Greyhounds in the House
Everything in your house is familiar to you, but not at all familiar to your greyhound. You’ll have a lot of fun watching your greyhound explore his new home. But he’s going to need your help too.
Stairs
Your greyhound has probably never seen nor had to deal with stairs. So you have to teach him to climb them. If you have another dog in the home, he’ll learn quickly from him. If not, then the best way is to get down on all fours and show him.:) If that doesn’t work, stand behind him and move one paw at a time — step by step, showing him what he is supposed to do. Make sure you give lots of verbal positive reinforcement. Gradually increase the number of steps he climbs. When going down stairs, hold his collar securely and go down the stairs slowly right next to him. They can hurt themselves easily going down stairs too fast too. They are quick to learn and soon become old pros at it
He may initially resist (that statue routine we spoke of in the Adjustment chapter), but just keep gently and positively asking him to climb the stairs. No matter what method you choose to teach your greyhound stairs, DO NOT EVER FORCE your greyhound up or down stairs by dragging him by the collar. If pushed into doing the stairs, he will become frightened and may try to jump them all, and possibly break a leg — or worse.
Mirrors, Doors and Floors — Oh My!
Everything in the house is new and can be confusing. Full length mirrors may cause your pet to stare for hours at the mysterious dog on the other side of the mirror. Sliding glass doors can cause a sore nose, or worse, when your greyhound tries to walk through it. Please put masking tape, or some decal, at eye level for a while. Hardwood and linoleum floors are also tricky for greyhounds to negotiate. Area rugs are helpful there. Flushing toilets, TVs, refrigerators and more will provide you with lots of laughs at your greyhound’s expense.
Garbage
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure — this applies to your new greyhound as well. He doesn’t know he’s not supposed to root around in the garbage, and he finds those smells simply delightful and well worth investigating. Protect your greyhound from getting into trouble or possible harm by keeping the garbage out of his way, or by using a tight-fitting lid on the can. A sharp, verbal reprimand if he should try to nose around the garbage will soon teach him not to disturb it.
Counters, Tables
Kitchen counters happen to be nose level with most greyhounds. Remember, they have been raised in a kennel, where every time they smelled food, it was THEIR food. Your new greyhound has not been taught proper manners yet when it comes to food on the counter. A sharp “NO” when he shows interest is enough to deter him, at least when you’re around. However, a temptation such as a steak defrosting within his reach might be too much to ask.
Sofas, Beds
If it is soft, your greyhound will like it. Shag carpeting is bliss for your retired racer. But a comfy sofa is even better! A good rule to enforce right from the start: if you don’t want your dog on the couch, don’t ever let him on. He’ll quickly learn to love the luxury of the sofa cushions, and you’ll never get him to stay off. If your greyhound figures out the couch all by himself, and lounges on it while you aren’t home, then take an old blanket and cover the spot he’s chosen prior to leaving the house. It’s a lot simpler than fighting it.
If you want your greyhound to sleep in your bed with you, he’d be more than happy to oblige. However, some greyhounds might start to think it’s their bed. Any growl, when he’s on the bed, must immediately be quelched. Get that dog off the bed, and don’t allow him on it again. He’s lost his right to share.