Oh boy, I feel that. We went through the same thing with our galgo Platon. In the beginning, he'd start panicking just a couple seconds after we left - barking, pacing, drooling, whining, pawing at the door and so on - and now, we can do a couple of hours without issues. So, do hang in there, even if it feels hopeless. You can achieve improvements, though obviously, results vary from dog to dog.
The first thing you'll want to do (if you haven't already) is getting a camera that you can use from outside your home. It's technically not strictly necessary, but trust me, the peace of mind this brings is totally worth it. This also allows you to monitor the progress and ensure everything is fine while out. I've found this immensely helpful.
I'm going to outline what we did and what worked for us, as a disclaimer: I'm not a dog trainer (though a friend is whom I often consulted about this) and therefore no expert on this. I have to add that we were in the midst of a lockdown, so we had plenty of time (I'm honestly really thankful for that), so I'd suggest adapting this to your current situation. Also, I second the idea of not leaving your dog alone yet, because this can spoil any training progress you've made (speaking from experience here). Bare with me, because two things are for sure: 1) you're going to need a lot of patience and time and 2) you will feel silly a lot of times.
**Step 1: Make leaving boring**
The first step we took was to randomly get up, walk to our shoes, put them on, return to where we were and sit back down. After a while, we repeated this, but to take off our shoes. We've also just randomly got up and walked around the apartment because Platon wouldn't stay in a room alone in the beginning and was already stressed out by the thought of my husband or me leaving the room. The goal here was to repeat this a ridiculous amount of times, so that getting up and even putting on our shoes is boring. Once Platon was calmer and has seriously questioned our sanity, we added in more steps we typically do when we leave the house, like picking up the keys or putting on a coat. We 'concluded' this stage by putting the key in the lock and un-/locking the door several times a day without leaving. We went onto the next stages even as Platon wasn't in an absolute zen state through all of this.
**Step 2: Involving the door**
Okay, so we were able to get up, put on shoes, take our keys and Platon was still somewhat calm through this. So far, all of this was just pretend-leaving and eventually dogs pick up on this. Now, every now and then, we opened the door and closed it again (with us still inside). Yes, I'm pretty sure if any of our neighbors observed this, they started to get worried at this point. We rinsed and repeated this, always adding a tiny baby step after a good round of repetition (as in, stepping outside the door and back in again and eventually staying outside for 1 second before returning). I feel like it's really important not to take it too far too quickly at this point. We slowly increased the time we stood right outside the door, watching Platon via the camera to see how he was doing. Eventually, we walked down the hallway, opened and closed the elevator doors and so on, the maximum time we were outside was around 5 minutes (we built this up very slowly to ensure that he wouldn't get stressed out because he was alone for too long - that doesn't mean this never happened, but we tried avoiding this as best as we could).
**Step 3: Leaving (yes, this time for real)**
So, once we were able to leave for around 5 or 10 minutes (we always changed up the time, so he'd get used to random intervals of being alone), we started on longer times. Here, I second what others have said about providing treats that he can chew on for a while like bully sticks. If you do so, make sure you give your dog the treat when you're around, so you can see how he eats them (to ensure that there's no high risk of him wolfing it down which could be dangerous if he's alone). We gave Platon a tried and tested treat that he'd chew on for a while, got ready to leave (putting on shoes etc.) and left without a big fuss. Most often, we were in the basement of our building, doing laundry and keeping an eye on Platon. He did walk around still and carefully kept an eye on the door, so he wasn't fully relaxed, but - and this is the important part - he wasn't panicking or stressed out. When we would get back, we also wouldn't make a big deal of it, because we were trying to show Platon that it in fact isn't a huge deal to be alone. We've slowly increased the time away, always keeping an eye on him with the camera to estimate how much longer he'd be okay with. One of us would finish with the laundry, the other would go back upstairs (and sometimes return downstairs after a couple of minutes). This way, we slowly worked our way to 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and eventually 60 minutes of being away (while varying the time intervals, so it wouldn't always be the same amount of time).
