Dog Aggression

[Guest Kashmir]

I adopted my retired racer, Kash, about 7 months ago. He is a large male who is my perfect companion and absolutely adores people! About a month after I brought him home, he started displaying signs of aggression toward other dogs (head down, tail down, hair stands up all down his back, excessive growling and barking, lunging at other dogs). Introductions are always executed with both dogs on leashes. I live across the street from a walking park, so we experience this several times a week. After seeking general dog training advice, I have tried to only allow nose-to-nose sniffing for 3 seconds, then continue on our way, but only if I see no aggressive signs from Kashmir from the get-go (which is rare to begin with). I've noticed it is not breed specific, and the aggression occurs with roughly 80% of dog interactions. At this point, I feel like going out only causes stress to Kashmir, myself, and other dogs/owners

• Is this a personality trait that I just need to accept?
• Am I misinterpreting his "aggression"/Is this just "typical greyhound behavior"/Is Kashmir just a "Greyhound Snob"?
• Is there something that I am doing wrong/something I should do differently?
• Do socialization classes exist/work?

Kashmir and I would really appreciate any sound advice!

[JohnF]

Hackles up and tail tucked is not good. Your dog is feeling challenged by responsibility to protect as a result of you not deflecting or neutralizing potential threats before they start to matter. Forced introductions for example.

 

My Peggy will 'roar' and prance about if she wants to play with another dog. She will growl deeply at wierdly behaving dogs (those not using Calming signals of properly). In neither case are her hackles up so she isn't 'worried' yet, but the rest of her body language is completely different.

 

Take a read of this article:

 

https://greytarticles.wordpress.com/behavior-training-22/relationships-with/calming-signals-how-to-interpret-and-use-dog-language/

 

Note that the concept of 'calming' is often misinterpreteed into human terms, our dogs have these calming signals as automatic responses probably without knowing they need to 'calm' another dog. It is displacement activity which has evolved because it works.

[greysmom]

A leash-reactive dog can be difficult to manage and really discouraging. If you can afford to see a certified animal behaviorist who specializes in situations like this (and who uses ONLY positive reinforcement training), that would be a big help as they can walk right beside you and offer their advice and expertise. If this person advocates any sort of correction or choke chain run fast in the opposite direction. Your adoption group might be able to point you in the direction of someone who is greyhound savvy.

 

As a substitute, take a look at this book by Patricia McConnell. She's a wiz at offering good, workable solutions that are easy to follow.

https://smile.amazon.com/Feisty-Fido-Help-Leash-Reactive-Dog-ebook/dp/B001DA99CG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1490573093&sr=8-6&keywords=patricia+McConnell

 

You can also search through the threads here for subjects like leash reactivity, unfriendly or aggressive when walking, and trouble meeting dogs on walks/on leash.

 

Good luck!

[GeorgeofNE]

I'm on my second hound who doesn't seem to care for other dogs. I personally don't find it an issue. I just wave or say hello to the humans and keep walking. If we meet on a sidewalk, I either pull into a driveway and let them pass, or I go into the road and hold him by the collar.

 

They've both liked other greyhounds; for Buck I think it's more fear than anything else (although your dog doesn't sound afraid) and George just HATED other dogs that weren't greyhounds. Buck goes to greyhound only playgroups and he tends to get picked on. I'm not sure why. He certainly doesn't "ask for it," but I typically end up leaving sooner than I'd like when word gets around that the short blond guy is an easy target!

[ramonaghan]

I understand how stressful and frustrating (not to mention embarrassing) this can be. Sweep is mostly fine with greyhounds, but reacts to other breeds much like how Kash does. It has only worsened with age, so I just avoid them as much as possible now by crossing the street or walking her in off-peak hours. Other than that, I practice "watch me" with her and carry treats on walks to try to distract her before she gets worked up.

[Guest Izzy2]

Biffo doesn't like other breed dogs i have bought him a jacket which reads "please keep your dog away "i was advised he also requires his muzzle when on a walk. I'm going to enroll him into socialisation classes as when kennelled they only ever see Greyhounds!!!

Might be an idea to look for these jackets i bought mine from eBay

Good luck

[Banjoman]

It took Chancey two years to calm down from off the track and a third year to get her walking quietly past other dogs that aren't greyhounds. I walk a lot in the forest and a running dog can still set her jumping six feet in the air. Thankfully she has never shown real aggression, just hyperactivity, jumping and screaming. Because she wore her muzzle (for her safety because there are idiot owners who let their little fluffy run up to us despite me asking them to "call your dog back, please") it was difficult to do "Look at me" and give her a treat, she was never too bothered about the treat anyway. I did eventually get her to stand back at the side of a path, with me standing by her head between her and the other dog. If I meet somebody and their dog on a narrow path that is what I still do.

 

Over the years most of the people we would meet regularly realised what I was trying to do and would put their dogs on leads when they saw us. I have rarely deliberately given her the chance to meet other dogs because I have heard a "Snap" of her jaws in the muzzle the few times i thought she was OK and calmed down.

 

I now take her to training class once a week and after a year I leave the muzzle off in the hall unless we get a new dog that seems overly bouncy or noisy. Hopefully she will pass her Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award in a few weeks!

 

Oh, and we go to a monthly greyhound walk and she just looks at them and walks off quietly in their midst until she remembers her racing days and works her way to the front of the walk, where she will often have a sparring match of "I'm in front", "NO, I'm in front" with another dog.