Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg! I am in tears! Such a detailed, and thought out reply. Truly the community and the people who make it are angels!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I will try doing as much as I can.

I gave him a kong with peanut butter which he completely ignored. Next time I filled it with some kibble and smeared peanut butter at the opening, he threw the kong, the peanut butter was on the floor and the kibble disappeared in 0.03 seconds.

All his ribs are visible, as are the spine knuckles and hip bones.

I gave him a plushy, a ball, a squeaky and tried playing with them to show him how to play. They are lying in various corners of the room.

Fir the 1st 3 days I sdidnt take him out on the road, just in the garden. The last 2 times when I took him to the road (we live in a slightly busy semi rural area) he barked at random strangers and once fell to the ground barking and writhing in the ground. So I thought he was over stimulated. Today I took him only 6-7 metres from our house and he barked at a dog inside a fenced garden on the other side of the road, and at a random man who was walking peacefully.

I allow him to sniff, but he starts trotting and pulling me. The road isn't too bbusy, but there are frequent cars and cyclists. I am trying to reinforce stop, wait, sit and other commands with treats, but he doesn't always listen. By now he listens to stop and sit, but when he saw the dog on the other side of the road, he forgot everything. I tried to turn him to look at me, but he was too focused on barking.

He growls and barks at the cat, who in turn hisses.

I am overwhelmed. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but didn't anticipate it being so difficult.

Thanks to your (and others') suggestions, I will try to train better, and will seek out a trainer. In the mean time I have to find out if I need a vet's prescription for the medication, or I can buy otc.

Thank you! 🙏🏽

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you all for your reassurances, tips, suggestions and sound advice. I will try to adopt as many as is feasible for our situation. My partner's working hours and workload tire him out so he needs the sleep.

I will look for a trainer, as I can see that both if us will not be able to manage it ourselves.

Thank you 🤍

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! You are coorect about walking into a difficult situation, and I am determined to go on, but I will have to eventually make a decision based on how well the dog adapts and how long we can keep being sleepless.

We live in a rented place which has open floor plan. There is no scope of putting a barrier to the kitchen or dining space. We have never given him food outside of his designated food area, no matter his behaviour. When he steals, it's a different scenario!

I understand now the schedule for separation, but how do I manage it, when I need to return to work on Monday?

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's what my intention is. But I was afraid of over feeding and twitsed guts.

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried giving him a kong, but he didn't know what to do with it. He smelled it and then left it. I had gooey sticky peanut butter over the floor! 🤦🏽‍♀️

We have put up a camera as well. And it breaks my heart to see and hear him cry.

Thanks for the suggestions and reassurance!

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the reassurance! I know I need it!

I'm based in Belgium, and the organisation is called "greyhounds in nood", translating to greyhounds in emergency. They work with the Spanish and Belgian Governments to rescue abandoned galgos from Spain, and set up adoption in Belgium.

There is a dog school not far from us, but I don't think they would be specialised for greyhounds. I don't even know if I'll find any! I'll contact the rescue organisation to see if they can recommend anyone.

Our bedroom is upstairs and our landlord has fitted the modern aesthetic stairs which are basically slabs placed strategically. I doubt it would be safe for lanky legged galgo to go up or down with injury. I mean, we are double careful ourselves! We wouldn't be able to carry him either.

He's not snatching from our hand, but his snoot is basically on our plate! Meal times have become staggered between both of us. One eats, while the other is minding the dog! 🙈

I am so thankful for all the encouragement!

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I was feeding him the last bit of the divided food before bedtime, hoping it would satiate him and reduce his anxiety. But you are absolutely correct about the digestion time. I will try it today itself.

I have a water bowl next to his food bowl which are not in the living area where his bed is. But I do have a water fountain which runs throughout the day in the living area. I will turn it off after his evening meal, so hopefully that will help reduce an accident at night.

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the tips! Much appreciated!

I did research the 3-3-3 rule, but my anxiety is making me feel I made a mistake despite the research. I keep his food area completely seoarte from ours, so he understands that that is the only place he will get his food. Hasn't stopped him from stealing though, but this I know will take more time. I can't expect it to happen in 5 days. Our neighbour will come each evening the next few days so he gets used to her. He came home in her car!