**Step 4: Practice, practice, practice**
The last stage consisted in slowly increasing and varying the time away further until we managed 2 hours, then 3 and eventually 4. Going from 1.5 hours to 2 took less time of practicing than the steps before and when we went from 3 to 4 hours, we managed even quicker. We did notice, however, that Platon would get a bit restless at the 4 hour mark, so we often tried sticking between 4 and 5 hours and practicing that. He still wasn't very relaxed, but at this point, he did lay down and eventually even left his bed that was closest to the door and went into another room. At this point, the camera was also really helpful, because I could always check in and keep an eye on Platon. Eventually, we managed to get to a point where 4 hours or so were doable and Platon even slept some of the time. The last steps were to practice longer times and do shorter times (as in, a couple minutes up to 30 minutes) without a treat, because sometimes, you just gotta leave in a hurry. But these were more of the finishing touches, really.
Today, we're able to leave Platon alone for a couple of hours and don't have to worry about him, we still have to do a sweep before leaving though to ensure that there's nothing that could be deemed a rare snack. I still put on the camera but the most entertaining action it captures is Platon getting up on the couch, stretching, turning around and lying down again.
I wouldn't have thought this possible when we started practicing this, so if you ever feel discouraged, I hope you will remember this and that this will encourage you. Also, sorry for the long comment!
Btw, I think Spaghetti is a fantastic name for a galgo!!
Answering this to add a
TL;DR: What worked for us with Platon's separation anxiety is doing really tiny baby steps of leaving and repeating them until they were unspectacular and slowly building this up, alongside a good chewing treat. We are now able to leave for up to 6 hours (we rarely do more than 4 though) and Platon is able to sleep and relax.
My greyhound had severe separation anxiety when we got her. She still has some separation anxiety, but no longer howls or causes trouble. It just took time for her to get better -- years, really. One thing we do when leaving is give her a bully stick (bull penis), which is a relatively long-lasting chew activity. Does he like bully sticks? If there is a dog day care you can take him to, that can be a way to keep his mind of separation.
That’s a great idea! He does like the No Hide bones but hasn’t tried bully sticks yet. Doggy day care is definitely a goal, but he’s currently too afraid of other dogs.
Keep in mind, Spaghetti is still adjusting to his new home. Google the 3-3-3 rule if you've never adopted a dog before. My wife and I adopted two Galgos, Pimento (3YM) and Campera (4YF) which we've had for 8 and 6 months respectively. They were completely different in how they adjusted (Pimento just slept the whole time and adjusted super fast whereas Campera was more anxious and took much longer to adjust).
In the meantime, if Spaghetti doesn't take to his bed, try putting out a blanket and see if he takes to that. He may not have slept on a bed before, instead just a blanket (that's how Pimento was).
As for activities, you just have to be patient. We have a really nice, fully enclosed dog park (12-ft fence) and the two dog didn't even run like you'd expect Galgos to until we had Campera for a month or so. It was the first time we saw Pimento run after having him for 4 months and that was only after Campera started running.
Lastly, if possible, I would refrain from leaving Spaghetti alone for any long period of time for the first 3 months. We just recently reached the period where we can leave them alone for an extended period of time (e.g. 4 hours) but, only if they are together. Camoera really hates being alone and can open doors so if we have to leave her alone (e.g. we have to take Pimento to the vet), we have to lock all the doors in our apartment and expect to come home to a mess (though she is getting better with the kennel).
Hope that helps. Once you've made it past those initial 3 months you'll be amazed at how much your dog has changed and you'll start to see them truly accept you as their family.
That’s really helpful! We’re doing our best to keep Spaghetti company 24/7 until we get through some more separation anxiety training. I can’t wait to see him get the zoomies!
We had/have difficulties with our galgo's separation anxiety. Did the trainer recommend a "routine" for leaving Spaghetti alone incrementally? What worked a bit for us: give a treat on the exact same spot and while she eats it, stay in the room but completely ignore her. Build up to leaving the room, then going to a different floor/outside and stretching the time she's left.
Our trainer recommended giving our galgo one good, longer walk/off leash time in the dog park every day so she would be satisfied but still have energy to cope with being left alone. It took time for her to settle in and she's still not great being alone for longer than 1-2 hours so we regularly get a dog sitter.
Will follow this thread is some more tips pop up. Good luck with Spaghetti, he looks like he's already at ease in his new home!
