Most greyhounds are very easy to train. They have been crate trained and so they don’t go in the area they consider their kennel. However, they have never been inside a house. They are used to being let out up to six times a day to relieve themselves in a fenced-in pen.
So for the first few days when you get your greyhound home, make sure you take him out often, stay with him and praise him effusively when he goes. He’ll catch on very quickly that outside is where he does his thing. Try to establish not only a fairly set routine that your new greyhound can learn, but a word or phrase that your new greyhound can identify and respond to, such as “Do you want to go out?” You will notice, if you watch carefully, that within a few days your greyhound will adapt to his new routine, and also start giving you “signals” when he needs to be taken outside.
Having An Accident
If your dog has an accident in the house, and you are right there when it happens, give him a sharp, verbal reprimand, then take him outside, wait with him until he goes, and then praise the dickens out of him when he goes in the right place. Do not hit your dog or try to put his nose in the accident, as your dog will respond more quickly and more positively to kindness.
If your greyhound is a male, he may attempt to lift his leg in a few places around the house to “mark his territory,” especially if you already have a dog. He is making the house HIS house, so he feels more at home. Watch him carefully as he walks or sniffs around the house the first few hours and days, Males are easy to catch before they do it, so you can reprimand verbally and strongly. If this should happen, it does not go on for long, so try to be patient. You can also keep your greyhound on a leash in the house the first few days. That way you can keep a very sharp eye on him. If you have a female marker, they are much harder to catch, and stop in the act.
Greyhounds are very clean dogs by nature. If your greyhound has any type of accident, rather than blame the dog, look for the reasons why it happened. He either wasn’t taken out early or often enough, or not allowed enough time to fully relieve himself. Remember, a dog which has fully relieved himself has nothing left in his bladder to make an accident on your rug. Also remember that your new greyhound does not have any way to tell you he needs to go out. He is used to a set routine, where someone came and got him and put him outside in a turn-out pen.
Dog Doors
I will never be without a dog door. If you can put one in your home, do it! They are invaluable, and give the dog the ability to go in and out at will. This means you don’t have to worry about there being any accidents in the house when you’ve been gone an extra amount of time. They have them for patio doors, and regular doors. They are insulated. In the over 25 years I’ve had dog doors, I have never had a person break into my home, nor another animal come into my home. A greyhound needs an XL dog door because of his height. They are installed about 6 – 8 inches off the ground, so a greyhound can step through, and not have to bend.
Cleaning An Accident
Pet stores have lots of solutions to help make cleaning up after your dog easier. I would definitely purchase one, like Nature’s Miracle, before bringing your greyhound home.
Prevention
However, prevention is the best solution to any house-breaking problem. For the first few days, it’s a good idea to walk or let your greyhound outside in a fenced yard more frequently than you ordinarily would — as often as every couple of hours. This teaches your greyhound where his new home is and where he is supposed to “go,” and helps relieve the tension of a strange place, thus preventing accidents.
It is very common in their first few days for greyhounds to drink a lot more water than they would normally. They do this because they are nervous about being in an unfamiliar place. But all this drinking plus being nervous means they will need to go outside more.
Also, quite often the change from kennel dog to house pet can give a greyhound diarrhea, caused by nerves, change of water, change of diet. If your greyhound should have loose stools the first few days, mix cooked brown rice and/or hamburger with his kibble. You can also try solid-packed pumpkin. Also be sure you allow your greyhound the ability to relieve himself quite often if he has diarrhea, as he cannot “hold” it for long. This type of diarrhea doesn’t last more than a few days. If it does, take your dog to the vet, as there may be some other problem, such as worms, food allergies, nerves, etc. which could be causing it, and it needs to be treated by your vet.