Huffff !! At a loss of what to think and do
Lacey has turned 9months now. And things are just getting worse. Its like a constant battle. She is always pushing boundaries, always looking for ways to out smart me, wont leave me alone again and generally playing up rotten. Im only 23 and alouth I know having a dog is a huge responsibility which i did not take on lightly it is like my whole life is her and just her. I only ever have time away from her for an hour a day out the house on my own. The work I was doing in the house really helped and she did start leaving my side alot more, and even though I still do the same things now (ie shut doors beind me wen doing housework in a certain room so she cant come in) it has just gone back to how it was and just constant crying. Always trying to be on my sofa with me, ill tell her to get of straight away and in her bed, but 5mins later she back again, and so on, or just staring at me or crying. I do put her in her crate during the day wen im in the house and reward etc but still crying. (does not help the boyfriend says im being cruel and evn tho i just told her to go i her bed he then offers her up) ! I built the crate up so she was fine with the crate, but again this is now not the case. If she is in it when I am in the house she crys. I have to put her in it when i go out becasue else she will poo and rip thins up. I put her fav bones in with her (she wont touch them), treats (she wont touch them), toys (presume she dont touch them) but have still had to take the bottom tray out becasue of her chewing it, it is all cracked and large areas missing :o when i get back all the blankets have been pushed into one corner (sign of separation anxiety I believe trying to scratch way out), so i tucked all blankets through bars and underneath the whole crate, which worked for one day, but then ever since she has worked out how to get um out and they are dragged to the corner again. When I come back and let her out she is not excited to see me any more how she used to be, but she is stressed and on edge and just runs around crying frantically. I let her out for a wee still the same. I take her for a walk before i ever leave her on her own, but she noes now and so associated walk with being left after, and the whole walk back to the house she crys, i take her lead of in the house and she runs into my bedroom and hides, even if i am not going out and its a walk after i come back to releive her tension.
On the walks she is playing up rotton. No attention on me what so ever. I call her or ask for something or generally do something silly to get her attention, but she wont even look a me. She is always on the bullet though to run to the entrance before me, so she can go through and run through the alley and onto path :o Now she cant get away with it she has found other ways to do it, and will keep finding ways once she noes I have cottoned onto what she is doing.
The bf is doing my head i, having a go at me for being stressed, aswell as doing things against my wishes with her, but its like i say to him he only see's her a few hours on an evenin and that is it. And I have her constant all day doing everything with her and so on an evening for 2 hours i would like to have those 2 hours not with her, not have him inviting her on the sofa with us, after she has been constant lying on me all day and will be after he goes while im in bed. I did make the decision to switch her to raw, mentioned it to him for first time today and just had abuse how i shouldnt do it its not normal etc etc would not even look at any of the websites i have bookmarked :( so now i dont no what to do grrrrr

.Vet check that all neurologically is OK.
What cross of lurcher is she ? What age did you have her? Is  she due in season ?Have you done any proper guided basic training?
Get back to basic training with a good one to one trainer who verges on being an animal behaviourist.
Adjust diet to basic, low protein .Its like feeding high protein to an afghan shut in a flat ,, it will be swinging on the chandeliers.
Crate training has to be taught over a period of time .
If there is stress in the house the dog will pick it up .
If both of you are giving different commands the dog is confused.

hi thanks for replying. I will get her vet checked i think. Diet wise she is on weinwrights, i think that is high in protein, what is raw like, as been thinking of switching, will that help or make worse?? Also with the training I will go basics, I do this occasionally anyways and she is really good at it, in the house and garden, and even in the field, but in field is still always looking for ways to outsmart me and get to the entrance before me. I have tried numorous training with her, some she did not take to, some she did (with leaving her alone etc) but its like once I train and teach and she takes to it for a week or two and even tho i dont do anything diff after a few weeks its like she just gets wise to it and rebels against it. She is a whippet (know for whinning i think) and greyhound cross, 9months old, i had her from 3months old. I think she is due a season soon but she has always been like this, so dont think that is a problem (or much of one). She also pulls frantically on the lead, all other lurchers i have seen do not do this, and i have tried a few training with this but she does not take to it at all, just constant pulling. She is very smart, she noes exactly what i am going to do hours before i even do it (so to speak) and in some ways she is a very good dog, she noes a number of tricks and obedience, she is fully toilet trained and tells me with clear signs when she needs to go out, she does not bark and she does not steal food and is generally a very loving gentle dog. But it has just been one thing after another with her, a battle. Its like she still acts like a 4month old pup, is this normal for a 9month?? Also am i being cruel that on a night I make her lie down, on her own bed, take her for toilet and make sure she has a good one first and drink, and tell her lie down and no play etc, the bf says im cruel and its like she not alloud to move, but in my defense i do enough with her all day, she gets enough exercise food water etc in day and enough cuddles and play to settle down on her own on a night. She dont settle till about 10.00pm - 10.30pm usually so its like i get an hour to an hour and half relaxing on my own without her and without having to think about her, thts not cruel of me surely??