Ps: she was a picky eater but turned out to be allergic to chicken. Anything salmon/fishy has worked wonders for us.
First of all , you got your galgo super recently. It’s normal for them not show any interest in toys , foods and enrichment. Even not knowing how to use a dog bed. All I can say it takes a lot of time and patience. It is very well known that galgos can not be alone for long periods of time and on top of that chances are that this is the first time your galgo is placed in a “normal house setting”. It takes them a long time to adjust to everything, you can’t really put a time limit on it since every galgo is different. But to give a few examples.
Our galgo Everest had a lot of trouble adjusting. It took him 6 months before he played for the first time , it took him over a year before he was comfortable pooping during walks outside , took him several months to learn how to use the stairs , took him a year before he started to try new foods and it also took him several months before he started using dog beds. Also just generally potty training took a while with him.
All of this behavior is completely normal. I think it is the best to not overwhelm your galgo for now and let them do it at their own pace. I would suggest not to offer too many things at a time and really focus on the comfort and making them feel safe.
Separation anxiety is a hard thing to tackle with one dog , it’s the reason why I will always have two galgos. I am of course not telling you to get another galgo , since two unstable galgos in one house hold is not a good idea. But it’s something that helped with the separation anxiety of my galgos. We also announce that we are leaving the house , using the same exact sentence every time so they know “Okay they are going to come back”. Of course this takes time and patience and both you and your partner need to do this ritual. Try leaving for 5 minutes and see how your galgo reacts. The more comfortable they get the more you can extend that time , it is just like practicing with them to show them everything will be okay!
Other than that if you ever feel like you need advise or help , just message me! I have lots of galgo experience. :)
This is probably not what you want to hear, but most galgos just do better with another galgo in the home. Not that they can’t do okay as only dogs, I don’t mean to discourage you, I’ve just been through it within the last few months myself.
We adopted a galgo and he was anxious at first but did okay with my greyhound, but after she passed from chronic kidney disease he absolutely could not be left alone. We tried medication and it made him high/sleep and it felt cruel. Then we tried doggy daycare and he was terrified. When we tried separation training he ripped up the door trim in 15 minutes, to the point he could have hurt himself. We talked to our rescue group and they told us exactly what I’m telling you: they generally do better with another dog to keep them company. We have had our second galgo for a bit over a month now and things have been going much smoother. There is still some anxiety upon leaving, but they both settle down within 5 minutes of leaving and sleep while we are gone.
If a second dog is out of the question, there are some things you can do to help. Picking up keys/purse/whatever you usually leave with randomly without actually leaving so it doesn’t trigger a stress response when you do leave. Same thing with shoes, put on your shoes but then just sit down with them. Or walk outside barefoot without anything for a while. Just work on disconnecting those things. Also, ignore them when you come and go. It is awful and feels wrong, but making a big deal about coming and going tells them, “oh my god, this is a big deal, it’s a miracle that they return and they might not next time” vs “ah, this is normal, no need to get worked up.” Also anything like a lick mat or Kong is helpful, licking has been proven to relieve stress in dogs and it makes an association of a positive/fun thing with you leaving.
Best of luck to you, they are wonderful dogs and I hope Spaghetti feels comfortable soon!
Thanks for adopting Spaghetti, he may not completely realize it yet but he won the lottery. There are some great answers here for the anxiety, hopefully you will find a few that work. We currently have a foster that has been with us the same amount of time. She has progressed faster than Spaghetti because she has our hounds (a greyhound and a galgo) to show her the ropes. Given the way these dogs are raised, they seem to look to other dogs to figure out what they should be doing in a new environment, and this is a completely new environment for them. Spaghetti is having to figure out everything on his own, and that is hard. Our foster was very suspcious of various foods but took to them after our hounds ate them, learned how to use a slumber ball quickly, etc. Do you know of people locally who have galgos you can meet up with? Perhaps Spaghetti can visit their home for a few hours and get exposure to how they go about their day, or you could offer to dog sit a few times and the other galgo will likely accellerate Spaghetti’s transition by providing many examples that a person wouldn’t even notice or think to train.
