By Dennis McKeon
copyright, 2022. The original post can be found here.
When a greyhound is first separated from their pack or colony, and then adopted, they are experiencing a form of culture shock. Every canine and human familiar they have ever known or with whom they may have bonded, is suddenly gone, and they are thrust into a entirely foreign universe of unfamiliarity and uncertainty. This can be quite a trauma to some greyhounds, all of whom, during their lives, are in the constant company of other greyhounds and their handlers, regardless of what they are doing. They have no concept of "alone".
That is the first instance of separation anxiety that the new adopter and adoptee may experience, to some degree or other.
Greyhounds are used to having dozens of greyhounds in their lives and on hand at all times. They are used to having an invariable and punctual routine, which includes being turned outdoors at regular intervals to play and socialize with other greyhounds, and to take care of nature's demands, being fed, being exercised, being groomed, and being allowed to sleep. They have very accurate biological time clocks.
New adopters are wise to keep this in mind. Routine, punctuality, and having an abundant amount of social, mental and physical engagement and stimulation are the norm for greyhounds prior to their retirement and adoption. Their lives are immersed within the dynamic and the culture of the canine colony, a canine society, and everything that entails. The sudden and inexplicable loss of that social and nurturing construct can be quite shocking and traumatic for some of them. When you aren't there, that sense of loss and panic they feel can be exacerbated. Additionally, it is amplified minus the daily expenditures of excess nervous energy that training and performing provide.
Routine, routine, routine. That's the prerequisite for establishing a comfort zone for your newly adopted greyhound. They aren't stupid. Once they realize that there is a regimented rollout of daily events upon which they can rely, they will ordinarily begin to calm down, and to bond with you. Walks in quiet areas are a good starting point toward forging that bond. Kept in a state of pleasant fatigue, your greyhound will tend to be less anxious over this complete upheaval in their lives through which they are living.
Leaving the greyhound alone, with a radio on, beginning for several minutes at a time, and then for incrementally longer periods of time, is the way most people condition the anxious greyhound to cope with the strangeness of being alone, and with their own absences.
In extreme cases, where a greyhound cannot settle, and their anxiety levels become an impediment to their (and often, to the neighbors') life quality, the vet may prescribe anti-anxiety medications. In most cases, the greyhound will not require long term medication of this type, once he/she realizes that you, like their handlers in their previous lives, are always going to return.
Finally, please try to have patience. As I have mentioned many times, concerning all of our endeavors with greyhounds, "if you hurry them up, they will make you wait".