Jumping Hound

[joemma]

Hi
I wonder if anybody has any advice/experience of jumping hounds.
We took our beautiful Holly for her walk this morning and she saw a deer and sprung about a foot in the air , all four legs off the ground. She also did the same when she heard rustling in the bushes. And then a couple more times after that. [Holly's lovely foster mum did warn us that she rears up sometimes when she meets other dogs but I don't think she meant she does this]

I understand she is probably being a typical Greyhound and still has a very high prey drive. I had a tight grip on her lead and tomorrow she will be wearing her harness as well as her collar ;D

Will Holly calm down in her own time?

Should I tell her a firm NO?

Or is this something that will stay with her and we will just have to get used to it?

I know we have only had Holly for 3 days ;D and everywhere we take her is obviously new and exciting, so I guess this might add to her enthusiasm with everything we meet.
Just don't want to either do something or nothing and make matters worse if you know what I mean. I'm sure I've read posts of a similar nature but have looked back and cannot find them.

Thank you Jill and Holly

[helen7]

Hi Jill,

I don't know Holly but I can tell you my experience with Sapphy. She came to us from the kennels as she was a foster (who we failed with!). The first time we took her to the park and other dogs were running around (my dogs), she started to jump about and whine. It was quite scary initially as I hadn't experienced that before but I invested in a ruffwear harness, at the advice of Lisa. Walks after that felt much safer as I had better control of her and if you know ruffwear harnesses, there's no way she can escape from it! She would sometimes jump in the air off all 4 feet and squeak if she saw a squirrel in the woods etc. but gradually over time this has calmed. I think she knows the limitations of the harness and that there's little point jumping. I also think she's just got used to where we walk and more used to seeing these exciting things!

These days I generally use the harness to hold her closer into my body on occasions that may excite her. She wears her harness every time she goes walkies, even now despite being much calmer. It gives me security and there's always a risk something will set her off!

[joemma]

Thank you Helen

I will definitely invest in one of those harnesses, I have a car harness but I'm sure the ruffwear harness will be more suitable.

Also I've had advice from Holly's foster mum [Kizzysmum] which was also very helpful.

Thanks again
Jill

[andywillow]

I agree with Helen, Delta wears a eurohike harness which is very similar to the ruffwear one. She was a nightmare to walk in a collar as she spins and throws herself around, sometimes landing in a heap on the floor. I was always nervous of her escaping from her collar and getting hold of something but feel confident she aint going nowhere in this harness. I have a double leader so its attached to her collar and harness. If she starts to kick off I grab hold of her collar and hold her close to my legs until whatever it is has passed us.

Sue

[Lisa]

You need to be firm with her. She is a new girl in a new environment with new people and will most definatly be chancing her arm as to what she can get away with. Give her a very firm no and reinforce it with a leave command and then turn and walk the other way. If you pass things that she ignores make sure you give her a good girl ie things like little dogs running around etc. Its just a typical greyhound behaviour and once you learn to drive her and she learns to trust you more and you work more together it will start to settle down she just needs continual socialisation.

[joemma]

Thank you Helen, Sue and Lisa

Thanks for all the advice.
Harness arrived this morning, but too small . And I followed the size guide. Have ordered another one will arrive tomorrow.

Jill