Greyhounds are intelligent dogs; hence it’s easy to house train them. When you first adopt or buy a greyhound, it is important to give him time to acclimate to your home. House training is a crucial aspect that will help your furry friend fit into family life. Greyhounds that come off the track are not house trained because they have never lived in a house. However, greyhounds are clean dogs, and it will take only a short time to get used to a new routine.
Why do greyhounds need house training?
Whether you have a puppy or adult greyhound, training your dog regularly will help develop basic good behavior. House training will go a long way in ensuring that the two of you enjoy comfort and build a healthier relationship. House training is an integral part of training for dogs, one that teaches the canine good toilet manners.
Below are reasons why you should house train your greyhound:
Ex-racing greyhounds are kennel trained.
Since racing greyhounds are usually kennel broken, dogs that have just come off the tracks will be used to a strict potty schedule. The canines are accustomed to someone coming at regular intervals to let them out. As such, they have never had to tell anyone that they need to go out. Bringing a greyhound into your home will be a significant change for them. Consider establishing a routine of trips outside right from the time the hound arrives at your home. House training will go a long way in making life easier for both you and your pet.
Your home is a new environment.
Your home will not only be a new environment for the greyhound but will also mean a completely different routine and lifestyle. The change in environment can result in fears, phobia, territorial urine marking, and separation anxiety on the part of the dog. Change in routine may leave them confused, making it difficult for them to practice good toilet habits. Through house training, you can teach your greyhound basics lessons that will help them adjust to life after racing and understand what is expected of them. In the end, your furry friend will be more comfortable in their new home.
Greyhounds are indoor dogs.
Although greyhounds are extremely fast and have exceptional athletic abilities, they can spend a good part of the day indoors. In fact, the dogs have been nicknamed couch potatoes since they love sleeping. Just like other dogs, greyhounds are instinctively clean animals, meaning that you will have to provide them with a clean environment. In addition, you should train them on how to maintain a clean space. House training is a great way to keep your pet’s eating and sleeping areas clean. This will also help to boost their health and well-being.
Greyhounds have unique personalities.
Most greyhounds have unique personalities that make them special and lovable. However, their personalities also mean that you have to pay close attention to your dog’s needs. Mostly, these dogs are subtle with their requests to go out. They will rarely dance frantically at the door or bark to get your attention when they need to go out. Instead, your greyhound is more likely to pace and stare at the door waiting for you to get the hint. House training will accommodate the distinct personalities by letting the canine know where they can relieve themselves.
You will get to better understand your dog.
Bathroom time presents an opportunity to understand your pet so you can provide the care they need. You will get to know how frequently your greyhound needs to go to the bathroom and how his age affects his or her ability to “hold it.” In case you have followed the right house training procedures, but your furry companion does not seem to adjust to the new routine, you will want to check if the animal has any medical conditions. Certain health issues, such as parasite infections and urinary tract infections, can make your dog lose control of their bladder. House training will also help you learn how the greyhound communicates, a factor that will help both of you develop a strong bond.
To include them in family life and activities.
Greyhounds are great family pets. They are quiet, affectionate, well-mannered, and easy to live with. They are also loyal companions that enjoy going for walks and spending time with people. Most pet parents will want to spend time with their greyhounds and make the dogs part of their daily activities. House training is one of the ways of ensuring your pet behaves in a manner that you consider to be acceptable. By teaching them good toilet manners, you will be confident in bringing them along with you to different places. Housebreaking also prepares the greyhound for life in a family home and the various activities you enjoy.
Tips for house training your greyhound
As much as it is relatively easy to house train greyhounds, you must ensure that you do it in the right way. You will want to teach your pet good toilet manners while at the same time taking care of their needs. Here is what to know.
Start early
The first few days after your greyhound comes into your home can be a difficult period for the dog. If you want to make the transition smooth and ensure life will be easy for your pet, you should start house training early. Generally, the first 72 to 96 hours will be very critical to helping you get your new pet to understand what is expected of them. If you want house training to be a breeze, you will have to be consistent during this period. Lack of consistency will lead to the learning process taking more time and effort.
Establish a routine
Part of making sure you are consistent with house training procedures involves establishing a routine. This is because greyhounds do best on a regular schedule. Take your pet outside frequently, maybe after every two hours. You may also want to pick a bathroom spot outside and use a specific command to remind them what they need to do. Reward your canine companion every time they go outside to relieve themselves and put them on a regular feeding schedule to help them eliminate at consistent times. Lastly, pick the dog’s water dish roughly two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that they will need a bathroom break during the night.
Supervise your greyhound
As you toilet train your greyhound, you should keep an eye on them to reduce the opportunities they have to soil in the house. Whenever you are not actively training or playing, you can tether the dog to you or a piece of furniture. Make sure you watch out for signs that they may need to go out. If you notice that the dog is restless, scratching the door, squatting, or circling around, you should take them to their bathroom spot outside. You can also keep the hound on a leash close to their bathroom spot in the yard, making sure you reward them with a treat when they eliminate on the spot.
Allow room for mistakes.
During the house training process, accidents can happen in the house from time to time. However, you should put in place measures to minimize the number of accidents. In the event that you catch your greyhound in the act, you should interrupt them and give them an order to go to their bathroom spot. Make sure you do not scare them and remember to reward them if they finish eliminating at their bathroom spot. It is also vital that you clean the soiled area in your house thoroughly so that the smell of urine or feces does not motivate them to continue soiling the place.
