A friend has recently got a new greyhound, he's 7yrs and been in a shed most of that time. I said I'd put a query here as she is getting quite desperate and dreading having to give him up if the problem cant be solved. He scent marks constantly, even when he's just come in from a walk. He does it anywhere, there are no certain spots, he does it when on his own and when the family are there. When he first arrived, he was doing it several times a minute!!! He became clean for around two weeks then started agian for no apparent reason. He's been neutered, he's had injections to suppress hormones, and she ahs tried a DAP diffuser which helped for a few days, then he started again. Its not nearly so frequent now, but still often enough to be quite a problem, and very frustrating especially since he has shown he can be clean. Apparently he was moved from kennels to a shed because he wouldnt train to be clean in his kennel. There has only a couple of times been a problem with pooing. He is a lovely dog otherwise, though he does chew things a lot. One problem which doesnt help is that he cant be allowed off lead to run around because of deformed feet but he's otherwise in great shape and settled well. She has had him for about two months now. Urinary infection has been ruled out. Can anyone come up with some answers for this poor lad and his mum, please, please, before he has to be sent back to a shed?
Sorry Fiona, this sounds very severe. Have you tried posting on a dog trainer's forum? I know Victoria Stillwell has one and her advice has usually been good. The only way I could train Indiana in the beginning was to take him out so often that there would be nothing left for him to do in the house. This included during the night. Over time, I could increase length between trips. Or perhaps he'll continue to do it until he finally realises he's not going to be thrown out? Because it sounds as if he's had to contend with a lot of new homes in the past. Just a few ideas. Hope your friend manages to find a solution.