Greyhounds Off Lead???

[ritab]

New to greyhounds (18 months) but our first goes off lead in certain areas for a quick run round, unmuzzled, but she isn't very bothered about other dogs, squirrels, etc. Wouldn't trust her near hares though.

Our newbie was an A1 racer and is quite keen on everything - she doesn't go mad but is very watchful - so we are going to see how she is by May when we go to north Norfolk coast. She may or may not be allowed off on beach, but I think she will be muzzled if she goes off lead.

In our local park I meet several other greyhounds, often from non-greyhound rescue places, so owners are unaware of pitfalls and dogs are running free. I have only ever met one grey muzzled (on our regular greyhound walks Nottm RGT) so with only 1 or 2 dogs I wouldn't think it's necessary to routinely muzzle. Obviously if you walk more than that then you can't keep your eye on them all!

(Sadly we haven't got room for any more!)

[tinar]

We have one of each, I trust Sonia offlead most of the time, but only in certain environments,  mainly local parks where I have a clear view,  and the area partially enclosed. But she's on and off the lead throughout our walk depending on other dogs, some she knows and plays nicely with, some she knows and plays a bit too boisterously with, some she hasn't met and some who don't like other dogs.  It took a long time to train her to recall,but she was always co-operative and is willing to come for treats. [Love bribery !!]

Also through the walk it depends how near the gates to the main road we are, whether I can fully concentrate on what's going on around [ or am I being distracted constantly], if there are groups of noisy children or people who may spook her.

Sonia is a really friendly and playful, but if I see any dog bombing around the park I pop her straight back on because she's inclined to want to go join in any running games, and not all dogs and owners appreciate it.

My Daley is blooming hopeless, thinks recall is for mugs, isn't interested in treats on a walk, and acts like training is for cissies. He desperately wants to join his dog-walking friends in their games, is frightened by boisterous puppies or loud noises, and quite simply cannot be trusted. He loves being with his dog pals and we have found ways for him to join in without going offlead.



He loves his walks and isn't bothered whether he's on the lead, as long as he's on a walk.

Offlead, he's just gone.......

[stellash]

I feel so much better after reading all the comments and advise, I am a first time owner of an ex-racer and was starting to feel a bit upset because I know she would be off if she got the chance, I am just going to be happy to have her trotting at my side and stop worrying about letting her off lead, she is a beautiful girl with such a gentle nature who has brought so much to my life, I'll be content with that.

[julies]

Hi

I agree with everyone else .. some can and are great and some never will and there are all of the others inbetween ...

IMO you need to do a lot of greyhound type training - very high value treats, lots of recall practise at home and then you can progress to a harness and long line for outside tho never underestimate them .. my grey will respond to a whisper on the longline and come straight back even if she's got her ears up watching something BUT if she's off lead .. well she's off she will come back eventually but after a catalogue of cut legs, sides and a badly strained elbow I've given up loosing her off in the woods as she's sure to kill herself she's such a hunter - I take her to the local indoor riding arena and let her have a good blast round there - it's a sfae surface and fully enclosed apart from that she gets a good hour most days on the longline in the woods ...

J x

[futuramafan]

Hi, I wanted to let my four year old greyhound off the lead in a safe environment and called the council who were able to tell me where there were parks in Nottingham that had enclosed safe areas for dogs. I wait until the area is empty and then let her have a quick run. I tend to find that people using these facilities have dogs that can't be let off the lead in parks etc so they understand why I need to get Molly back on the lead before their dog comes in. I keep her muzzled too just in case a cat is unwise enough to turn up!

Jane

[phyl]

Yesterday we met a young lady on a greyhound walk who helps to train retired racing greyhounds so that they are suitable to be homed. She lives not too far away from us and told us about a park that has a strong metal fence all around and offered to meet us there one morning so that we can let Ben off lead. Maybe we could try doing some recall with treats but I would be quite happy if he could just enjoy a run round off lead now and again. He loves going on the greyhound walks and walking with all the other greyhounds. I would also put a muzzle on him in case a cat or rabbit appeared.

[jojohedgehog]

Hi, my greyhound has been with us a couple of months and loves being on his lead. I am fortunate that I live 5 minutes from the beach and at certain times when the tides is in the long rocks create a big closed in area which mean that he can't see anything in the distance. I let him off for a run there once a week and he loves it (always muzzled though just in case). He was a grade A racer and still has the instinct so if he spotted something he would be off like a shot. I wouldn't let him off anywhere else. Maybe investigate your area to see if there are any enclosed spaces that you can use if you want to give him a run. Good luck. :-) ** just spotted your last post, hope you enjoy your run. :-)

[Glenn]

Without repeating what everyone else has said I think in a safe enclosed area you can let them have a run. I have a few places I go to let mine off but only is there is nithing around that might distract them. I would say I trust mine and have worked hard on recall just incase they ever got out. But that said even as good as they are they have been trained to chase for longer than they have been trained not to.

