Fed up of the nonsense

Crisp_£_note

We are going insane with frustration with our Greyhound X Salukie (aged 9 Male Neutered) we are struggling to cope.

He is SO stubourn theres just no winning even if we are twice as stubourn in return and stick to the rules.

Take this week for example he has had his regular morning walk, breakfast, lunch and has had a new bed bought for him this week which he loves. Anyway when we have had to go out he has started his antics again of raiding the dustbin etc.

Ok I admit it maybe to do with the fact we have had to put the water bowls back into the conservatry which gives him access to the kitchen again despite the dog gate being across to stop him getting at the main areas. We had to move the water back as its been in the narrow hallway for the past several months (as we could close the kitchen door and prevent any issues) and to be honest its a ridiculous place for it as its right in the way of everywhere (2 bedrooms, living room, door, front door, bathroom, kitchen etc) due to our bungalow being so small. Plus the water spills that happend on occasions whilst we have been out have now seeped under the lino and caused it to start peeling away from the wall so we just had to move it back into the conservatry as again theres no room in the kitchen.

This means the dogs have to walk through the kitchen to get to their water bowl all ok until when we are out as previously we have now got to a point where on our return we find something has been raided and eaten and a chaotic mess to be cleaned up!

So far this week its been a catering tub of hot chocolate which was pulled down from the shelf and lid opened and said chocolate leaving a trail like gunpowder across the floor into an explosion of chocolate dust. The dustbin being raided and its contents strewn across the floor of conservatry and kitchen (we actualy keep the dustbin on top of the windowsil out of dogs reach but he has now obviously learnt how to knock it off and over. Then today we get back from the shop to find a trail of toffee wrappers throught the conservatry, kitchen, hallway and into the living room where dog had climbed onto the kitchen worktop and knocked the biscuit barrell off and the antibacterial cleaner bottle. That is just so far this week since Monday. Weve had all kinds of things previous to that ranging from Bovril powder, milk powder, chocolate :eek: , licorice and thats just the food items! :mad:

I am now getting very worried he is going to make himself sick and die from this bad habbit, I can only afford basic accident insurance so doubt he any treatment from attention needed would be covered for vet bills.

We have obviously noticed his bowel habbits arnt looking too healthy either and have also tried to change his food (gradualy) to combat the sickness too. Just as we think we have the right ballance of life and cracked the behaviour dog steps up a gear with his stubournness - even being one step ahead of him doesnt work these days!

The squeaking and restlessness has calmed down
since he has had his new bed but now this old habbit has returned as I said possibly our fault for moving the water bowls back to somewhere sensible for us but not for dog. Either way cant win.

Weve changed a lot of things to date to accomodate him such as he now gets regular walks, regular feeds 3 times a day , attention and last week even a new bed which he adores but the only thing that we have undone has now returned to creating a major problem when we go out. Its so stressful and we are again at our wits end.

We cant crate or pen him when we go out as he wouldnt cope with it. Would it be cruel to muzzle him when we went out? Usualy no more than a couple hours and would ensure it was a muzzle that would alow him to drink if theres such a type.

Thanks in advance.

Person_one

Sorry if I'm missing something here, but it seems completely obvious that you need to keep him out of the kitchen when you aren't there. If he can't get in the kitchen he can't raid the bin or steal food off the counters.

You can't muzzle him and then leave him unsupervised, it would be unsafe and yes, cruel.

Keep the water in its old spot when you're out, move it to the more convenient conservatory when you're in.

dandelionclock30

Crate train him, of course he would cope, hes hardly going to complain is he. Its not cruel, if used appropriatley and its better than you worrying about what your dog is upto.

krlyr

As above - management (i.e. preventing access to the kitchen) will be an instant solution. You can then try to address the behaviour with training, but it can be difficult as it is a self-rewarding behaviour (dog raids bin/side, dog gets food - instant reward)

Kikopup does a video on tackling counter surfing, which may be worth a read.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZCIeEUm_n8

Remember that water bowls don't have to be dog bowls. Could a narrow, rectangular dish be more suited to your limited space? Or you could use anti-spill bowls, so if they are kicked, the water doesn't spill.

