I have had a rescued greyhound for 3 years. He is eight years old.  He has been in the same routine for 2 1/2 years.  I leave for work in the morning, I come home at lunch and take him for a 30 minute walk, I go back to work, I come home at 5:30.  He has never minded.  About 3 weeks ago I came home and he had ripped up the carpet in the corner by the hallway door.  The next day he'd torn off the inside letter box from the front door, and chewed the door, he has been getting worse ever since.  Now when I go to leave he starts shaking, his teeth rattle, he is scared for me to leave.  I have to fight to get out the door.  What has gotten into him?  He is fine when I am here.  Anybody have a clue?

It may be that something is scaring him, or that something happened whilst you were out.
It sounds as if he is focussed on the door way and where you leave/come back to him.
I've had dogs in the past who were frightened by neighbours noises upstairs because they took up their carpet and it suddenly sounded very noisey.

I would suggest a vet check up as he may be unwell which can also make a dog upset at being left. A vet can also supply a DAP which may help to calm the dog a little but is not a substitute for any real help such as a behaviourist who may be able to help you work out what has happened, or else may be able to help the dog start to relax again in the same environment.

It's upsetting for you as an owner esp. when it starts out of the blue and he has always been OK.

Behaviourists can be found via www.apbc.org.uk or try www.ukrcb.co.uk

Hth a bit, good luck

Lindsay
X

Thanks.  Is there anybody else out there that has had this change in their dog?  I need help, so does my dog, my partner wants to get rid of him, of course that is not an option, I need help

Hi My mum's dog tends to do things like that when she leaves him on his own, and she finds that leaving the radio on for him, distracts him and he settles alot better.

Any sudden change in behaviour should be checked out by a vet to eliminate a medical reason.  Once this has been ruled out you can start to work on *what* is causing his behaviour - the easiest way is to make a video recording of him while you are out - it may be kids hammering on the door, it may be the postman has dropped some post on his head while he was asleep.....  The video may well give you some clues, and with these clues you can adapt your lifestyle to account for them.  Leaving a radio on *may* help - but many dogs just look on it as one more horrid thing you do before you leave, like picking up your keys.....

As an interim measure, can you leave him with a worn t shirt or similar that smells of you (ie you've worn it and not washed it)  that you don't mind getting destroyed.....

Hi again,
Sudden changes in behaviour are often due to medical causes, even if your dog to you, seems totally fine.

Apart from that, i agree with Digger, in that a video recording would be very useful to try to sort out what is happening. He is obviously very upset - maybe the postman shouts at him or bangs the door, anything like that can make a dog afraid to be left.

I would set up a camcorder, visit the vet and contact a reputable and experienced behaviourist. It may be that the combinatoin of these will solve the problem. As he is so stressed just now, can you arrange for someone to come in to him for a bit?

Also i take it there have been no other problems - for instance have you ever come in and told him off for anything, as that will make the problems worse very often as a dog will learn to anticipate. I am presuming not, because you say the behaviour is out of the blue - what about your boyfriend, it could be worth asking in case.

Lindsay
X

Hi, it's Sandra.  I've solved the problem, I got another greyhound, a little female Maggie, Mickey is on calming pills (stronger than the first) but with this new dog he likes the company, I now can go to work and feel better about it.  Thanks for all your help.  I know I have other messages but I don't know how to continue on the next page, so Thanks to all.  Hope you all continue to be dog lovers.

Sandra

really glad it sorted and how lovely for mickey to have a little friend xx

That's excellent news - it's very unusual for adding another dog to have this effect, but I'm glad it's worked for you :)

Great to have good news, excellent :)

Lindsay
x

Thanks to everybody with your suggestions.  I too thought it might be the postman (we have a new one, but he's been around for about 3 months).  My boyfriend did tell him off the first night when he came home and found Mickey had ripped the carpet (i've told him not to shout at him), I do leave the radio on, now I even leave the tv on.  Yesterday (monday) I took him to a neighbors house (he used to have a greyhound) he was fine with him, but got very excited when i turned back up.  I will try the video thing, when i get one, funny thing is he seems somewhat ok in the morning when I leave, it's after lunch he acts very bad.  But I'm sure with all of your suggestions I will get to the bottom of it.  Thanks everybody.

Sandra

Let us know how he gets on :)

Do get in help if you can't solve the problem yourself, though, because if it does go on, it may get worse.

