Petting a greyhound in bed?

[greygrey]

Hey!
My family is thinking of having a pet greyhound at some point and we have been doing allot of research. We have had panflits and read them.
We keep seeing: "Do not disturb your grey when its in its bed"
Does this mean you cant fuss them when they are in their bed?
I have heard this from a number of people.
Thanks!

[Deleted]

Some greyhounds, especially if they have been in racing kennels (as most have), have never been disturbed in their lives by a human touching them when they're asleep. In kennels, they would have woken first by the noise of the kennel door opening etc. Consequently it can startle them far more than you might expect from a dog brought up in a home.

In addition, some may have shared their kennels with another hound and if so would probably have been muzzled. This means they may have learned to defend their bed and may not have learned to be careful when they bite.

Both of these things mean that if a greyhound is petted while he's resting, he/she may react much more strongly than the average dog and could bite - we call this "sleep aggression". They aren't aggressive in the normal sense, it's just that they haven't been taught any different.

We all very quickly learn to understand the special needs of these very special, sensitive hounds and to leave them alone when they're resting. If you need them to move when they are asleep, it's best to call them rather than touch them as they will understand this much better.

It does of course make it very important to teach children to leave the hound alone when sleeping, and we find crates a big help with this - a child can understand a physical barrier better than a general area.

Hope this helps and doesn't put you off, they are a wonderful breed to share your home with.

[greygrey]

Would it be an option to call there names to fuss them? We wouldnt be waking it up 24/7 kind of a thing to the point of annoyance. I know Greys are big sleepers (One of their many pros) which is why I ask this.
Thanks!

[ragsysmum]

Some actually sleep with their eyes open so you think they are awake and aware of your approach. I always make some noise or say their names loudly and make sure they have reacted before touching them wherever they are lying down. Really it is safer to call your hound to you to give some loving and certainly in the early days until you have a bond and know your hounds temperament and reaction to things.

[jodav]

Hi greygrey and welcome

One of my hounds has the behaviour described so well by kayb. He will sometimes emit a series of deep, low growls in his sleep and a few minutes later, one or two loud barks. He is very sensitive to movement around his bed, even our other hound getting up and turning around in her bed. My main point though is that this behaviour doesn't happen all the time but is far more likely to happen when he is very tired - so if he has been out for a long walk or been active for a while, we leave him well alone to have a nice long sleep The bark, when it does happen, often wakes him up and he looks around all bewildered - he means no harm. Calling his name and getting a movement response, preferably a turn of the head and a look from him is a good strategy.

It's great that you are thinking of homing a grey and good luck in finding the hound that best suits you.

Jo x

[kamkay]

I have always been told that any dog has to have a place to retreat to where they are left alone; it is a good principal, particularly when there are children around, that every dog should have a place to call its own where it will be left in peace. My hound also growls, barks and bares his teeth while he's asleep. Good luck with finding your special hound .

[ritab]

Most people know the saying "Let sleeping dogs lie" and as the adopter of a greyhound with sleep aggression I know why. Some times it takes her a minute or so to wake even when we call her.

[andywillow]

Its a good rule to go by. My first greyhound taught me this, I was used to a perfect little x breed who I could do anything with, I once sat down next to Andy my greyhound and just stroked him, he leapt up and barked at me and frightened me to death ;D
He didn't bite me but I'd obviously made him jump. He'd lived for 4 1/2 years in a kennel and hadn't had anyone bother him so it all made sense.
All my current dogs are fine but as has already been said some even sleep with their eyes open, one of my old hounds used to.
They are however the most gentle dogs and I think they just deserve to have a snooze and not be disturbed, much like me ;D

[Lisa]

Ive never understood why people would want to pet their dog when its sleeping especially not on its own bed. If you were asleep in bed would you want someone standing over you and patting you on the head disturbing you or would you get ansty and tell them to bog off?

Let sleeping dogs lie. Dogs the same as humans also need to have a safe space. Their OWN space where they know should they want to be left alone they can retreat to without being disturbed and mauled. Their bed is the only thing that they really own perse in the house and should be their space and respected at all times.

Likewise do not to begin with allow the dog free reign of the sofa as it can easily become an extensive of their sleeping area and again they then dont understand when you are shifting them around and disturbing them all the time! Sofa by invite only and then asked to leave especially for the first few months until they learn its a privelage and not a god given right!