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Post by corbesa on Jan 15, 2013 14:51:39 GMT -5
Thank you Everyone. Heidi is doing great. She was quiet all night, got up with my husband at 5am which means I was out of bed when he left at 5:30 as she was NOT going back to bed. Since my alarm was set for 6am I let it go ;-)
I'm a bit of a restless sleeper and my old dog wouldn't stay on the bed since I moved so much. Heidi is heavier - she may win that so off the bed she is :-)
Heidi spent the morning free in the house - no problem so if everything goes as expected with her alone this afternoon then I'll be happy.
Phew :-)
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Post by angelollie on Jan 15, 2013 17:31:01 GMT -5
Anxious to hear how Heidi did this afternoon. Just keep in mind that if she does get herself into a little trouble that it's because she hasn't learned her boundaries yet. Give her a little time and be consistent with training and praise and she'll grow into the sweetest little girlie.
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moncheri
Grey Addicted
Broodies are the best!
Posts: 2,843
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Post by moncheri on Jan 15, 2013 20:53:07 GMT -5
Glad to hear the night & morning went well for Heidi. It is funny how some of them just love the crate and others cannot wait to be rid of it! Usually my old girl will start to stir around 6:30 (if I am not up yet) as she is ready for our morning constitutional walk. On weekdays I am up at 5:45 and she usually doesn't get up until I've had my shower, cleaned the cat litter boxes, make my lunch & morning smoothie. I am usually ready for our walk at 6:30, hence on weekends that is when she wakes me up. Once we are home from walk then it's breakfast time for us all, then she goes back to sleep! They have lived routine all their greyhound life up until retirement and they seem to function well under a routine. Once she has figured out yours things will go smoothly.
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Post by whiterin on Jan 15, 2013 22:18:04 GMT -5
Corbesa, I hope things have been going better for you! This may sound mean but when I had that issue with Jack earlier I took away his water dish around 8 or 9pm and made sure he went pee before bed...he's still up at 6 wanting to go out but at least we make it through the night most of the time. I also found it helped to move his crate to a spot where he could see me outside my bedroom (my cat has territorial rights to the room). Dual edged sword because he'll know the minute you're awake, but it might be something to try? The biggest thing was taking the water dish away overnight - he gets lots during the day and it prevents the accidents overnight!
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Post by corbesa on Jan 17, 2013 11:03:52 GMT -5
Hi,
I'm sorry I haven't updated here - things are going great!!! Heidi is sleeping through the night. My husband gets up at 5 usually so takes her out. She does come back to bed but with all the commotion I've given up at about 5:30-5:45 so out we go. :-) She will stay in later on the weekend thankfully - but we have to be out of bed at 7:30. Mark still lets her out a little earlier but then back to bed.
I'm also happy to report that Heidi is free and roaming the main floor during the day. I still go home at lunch and she definitely needs to go then. We will work up to longer hours slowly.
Thanks for all the advice. We really watch that water intake at night!
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troysmom
Hound Nut
Troy & Leopold
Posts: 1,717
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Post by troysmom on Jan 17, 2013 16:13:03 GMT -5
So glad things are working out. Time and patience is the key. You never gave up on her and she will reward you in the end. Lots of greyhound love.
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Post by xana2013 on Mar 4, 2013 11:28:34 GMT -5
Hello, I am new to large greyhounds (I had an Italian Greyhound for 12years) and we really need to keep her downstairs at bedtime as my husband has mild allergies to dogs. The first 2 nights were awesome and she slept in the crate until about 7am, cried and we let her out for pee outside. Last night, not so good. She cried from 11:30pm till about 2:30 off and on. We let her out 2 times during that time and she did have a loose bowel movement each time...not sure if it was nerves, food, or something else. We put her back in crate and she cried more, but eventually stopped around 2:30 and woke up at 7am crying to go pee. Do you think she is just smart now and crying to be around us at night vs alone in her crate? If so, do you think she will eventually adjust to sleeping in crate downstairs happily if we just keep ignoring the crying? She is in the crate a lot during the day, by her own choice and she seems fine with that. I feel bad for her but with the allergies, in the carpeted upstairs is not an option. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Susan
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Post by newtothis1 on Mar 4, 2013 18:20:01 GMT -5
Sounds like she really did have to go out. It's quite traumatic for a dog that has to relieve themselves in their crates. From the sound of it she is having the regular stomach troubles most of them have when they first come home. My guy slept in his crate for the first 6 months, but it was in the bedroom. Now he sleeps beside the bed, no crate. They really do just want to be with you, but she is after all a dog and can be trained to sleep downstairs. Except if she has tummy trouble.
I think you have to keep an eye on if it becomes a habit or she really has to go out.
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Post by angelollie on Mar 4, 2013 20:35:09 GMT -5
They really do want to be near you ... as at their kennel/track they have never been on their own at any time in their lives. If at all possible, could you move her crate to outside your bedroom where at least she can hear you, smell you, etc. If not possible and she must be left downstairs, I would put a piece of your clothing into the crate with her, maybe turn on some soft music or even put a ticking clock near her crate. I would also cover her crate with a blanket (just half) which might give her a little more security.
They are very social animals and to be totally on their own in a completely new environment is causing her a little stress. She will adjust to her new life though so please don't give up on her. There are so many people on the forum that are more then happy to give you advice so don't hesitate to ask.
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dashandus
Grey Lover
I am very sad to annonce that our beautiful Primo Dash passed away suddenly today
Posts: 412
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Post by dashandus on Mar 5, 2013 0:05:23 GMT -5
When Dash whined the first week at home, one of us slept on the couch in the living room next to her crate. It settled Dash right down and after 5 days she was fine being alone in the crate at night. Dash adjusted quite nicely to life as a pet. We were very lucky.
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Post by rppm on Apr 27, 2013 22:44:53 GMT -5
wow lots of conflicting advice here, so here is my piece, its going to be tough though. come down when she starts to cry. Do not make eye contact, and just curl up on the couch near her, she will know you are there. Take turns and you will go to work groggy for a few months but eventually she will realize you are there and stop crying. It took 6 months to get Crispin to sleep through the night, and we just wore him down and slept through it. Eventually they realize that your schedule runs things, not theirs. Good luck, trust me its worth the effort.
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