like i have mentioned before, we just built our house and we have only been in the house for almost 3 months. because of this, we haven't built a fence yet so i am having to take Odie out at certain times (to fit my work schedule) and let him potty. the only problem is that he has woke me up whining early in the morning to go out. he darts to the door like he is about to bust but when we get outside (buurrrr!!!), he walks around the yard sniffing every inch of it but never using the bathroom. when he did this to me this morning, i brought him back in and he started to whine again but i left him in the crate for a while and then took him out again. he used the bathroom immediately!!! is this how i train him to hurry or miss his chance? what do you suggest?

You have to remember, you are training him. If you let him, he will train you to do what ever he wants.

You need designate at least 4 potty times. Stick to it. Eventually he will realize that is his potty time.

Believe me, I know its hard to sleep when the whining starts at 3am but you have to. If you open the crate and let him out at 3am, (or what ever time it was) he will do two things, he will realize, "Hey, they let me out when I whine" and, he will think that 3am is his potty time.


Just stick to a schedule and he will soon get it.

i had to run out quick to go pick up my step-daughter so i put odie in the crate. i wasn't gone for 5 minutes. when i got back, i took him outside and he wandered around a little but didn't potty. we came back in and i turned around for a couple of minutes and the next thing i knew, he was pooping on my livingroom rug! he had been in a home before i got him (2 years) so i would assume he knows the ropes a little better than one that has come right off the track. i need some help here.

yesterday, we were walking up and down my street and 2 little dogs (not even 6 inches tall) came running from their yard toward odie and he pooped right there in the street!

A couple of questions:
-Is this a new home, did he live in your previous home? Sometimes when a dog moves into a new home (with the same owners), they are a little disoriented, and you need to take a few steps back in training.

-What is your schedule for taking him out? Is it very rigid? GH's do very well on schedules, but they can also do badly if that schedule isn't followed, especially if its a newer dog. The longer the dog has been with you, the more flexible the schedule can be.

-Was the poop firm? What signs did he show when the little dogs came around. Was his tail tucked, did he avoid eye contact? Were the little dogs being aggressive at all?

-As far as the middle of the night issue. Make sure he goes out right before bed, and doesn't drink any water afterwards. Then when he whines, just correct him and tell him to go back to bed. By letting him out right before bed you are reassuring yourself that its not a bladder issue, he just wants to walk around outside.

-Do you know why he left his previous home? There may be some history there that may shed some light on this.

-What did you do when you found him pooping on your rug?


Sorry for all the questions, but the background info would help diagnosis the issues.

Good luck!

he was brought back to the GFNC because his owner became ill. he is over the age of 60. i actually talked with the him over the phone and he had no complaints about him other than the fact that he is very shy. he did say that he had a cat and it would put him in his place.

this is the schedule i follow:
5:30am (potty time - i feed him after we come back in)
7:00am (potty time - i take him out again before going to work... this seems to be his poop time)
10:30am (potty time - i come home for a few minutes before going to teach another class)
3:00pm (potty time - i come home from work)
5:30pm (dinner time)
9:00pm (potty time)

his poop has been firm since i got him (or at least it isn't diarrhea or anything close)

when the little dogs came at him, they were barking. his tail was tucked and he totally avoided eye contact with them. he looked scared to death! i guess they literally scared the poop out of him. they stayed at least 15-20 away from us.

i caught him once he was done pooping so i put him in the crate and cleaned up the mess. i know that was probably the wrong choice so please help me out here!

Your schedule seems OK to Me. I feed My hounds a little later in the morning than You do but they'll get used to most any schedule in time.
You would not be the first person to have a Greyhound that's afraid of ankle biters, just try to avoid the areas where they are if You know them.
Most Greys socialize well with larger animals up to and including Horses. Try to find a playgroup with other Greys in Your area to take Him to, even shy guys seem to like that.
I have never crated and that's an issue I won't comment on but I don't think what You did was wrong, just be sure to use a good enzyme cleaner to clean the area up with so He won't try to go there again.
I've never had a better pet than a Greyhound, hang in there, the rewards are many !!!!!

Gary

yes, i thought about that whole "associate the crate with punishment" once i put him in there. i would never WANT to do that because he LOVES that crate. i guess i was just so shocked that all i wanted to do was put him somewhere that i knew he wouldn't poop again so i could clean the mess up.... and that was a BIG MESS!!! My kids gagged for hours

Success!!! Although it wasn't Odie's potty time, he went to the door and whined to go out. I took him out and he went straight to his poopy spot and did his business. I said "good boy!" and petted him. he started jumping up and down... he looked so happy and excited. he was probably as proud of himself as i was. he got a treat for that one!

So.... he is learning that if he wants to go out, he's gotta ask and he knows where to go! that smart boy!!!

Big hugs for Odie !!!

Gary