Good luck
Lindsay
X

Hi Sandra,
I guess the most obvious thing to come to my mind is he has been scared by something while you were out .

i wonder if its the recent storms ?

Storms???

HI GUYS;  WELL MY MICKEY HAS NOT GOT ANY BETTER.  WHERE HE WOULD SLEEP ALL MORNING ON MY BED WHILE I WAS AT WORK HE JUST SITS AT THE DOOR AND WHINS.  I DID TAKE HIM TO MY NEIGHBORS LAST WEEK, 3 TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON, HE IS FINE, HE IS FINE WHEN WE ARE HERE, JUST WHEN I'M GETTING READY TO LEAVE.  HE DOES HAVE AN OLD RACING INJURY, HIS LEG PLAYS UP, BUT HE'S HAD THAT, I'VE TAKEN HIM TO THE VETS FOR THIS, I'M JUST CONFUSED. HE IS NOT A SCARED DOG, NOTHING MAKES HIM JUMP, STORMS, WIND, FIREWORKS, ETC, IT JUST DOESN'T BOTHER HIM.  ALL I KNOW I CAN'T BEAR LEAVING HIM ALONE, I HATE EVEN GOING TO WORK, BUT OF COURSE WE ALL NEED TO DO THAT.  I'M GOING TO WORK WITH HIM THIS WEEK AGAIN, HE'S OFF TO THE NEIGHBORS AFTER LUNCH, BUT IF HE CONTINUES TO ACT THE WAY HE DOES, I'M AFRAID I MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE HIM UP, IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART.

Sorry to hear he's still struggling - did you manage to make a recording (video or just tape)?  There is a defuser you can buy to plug in like an airfreshner which releases pheramones similar to a nursing bitch, and this will help to keep the dog calm......  Also leaving an item of your worn clothing with him may help.  Leaving a radio on *can* be a good idea if it masks noises from outside that set him off, but it can also be just another signal to him that you aren't there - and make him worse :(

Hi Sandra,

DAP diffuser can help a great deal and are easily available on line or can be ordered by vets.  Also try something like Dorwest Herbs Valerian Compound or one of the Bach Flower Remedies like Rescue Remedy.  They take the edge off anxiety and if it's possible for you to have a week's holiday with him you could try and re-establish a routine with him at the same time.

I think I'd also have a check-up with the vet just to be on the safe side - behavioural changes always have a root cause but it's not always easily identifiable to those closest to the situation :(

HTH, regards Teri :)  

There  is a herbal tincture from herbal and health that works a treat, it has valerian and camomile in, it seems to calm my terrier at night. It is about £15, but it does work!

Must be awful for both you and your dog, if only they could talk! If the vets draws a blank, then I would suggest having a behaviourist visit, as they may be able to see the behviour presenting in other discrete ways.     I read a dog book where behaviour changed - think it was 'The Dog Listener', but might be wrong - anyway the book mentioned change in a dogs behaviour - it was not to do with noises - it was light - car headlights to be specifc which would roll round the room, reflecting off mirrors - all from passing traffic - obviously this made the dog anxious in the late afternoon and evening when it was dark - he could just see spooky lights coming in from nowhere.  Also bear in mind that if the problem is getting more prolonged then it could be this behaviour is becoming 'learnt', that is to say the longer it goes on the worse it becomes, as he will automatically react .
I might be stating the obvious, but have you tried training him when you leave the house  - I'm  sure it's in the same book , where a lady actually has to put her coat on - climb out the window and come back in !   Don't laugh!  It is to take attention focus from the door , and help dog feel more secure , by showing him you will return . her dog had destroyed a door frame and wall - but the training did work, and eventually teh dog stopped.  It is a long process to do, but may be worth a try .  As I say think the book is 'The Dog Listener ' by Jan Fennel, apologies if the title or author is wrongly spelt.  I passed my copy onto a needy person I met at training who had a similar problem with her 18 month old dog. Best of luck.    

it is possible he is getting seperation aaxitey

  hilary

HI ALL AGAIN:  FIRST I MUST SAY YOU'VE ALL BEEN GREAT AND I'VE USED MOST OF THE TIPS.