Plan for when you are away.
If you have to be away for extended periods of time, you should consider making plans to ensure your dog can visit the bathroom when they need to. You can either arrange to have someone else take them for bathroom breaks or designate a specific place inside the house where they can eliminate. When you clean up a soiled area, put the paper towels or rags in the elimination area. This will create a scented area to help your dog know where they are supposed to relieve themselves.
Do not confine them longer than they can hold it.
Racing greyhounds are usually trained to not eliminate in their crates. When they retire and come into their foster home, you should teach the dog that the entire house is their crate. However, since this breed of dog likes spending time indoors, you should be careful not to confine them longer than they can hold it. If you notice that your hound eliminates in the house because they were not let out in time, you should consider changing your house training procedures. When you make house training hard, it will be difficult for the greyhound to transition into the new environment and lifestyle.
What to do in case of a particular problem
As you train your dog, you should always keep your frustration level low. It will take time and effort for the greyhound to learn toilet manners. In case of severe problems during the house training process, it would be wise to consult a veterinarian. The expert will examine the dog to determine whether the difficulties are a result of physical problems.
Mistakes to avoid when house training your greyhound
As you work on toilet training your greyhound, you should create a housebreaking plan that makes the learning process easy for your dog. Avoiding common house training mistakes will help the dog adopt the new routine faster and deliver the expected results without much effort.
Never correct the dog unless you catch him in the act.
You should only correct your greyhound when you catch them having an accident indoors. If you correct them after you have found a mess, it may be difficult for the canine to make a connection between the act and the correction. Take measures to stop the momentary action and get your dog to their bathroom spot outside. Due to the gentle nature of greyhounds, you should avoid scolding them harshly and ensure you reward them when they go outside so that you provide a positive experience.
Avoid rubbing the dog’s nose in a mistake.
Do not rub the dog’s nose in the urine or feces if you find a mess in the house. This will call the canine’s attention to the spot, increasing the likelihood of the dog returning to the same place. The dog may also associate your negative reaction with going to the bathroom. However, the mistake is where they eliminate and not the act of eliminating. It is crucial to ensure that you train your dog in a way that will not confuse them.
Missing important signals that your hound needs a toilet break
Dogs will typically communicate when they need to visit the bathroom. Greyhounds are a bit different since they will give you hints through subtle actions. Whether it is sniffing, squatting, or circling, you have to learn how the greyhound communicates when he needs to go to the bathroom. This will help you set your pet up for success because they will also know how to send signals when it is time to eliminate.
Forgetting to reward them for good decisions.
In order to encourage good behavior and progress, you will need to praise or give your dog a treat when they potty in the right spot. However, delaying the reward will make it difficult for the greyhound to find the connection between the treat and going to the yard. When you give your dog a treat immediately they finish defecating outside; he will understand that helping himself outside is worthwhile just for the treat.
Expecting too much too soon
House training requires patience. Expecting too much over a short time can lead to frustrations for both you and your furry friend. You should have realistic expectations regarding when the dog will get used to the new routine. If you are to quickly establish the required behavior, you need to be clear in your guidance and make sure that the training pace allows the dog to learn the important lessons.
Giving too much freedom too quickly
Once your dog starts to figure out where to go, you may get overconfident and give them some freedom. However, a day or two without an accident will not be enough time to conclude that you have successfully house trained your greyhound. Instead, you should ease up on supervision after observing a full accident-free month. Easing up will help minimize the risk of regression.
Punishing your greyhound for accidents
As much as there should be consequences when the dog eliminates in the wrong place, you should be careful when it comes to correcting your greyhound. Avoid blaming the canine or physically intimidating them as this could lead to fear and confusion. The best way to house train is to use positive techniques, ensuring that you and your greyhound approach the process as a team.
Using potty pads
Most potty pad companies will market the products as a way to help with house training. However, potty pads give dogs the impression that it is okay to eliminate in the house. If you are keen on teaching your dog that eliminating outside is best, potty pads can prolong the process. Try to the best of your ability to avoid using these products.
FAQs about greyhound house training
How often does a greyhound need to pee?
During the first couple of days, you will need to take the dog out at least every two to four hours. This is because of the initial stress before the animal gets accustomed to your house.
Are greyhounds hard to house train?
Greyhounds are intelligent dogs, a factor that makes them easy to housebreak. In order to make the house training process easier, you should be consistent, take the dog out every few hours, and use a potty phrase that you will be using at all times.
What should I do if my greyhound makes a mistake?
Regardless of the cause of the error, you should avoid punishing your pet. Instead, you may want to rethink how you manage the greyhound. Take time to look at whether the house training plan is practical and easy to keep up with.
What should I do if my greyhound wants to go out at night?
Most newly adopted greyhounds are not used to holding on through the night. In case your greyhound is restless, you will have to get up and take them to the bathroom. However, you should consider taking measures that will reduce the likelihood of the dog needing a toilet break.
How long does it take to house train a greyhound?
This will depend on the age of the greyhound as well as their limitations. Some individual dogs will also take longer to get the idea that the toilet is outside. The idea is to be patient and keep on training the greyhound until they learn.
House training your greyhound requires patience, persistence, and understanding your dog. Understanding your greyhound’s personality will not only speed up the learning but also strengthen the bond you share. Lastly, consider getting professional help when you encounter severe challenges.
