|
Post by nic on Jun 13, 2007 10:16:42 GMT -5
Another question about our lovable hound Barkley (Fair Maiden), who we've had a week and half or so.
She was fine in her crate the first week but this week she has "panicked" and thrashed around etc. a couple of times in her crate.
We don't want to not be able to crate her, but of course we don't want her to hurt herself........we always put a treat in the crate when we crate her, and the crate is big with soft blankets....
We've been able to shut her in the entryway/foyer of our house when we are gone, and she will lie in the crate with the door open, but I am worried about if we need to kennel her at some point or take her to someone's home where we'd need to crate her....
I thought greyhounds were supposed to be used to their crates?
Any thoughts? Has anyone else had this issue?
Not sure if we should try to force her to stay crated?
|
|
|
Post by jiffer on Jun 13, 2007 18:24:43 GMT -5
Honestly, ours have all gotten to the point where they rejected the crate since they now view the house as their crate. In my experiences, it does not affect their being able to kennel if you need to board them or at the vets office. If she's happy in the foyer with the crate door open and you are comfortable doing that, why not?
|
|
|
Post by nic on Jun 15, 2007 8:40:18 GMT -5
I don't mind at all having her in the foyer, I was just worried about "what if we have to kennel her and she panics and hurts herself.....and then we aren't there" etc. etc.
Also the odd time if we go away for a weekend we might need to crate her if we stay at a friend's home or something like that....
I guess I am surprised as the Greyhounds for Dummies book seems to give the idea that they are very used to the crate and think of it as thier home etc. so it was strange to me that she was OK with it, and then suddenly not.....
I guess it does not take a hound long to get used to "the good life"!!! ;D
Has anyone ever had their dog get so excited they hurt themselves in a crate by thrashing around, or am I just being an "over-worrier"?
|
|
|
Post by clealand on Jun 28, 2007 22:09:53 GMT -5
I had my greyhound Jimbo hurt his foot bad enough to have to go to the vets and get it looked after for severe swelling. It was a large heavy duty wire crate, but he actually had the wires bent from trying to escape it, while we were away at work for the day. He had to be crated before that for destroying drapes, books planters etc., and the injury turned in to a blessing in disguise as he had to settle down till his foot healed and we were able to trust him loose in the house. We have never crated him since and I don't believe that he would do well if he were boarded anywhere that crated him. We have friends or relatives stay at our house whenever we are away, to avoid the crating situation.
|
|
rhyddpe
Junior Grey Lover
Posts: 105
|
Post by rhyddpe on Jun 29, 2007 6:32:51 GMT -5
We have had Zuzu now for 4 1/2 months. We were under the impression when we adopted a Grey that they love their crates because it is all they have known. Well Zuzu did well for a while, actually a lot longer than I think the rest of the Grey's did. However, it didn't take too long before when I would open the crate door she would run in the opposite direction. We used treats to try and get her to go in but eventually we just thought she is a house pet now and the house is her home. We have taken the crate down and she has a big comfy bed in it's place. I'm keeping the crate in case I can convince my husband for a second Grey if not I'll be donating the crate to Bill.
|
|
tango
Junior Grey Lover
Banjo,Bracken
Posts: 138
|
Post by tango on Jun 29, 2007 10:47:47 GMT -5
We have learned that when you have your Grey crated, it helps to have a radio playing to help calm and relax your Grey while you are away. We were told that at the track after racing, greys would be crated and music (radio) played so the greys would think people were near by. We have also seen our Grey Banjo want to go into his crate when he wants to be away from our activities. Hope this helps you.
|
|
|
Post by nic on Jun 29, 2007 12:46:10 GMT -5
Well so far we've left the crate up and Barkley will go in there and lie down all the time. She does sleep in there at night, but the door is left open. We have not tried to lock her in again since the thrashing episode.
I am leaving it up as we may try again, or just hoping that she at least will be sort of used to her crate if we ever need to kennel her...... I put at least one treat a day in the crate for her to find hoping that she will think mostly that it is a good place.....
Strange that they can live in the crate for so many years and they don't know any different - and then they start to really freak out about it one day!! I can see preferring to be free, but not that kind of panicking and thrashing where they hurt themselves in the crate......when they are used to it......
I may try the radio trick........
|
|
|
Post by ontariogreys on Jun 30, 2007 15:21:06 GMT -5
There are some greyhounds with crate anxiety they are known as fretters on the track and which makes it hard for trainers to maintain weight on them as a result, not everyone become comfortable with crating, you can often identify them by looking at their teeth, their large canines will be heavily worn on the backside from chewing on the bars of the crate, when of my fosters was the same, she could handle being in the crate as long as someone was around but could not handle it when no one was home, she was adopted by someone who would only be away for an hour a day, which she did become stressed from, so I recommended gating her in a room she commonly used to hang out in when they are home, and she was perfectly fine afterward,
It maybe in Barkleys case just a matter of enjoying the freedom she now has and she no longer wants to be crated
|
|
|
Post by samrob on Jun 30, 2007 18:19:18 GMT -5
Hotwire has little nubs where his canines are supposed to be! LOL He did not crate well. We have him muzzled when we are gone for the day, and he is much happier.
|
|
|
Post by kjw on Jul 2, 2007 18:39:41 GMT -5
We had a similar experience with Cody, after his first week with us he did not want to be in the crate at all, so we put his away. We left Bailey's out for a while, as he liked it, Lou didn't want to be in one at all when he came, so they are all different.
Now Andy, I can't get him out of his lol.
|
|
genia
Grey Lover
Posts: 672
|
Post by genia on Jul 3, 2007 7:40:03 GMT -5
we didn't use a crate with any of ours, but we use baby gates to keep them out of certain rooms and home made dividers to pen them in the kitchen at times. However, if they really want in or out of a room, they can jump the baby gates. A couple of them have even jumped the gate at the foot of the basement stairs and landed on the landing. I guess they really wanted out of the basement. LOL
|
|
|
Post by tinastroops on Jul 6, 2007 12:29:51 GMT -5
Have you tried an Xpen?
My Booker has worn down nubs for teeth from the crate but still adores his crate afte being retirned for 4 1/2 years. It really all depends on each dog.
|
|