TODAY I AM TRYING THE DIFFUSER AND THE CALMING PILLS WHICH I GOT FROM THE VET YESTERDAY.  MY VET EVEN SUGGESTED MAKING A VIDEO OF US JUST DOING NORMAL THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE, WITH THE REGULAR NOISES, SO TODAY I AM GOING TO LEAVE THAT PLAYING, SO MAYBE THAT WILL HELP.  I ASKED ABOUT IF HE CAN HEAR US WON'T THAT MAKE HIM ANXIOUS ABOUT NOT SEEING US, HE DIDN'T THINK SO.  SO AFTER ANOTHER £40.00 SPENT (CHEAP COMPARED TO HIS OTHER VET BILLS) I AM PLAYING A VIDEO, GIVING HIM CALMING PILLS, AND HAVE PLUGGED IN A DIFFUSER, ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX AND WILL TAKE TIME, BUT I'M PREPARED TO TRY ANYTHING (NOT SURE ABOUT CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW).  BUT THAT DID MAKE ME LAUGH, SORRY.  SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.  TAKE CARE ALL, REALLY NICE CHATTING WITH YOU ALL.

SANDRA

Hi Sandra

Good to hear you have a supportive and imaginative vet :)  Just a word of warning -  try and play the video you make at other times, other than *just* when you are out.  Other wise it can just become another one of the triggers for his behaviour - like you picking up your keys or putting your coat on.  It can also help to do these sorts of things and NOT leave him - just sit down with your coat on for 10 mins or so, or pick your keys up and take them for a walk into the kitchen - this breaks up the triggers and the routine that may wind him up into this state.  Also, when using the DAP defuser, best results seem to have come from having them plugged in in a relatively small area where the dog spends most of his time......  They can take 2-4 weeks to have full effect on a grown dog.

HTH

OK. I'M LEAVING FOR WORK, I HAVE LEFT A VIDEO RUNNING OF OURSELVES, I'VE GIVEN HIM A LARGE BOWL OF FOOD WITH CALMING PILLS, I'VE TAKEN HIM FOR A LONG WALK, HE'S GOT A LARGE HAM HOCK, MY OLD CLOTHES, I'VE EVEN GONE OUT AND GOT TWO BUDGIES FOR COMPANY, THE DEFFUSER IS GOING.  WHAT MORE CAN I DO??????

Hi Sarah

It's hard to say what more you can do, until you've seen the video and watched how he reacts......  Don't forget also that you haven't had the DAP defusser for all that long.  Budgies might not be conceived as company if he's very human orientated, but they may act as a distraction :)

I'm a little concerned that you are feeding him immediatly before leaving him, as dogs can suffer from a condition called 'bloat' which can be a killer, and the sypmtoms come on shortly after being fed, especially if excercised after feeding as well.  Stress has been implicated as well.  I am NOT saying he's suffering with this at this momnet - the probabilities are that he isn't, but maybe your schedule could be adjusted?  Does he have two meals a day?

Incidentally - typing all in upper case is considered to be shouting on the internet, and not always appreciated ;)

Hi all again.  Thanks for telling me about CAPS, I'm not shouting, so sorry for that.  Nothing seems to be working (right now), yesterday I came home he had pulled down the hallway blind and broken an onex clock, i have started taking him to work in the afternoon, he stays in the car for a few hours as I take my lunch break at 2pm so he only stays in the car for 2 hours, which at the moment is ok, as the weather is cool, but obviously I will not be able to do that in the summer.  I am trying to come home later and later on my lunch hour so eventually I'll come home and not have to go back to work.  I have had a couple of suggestions about putting him in kennels for a week or so (i'm talking to the greyhound trust right now) anybody ever done that?  My poor dog, i want him to get better so bad.

Hi Sandra,

Did you try the video recording?  Even an audio tape recording can give clues.  Say for instance he's not destructive for 10 minutes or so after you've left, then it all kicks off, this may be due to boredom rather than distress.  If however he panics as soon as he is left, then it is probably seperation anxiety.  Does he follow you around at home?   Has he ever been asked not to do it?  Does he have a good 'stay' command?

The other possible solution could be a crate (although not many people have room for a crate suitable for a greyhound......) Or failing that, do you have a small room where he could be comfortable away from the outside world.  He may perceive that because he has been left with access to doors and windows that it is his 'responsibility' to protect the house, and mentally he's just not suited to the job.........  Many dogs suffer like this, and try to relieve their distress by being distructive - as soon as they are 'stood down' by not having access to the areas that need protecting they settle down.  I had a dog like this, and when we went out he would stay in an upstairs bedroom, where he was no problem........