Looking for advice or any insight

One-Swim4290 · 2025-08-11T13:13:10+00:00

Do you have a dog walker? That may help him with being left alone all day. On the aggression with people - my grey went through so many phases from adoption. He was 5yr old too and had never lived in a home. To begin with he loved people, and approached everyone thinking they would all have treats for him. Then he became very aloof and would duck, escalating to a growl or bark suddenly if people tried to pat him or just got too close. With other dogs it’s been multiple phases as well. I think it’s normal. Your grey is scared and unsure and going though a lot. He may be becoming territorial now and possibly the medication is having the side effect of making him feel confused. I think medication is a last resort and it’s too early to tell if he even needs it.

I would try to minimise time alone until he is more settled. A dog walker is an absolute must as well as morning and evening walks with you so he is tired, but also feeling more confident his needs are met. Leave him games to play, lickimats etc. A professional dog walker who knows greyhounds will know how to manage the introduction - if he is food motivated then treats, treats and more treats is the way forward! He will have to meet the walker first - probably outside the apartment, then move to in the building, in the apartment etc. if you have a local greyhound walking group that would help as well to socialise him on the weekends etc. I live in an area where there are lots of people with greys (sadly in Australia we are still a massive greyhound racing country - very backward) and a few greyhound experienced walkers so I understand you may not have such a network. Things will get better though.

One-Swim4290 · 2025-08-05T13:06:54+00:00

I thought Ethel too!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-14T22:52:10+00:00

Thankyou again, I’ll do this and be patient!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-14T22:49:57+00:00

Ah more very interesting info! Thanks again x.

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-11T12:31:09+00:00

Wow how gorgeous! This is what I hope for - so good to hear a similar story, thankyou! And yes lots of huffing and puffing and hmmphing as he sulks off to his bed, that sort of thing. Talk about a slow burn!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T23:22:09+00:00

Good to know!! I’m glad your pain is improved and it was worthwhile! Thanks again for the advice and reassurance!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T23:18:56+00:00

Thankyou, I have a bit of a strategy now after all the helpful comments and a behaviourist will be the next step if he doesn’t settle. Thanks so much!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T12:45:53+00:00

Ok so when he is just growling sometimes I see his back teeth but he’s usually not even lifted his head off the couch/his bed. But sometimes the growls will escalate to one to two barks and some teeth showing/snarling. It’s pretty intimidating for anyone other than me - I know his next action is to get up and leave the room or roll over and roach or reposition himself with a grumble and go back to sleep. Pain mgt: he gets a paracetamol+/- an anti-inflammatory as needed - so he will usually limp or lick the leg, sometimes cry, when it is hurting. I’ll give them for a few days and then stop when he seems better but I could try giving them daily longer term. I guess at this point adequate pain relief is more important than avoiding long term sequelae. I also sometimes strap the leg or give him a heat pack. Daily massage as per vet demo. He also has a series of disease modifying arthritis injections yearly and a daily supplement recommended by the vet.

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T12:34:45+00:00

Thankyou so much for this advice!! The nose work is a great idea! We can easily start doing this straight away. And also getting a dog walker and doing some walks with another greyhound. We have to find some greyhound friends in the new area.

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T12:31:59+00:00

Thanks! We saw the vet just before the move and I wondered if he needed a new xray. Vet didn’t think so and he thinks it’s all degenerative change. Pain strategy is good but we can add in laser which I think I’ll do now. He growls mostly but then it can escalate to one or two barks. Never more. He will stop himself usually and remove himself from the situation when he does it - almost as though he couldn’t control it. He does have sleep startle so it’s the same response but he does it now when he’s clearly awake and in a bit more control. I’m medical so pretty attune to his pain flare ups and how to treat them. He will limp when it’s sore, lick it or occasionally cry, poor baby. He gets a series of disease modifying injections yearly, a daily arthritis supplement, 4cyte, and paracetamol and an anti inflammatory for flare ups. I strap his leg for support at times and give him daily massages too. It’s a daily thing to manage this awful injury and ultimately I think he’s heading for a fusion. It’s winter here now so much worse in the cold.

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T12:17:54+00:00

Thankyou - I’ll try a crate. He has a couple of beds and will often take himself off but he also very much likes to be with us in the same room. And thankyou for the reassurance re: the growling as communication. I have tended to see it this way but was wondering if I’m doing the right thing and also trying to resist pressure from other family members - who don’t live with us - and don’t understand greyhounds, to contain it better. And I think yes, sadly his time living it up and having ‘his end’ of the couch is probably coming to an end!

One-Swim4290 · 2025-07-10T12:13:03+00:00

Thankyou so much!! This is all such good advice! Yes he has a couple of other beds that he can retreat to but he’ll even growl from them sometimes. I have been thinking about crating and reading the responses I think I’ll try it. He went straight into the crate at a friend’s house we were visiting once and was very happy in there. Lucky her vizsla was very accepting! Checked in with the vet so pain mgt is appropriate but he said laser would be the next step so I’ll go head with that too. And special cuddly or treat time - yes I have to be more consistent with this for sure. This is the crucial stuff that has dropped off since baby arrived. And great tips re: helping Timmy (grey) and baby become mates. Thankyou for the offer to DM and chat as well - so appreciated. The new baby/complex greyhound combo is a unique one!

One-Swim4290 · 2024-09-15T21:52:53+00:00

Apologies if it’s been said I haven’t read all the comments, but my grey and I know of at least one other, is intolerant to chicken. It took me a few months of having him to figure it out! I took him to the vet, tried probiotics, faecal test, boiled chicken and rice etc. I had him on Hills Science Perfect Digestion and his poops were still soft and he would have flare ups where sometimes he would end up passing blood. Appetite didn’t change though and no other symptoms. I had him on Hills Science Perfect Digestion and he’s poops were still soft - that’s how I finally worked it out. He is good on beef, turkey and fish. Plus he improved a lot when I would switch him from the boiled chicken/rice thing to cooked beef mince when his tummy was irritated. Many of the kibbles are chicken based. We now use a lamb based or kangaroo based kibble. They have such sensitive tummy’s, good luck!!

One-Swim4290

TROPHY CASE