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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Crating a greyhound

46 replies

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 12:49

Sorry sorry sorry for the incessant questions. The whole greyhound adoption seems to be getting ever closer (excited!) Tell me what do I need in advance of one coming home?

I am thinking of investing in a crate for the first few weeks. Would this be big enough? 3ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft 3ins high.

OP posts:

MiaowTheCat · 24/05/2017 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 13:06

Thanks Miaow - I think I'm expecting worse case scenario - huge separation anxiety, totally trashed house. How long after you'd had her did you leave her on her own?

OP posts:

ShmooBooMoo · 24/05/2017 13:16

Tbh, I would't crate a dog at all.

ShmooBooMoo · 24/05/2017 13:16

*not even for a few weeks

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 24/05/2017 13:18

Our house and contents have survived 3 puppies without need for a cage. . (crate is a word used to sweeten the act imo)
If you are out long enough for a dog to need contained you have no time for a dog. Again imo.

tabulahrasa · 24/05/2017 13:22

36 inches?

Depends on the size of greyhound... but I think that might be a bit small.

They're supposed to have enough room to lie down and turn, but, I prefer crates to be bigger than that so they can stretch right out as well.

For a greyhound I'd go for a 48" tbh.

CMOTDibbler · 24/05/2017 13:27

I used to think crates weren't a good thing, but now I see how they give dogs a safe space (esp in a house with children in it), and help them settle when left - my dogs are 5 and 3 and still have one for night time and when I need to confine them due to mud/wetness or whatever. Some people put their dogs in the utility room, mine go in a crate with the same floor area.

OP, I'd get a 48 / XXL crate

diplodocus · 24/05/2017 13:27

Is she used to being crated? If so she may see it as a place of security (our rescue dog did, and still does). It's not just about trashing the house.

Wolfiefan · 24/05/2017 13:30

I have a whelping pen.
Sorry but justmade I don't agree. Mine could hurt herself chewing something she shouldn't in 30 seconds flat.
I do crate but I spent weeks sleeping next to puppy in the crate and gradually settling her and reassuring her. It's now her safe space! (Didn't shut the door a few weeks ago and she stood there whining until I shut her in!)
NO dog should be crated for hours on end.

Wineandcoffee · 24/05/2017 13:34

I crated my greyhound for the first 2 weeks I had him to get him toilet trained. The crate was enormous and he could lie on his side in it albeit with his feet poking through the bars. He didn't seem to mind being crated, but I wouldn't have wanted it as a permanent feature as it took up most of my kitchen.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 13:37

No, it's not going to be for hours on end at all; I work from home. And of course it will depend on the dog we get - if s/he's not used to be crated then we won't I just thought from two points of view that it might make the dog feel more secure and it would be a safe space for him/her to go if it needs to get away from the household hustle and bustle.

There will also be occasions when we do need to all be out of the house (I know, shoot me) and I want the dog to be secure so that it doesn't hurt itself if it gets stressed. I'm assuming it will take at least few weeks until it settles down enough to feel completely secure in a new place.

I will obviously speak with the rescue about it before attempting anything.

I love the way people jump in with "if you need to be crating a dog you've haven't got time" - seriously.....

Thanks Dibbler I'll have a look for an XXL crate once I've spoken to the rescue centre.

OP posts:

taptonaria27 · 24/05/2017 13:39

You shouldn't crate a dog with separation anxiety. They can damage themselves terribly trying to escape. The crate you need is much like a small horse box and does not look goodin any home, I was lent one but the dog refused to go in it. After a week I had persuaded him to go half in half out before I gave up and put the crate away, he has caused no problems at all except for any bread or butter that is left within reach.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 13:44

OK. I'll wait and see with the rescue what they recommend. I have no idea if the dog will have separation anxiety, I'm just assuming as it will have come directly from kennels to a home having never been alone in its life a certain amount of adjustment will be called for.

Maybe I'm totally overthinking it! Let's hope so.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 24/05/2017 13:47

If it's used to being crated, you want one...it'll help make it feel more secure.

If it's not, you'd need to crate train it, that can take a fair bit of time...it can be done with dogs with seperation anxiety and in fact can be helpful to them, but, it's not a case of just putting them in, it's a much longer process than that.

MiaowTheCat · 24/05/2017 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 14:12

Miaow I'm thinking I'm going to treat it like I did with sleep training with the kids (now I know I'm going to get a flaming!). Start by going out for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes etc etc but obviously I have not the first idea whether that will work or not.

I will let you know!

Thanks for the advice everyone - it's obviously a case of "it depends on the dog" which I imagine will be the case for almost everything...

Any other "houndy" advice gratefully received.

OP posts:

mummabearfoyrbabybears · 24/05/2017 14:23

We're military and move around a lot so have always crate trained so they can travel on a ferry or plane without being freaked out and they always have their 'safe place' when moving. Maybe not an issue for you but my family live far away too and when we stay there the dogs always have a 'home' that they make a B line straight for. Just another view on crating, maybe of no help to you though.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 14:45

So excited - have just spoken to the rescue and we are going down next week Tuesday.

She said yes very much for crate - it gives them a safe space so yay!

OP posts:

mummabubs · 24/05/2017 15:52

So exciting and thank you/well done for choosing a greyhound! I guess you'll be led by the rescue, but we personally (and the greyhound rescue we got ours from) never advocate crating as standard. Our grey was very detached from people when we first brought him home so only started to show separation anxiety when he started to build a bond with us. Having said that we still didn't use a crate- as others have pointed out they take up a lot of space fully laid out and we felt ours had spent enough of his life confined to a small space already). Hope the move in goes well and enjoy forming a bond with your hound! 😊

mummabubs · 24/05/2017 15:53

And you're totally right about starting small and building up in terms of leaving them!

rizlett · 24/05/2017 16:05

Feed your pup in his/her crate so they get a positive association with it. Put a blanket over the top so its more like a 'cave'.
Have a box/blanket in half and newspaper in the other half in case of accidents.
Only open the door to let your pup out when it's being quiet (or you reward the noisy behaviour) - actively look for quiet times to let him/her out.
Give the pup something nice to chew whist in the crate. (but not left alone)
Love the 5min 10min idea but maybe start with lots of 30 seconds and gradually build up.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 16:55

Not sure how I'm going to contain my excitement between now and Tuesday, really not!

Thanks for all the tips.

OP posts:

OrangeJulius · 24/05/2017 18:00

If you are going with a crate, I think the size you are looking at is too small. I have a 42" for my irish setter, and she is smaller than the greyhounds we see.

Wineandcoffee · 24/05/2017 18:31

If you are going with a crate, I think the size you are looking at is too small. I have a 42" for my irish setter, and she is smaller than the greyhounds we see.

Mine is in the shed now, so I can't measure it, but I believe it is 48"

Original poster

Flippetydip · 24/05/2017 22:10

Thanks all - will have a look for a 48".

OP posts:

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