any one got any tips for stopping our greyhound chasing deer?

Question

we have addopted an ex racing greyhound who is normally very well behaved off the lead but has now developed a taste for chasing deer in the local woods.

Answer 1

LEASH YOUR DOG.

You cannot allow him off lead in the woods to chase deer. You are putting your dog and the deer in danger.

Did your rescue group have anything in the contract about when and where he is allowed off lead? Unless this dog is ancient, I bet they did. Look at it closely and I would bet that you are not supposed to be letting him loose in the woods.

If he gets away from you, you may never see him again. He is a sight hound who can spot prey 1/4 of a mile away and be gone before you know it. He can get lost and not find his way back---or get shot during hunting season.

Have you ever loooked at any greyhound online message boards and read the "amber alert" sections where people post about missing greyhounds? Find one and see what people go through to get these dogs back.

This is winter (if you are in North America) and depending on how much snow you have had, things may be especially difficult for deer. Even if he does NOT catch them, allowing him to chase them could kill some of them or wear them out to such an extent that they die later. Keep in mind that deer breed in the fall and give birth in the spring, so any does he chases may very well be carrying fawns.

I am very serious about this and I hope you take this seriously too. In some states a dog which chases deer can be shot/put down by fish and game or law enforcement.

If your dog is spotted chasing deer by a guy in uniform he has the legal right to shoot and kill your dog.

I am not joking. My doctor's beagle (about 1 year old) took off on her on vacation in Vermont and chased a deer with another dog. The beagle was shot and killed and there was nothing that could be done about it.

Bottom line: A greyhound is NEVER to be trusted off leash. Period. This should have been explained to you when you adopted the dog.


EDIT:PS I am outraged at some of the replies I have just read.

Anyone who suggests putting a shock collar on a ex-racing greyhound either knows nothing about the breed or is being deliberately cruel.

This is a dog who has spent its entire life being rewarded for chasing things that move---to punish it ---shock it---for the thing which has been the greatest source of pleasure in its entire life is barbaric and so wrong I cannot find strong enough words to condemn it.

However, I do find myself in complete agreement with those who have suggested that if you cannot keep the dog leashed, please consider returning it.

Answer 2

As many other posters have said, the chase instinct/prey drive is hardwired into a Greyhound and nothing is going to change that. How strong that instinct is varies from hound to hound, but yours obviously takes great delight in chasing deer. I can't say my two would be any different. Even Greyhounds who haven't raced love to chase things.

Also, as others have said, you MUST leash the dog. The dog has little to no control over the urge to chase and could wind up lost miles away. If you have a fenced-in area he/she can run free in, super. But if that fenced area is frequented by deer, watch out.

The president of our Greyhound club recently relayed an incident that happened when he was walking four of his Greyhounds off leash in his fenced pasture. The dogs spotted the deer and gave chase. The owner didn't think much harm would come of it because the deer was fast and so much bigger, and because the dogs were confined to the pasture area. The dogs were fortunate enough to have avoided injury, but they did in fact take down and kill the deer. Like yours, these are very well behaved, lovable house pets.

Lastly, do not bother with an electric collar/fence. A Greyhound on a chase is so focused that it will run regardless of pain. These dogs could drop a leg and I guarantee they'd keep on running.

Answer 3

If you allow any dog to run loose
in a place where there is wild life rabbits, deer, pheasants .. goats or sheep , cattle or horses .
You are responsible to control that dog from causing harm .
You must keep your dog on a lead , and train him /her absolute obedience .
This does not mean the dog, should not enjoy his walks .
Neither does it mean ,you should resort to cruelty
such as shock collars etc
Incidentally a greyhound does not need
an enormous amount of exercise.
Its racing capability results from short bursts of energy .
A pet greyhound is a couch potato,really
and does not need .
to fly around the woods loose chasing deer for exercise !!

Stick to a good lead reel
brush up with the kind, obedience training
and you and your dog and the deer will all be happy .

Good for you , adopting a greyhound ,
What a great way, to get a lovely companion pet ..

>^,,^<

Answer 4

That is why you are not suppose to let your Hound off the lead unless he is in an enclosed area! EVER! I am sure the rescue org told you that! You are lucky to get him back, many Sighthounds are never seen again. Once the prey drive kicks in you cannot stop him. Be a responsible owner and keep him on a lead! If you can't/won't, then rehome him and get a dog you can handle, like a bichon or Poodle.

To the lap dog owners above - if the GH is ANY good, you CANNOT train it out of him. When they are in the zone, they wouldn't even hear you!


Bookmom - "shock it---for the thing which has been the greatest source of pleasure in its entire life is barbaric and so wrong"

Sad, isn't it????

I would NOT advocate an underground fence, a SH will run right through it.

To the person below with a Saluki - to use a flexi on a SH is asking for trouble, if they don't pull it right out of your hands they may hurt their neck when they hit the end. The previous owners may or may not have used it for coursing. Good prey drive means he has correct temperament!!!

THIS is why your average pet owners should NOT have SIGHTHOUNDS!!!! They are too much dog for most people! Get a Bichon!!!

Answer 5

You have to remember that your greyhound was a ex racer,so its acceptable and normal behaviour to the dog.Its extremely hard to train a dog out of this especially ex racers and other hound dogs.I know only to well as i have a lab x whippet and never thought he'd chase because he was a cross and we had him since he was 10weeks old but he chased a rabbit and killed it aswell.It wasn't nice but its his natural instinct,now we just keep him on the lead in certain feilds,i advice you do the same with your greyhound.

Answer 6

Simple answer keep it on the lead when in the woods . I wouldn't of thought you would be able to change the behaviour of the dog now . As you say he is ex racing greyhound so it's second nature for him to chase things. I maybe wrong but I think your just going to have to be more selective when and where you let him off his lead . :)

Answer 7

Hi there

I too have the same problem with my greyhound. Generally the greyhound will not catch the deer.

As with rabbits I was told by a vet, if you have them on a lead and they go to chase, to let go of the lead. As you will know they sprint off with some force and by trying to hold onto the lead you can cause them to either injure their neck or the vet had heard of a case where a greyhound broke its neck.

Unfortunately it is in their instinct to chase, and not a lot will stop it. My worry is that if he caught up with a deer and it bucked him, but in the 9 years I have had mine this has never happened.

Answer 8

The best tip to stop your dog chasing deer,don't let him start.
Keep him on a proper greyhound lead and don't let him off.

Answer 9

I own a saluki whose previous owners used her for illegal coursing so when we got her she was bad and would try to chase and attack cats,small dogs,any wild animals and even cows and horses.
Puppy sighthounds can be trained not to chase if you start very young but with an adult all you can do is tone down the instinct.Get an extendable lead for large dogs and keep him on that,when he he tries to chase lock the lead and give it a quick jerk and say NO in a harsh voice.Keep this up.
It will take a while but eventually he will ignore them if they stand still.However he will ALWAYS chase them if they run.

Answer 10

so don't let it off the lead. Especially not at this time of year where it will be traumatising heavily pregnant does or ending up killing a fawn. It is your responsibility to ensure your dog is not allowed to chase animals. Ex racers have to be kept on a lead when out. She may also chase someone else's small dog and kill it. Your irresponsible actions may cause her death if she gets shot for chasing deer or killing someones pet.