How To Socialize A Greyhound With Other Dogs?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
We’ve had our greyhound for a little over 3 months. She’s perfect with my parents dogs when we visit their house, but growls at new dogs that we meet while on walks/ in pet stores/etc.
Usually it’s a hackle raising growl at the new dog as they meet face to face. The growl happens so fast that I cannot seem to find a time to correct before she actually gets that growl out.
She seems to want to meet new dogs, but doesn’t pull us over to them. She’s very polite on the leash. I think it may be getting worse as she settles in more and more with us. Maybe guarding me? She is a momma’s girl…. 
After the growl happens I try to redirect her attention to stop the growl. If I physically pull her back she will try and lunge at the other dog, so I try to move to the side and get her away.
Usually if she’s off leash and with the dog in a pen or fenced in area she’s fine after a “your not the boss of me growl” I almost feel that she doesn’t know how to greet other pups in a social manner so she feels uncomfortable and growls, which puts me on edge!
It’s only with dogs that I let her meet, never at dogs we just walk by.
So I guess my question is how do I help her become more comfortable? Most dogs we meet on walks have no manners and are crazy! Not balanced polite dogs. Usually dragging their owners over to us to meet! I can certainly see how that would make our pup uncomfortable. I hesitate to take her to a community dog park and turn her free. The dogs there will probably be too excited for her to learn how to properly interact with dogs.
She’s NOT food motivated and will refuse to take any treats if she in any type of new environment. Sometimes will even refuse to take treats while we are training in our quiet apartment. I iwsh I could get her motivated enough for some clicker training.
I hesitate to sign up for a dog class, I almost feel like it would be a waste of time. She’s not in need of any help, other than socializing with a bunch of different types of dogs.
Any ideas on what I could do?
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It’s interesting that she growls at other greyhounds. Our male seems to recognises only greyhounds as fellow canines, all other dogs he is less than social with. He has always been like this and we have learned to live with it. I am aware of his dislike of others and so avoid the contact where possible and am extra vigilant when approached.. As long as the approach is friendly and the contact brief, we are okay.
It may be that your girl feels threatened and is fearful and that can be a difficult thing to overcome. Obedience may be worth a go just to get some advice from experienced dog people. Good luck, it can take the fun out of walks..
Whisky and a cigarette.
jgeiger2006, I wish I had a a greyhound.
First, is your greyhound a rescued racer? If she is and you got her from a rescue group, you would have signed an agreement that she would NEVER be off leash in an unfenced area. Retired racing greyhounds can’t go to dog parks. Period. Even the friendliest greyhound is going to chase down someone’s tiny white dog at a dog park. It’s absolutely not safe, plus given their speed, they could be on a road in a matter of seconds – that’s why they can’t be off leash.
You’re confusing me because you said at the beginning she growls at dogs she meets on walks and in pet stores, and later you said “she’s very polite on the leash”. Which is correct?
Most greyhounds are friendly on leash but don’t have a lot of tolerance for rude, “in-your face” kind of dogs that rush up to them. That’s ok, she doesn’t need to tolerate them – just keep them back. All she has to do is quietly walk past other well-behaved dogs. If she does that, she’s fine.
She gets along with your parents’ dog, so it sounds like she gets along with friendly dogs if properly introduced. Being on leash often brings on leash aggression, so if you’ve got friendly dogs, take the leashes off and introducing them in a yard with you right there works best.
Edit – Even in a fenced dog park, it’s not safe. Dog parks are a human invention, they’re not for the majority of dog breeds. A greyhound’s prey instincts are always going to kick in when they see a small, white, fluffy dog off in the distance. Please remember they were hunters for thousands of years before they were racers – that’s not something that can be trained out.
Usually dogs greet nose to butt, going face to face is more threatening. Going to obedience class is a good idea, you dog will get to meet new friends with a professional there to watch how your dog interacts. They may catch an unwanted behavior that you may have missed and have some ideas to help out. Also they might recommend a Halti or Gentle -Leader- like little muzzles that self- correct the dog’s pulling while still allowing the dog to open it’s mouth to eat and drink, etc.
Also, your dog will be getting used to the same dogs, and the exuberance should decrease and make it manageable. Have fun and good luck!
Is there any pattern you see with the types of dogs she growls at? I’ve read that Greyhounds are more comfortable with larger dogs because smaller ones may cause their prey drive to kick in.