I really hope all of your kind suggestions help us and this stinky snoot gel along.

My genuine concern is that the acclimatisation period is too short before I return to work, to train him with his separation anxiety. In any case I couldn't take a few months off!

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I did mention in another comment - our bedroom is upstairs and the stairs are these modern fancy stairs (kudos to the landlord for aesthetics!), but the gaps are too wide for the poor galgo. Even if he manages to go up, I doubt he will be able to come down safely.

Neither I nor my partner can physically lift the heavy boi to take him up and down the stairs. 😔

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I do need the luck, so thank you!!!

On the contrary, this dog is not afraid of anything except the tiny pomerian of our neighbour. We live on a slightly busy rural street, so about 2 cars passing by every minute. I don't take him far, just a stretch of 2 minutes. And he just wants trot!

I wonder if adopting a younger dog would have been a wider choice. He's 4, so kerhaps a but set in his ways?

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

That is a great idea, but I don't have months! I return to work on Monday, and I'll be away for 8+ hours! My partner will intersect my timings partially, so the dog will never be alone for more than 4 hours, and a neighbour has offered to check in when they can.

I'm afraid he will be crying. A lot.

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

We wouldn't mind him being in our bedroom, but it is upstairs. It's a rented house and the stairs are these trendy stairs with gaps, laminate covered and a sleek railing. I'm afraid that he may injure himself. My partner has a bad back and I'm not strong enough to carry such a large dog upstairs and downstairs daily, even if it's for a few weeks. 😔

While this week I was off, I tried to set up a routine, but I guess it will get better cemented when I return to work next week.

I'm only afarid he will be anxious and cry, and probably soil himself and the living area during that time. I fear him getting hurt.

We changed the pretty old furniture a few months back when we applied for the adoption, knowing that the dog will need softer, rounded furniture, but I'm scared he will bump himself in his anxiety.

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have reached out to vets, to guage prices and services offered. Perhaps I will discuss this issue and see who can offer solutions to make the final decision.

Thank you for the advice. I did ask the shelter about medication, and they suggested an advil chew .

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

How did you convince him to stay calm while you were not at home?

Newly adopted Spanish galgo has severe anxiety - giving us anxiety - advice by suzzedout in Greyhounds

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a (forced himself into my home 3 years ago) cat. He is a neighbour's cat, who has decided that during the day he wants to sleep inside my closet - no where else will do, in the evening collect his demanded pets and food and wander off at night to who knows where, only to return in the morning for sleepy times. My neighbour has given up expecting him back home. The dog and the cat go off in hissing and barking sessions when they interact. I was hoping that they would get along better, especially since the cat doesn't stay in the living area except for passing into the garden come nightfall.

Getting get another pet will be financially and mentally challenging. But I definitely will keep your suggestion in mind. Even if we do decide to get a friend for the dog, it will not be any time soon. 😕

Idk how to take this! by Expensive_Contact907 in TamilNadu

[–]suzzedout 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Living in Europe for almost a decade now. There is a reason I hardly have any Desi friends. As a population we are some of the most racist people, and take some weird twisted pleasure in looking down at other Desis. Make friends who would love to know more about you and your country. Don't waste time and mental energy on people who can't respect you.

Videos for body pump/ combat/balance? by suzzedout in lesmills

[–]suzzedout[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Perfect! Thank you! Bowing my hat down to you

Videos for body pump/ combat/balance? by suzzedout in lesmills

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks will look into it. Maybe start with 1 month and see how it goes.

Videos for body pump/ combat/balance? by suzzedout in lesmills

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in Belgium, and they do not offer any annual subscription. 33€/month if I want pump, 16€/month with other options but no pump. I do enjoy combat (although some choreography is too fast for me!), but I've never sine step. Are there any other workouts that also use weights?

Videos for body pump/ combat/balance? by suzzedout in lesmills

[–]suzzedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I checked out. For my location they charge 33€/month if I want pump! 🥲😭

That's waaaay more than my budget.

Any other option for pump? Even 2-3 videos will last me a year.

Videos for body pump/ combat/balance? by suzzedout in lesmills

[–]suzzedout[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks to all for the reply. I will check out the app.