To not know what to do about our dog?

[Whatsnewwithyou]

We got a two year old greyhound about a month ago and he has been very difficult to deal with. He's our first dog so we don't have any experience or really know what to do.

The main problem is that he's very anxious and cannot stand to be alone. We both work 3 days a week and have a dog walker on those days so he only had to be alone in the house 4 hours at a time as the dog walker comes at lunchtime and takes him out for an hour. The other days we are home most of the day.

At night he has to sleep by himself from 10pm to 5am. He can't sleep with us due to DH's asthma.

Greyhound whines loudly and barks in the night. He also chews on the door of the room he's in to try to get our and has almost ruined the door. From what the neighbours say he whines and barks quite a bit during the day when we're out. He also sometimes wees in the house but is getting better about that. The whining and barking don't seem to be getting better.

We've got him lots of toys and he has stuffed kongs with treats and a comfy bed and we leave the radio on low for him. I have bought him a crate which arrives tomorrow but I'm guessing he will just try to chew his way out of it.

He gets tons of walks as I'm up at 5am to walk him for 45 minutes then either I or the dog walker give him an hour walk at lunch time.

We are at our wits end with the whining and barking. I feel like getting him was a big mistake! AIBU to be thinking I can't cope with so little sleep? And that the neighbours certainly shouldn't have to. But what can I do????

[EC22]

He’s obviously a dog that can’t be left alone for as long as you leave him. If partner is allergic seems crazy to have got a dog though.

[smileplease6]

What's his history? Was he badly treated before? Can you buy a crate for him at night?

If you could look at dog minders during the day but that would be pricey. I'd give it a few more weeks and if things don't improve you should think about rehoming him to people who are there all the time as he sounds like a needy dog.

[Ellapaella]

A month is still early days and it sounds as though he has separation anxiety. Do you know much about his background? There is an excellent Facebook group called 'Dog training and advice' which offers excellent advice and support for these sorts of issues from verified dog trainers/behaviourists, it's worth joining the group to see if they can help.
Personally if I were you I would sleep downstairs near the dog for a few nights to see if this helps. We didn't leave our puppy alone at all until she had been with us for about 6 weeks, I know this is hard and sometimes impractical but it might be worth seeing if you can take some time of work to settle him in.
Really 4 weeks is not very long and he probably is still adjusting to his new surroundings and feeling insecure.

[Luisa27]

Go onto the Greyhound Gap forum - very lovely helpful bunch of greyhound lovers

[scarbados]

Dogs don't just need walks and toys, they need company. If he's alone all night and only has company for a morning walk then a couple of hours in the evening, it would be fairer to the dog if you admitted you'd made mistake and let him got back to wherever you got him from so they can find a more suitable home for him. Although I do wonder why they let him come to you in the first place.

[Whatsnewwithyou]

Partner is not allergic but he has asthma and can't sleep with the dog for that reason. We do have a crate coming tomorrow. His history is that he used to live in a field with a bunch of other dogs so isn't used to being alone I guess? He is a rescue dog so I don't have a lot of details. I don't want to have to rehome him but on the other hand he's so found and cute he should find a home easily and if he's unhappy I guess it's not fair to try to keep him. I just don't know what's best!

[Nonagoninfinity]

When you say you leave him for 4 hours at a time, do you mean 4 hours during the whole day or 4 hours, then dog walk, then another 4 hours (i.e 8 in total)?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I think that’s a long time for such a young dog to be alone. Generally, they want company. So he’s on his own overnight and then for the majority of the day. My labs would absolutely hate it.

Bit of a risk to get a dog if your oh has asthma.

I don’t know what the solution is. Get an older dog from a rescue so they’ll be company for each other?

[Luisa27]

PS As Ella says, I’d sleep downstairs with him too - a month isn’t long and he’ll have been used to always living with other dogs - to be totally alone during the night and for the 3 days you’re at work will be terribly traumatic for him. Have you considered looking for doggy daycare?