I dont think there is anything better than walking with a greyhound by your side, its really like walking together rather than being dragged around.

[julies]

I agree with the others .. my grey is very obedient BUT is a manic hunter, she'll always come back but usually with cuts and scrapes as we walk in the woods ... the last time she was off lead there she came back on three legs - luckily had 'just' badly sprained an elbow but I decided it'd be a broken leg or neck next so I joined the local riding club and use their indoor arenas to run Lucy in ... You could always sneak into childrensd play areas very very early as they're usually fully fenced with a good surface but walk her round it first as greys will run into things and it can be fatal

If you do use a long or lunge line please attach it to a harness as their acceleration is so phenomenal they can badly damage theri neck if your line runs fromm their collar

Julie x

[leon]

we've had 5 lurchers and greyhounds over the years and (apart from our new arrival, we're working on her) we've let them all off the lead at least once a day. But we have been lucky I suppose to have had dogs that came back - notwithstanding their selective hearing at times!

We muzzled only one of them as he was a killer at heart - the odd rabbit wasn't really an issue, but the deer was a step too far. He was fine with dogs big or small though.

Our little lurch is a nightmare with traffic, so we wont let him off near roads - however he is obsessed with chasing tennis balls, so we didnt even have to teach him recall, just carry a tennis ball everywhere - one bounce it and he's back in a flash.

The other two just wanted to to walk with us, so never really strayed too far away. They would dash off for big loops at full pelt to release some steam if there was space, but always came back to us when done.

So the answer from me is that some will, but not all. But (probably irresponsibly) I wonder what is the point of having a longdog if you never see them running free on a beach?

[jodav]

Yes ... watching them free running on a beach is joyful but so is watching them hop in and out the surf that laps up onto the sand on-lead I have spent a lot of time whistle training with varied degrees of distraction, birds, squirrels, cats, eating grass etc away from the garden so I have a good idea of what they might do off lead and the limitations. If you're not sure, you'll be on edge all the time and that's no fun so put the training in first or go somewhere guaranteed to be safe

Jo

[Jen Wren]

What you have to remember is the purpose of recall training is to make yourself far more interesting then anything else that the dog may see. Then you have to find a reward which is far better to the dog then anything else that the dog may see. If you work on that principle and think about it the chances of finding both in regards to Greyhounds and some lurchers is practically zero.

With the first point I am not or have ever been more exciting to my Greyhounds then a rabbit, squirrel etc so on that point I've failed before I begin and the second point even the 3 main rewards for dogs is toys, food or love. Most ex racers aren't interested in toys enough. If they do play with them it isn't for very long they will lose interest very quickly if they have any interest at all. Most Greyhounds are gut buckets but even the tastiest chicken is not going to beat the thrill of the chase. Thirdly there's love and unfortunately Greyhounds have very little loyalty. Ask anyone who fosters them the hounds will switch their allegiance to whoever has the comfiest sofa and holds the food bowl If you tell them they are good they look at you with disgust and contempt

So if you're asking about 100% safe recall I'm afraid I'm of the opinion of no you can't. You tend to find the majority of them will walk by your side lovely and stay close enough but if that something crops up you will lose all control. The majority of people who let their ex racers off lead do so by minimising risk and damage limitation, let them off in secure areas away from other dogs, roads etc and using muzzles. Most will tell you their hound is good off lead until it sees a rabbit then you may as well not be there and no amount of shouting will get them back. I will also say that I'm of the opinion that ex racers should always wear a muzzle off lead. Even if they are good with other dogs they are fiercely competitive and I've heard stories over the years of Greyhounds going for dogs they've known for years while running with them. It isn't an aggression issue it's a prey drive thing and only what comes naturally. There are always exceptions but they are exceptions and I'm not applying this to Greyhounds who have been raised in a home from pups.

At the end of the day it's down to personality of the individual hound as to how successful getting them off lead will be. Greyhounds are perfectly happy to walk on lead and if you ever do let them off to see them 'run free' the majority of the time you will be disappointed as they just tend to mooch around and if you are lucky enough to see them run, blink and it'll be over My own Greyhounds used to go off but I ended up putting an end to it as one would run a mile to go to other dogs and the other discovered rabbits and just spent her time running around looking for them. I could have left her alone there hours and she wouldn't have cared My nerves couldn't take it any more so I made the decision to keep them both on lead.