Rehomed Ex Racing Greyhound

[woodhamgirl]

Hi. Wonder if anyone has got some advice to give me.
I adopted an ex racing 4 year old greyhound last week. Ive tried to get her to go into my car but she wont. My daughter lifted her in and once in she was fine but I cant lift her up.
Ive tried enticing her with cheese (!) but nothing will work.

Any ideas please

[NOX]

The way I always try reluctant dogs is to open the side door having first put a treat out of their reach, then gently lean my weight against them longways on whilst lifting one of their feet up into the car. As you lean it make them sort of topple and they usually stick their other foot up and you continue leaning on them and their rear end often follows. they are rewarded straight away with the treat, so it's a pleasant experience.
It's slightly hard to explain but I hope you get the general gist.

[woodhamgirl]

Yeh I fully understood what you recommend - Ive tried the boot and she's attempted to reach the treat by stretching but once she cant get it easily she gives up. As for the side doors - she wont go near them for some reason

[woofgang]

she's probably never had to do it and finds it all a bit worrying, a week isn't very long. Is it essential to get her into the car right now? I would be letting her settle in and giving her time to work out that her life has changed and that she can learn new things and it will be lovely. She may not be food oriented, but as an ex racer, a fluffy toy might be a better lure. Let her take her time, put the toy (or food) where she can get it at first and very gradually move it further in. Cars side doors can be very scary for a dog who has never experienced them before. Be very patient. One good scare will put her off doing something for months.

[wildwood]

Picking her up and shoving into a box means racing to the dog. Once she realises that the car is fun she'll be the first one in. I know two people who have(had) a greyhound as a pet and they seem to make excellent companions.

[lankeela]

Most greyhounds are travelled in cages and are lifted up to be put in. I would just put her front feet on the back of the car, and then get hold of her back legs at the top (thighs) gently lifting her. If you have trouble get someone else to do it a few times and she will soon learn. Wildwood, don't understand your comment about shoving them in a box means racing - the vast majority of greyhounds can't wait to get into the van to go racing, and into the traps if thats what you mean.

[wildwood]

^^ Have you ever seen a greyhound willingly go into the traps? I always see them being picked up and shoved in, and held in by the knee while the slide is closed.

[pastafreak]

It might be the confined space that worries her. I have a lurcher that was kept in a shed-she hates small spaces. She will not take treats if she is stressed-infact nothing will tempt if she's fearful.
Maybe just let her get used to the car by leaving the doors open so she can have a good sniff...don't force her-otherwise she'll be even more reluctant.Greyhounds and other sighthounds are quite sensitive dogs and react best to gentle handling.

[lankeela]

Having worked with greyhounds since before I left school I can assure you that the dogs are placed carefully in the traps in number order. They have to have their leads removed at the last second so need to be held usually round the chest and under the stomach, otherwise they would be running off up the track to chase the hare which they know is going to be coming. If they got loose with their leads on they could easily injure themselves. You lift their back legs carefully as they walk forward and very few object and then only if they have not been schooled properly - they are usually trained to go through an open fronted trap till they get used to having the front closed. It certainly would not be a reason for them not to want to jump in a car!

[lankeela]

And the holding the knee behind them is to stop them backing out and running round the front on to the track - which action gets the handler a severe reprimand as they then all have to be taken out of the traps and off the track and re-examined by the track vet before returning to the traps.

[heathfield]

Would putting the dog's bedding in the car perhaps reassure her that it's a good place to be?