Yesterday we picked up a lovely four y/o retired racing Greyhound who already seems to be settling well into his new home.  As I type he is laid on a soft quilt in front of me asleep.

'Grumpy' - derived partly from his ex-racing name is eating well and playing with his toys when he's not asleep (so he's not grumpy at all really) and we're both really happy and haven't stopped smiling since we brought him home.

He got a bit anxious last night when we went to bed and tipped the kitchen bin over, but he did settle eventually and made no doggy mess.  Might take a while longer with that.  We haven't left him home alone yet, so that will be a test today, but we've been told to put the loose muzzle on for the first few days when we leave him alone until he gets used to the fact that we always return.

He is a lovely friendly lad - playful but not boisterous, so a good return to dog ownership for both of us so far.

Patrick (and Dave) 

Lovely news ! That is funny as you have Grumpy and we have Dopey as that is one of Bailey's nicknames but unlike Grumpy the nickname fits !

Look forward to hearing more about him !

Good choice,great companions-enjoy.

>and we're both really happy and haven't stopped smiling since we brought him home.

Now that's made me smile!  :-)

Must be infectious.

What a lovely post. Congratulations on your new arrival :-)

Congrats on the new arrival.

Woohoo! Great news, congrats! Personally I wouldn't muzzle a dog indoors though. Do you know his racing name (should be tattoos on the inside of his ears which you can search on www.greyhound-data.com). Enjoy your new boy :) :)

congratulations,enjoy.

Sheila

Ah thats lovely...many happy years together ;)

thats great!hope you have lots of fun together!

Many congratulations, I'm delighted to hear your news. I'm especially interested in your choice, as my husband and I are contemplating adding a retired greyhound to our house-hold in the near future - so it will be great to hear how you get on. :-)

how lovely congratulations enjoy ! he sounds lovely

This really cheered me up, wishing you and Grumpy a long happy time together. It's so nice to give a dog a second chance :)

@Ida, if you have any questions, feel free to pass them my way if you like, I have three greyhounds (two ex-racers) one ex-courser who sadly passed away last September and a number of foster greys that have passed through our doors :)

Aaaw Congrats! :-)

He's a lovely friendly chap. Has a good appetite and likes his toys, but will gladly rest after a mad ten minutes.

We're having to control our urge to give him lots of cuddles, fuss and attention at the minute though as he is a bit anxious and follows us around like a little Lamb and wants to come to bed with us at night instead of sleeping in his own.  We've had a few noisy nights with crying and whining when we go to bed but we will persevere with the boundary setting.  Might have to get a crate, but we'd both rather not in all honesty.

It's not easy to control the instinct to show them lots of love and affection once you've got them home is it?  All of the advice we've read is to be strong and tough it out though, until he gets used to our habits.  My Sister had to do the same with her dog when she first got him, but he calmed down in the end and I'm sure our Grumpy will do the same.

Any hints and tips on seperation and anxiety folks?

> He got a bit anxious last night when we went to bed and tipped the kitchen bin over, but he did settle eventually

He might have tried to jump on it, or use it as a springboard to the work surface.  Some previously kennelled dogs are looking to sleep on a raised bed or sleeping platform as it's what they are used to.  If you get a crate he might try and sleep on top of it!!  Could be worth looking at lifting his bed up...

I would never leave a dog alone and muzzled - just confine him to a safe room and remove hazards or temptations

Congratulations on your new addition :)

Hi Dave and Patrick,
Thanks for posting about Grumpy, I know I'm going to enjoy reading his story as it unfolds! As My dogs have been breed rescues, I love to hear from owners of retired/ rehomed dogs :-D

There are quite a few Sighthound owners here so I'm sure they'll be along soon and pitch in ~ look out for Chaumsong ( very experienced with Borzoi's but I'm thinking of her for good muzzle advice )

I've no personal experience of SA, but tend be of the opinion that the best *practical* advice is from those that have experienced it ( and survived!) but while you wait for some good posts, there are some very good articles you could surf, my belief is that the big names in the dog training world such as Dr Ian Dunbar, Turid Rugaas, Suzanne Clothier,Jean Donaldson, Gwen Bailey, Brenda Aloff and Roger Abrantes.... To name but a few ( of the greats!) ~ that should keep you busy googling ;-)

Best of of luck and look forward to hearing how Grumps get on!

Oh congratulations on your new arrival, ex racers make wonderful pets :-)

> It's not easy to control the instinct to show them lots of love and affection once you've got them home is it?

I've never felt the need to withhold love and affection. When I get a new dog they get lots of attention, how else will you bond with them, I never tell off newcomers, not even an uhuh. I distract them if they are doing something unwanted and praise them highly for doing good, so a new hound has only positive experiences here. Sighthounds are very sensitive, a raised voice to a sighthound is the equivalent of kicking any other dog. Hounds are not demanding at all, a cuddle a few times a day, 2 meals and 2 walks and they're happy to sleep the rest of the day whether you are there or not.

I've had 15 borzois and now 2 silken windhounds over the years, along with collies, chinese cresteds and gsds and I've always worked full time. I've never had a single dog with separation anxiety. My current 4 all go to bed calmly (their choice) while I'm putting my work clothes on and my neighbour never hears a peep out of them. I've never used cages or muzzled dogs in the home, occasionally pups have chewed something they shouldn't but no major damage. I think the key to my happy, well balanced pack is love and exercise.

