My newly adopted greyhound is wonderful with people, but if he sees another dog or cat he wants to chase it. Has anyone tried a quick spray with water, or will it cause additional anxiety?
2006-10-16 00:01:08 · 13 answers · asked by Mary F 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He cannot be trained to not chase. The prey drive in Sighthounds is so strong that when he is in chase mode he likely doesn't even hear you. I hope you realize that you can never, ever trust him offlead.
SHs rarely would go after another dog, maybe he wants to visit, but be careful about trusting him. Cats are definately prey and
*I * would never trust a SH with a cat, although if raised as a puppy with one it can sometimes work.
I wish ALL the GH rescues would educate new owners to the fact that, while they are couch ptatoes, they are also superb hunters and will kill other critters at the drop of a hat. Instead they seem to believe the utter nonsense that they are 'trained' to do it. Some rescues seem to have no idea of the true nature of there own dogs, you can see that by the stance they took in California about open field coursing and how *those* dogs were 'specially trained'.
Maybe you should let him do what he loves and look into lure coursing. Find info at asfa.org, many clubs have practice runs after the trial on Saturdays.
2006-10-16 04:33:53 · answer #1 · answered by whpptwmn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest a trainer. And even then, you may not get the dog totally broke of chasing. After all, it is what they were bred for.
Just a little horror story.....
I was in a petstore checkout once and a lady in the next line had 2 retired Greyhounds by the end of the leash. A woman walked in the door with a small Poodle. The 2 Greyhounds ran up and grabbed the Poodle. Each had one end of the dog and were just shaking and ripping it apart! They would let go, but when the litte dog started to run away, they went right back after it.
I don't think you want something like this to happen.
2006-10-16 02:36:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've been in this spot, learned the hard way and had more experience since from working with a humane society. I don't think you can fix it. The dog has high prey drive and the cat responds by running, further spurring on the dog's prey drive. Successful cat-dog relationships occur when dogs have low prey drive and the cat is not skittish and stands it's ground and does not run. A few years ago, I adopted a lovely golden retriever from a shelter who was a nice dog but was fascinated with my cat that would always hide. I didn't think he would hurt her. One day he flushed her out, chased her across the yard, caught her briefly and ended up breaking her tail near the base (one more vertebrae higher and she would have had a broken back). Luckily, she recovered, but I returned the dog, since I had had the cat longer. Since working with the humane society I have learned you can't train high prey drive away in a dog and it takes a certain kind of cat (one with an attitude) to make the dog learn that it is not prey and is not to be messed with. So bottom line, I don't think you have that situation with these animals and I do think your cat could get hurt.
2016-03-28 11:20:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your dog a retired racer?
This is a breed that has been selectively bred for aover 5000 years as a sighthound. They are programed to chase down prey that they see running. They are trained on the track to chase the running rabbit thingy. They are taught in lure coursing to run and chase a plastic bag. This breed has a very high prey dirve and was born and bred to chase things.
They need to be kept on lead or in a fenced area where you can learn to control them. Some can learn to be trusted off lead with other animals others can not. Some will always chase. Especially cats that run.
You need to get some one on one help from a behavioral trainer.
Look in the phone book or ask at the humane society or the rescue where you got your dog and see if they can put you in touch with one. It will make you transition much easier.
2006-10-16 01:55:30 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good grief - it's a greyhound!!! Did you not educate yourself at all about this breed before adopting one? That's what greyhounds do. You are hardly going to get thousands of years of genetic conditioning out of this dog by spraying him with water!
If you adopted this dog from a rescue group you know he has to be kept on a leash at all times unless in a fenced area. I suggest you talk to some of the people there and get educated about greyhounds. There's also a great book out there called "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" - full of info about the breed.
And don't squirt him with water!! He has a highly developed prey instinct - he is a greyhound.
2006-10-16 02:28:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you got him from greyhound rescue he should have been re-educated, or you should have been warned he still likes to chase.
Most dogs do like to chase, but sighthounds lurrrrve to chase,
Keep him on a leash when out, to keep him under control. When he tried to go after a cat or other dog, a sharp "UH UH" to stop him, tell him to sit or drop and distract him. (this is assuming he knows the commands to sit and drop)
When he resists the temptation to chase, praise him and give him a treat.
2006-10-16 00:51:35 · answer #6 · answered by Feline Female 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I got my whippets to get along with my cat by using continuous fenceline type contact (put the cat in a crate in the living room) , but if she run they still chase.
One of the essential things about a sighthound, of which the greyhound is an extreme example, IS the chase. Its a strong instint selected for for 7,000 yrs. VERY difficult, almost impossible to train out. You need to speak to your rescue group (who SHOULD have warned you) but basically it would probably be easier to magically transform him into a Lab.
2006-10-16 00:16:30 · answer #7 · answered by ragapple 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A spray with water won't hurt him and he should eventually get the idea if it is followed with a firm no.But maybe you should keep him on a leash for the time being.Did you get him through an adoption program?because they are usually housed with other dogs and cats to familiarise them before they let them go to their new homes.But one thing for sure is you are going to have the most wonderful pet,that will give you years of joy.Congratulations on adopting a greyhound.You are a gem.
2006-10-16 00:07:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep your dog on a leash. If he tries to bolt after another animal, a quick jerk and the word "No!" is how you break him of trying to run after another animal. Repetition increases response. Soon, all you'll have to do is say a firm "No!"
He'll learn.
2006-10-16 01:38:22 · answer #9 · answered by north79004487 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try a disaplin like water etc.. but lets face it, old habits die hard, its in their instinct to chase small furry animals for food, and years of breading this way means for sport..
try the disaplin by all means, but keep a sturdy collar and lead with you at all times..
hope this helps!
2006-10-16 02:35:18 · answer #10 · answered by dbiesel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