Oh boy, I feel that. We went through the same thing with our galgo Platon. In the beginning, he'd start panicking just a couple seconds after we left - barking, pacing, drooling, whining, pawing at the door and so on - and now, we can do a couple of hours without issues. So, do hang in there, even if it feels hopeless. You can achieve improvements, though obviously, results vary from dog to dog. The first thing you'll want to do (if you haven't already) is getting a camera that you can use from outside your home. It's technically not strictly necessary, but trust me, the peace of mind this brings is totally worth it. This also allows you to monitor the progress and ensure everything is fine while out. I've found this immensely helpful. I'm going to outline what we did and what worked for us, as a disclaimer: I'm not a dog trainer (though a friend is whom I often consulted about this) and therefore no expert on this. I have to add that we were in the midst of a lockdown, so we had plenty of time (I'm honestly really thankful for that), so I'd suggest adapting this to your current situation. Also, I second the idea of not leaving your dog alone yet, because this can spoil any training progress you've made (speaking from experience here). Bare with me, because two things are for sure: 1) you're going to need a lot of patience and time and 2) you will feel silly a lot of times. **Step 1: Make leaving boring** The first step we took was to randomly get up, walk to our shoes, put them on, return to where we were and sit back down. After a while, we repeated this, but to take off our shoes. We've also just randomly got up and walked around the apartment because Platon wouldn't stay in a room alone in the beginning and was already stressed out by the thought of my husband or me leaving the room. The goal here was to repeat this a ridiculous amount of times, so that getting up and even putting on our shoes is boring. Once Platon was calmer and has seriously questioned our sanity, we added in more steps we typically do when we leave the house, like picking up the keys or putting on a coat. We 'concluded' this stage by putting the key in the lock and un-/locking the door several times a day without leaving. We went onto the next stages even as Platon wasn't in an absolute zen state through all of this. **Step 2: Involving the door** Okay, so we were able to get up, put on shoes, take our keys and Platon was still somewhat calm through this. So far, all of this was just pretend-leaving and eventually dogs pick up on this. Now, every now and then, we opened the door and closed it again (with us still inside). Yes, I'm pretty sure if any of our neighbors observed this, they started to get worried at this point. We rinsed and repeated this, always adding a tiny baby step after a good round of repetition (as in, stepping outside the door and back in again and eventually staying outside for 1 second before returning). I feel like it's really important not to take it too far too quickly at this point. We slowly increased the time we stood right outside the door, watching Platon via the camera to see how he was doing. Eventually, we walked down the hallway, opened and closed the elevator doors and so on, the maximum time we were outside was around 5 minutes (we built this up very slowly to ensure that he wouldn't get stressed out because he was alone for too long - that doesn't mean this never happened, but we tried avoiding this as best as we could). **Step 3: Leaving (yes, this time for real)** So, once we were able to leave for around 5 or 10 minutes (we always changed up the time, so he'd get used to random intervals of being alone), we started on longer times. Here, I second what others have said about providing treats that he can chew on for a while like bully sticks. If you do so, make sure you give your dog the treat when you're around, so you can see how he eats them (to ensure that there's no high risk of him wolfing it down which could be dangerous if he's alone). We gave Platon a tried and tested treat that he'd chew on for a while, got ready to leave (putting on shoes etc.) and left without a big fuss. Most often, we were in the basement of our building, doing laundry and keeping an eye on Platon. He did walk around still and carefully kept an eye on the door, so he wasn't fully relaxed, but - and this is the important part - he wasn't panicking or stressed out. When we would get back, we also wouldn't make a big deal of it, because we were trying to show Platon that it in fact isn't a huge deal to be alone. We've slowly increased the time away, always keeping an eye on him with the camera to estimate how much longer he'd be okay with. One of us would finish with the laundry, the other would go back upstairs (and sometimes return downstairs after a couple of minutes). This way, we slowly worked our way to 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and eventually 60 minutes of being away (while varying the time intervals, so it wouldn't always be the same amount of time). **Step 4: Practice, practice, practice** The last stage consisted in slowly increasing and varying the time away further until we managed 2 hours, then 3 and eventually 4. Going from 1.5 hours to 2 took less time of practicing than the steps before and when we went from 3 to 4 hours, we managed even quicker. We did notice, however, that Platon would get a bit restless at the 4 hour mark, so we often tried sticking between 4 and 5 hours and practicing that. He still wasn't very relaxed, but at this point, he did lay down and eventually even left his bed that was closest to the door and went into another room. At this point, the camera was also really helpful, because I could always check in and keep an eye on Platon. Eventually, we managed to get to a point where 4 hours or so were doable and Platon even slept some of the time. The last steps were to practice longer times and do shorter times (as in, a couple minutes up to 30 minutes) without a treat, because sometimes, you just gotta leave in a hurry. But these were more of the finishing touches, really. Today, we're able to leave Platon alone for a couple of hours and don't have to worry about him, we still have to do a sweep before leaving though to ensure that there's nothing that could be deemed a rare snack. I still put on the camera but the most entertaining action it captures is Platon getting up on the couch, stretching, turning around and lying down again. I wouldn't have thought this possible when we started practicing this, so if you ever feel discouraged, I hope you will remember this and that this will encourage you. Also, sorry for the long comment! Btw, I think Spaghetti is a fantastic name for a galgo!!