It may be worth ruling out a dietary (something missing in his diet that he's trying to source from his environment?) or medical (something making him hungry to a destructive extreme?) cause too.

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry if this is silly but I'm really confused

Where do you leave him when you go out .... the conservatory or with the run of the house?

If the latter, why can't you leave him in the conservatory with the water in there?


Re raiding bins - that is really easily solved ..... empty it whenever you leave the house

A very easy habit to get into (Ben was a nightmare thief) and I still do it (even though Maisie wouldn't ever touch a rubbish bag!)

I agree with the others - you can't muzzle him & leave him alone

Crisp_£_note

Hi I didnt think it appropriate to muzzle him when out it was just a thought as I was writing this earlier.

Thanks for the replies and yes we did overlook the obvious!

The dustbin is being moved to inside the cupboard door type with carrier bags so would be easier to put out with less black bags wasted (as it is we do this with recycled items) although I wouldnt put it past dog to figure out how to open the door, after all he did the breadbin!

Although even the obvious wont cure him getting hold of anything and everything else that takes his fancy even with us being extra careful in keeping the place tidy and things out of reach.


Thanks for making us a little bit saner again

Caroline_a

Re the bin - I have spent years with dogs that can get into every bin going, and the two that I have now (dogs not bins :rotfl:) are no different. Until I bought one of these. It's got 2 sides, one for recycling, one for rubbish and it locks! My Shepherd took it outside because he thought that dragging it around the garden would work. Nope. So now they look longingly when I put cartons etc in, but just leave it alone.

meritaten

You have a Greyhound Cross Saluki and you mention 'walks'. now to me, those breeds are runners - how much 'running around' time do they get?
they are also 'sight hounds' they hunt by sighting and chasing down prey - do they get to do this at all?

phill99

Sounds a lovely dog. Real character. I had a rescue border collie who had been a stray. He used to counter surf. It was in his nature and a behaviourist and the vet said he wouldn't change as it was in his nature.

I just dog proofed the kitchen.

You seem to imply that the animal is at fault. But it's not. It also sounds like he has separation anxiety and the destructive stuff is how it manifest set self.

Crisp_£_note

Thanks Caroline I will look into getting a bin like that maybe theres one cheaper but similar.

meritaten He goes for regular walks twice a day but hes not as often let off to run as theres no secure parks or fields round here not even to hire! Also hes not reliable off lead for many reasons including fear of other animals who have attacked him in the recent past but we keep him active in the back garden with toys and balls as best we can so he stretches his legs and pent up need to run as much as possible. We are aware its 'not fair' but we do our best within the limitations what is possible within the restrictions. Vets are happy with the routine and say were not doing anything cruel or that would be detrimental to the dog if thats anything to go by.

phill99 I dont blame it all on the dog but when we come home to find what he has done it does point the finger at him for a while until we calm down and see that it was more likely our fault for missing something new out of the routine. It takes us 30 minutes as it is to dog proof and prepare before we can leave the house just for 10 minutes say whilst we nip to the shop or post box and back.

Yes separation anxiety thats a tough one to crack as well but we have good days and better days - perfection is a myth

Thanks all

meritaten

I assume you have a vehicle? could you not drive to open country, a beach or somewhere he could just run for a while? even if its only once a week? or once a month? greyhounds are used to short bursts of running - but I believe Salukis are more 'long distance'?
and no, I don't think you are cruel or anything like that! you are doing the best you can. the dog is trying to occupy itself. Salukis and Greyhounds are working dogs - so give them jobs! I treated my dogs and kids and grandkids almost the same - 'Keep them busy, cos the devil makes work for idle hands (and paws).'
try toddler locks on cupboards. Do an 'Elf and Safety Assessment' of the areas the dog has access to. imagine a lively toddler crawling round and apply that to your assessment too. you will soon see where you need to move things or lock them away.