Agressiveness when walking

[phoebe]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone has any advice or can help. I have a Saluki cross dog who was a rescue that we had at about 3/4 months, she is now 18 months. She is a friendly and generally well behaved dog. We currently live in Abu Dhabi and were able to run the dog in a patch of desert with other dogs. Over the last couple of months she has become aggressive towards most other dogs and is going into to attack them. It seems to be fear that is making her do this but she is definitely going in for the attack first and she is trying to do this even if on the lead. There is nothing obvious that has triggered this.

I have now stopped running her with other dogs apart from the two that she does get on with who are a similar breed and I am using distraction techniques when she is on the lead. Is this the right thing to do or are there other things I could do? Should I use a muzzle with her when she is out? Is it general Saluki/ Greyhound behaviour? Unfortunately due to the heat currently it is a long day inside for her with walks early morning and late evening. Any advice gratefully received as this is the first sight hound that I have had and she is very different from the Labradors I have had in the past.

[ritab]

I have met several saluki x greyhounds and all except one are muzzled when out. I don't know if this means they like a nip more than other dogs, but I have only met one greyhound muzzled. (except for one of mine who eats anything she can get hold of).

My new ex-racing greyhound is very nippy in play when she gets excited so I try to keep them both muzzled when they play. And greyhounds are muzzled when they race. So you could muzzle your dog when she runs with others.

My previous dogs weren't greyhounds and didn't nip. Remember a lab has a soft mouth so they just don't bite hard as a rule.

[phoebe]

Thanks Ritab that is interesting to know.