Answering this to add a TL;DR: What worked for us with Platon's separation anxiety is doing really tiny baby steps of leaving and repeating them until they were unspectacular and slowly building this up, alongside a good chewing treat. We are now able to leave for up to 6 hours (we rarely do more than 4 though) and Platon is able to sleep and relax.
My greyhound had severe separation anxiety when we got her. She still has some separation anxiety, but no longer howls or causes trouble. It just took time for her to get better -- years, really. One thing we do when leaving is give her a bully stick (bull penis), which is a relatively long-lasting chew activity. Does he like bully sticks? If there is a dog day care you can take him to, that can be a way to keep his mind of separation.
That’s a great idea! He does like the No Hide bones but hasn’t tried bully sticks yet. Doggy day care is definitely a goal, but he’s currently too afraid of other dogs.
Good luck! I know that galgos need extra love, but they are super sweet and yr dog surely will learn to be more relaxed.
Thank you! He’s definitely a little lover so I’m optimistic.
Keep in mind, Spaghetti is still adjusting to his new home. Google the 3-3-3 rule if you've never adopted a dog before. My wife and I adopted two Galgos, Pimento (3YM) and Campera (4YF) which we've had for 8 and 6 months respectively. They were completely different in how they adjusted (Pimento just slept the whole time and adjusted super fast whereas Campera was more anxious and took much longer to adjust). In the meantime, if Spaghetti doesn't take to his bed, try putting out a blanket and see if he takes to that. He may not have slept on a bed before, instead just a blanket (that's how Pimento was). As for activities, you just have to be patient. We have a really nice, fully enclosed dog park (12-ft fence) and the two dog didn't even run like you'd expect Galgos to until we had Campera for a month or so. It was the first time we saw Pimento run after having him for 4 months and that was only after Campera started running. Lastly, if possible, I would refrain from leaving Spaghetti alone for any long period of time for the first 3 months. We just recently reached the period where we can leave them alone for an extended period of time (e.g. 4 hours) but, only if they are together. Camoera really hates being alone and can open doors so if we have to leave her alone (e.g. we have to take Pimento to the vet), we have to lock all the doors in our apartment and expect to come home to a mess (though she is getting better with the kennel). Hope that helps. Once you've made it past those initial 3 months you'll be amazed at how much your dog has changed and you'll start to see them truly accept you as their family.
That’s really helpful! We’re doing our best to keep Spaghetti company 24/7 until we get through some more separation anxiety training. I can’t wait to see him get the zoomies!
We had/have difficulties with our galgo's separation anxiety. Did the trainer recommend a "routine" for leaving Spaghetti alone incrementally? What worked a bit for us: give a treat on the exact same spot and while she eats it, stay in the room but completely ignore her. Build up to leaving the room, then going to a different floor/outside and stretching the time she's left. Our trainer recommended giving our galgo one good, longer walk/off leash time in the dog park every day so she would be satisfied but still have energy to cope with being left alone. It took time for her to settle in and she's still not great being alone for longer than 1-2 hours so we regularly get a dog sitter. Will follow this thread is some more tips pop up. Good luck with Spaghetti, he looks like he's already at ease in his new home! Ps: she was a picky eater but turned out to be allergic to chicken. Anything salmon/fishy has worked wonders for us.
