Training, moving forward after she bit another dog?

[heliosdelta]

Hi all,

We adopted a retired racing greyhound this weekend and she has been absolutely sublime. no issues with housetraining, really gentle with people, learning really quickly things like her name and general house manners. However, her prey drive is very strong. I expected this and adjusted accordingly, in my mind, not knowing just how good of an escape artist she is. I don't think anyone could have accounted for this morning, when she slipped her collar (which was on rather tight - she must have shrunk her head!!!) and caught a Pomeranian that was off lead, giving us all the shock of our lives. That's in the process of being sorted, the Pom owner is being as good as can be expected about it.

i don't blame her, and I don't want to give her back to the rescue - that's not the answer to this. It's not her fault. I got on Prime and ordered her a ruff wear web master harness, which she's proudly modelled to the park this evening!

My concern now is about moving forward. I am of the belief that we were too complacent with her and we need to carefully introduce her to other dogs so that she understands they're Not For Chasing, rather than just going about our business and expecting different results simply because she's in a shiny new harness. I want my partner to come to the park with me until she's a bit better with some commands, like learning to watch me when there's distractions, and respond every time to her name as opposed to most of the time... My partner, however, is not supportive of this approach and instead thinks that she's going to be in these situations every day, she has to learn to deal with it. 

i am just feeling rather wary now of running before we can walk, so to speak. She's the first greyhound we've kept, and I honestly don't think we could have wished for more with her; she's a real angel in all areas other than this. Am I being too much of a worrier about this, or is he being too blasé? And perhaps more importantly, does anyone have any advice for how we move forward in a positive manner so as to prevent our lovely Freja becoming the thug of the park 

[lurcherlot]

Firstly, you must muzzle Freja when you are out with her, as much to keep her safe as all other small furry dogs she may come across! Greyhounds have been taught to 'see it, chase it, kill it' and that is what some hounds do and will never forget. She may calm down in time, but I think it's unlikely. Buying a Ruffware harness ensures she will never get away from you again.
It's very early days for Freja - hounds can take a long time to settle in, although from your description, she's doing well in the house. It will however be some time before you know her well!
High value treats are a must whilst you teach her to watch you - liver cake, cheese, sausages etc. You need to be more important to her than any small furry dogs or cats .... Good luck.

[heliosdelta]

Thank you for your response. I'll definitely be bringing out high value treats with us on our next walk. She came out with me really early this morning in the rain (which she was a total princess about. Even in her coat she hates the rain!) and we didn't meet any other dogs, so that was helpful to both of us to get back into the swing of things.

I didn't mention it in my initial post, but she did have her muzzle on yesterday. I'd never walk her without one because of how keen she is, like you say, it keeps her safe just as much as other dogs. It's just that because she slipped her collar, her muzzle came off with it.

[jodav]

That's great advice from Lurcherlot and it's good to hear that you use a muzzle for Freja. A harness with a double ended lead is very helpful. It's also good that you want to go forward positively which will only benefit Freja. From experience of having a greyhound with high prey drive I would say that coping distance is important together with your ability to anticipate a difficult situation for Freja. Set her up for success. When she sees a small breed like a Pom on a walk, allow enough distance for her to be aware but not tense. Yellow I Need Space bandanas are available from the Yellow Dog website which alert other dog walkers. Also a park with free running dogs is tricky. If you can make contact with a rescue sighthound walking group, she may enjoy running/walking with them.
Otherwise introduce her to other large breeds slowly.
My hound can be good with large breeds he knows but I would not trust him with small breeds.

[Flaperoo]

Greyhounds make wonderful pets and usually have fantastic temperaments with people but can be deadly to other animals. It sounds like she is doing brilliantly and thank you for not giving up on her.
Like the others have said a muzzle for a greyhound is in my view essential. Even with muzzles on they can do extensive damage - my Oafy caused a punctured lung and three broken ribs to a jack russell bothering him even though he was on a lead too.
In my experience once retired they actually don't need much exercise and will walk happily beside you. They have been bred, trained and rewarded when they chase, they are conditioned to do this, you need to change the reward so they get praise and treats when they ignore or do not react to other animals. This takes time and I cannot tell you how long because each dog is different but it is possible. Both you and your partner must be totally consistent with this.
I have had 20 greyhounds over the years and only had one I could let of lead (always muzzled though) in a public place but what I have found is when they get their reward from walking nicely beside you (rather than running away from you to chase something) and not reacting they can and do change. In some ways when they reach this stage they are much more relaxed and happy because you have given them permission to not need to do that anymore.
Can you walk her with another calm relaxed dog to help her be calm?

Good luck and it will be lovely to hear how you get on.

Mary x

[heliosdelta]

Hi all, checking back in to give a bit of an update. Freja is settling in with us ever so well. She's turning into a cheeky little madam and showing more of her personality every day. We are getting to know her better, and we have been up to the rescue with her to let her have a gallop on the enclosed field. She didn't seem all that interested in running but enjoyed her freedom off lead on her own.

As for other dogs, we've tried a few things, and the thing that has been easiest for me and my partner to be consistent with is just walking past other dogs. She has never really met other dogs except in racing situations before this, I suppose, so every meeting has been high stress, and we are working on making meeting other dogs a non event for the time being. We walk past, pull her close on the lead and just keep walking. She tries to sniff some dogs, others she tries to lunge and snap at, others she ignores entirely. If she doesn't lunge she gets praise and treats, and we ignore the negative behaviour.

She's not exactly making friends yet, but she is showing more signs of being friendly towards other dogs. She's tentatively wagging her tail at some dogs, and she sniffed an English Bull Terrier's face earlier at the park and just carried on walking, and this week she walked fairly calmly with a huge bull mastiff bouncing around her. She met two king Charles Spaniels this morning and was relatively chill, which I thought was quite impressive. But the smaller the dog, the more likely she is to go bonkers. We met the tiniest Yorkie this morning as well, and she leapt about three feet into the air and absolutely howled. I practically had to carry her past!

She is so much better than she was. I don't think she will ever be an "off lead" dog, which is a shame since she is bursting with energy and zooms around the garden. But we can go to the park and I'm confident that muzzled and harnessed, she is safe, and she can only get better as she socialises more with other dogs. She won't ever be small and furry friendly, but we are getting to know each other and I know her limits.