[pigsDOfly]

Yes, to dog minders. Sounds like you need to look into doggy day care for him, although that's probably going to be pricey.

Rehoming him isn't ideal but tbh if you can't improve his situation it might be kinder to him in the long run. Just make sure you do it through a recognised rehoming centre.

[Pebblespony]

He mightn't be the dog for you. Ours might be alone for most of the work day and it doesn't seem to bother him. We couldn't have one that gets separation anxiety. If he's an ex racer he might be used to busy kennels & someone always around.

[adaline]

Four hours is a long time to leave a dog you've only had a month. You need to build up to leaving them on their own, and even then, some can't cope with being left longer than an hour or two. Can either of you take some time off to settle him a bit - building up to leaving him until you're sure he's happy being left. If not, you might need to get the dog walker to come in twice, or pay someone to sit with him for a bit while you're working.

He might be two years old and not a puppy any longer, but you're complete strangers to him and he's in a strange house (to him) - he's bound to be scared and lonely, hence the whining/barking. Have you considered crate training him? But even then some dogs just don't cope with being left for long periods unfortunately - some are independent and manage fine, others are more needy and need company/reassurance.

I have to wonder why you got a dog when your DH was asthmatic though!

[Luisa27]

Do not crate him - that is a very very bad idea - and frankly cruel to leave him anxious and crated for 3 days a week - plus nights - especially if he’s been used to having free range in a field with other dogs.
I suggest you give him back and explain you made a mistake

[Luisa27]

If he was a puppy and had been used to a crate gradually and from a young age - that’s different. To suddenly crate this dog could cause huge psychological damage

[Isitwinteryet]

He sounds like he suffers with separation anxiety. Is getting another greyhound an option for you? A lot of other greyhound owners I've spoken to have said that has helped their dog.

[GreenTulips]

Any local foggy day care around? Worth a try

[CaparaAlecha]

You should ask the vet. My friend's dog had to go on anti anxiety medication

[Luisa27]

If you’re not able to pay for doggy daycare - sometimes a retired couple or housebound person might like the extra money, then I highly recommend you give him back to the original owners OP - or if that’s not a possibility speak to Greyhound Gap asap.
Please do not crate this dog.

[Juells]

My DD has dogs and is out all day, so the dogs go to doggy day care. It costs quite a bit, but the dogs have company all day, lots of walks, lots of other dogs around. Have you considered that rather than just a dog-walker? Perhaps you could ask the dog-walker to have him during the day as well as just walking him? It's very hard on a dog to be alone all day. If I left my dogs for four hours I'd come home to pee everywhere 😂

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Yes please don’t stick him in a crate. How will that help? Fine for a puppy to be sensibly crate trained, but now an adolescent dog. That’s cruel.

[Luisa27]

I’ve known terrified dogs strangle themselves trying to escape a crate (DH is a vet), this is a seriously bad idea OP

[Luisa27]

Would your dog walker have him all day OP - or might she know someone who would?

[Popc0rn]

Where did you get him from? A rescue home? Seems very odd that they would let you adopt a greyhound that's never actually lived in a family home before, he's bound to have lots of behaviour issues and the place you got him from should of prepared you for that really .

[adaline]

I didn't mean just lock him in a crate all night

Some dogs respond well to having a safe space to retreat to when they're tired or anxious or scared and overwhelmed. Having one that's open and available to him 24/7 might help.

[OrcinusOrca]

Can he not sleep upstairs in the crate so he's closer to you?

I know it's not for everyone but my three all sleep upstairs in my room. They are left four weekdays (no more than four hours at a time and I work from home one afternoon) and would be fine downstairs at night, but I just feel bad. They don't want constant cuddles and will happily go in their crate together, they just like being near us.

If his SA is this bad he might not be he right dog for you, some are shaped so heavily by their pasts. I'm hopeless it would break my heart him doing as he is, he sounds unhappy