LurcherOwner

A polite request.  :-)  :-)

Please could you use paragraphs, as I find it so very difficult to concentrate on a huge block of text with no rest in it!  If it's only a couple of lines, it is easier.  I have had to give up reading half way through.

hehe yes i will ever so sorry, i just write as i think and because i understand it i think everyone else does :)

''Diet wise she is on weinwrights, i think that is high in protein, what is raw like, as been thinking of switching, will that help or make worse?? ''
I have looked up wainwrights and it's 27% .I would think for a pet , that's not working you could go as low as 10% mixer /laughing dog biscuit  and tinned meat like Chappie or green unwashed tripe (Forthglade/petshops etc )

''Also with the training I will go basics, I do this occasionally anyways and she is really good at it, in the house and garden, and even in the field, but in field is still always looking for ways to outsmart me and get to the entrance before me.''
Have you had dogs before?Are you self training or have you been to a good club where someone can guide you through those basic steps.I am afraid that training has to be reinforced in everything you do , every day.remember what she is the equivalent to in human toddler terms. You cannot do it for a bit and then stop. Most trainers say dogs cannot go off leads (except in fenced garden to play or get the buzz out of them ) until they recall well.You haven't got the basics properly because she is still pulling on a lead.I think where ever you live you need to go to  a training club , or get a trainer to your house , sort out the whole dog plan , where she sleeps , where she eats , how you interact , and then walk out with you to assess where you are going wrong and what you are doing right.Tricks is not basic obedience .You are expecting a lot from a 9 month old.

''Also am i being cruel that on a night I make her lie down, on her own bed, take her for toilet and make sure she has a good one first and drink, and tell her lie down and no play etc, the bf says im cruel and its like she not alloud to move, but in my defense i do enough with her all day, she gets enough exercise food water etc in day and enough cuddles and play to settle down on her own on a night. She dont settle till about 10.00pm - 10.30pm ''
Some dog folk  crate train so their dogs treat the crate as their refuge and enjoy going off and laying in it  , playing with a toy or a stuffed kong toy , maybe while their owners eat supper or something.She obviously after being 'on her bed' needs some stimulation and late night wees.etc . You retire quite early .If she's good all night it is a bonus.
Remember when you go to the vet you are asking him to check out the pacing, whining,medical aspect of things .Vets are not animal behaviourists or trainers. They get very little in their  training about specific breeds , behaviour or obedience training., some have specialised , but most vets haven't.
You need to make friends with the breeder (if you know who it is ) or other lurcher folk. There are lurcher shows , sighthound shows and events . 

well,i think youre a little saint!You try really hard,and Im sure you will sort this.You say she is good in lots of ways,remember to focus on that,its very easy to forget,for instance,i focussed on the one problem my Jess had,being a little snappy with other dogs,i was thinking of her as a bad dog,but she was brilliant in so many ways,so i try and remember that,while coping with her sharp side!
Just a thought,would some kind of herbal"calmer"help her to settle,or a dap collar?
I might be asking you for advice,soon-my 7month pup seems to be hitting either her teenage years or a fear period!One or two misbehaviours are cropping up,now and again!Ah ,the joys of dog ownership!Good luck,and hang in there!

Thank you very much, it helps so much just to get a little push or a pat on the back sometimes so that you dont loose faith :) And yes you also do sometimes forget to concentrate on the good points. I have heard about the daff diffusers (a calmer), but I have never thought how they would work, but I guess you never know untill you try them and may be a very good buy for me :) Hope you and your 7month old  work through your recent behavours :)

Firstly, I'm a VERY new dog owner so I'm afraid I'm not exactly a expert, I can say however that I completely understand your frustrations (see my thread regarding my little pup!) and I completely agree with remembering the good points.  We thought ours, whilst still only very young, was becoming a real problem but it only took one trip to puppy class last week to realise that it could be much worse!

We've also recently installed a DAP difuser thing.  I'm not sure if it's doing anything but she can certainly smell it so we'll see

Have you tried clicker training by the way?  We started classes last week and we've found it a great help.  It's great for getting them to focus and seeing as yours is clearly very bright it might provide a reason to listen and a good challenge as well.  It's also very useful for tiring them out in the evenings without needing really boisterous playtime that takes ages to calm down from

Best of luck!

Hi Andy I have also booked my pup in to classes (she alittle older at 9months, but better late than never) nd am really looking forward to them :)
Thank you for your advice, I shall be trying a daff diffuser ad also she has done clicker training before and so will develope it more now so she has more to think about :)
I have read your thread and have commented :)

Is your crate covered on all sides bar the front ? dogs like to be in a den type bed .

Have you tried putting in a old top of yours that hasnt been washed a sort of comforter.

Leave the radio on when you are out.

Sometimes just changing the area where the crate is situated can help pup to settle easier. eg: in the living area or kitchen where they can see what is going on but able to stay in thier bed.

Feeding in the crate can also be a bonus as they relate to it being a good place to be.

When you crate pup during the time you are still in the house , I would do it for short periods eg whilst making a cuppa or  cooking a meal ..at the same time dont make eye contact just potter about .. when you do open the crate dont call the pup out just open the gate and walk away.

I have a different breed but of the same age .. he is actually behaving really well now although between 9 and 18m they can be very naughty and tend to forget everything they have learned!!