Our new greyhound Blue has been home for a week and a half he has settled nicely and is a pleasure to have around the house! He is our third greyhound but our other two are the bridge now. Our last two were littermates and we adopted them at the same time so as to keep them together!

Now fast forward, last saturday (so exactly a week since getting blue home) he point blank refused to go out walking and has refused ever since...we have tried 3, 4 sometimes 5 times per day to get him out for a nice walk but he wont go any further than the front lawn

I emailed the rescue centre that he came from and they said that he doesnt like to walk alone but will happily trot along with other greyhounds which im feeling terrible about as we dont have any other greyhounds and he is an only dog Im worried that he will become depressed now. We dont know any other dogs around here and meeting others is really hard seeing as I cant get him past the front lawn! We put him in the car yesterday and took him to the park but he wouldnt walk when we got him out the car

I need some help feeling really down in the dumps about it, i feel like we cant offer him the sort of home he needs and am worried that the lack of greyhound company is going to make him depressed in the house too... we have a lovely park and I had visions of lovely (short) walks round the park for him to enjoy! I know greys dont like huge amounts of excersize but none at all just feels wrong

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Owned by 3 beautiful human babies, our lovely Millie pup and also our four very cheeky dutch bunnies Poppy, Daisy, Lily and Rosey!!
Millie Pup!

Aww, the rescue could have told you.

You haven't had him very long, so maybe it's best to get his confidence up at home first and not pressure him into going out. Then start by gradually encouraging him to take one step outside the lawn, standing and looking about for a bit and bring him back again, then slowly build it up, as his confidence in you builds?

I'm not a dog trainer though and I'm sure others will come up with ideas for you.

I wouldn't give up on him yet though, it's early days and I expect he's just lacking confidence.

Do you have any friends with dogs that could come over to your house and you could all leave for a walk from there?

The other thing I would look at is putting him in the car and taking him to the park and walking him home after a little play in the park.

I personally think once he realises that it's fun being out on a walk, there'll be no stopping him, but it is early days for him still, and remember, his whole life is different now and it's going to take a bit of time to adjust.

You sound as though you are a perfect home for him, he needs someone who is patient and kind - sounds like you, to me anyway, someone who will give him time to adjust.

I bet in a month's time you'll wonder what all the worry was about.

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Remember, winners never quit and quitters never win!

oh dear looks like you will be getting another greyhound

it was very silly of the rescue people not to tell you , he sounds like a dog they should have placed with another greyhound , maybe thats there cunning plan to home another one .

How about putting him in the car, driving to the end of the road, then walking home? OH could be standing at the gate calling him, build it up gradually. Another dog to walk with would be a help too, there must be a neighbour or local friend with a dog.

Why in gods name the rescue did not tell you this is beyond me- especially if they know he was going to be an only dog.

Is he treat/toy orientated?? could you use this to get him to walk? could OH walk in front with a lure trailing on the floor?

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www.RescueRemedies.co.uk
http://www.dogsinneedofspace.co.uk/

Exactly what I was thinking after reading the OP.

If the fear is going out, make the walking start by going home.

Does this occur at all times of day? Tried night walks?

Contact a local dog walker and ask if they walk past your house, (otherwise lurk by the window and collar the next person with a dog you see passing.) ask to join them for a walk as your dog is a scaredy cat. The shame

I'd worry about putting him off getting into the car?

Ah a greyhound that refuses to walk - a subject in which I am an expert!

Few questions: what sort of area do you live in? On a busy road or is it fairly quiet? What is his body langauge like when he refuses to go?

Now going on my experiences with Ely (who has issues beyond just not walking) please do not force him to stay out if he doesn't want to or try to force him to walk. That will make him associate bad things with leaving the garden. If being in the front garden doesn't seem to be stressing him out I would start by sitting there with him and feeding him some yummy treats. Getting him to relax outside is the first step.

Whereabouts do you live? If it's anywhere near me I'm more then happy to meet up for a walk - as I feel your pain.

From your post do I understand right that this didnt start happening until a week after you brought him home and until then he had been OK on the walks? If so, I think something could have possibly gave him a fright and its turned into a type of phobia. Was there anything out the ordinary that happened in that week however minor to you? Could have been road works, a loud vehicle crashing past, a dog that run up and freaked him anything at all.

Sounds like he isnt the most confident assured dog anyway hence he is better walking with other dogs. If he is an ex racer, who just went from van to track to kennel, and his walks were in quiet more country areas then you live, that could be your problem. Ive seen quite a few ex racer rescues, are are terrified of other breeds, because they practically dont know what they are, as they have only seen other greyhound.

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