I would be using these first few days to let Grumpy learn that you're great people, you're kind and loving and dish out great treats. I'd be taking him for lots of walks, far more than you have to or than you will normally but walks are a great bonding exercise. Once he is settled in his house and has gained confidence in you he will be happier to be apart from you.

> look out for Chaumsong ( very experienced with Borzoi's but I'm thinking of her for good muzzle advice )

Sorry HG, I read this after I'd posted :-) I haven't offered muzzle advice as I don't think any dog should be muzzled when unattended. As for a loose muzzle, this is a disaster waiting to happen. If not properly fitted it's easy for a dog to pull the muzzle off, or partially off and the poor dog could end up with the muzzle over it's bottom jaw say for hours till someone comes home.

I would not muzzle an unattended dog either. Remove wires, valuables etc out of his reach and let him be. i don't subscribe to the theory that it's safer to muzzle all ex-racers, i have had quite a few and have two right now and only muzzle them for lure coursing because it's club rules, no other reason.

I agree that you should bond with him and cuddle him, but i also think that it is good to get him used to being alone particularly if you've taken a few days off work to be with him and will then be leaving him alone for a long day/s soon in the future. By this i mean simply enclose him in the kitchen, or wherever he will be left, with a kong or bone, go up to another room or pop to the shop for variable amounts of time, 5 minutes, 10, 30, and then return. he learns that when you go away he gets a nice treat, and that you also come back whenever you go away. :)

There is so much conflicting information and advice that it's difficult to know what to do for the best really.  I think it's gonna be a case of try and see what works to be honest.  He seems happy enough though and we are seeing gradual signs of progress now :)  Still early days

> We're having to control our urge to give him lots of cuddles, fuss and attention at the minute though as he is a bit anxious and follows us around like a little Lamb and wants to come to bed with us at night instead of sleeping in his own
> difficult to know what to do for the best really. I think it's gonna be a case of try and see what works to be honest

Love and affection - I like my dogs to learn time and place.  It's not that I withhold, rather that they get more attention when I have the right quality of time.  For instance there's little or no point them hanging around for a snog when I'm cooking, but when we're sitting down in the evening watching TV then they can have as much as they like.  They don't get full attention if I'm on the PC but if they want to lean and have their ears twiddled then it's a perfect time!!  Over time I guess we've simply developed a pattern that suits us all :)

The answer with dogs that worry when you leave them at night is to withdraw gradually and allow them an opportunity to fall asleep on their own.  Try leaving a few household jobs to complete before you go to bed so that you are still around but busy, and more importantly -  a bit boring!  Take him out for a wee then put him to bed whilst you tidy up, wash up, load the dishwasher, stick the washing in etc then just give him a biscuit (if you want to) then lights off and gone.  IF he has a bark or whine after you've left, give it a few minutes to see if he stops but if he persists go back in the room and be boringly busy for a bit longer - no interaction.

I'm not sure why you were given the muzzle advice but my feeling is that his safety has to be the priority.  Is he more at risk wearing a loose muzzle that he might get caught on something, or panic about, or more at risk from eating something he shouldn't?  Double check with the source of your advice and maybe have another look at his environment too.   I wouldn't leave a home alone dog with a muzzle on - in fact I thought the general advice about them is that the dog must be supervised when wearing one.   Oh and yes, dogs and their training is often a case of try it and see, and what works for one may well not work for another :)

>I haven't offered muzzle advice as I don't think any dog should be muzzled when unattended.

That is what I meant, you'd give good advice ;-)
( good doesn't have to mean 'what the OP wants to hear')

Congratulations, is Grumpy from LGT?

I've got 2 ex-racers currently, some can need a bit more work early on while they adapt to their new home life but  you soon can't imagine life with out them.

The advice not to be too affectionate is probably so the dog is not overwhelmed as they can be quite stressed early on with all the change so its better to let the dog take it at its own pace. Also people tend to be around more in the first few days, so if they shower attention on the dog i guess its more of a shock when the normal routine resumes.

Its best to leave him for short periods of a few minutes and then build up if possible. I called house phone with my mobile so i could listen in for any noise as i wandered up the street, could also film or use webcam to tell how they're getting on. Greyhoup Gap has some advice sticky's for new owners which maybe helpful.http://greyhoundgap.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=New. I got this book before i adopted http://www.amazon.co.uk/Retired-Racing-Greyhounds-Dummies-dummies/dp/0764552767 which i found useful and still look up info in it.

Greys do often help themselves to things (everything in their kennel was for them) so i'd remove the bin if possible while he's unsupervised and just be careful what's left on the worktops especially if edible as they can easily reach. I've only muzzled unsupervised when i added a new dog and was willing to take small risk to avoid any injuries. Does Grumpy tend to explore with his mouth or chew things?

Grumpy is settling down now.  Not clinging to us so much and taking himself off to bed for a nap.  He's a right lazy chuffer really - it's just too much effort to get on those long legs, so he rolls and shuffles to his toys instead :)

Had about two hours on his own yesterday and even though he was waiting right near the door when I returned he wasn't whining and hadn't gnawed anything.  I left him with a stuffed kong which seemed to have kept him happy.

Had a look at Greyhound Gap Moosh and we've been following some of the tips from there - they do seem to be working at this early stage.  I will have a look at that book you mentioned though as it might be useful.  As for the bin, we just keep it empty so temptation is out of the way.