bone cancer so for us everyday is a bonus)
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Post by lindsay on Sept 4, 2008 14:49:03 GMT
thanks for your reply im so glad i found this club so that i can get input from people like you who are more experienced with these beutiful dogs it makes me feel that im getting some of it right thanks again and give mai a cuddle from me she shares the same name as my grandaughter and the same spelling
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Post by Johnny on Sept 6, 2008 6:46:24 GMT
Are you coming along to our dog show tomorrow?
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Post by lindsay on Sept 7, 2008 19:12:57 GMT
wish us luckhave loved to come to the show but live in cornwall so too far to travel but after i finished work at lunch time i decided today was the day and got poppy in the car and took her out we whent to a field that i thought would be empty but the sun had brought people out she very reluctantly got out of the car and did a full circuit of the field this took about fifteen minutes and she was very relieved to get back in the car but we did it will be doing it again tomorrow wish us luck
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Post by lindsay on Sept 18, 2008 14:47:16 GMT
nearly two weeks since the last post and poppy is doing really well i whent to see the animal behavourist at my vets surgery and had a long chat about poppy she gave me lots of advice and told me it was okay not to push her to far to soon she also gave me some capsules for her to take about an hour before we go for the walk theyr not a drug theyr a natural product called zylkene they contain bitchs milk and work by making the dog feel calm and safe i was sceptical but i must admit shes so much better shes walking without being pulled and last night even relaxed enough to drop her head down to have a sniff as she walked along i know its still early days but i can see light at the end of the tunnel
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Post by crcsnail on Sept 20, 2008 20:26:05 GMT
good for u lindsay  we have had our ex racing greyhound for nearly a year and a half . we wouldnt be without him now.check threads for piccys of rocco .definatly worth all the time and patience u put in for them . although we are dreading firework night again  does anyone make doggy ear muffs  any chance of a piccy ? |
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Post by lindsay on Sept 21, 2008 18:56:35 GMT
i will post a pic as soon as i get someone to show me how to do it i found your rocco hes gorgouse he looks like hes smiling poppy did a longer walk tonight we were out about 25 minutes shes only been doing about 10 she got a bit panicky towards the end but then she hasnt had the best of days as the grand children came for a while they are good and dont interfere with her but the fact they were in the house made her a bit nervy
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Post by lindsay on Sept 29, 2008 11:33:21 GMT
oh wish i had my camera handy to day , i bought a couple of teddys from the charity shop a few days ago at the vets sugestion when i gave then to poppy she didnt seem very interested but to day she has carried them out into the garden and hadv a whale of a time throwing them up in the air and pouncing on them her tail was going like a windmill her confidence is growing daily [ but at the moment shes flat out on the settee]
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Post by Johnny on Sept 29, 2008 13:45:27 GMT
Our two love their toys, and we find them all over the place - usually on the bed, or somewhere we're bound to sit on them!
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Post by blueeoghan on Sept 29, 2008 23:51:59 GMT
sounds like Poppy's discovered the ultimate greyhound game "kill teddy"
Bryce had a 2ft teddy that he'd had for years this morning Finlay tried to take it off him, oh dear lots of growling, snarling, snatching & pulling. I got the others out of the way & stood & watched ..... r.i.p. teddy .... Finlay got an arm, Bryce got the body & I got kapok all over the lounge carpet
when you buy her teddys make sure they dont have plastic beans in their bums to make them sit up, if she chews it you'll have beans everywhere
Julia
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Post by lindsay on Oct 7, 2008 19:20:18 GMT
poppy,s a claptamaniac and shes stealing the most unusual things what ever im using she will take it as soon as she has the chance i put my knitting down for a minute while i checked the oven when i came back it had gone then to day i was in the kitchen and she came passed me i happened to spot something in her mouth it was my purse she took it up the garden and put it in a grow bag iv got my own live in burgler
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Post by lindsay on Oct 9, 2008 11:47:02 GMT
just reclaimed the remote control from poppy theres never a dull moment with her around
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Post by tanya1 on Oct 9, 2008 11:52:59 GMT
this is lovely to read her progress , please consider doing a booklet for other rehomers , this gives a valuable insight into the mental problems and issues behind the greys xx
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Post by lindsay on Oct 10, 2008 9:04:11 GMT
what a good idea i could start by keeping a diary i still have a lot to learn but i seem to learn daily from poppy, and i have experienced the worry and frustration of having a special needs dog so can sympathise with anyone in this situation you desperatly need to know that your not the only one with a dog like this and there is hope
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Post by crcsnail on Oct 10, 2008 16:49:15 GMT
yeh u should .i have also liked reading your progress keep up the good work. from the plantys |
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Post by Johnny on Oct 10, 2008 17:51:17 GMT
Yes, well done & good luck. |
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Post by lindsay on Oct 13, 2008 15:27:19 GMT
poppy has had two good walks the last two nights we have been taking her out regular but she never enjoys the walk since she bolted we have walked her on a martingale collar which i held and a harness which my partner held the night before last i thought it might be that my partner was to close ,as i have said she is fearful of men so i took both leads and my partner moved further away bingo she walked all round the field i was so proud of her when we got home she had a bag of her fave treats liver cake i make this myself its so easy put a pound of raw liver into the food processer and wiz add a clove of garlic three eggs and grated carrot give a good wiz pour into mixing bowl and add whole meal flour stir in to resemble cake mixture put in microwave-on full power for ten minutes cut into small pieces and bag up and freeze till needed poppy loves it
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Post by lindsay on Oct 14, 2008 13:04:34 GMT
oh i forgot add a little oil to the mix and oil the dish , anyway thats the lawn gone poppy has played kill teddy so much running round and round my lawn resembles a mud pit , we have decided to turn it into a patio i wont need to use the lawn mower and it will be so much better for poppys nails and i wont get the trail of mud through the kitchen into the lounge and on the sofas bless her
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Post by Johnny on Oct 15, 2008 18:14:06 GMT
poppy has had two good walks the last two nights we have been taking her out regular but she never enjoys the walk since she bolted we have walked her on a martingale collar which i held and a harness which my partner held the night before last i thought it might be that my partner was to close ,as i have said she is fearful of men so i took both leads and my partner moved further away bingo she walked all round the field i was so proud of her when we got home she had a bag of her fave treats liver cake i make this myself its so easy put a pound of raw liver into the food processer and wiz add a clove of garlic three eggs and grated carrot give a good wiz pour into mixing bowl and add whole meal flour stir in to resemble cake mixture put in microwave-on full power for ten minutes cut into small pieces and bag up and freeze till needed poppy loves it Wow - Poppy's really living it up. It's a good job our two can't read this thread - they'll be heading round to be adopted by you!  Glad to hear things are going well. |
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we have had our ex racing greyhound for nearly a year and a half . we wouldnt be without him now.check threads for piccys of rocco .definatly worth all the time and patience u put in for them . although we are dreading firework night again 
does anyone make doggy ear muffs 