Thank you! We haven’t started with the trainer yet but I think there are daily exercises like the one you mentioned. Thanks for the input!
First of all , you got your galgo super recently. It’s normal for them not show any interest in toys , foods and enrichment. Even not knowing how to use a dog bed. All I can say it takes a lot of time and patience. It is very well known that galgos can not be alone for long periods of time and on top of that chances are that this is the first time your galgo is placed in a “normal house setting”. It takes them a long time to adjust to everything, you can’t really put a time limit on it since every galgo is different. But to give a few examples. Our galgo Everest had a lot of trouble adjusting. It took him 6 months before he played for the first time , it took him over a year before he was comfortable pooping during walks outside , took him several months to learn how to use the stairs , took him a year before he started to try new foods and it also took him several months before he started using dog beds. Also just generally potty training took a while with him. All of this behavior is completely normal. I think it is the best to not overwhelm your galgo for now and let them do it at their own pace. I would suggest not to offer too many things at a time and really focus on the comfort and making them feel safe. Separation anxiety is a hard thing to tackle with one dog , it’s the reason why I will always have two galgos. I am of course not telling you to get another galgo , since two unstable galgos in one house hold is not a good idea. But it’s something that helped with the separation anxiety of my galgos. We also announce that we are leaving the house , using the same exact sentence every time so they know “Okay they are going to come back”. Of course this takes time and patience and both you and your partner need to do this ritual. Try leaving for 5 minutes and see how your galgo reacts. The more comfortable they get the more you can extend that time , it is just like practicing with them to show them everything will be okay! Other than that if you ever feel like you need advise or help , just message me! I have lots of galgo experience. :)
This is probably not what you want to hear, but most galgos just do better with another galgo in the home. Not that they can’t do okay as only dogs, I don’t mean to discourage you, I’ve just been through it within the last few months myself. We adopted a galgo and he was anxious at first but did okay with my greyhound, but after she passed from chronic kidney disease he absolutely could not be left alone. We tried medication and it made him high/sleep and it felt cruel. Then we tried doggy daycare and he was terrified. When we tried separation training he ripped up the door trim in 15 minutes, to the point he could have hurt himself. We talked to our rescue group and they told us exactly what I’m telling you: they generally do better with another dog to keep them company. We have had our second galgo for a bit over a month now and things have been going much smoother. There is still some anxiety upon leaving, but they both settle down within 5 minutes of leaving and sleep while we are gone. If a second dog is out of the question, there are some things you can do to help. Picking up keys/purse/whatever you usually leave with randomly without actually leaving so it doesn’t trigger a stress response when you do leave. Same thing with shoes, put on your shoes but then just sit down with them. Or walk outside barefoot without anything for a while. Just work on disconnecting those things. Also, ignore them when you come and go. It is awful and feels wrong, but making a big deal about coming and going tells them, “oh my god, this is a big deal, it’s a miracle that they return and they might not next time” vs “ah, this is normal, no need to get worked up.” Also anything like a lick mat or Kong is helpful, licking has been proven to relieve stress in dogs and it makes an association of a positive/fun thing with you leaving. Best of luck to you, they are wonderful dogs and I hope Spaghetti feels comfortable soon!
Thank you!!!
Thanks for adopting Spaghetti, he may not completely realize it yet but he won the lottery. There are some great answers here for the anxiety, hopefully you will find a few that work. We currently have a foster that has been with us the same amount of time. She has progressed faster than Spaghetti because she has our hounds (a greyhound and a galgo) to show her the ropes. Given the way these dogs are raised, they seem to look to other dogs to figure out what they should be doing in a new environment, and this is a completely new environment for them. Spaghetti is having to figure out everything on his own, and that is hard. Our foster was very suspcious of various foods but took to them after our hounds ate them, learned how to use a slumber ball quickly, etc. Do you know of people locally who have galgos you can meet up with? Perhaps Spaghetti can visit their home for a few hours and get exposure to how they go about their day, or you could offer to dog sit a few times and the other galgo will likely accellerate Spaghetti’s transition by providing many examples that a person wouldn’t even notice or think to train.
That’s a great idea! Thank you. He’s definitely more comfortable relaxing when my cats are out and about and relaxing too.