Training A New Greyhound

[Guest MissBibliophile]

Hello!

 

I am two days into my adoption with a greyhound! She is 1 year old and very sweet, somewhat timid. I am eager to start working on some basic obedience, but I have read different things on this forum and other places that it's best to wait awhile before starting anything - however some sources say to start right away.

 

She came right from the owner who was raising her so she doesn't have any experience on the leash or with any sort of obedience. I read earlier that a good start is the "wait" command at the door. My goal is to start the training early so that she learns boundaries and so I can start taking her places, meeting new people, etc. Leash training is important to me. I have experience with dogs but this is all new!

 

What are your thoughts about basic obedience? Suggestions for things I can start now as I build up our relationship?

Is it too early to visit a trainer and enroll in classes? I want to build trust but also need to make sure she starts the process of learning sooner rather than later after bad habits have rooted themselves. If she were in a foster home she'd be learning as she went along to prepare her for a home.

 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I love this forum

[mansbestfriend]

​Hi. Every dog is an individual. If you're used to dogs who are enthusiastic learners, a different mindset should be needed for a 'typical' greyhound. My Kelpie mix has learned house rules and many many cued obedience, trick, Agility, etc.etc.etc. behaviours very well with Positive Reinforcement training. Max the greyhound has little motivation to learn 'stuff' like sit*, down, roll over ... In my opinion, things like house rules and routines (now) and other practical behaviours (in time) like walking well on leash, wait before street crossings, learning to negotiate up and down stairs, etc. are good but first simply creating a calm low-stress environment is important.

 

Meetings with people, dogs, at cafes, etc. may be the dog's decision to make. My grey is very gentle with gentle people, but he isn't really social and small animals are seen as prey or play toys. He's a great dog but 100% greyhound in the prey drive department.

 

My limited experience fostering has been about the transition to pet life and assessing the dog's individual behaviours, plus basic good manners.

 

Hope the settling-in and training goes well. Cheers.

 

* Sit, lie down, etc. may even be physically impossible for a grey.

[kronckew]

​...

 

* Sit, lie down, etc. may even be physically impossible for a grey.

 

 

most greyhounds and lurchers have the 'lie down' part down pat. they may not be very graceful achieving it tho, frequently winding up upside down

 

millie, my ex-racer bridge girl, could manage to get her butt to just hover a couple inches over the floor, but never managed to do a good enough 'sit' to pass and earn her obedience badge from the local trainer (who had a horde of little purse doggy monsters*) both my male and female greys were experts at lying down, and spent most of their days doing just that - again frequently upside down.

 

poppy can do, on command, wait, sit, gimme yer paw (left), shake hands (right), down, come, and especially NO and drop it, and turn around. we vary the order and location every time as she gets impatient and runs thru all of them until she gets a treat, and is finally getting the idea that the commands apply outside as well as inside.

 

*she made the mistake of attending an event at a local estate set up for a for greyhound rescue fund raiser where i, and my two, as well as about 60 other sighthounds attended, with her little yappy scooby snacks in tow on flexi leashes. that did not turn out well, and she left early. i stopped going to her class. some trainers give a bit of leeway to greyhounds on the sit requirement and allow 'almosts = it's the thought that counts after all...'.

Edited September 11, 2017 by kronckew

[GeorgeofNE]

Since this isn't a retired racer, you can raise her exactly like you would any other dog, and it is NOT too early to start with the basics.

 

I'd start with leash walking myself.

[cleptogrey]

Since this isn't a retired racer, you can raise her exactly like you would any other dog, and it is NOT too early to start with the basics.

 

I'd start with leash walking myself.

this is a wonderful basic guide, non-frills, no nonsense https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Puppy-Toolkit-Step-Step/dp/0973159103/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1505134214&sr=8-3&keywords=premier+book+dog+training

 

train like any other dog, was she crate trained at the farm/kennel? crating, especially a young vivacious dog is a necessity. also, check out the blog neversaynever and the posts by krissy here on gt. she has done wonderful work with 2 greyhound pups. she is someone to look up to and admire. i trained, but never went as far as krissy. having an adolescent greyhound is a hoot- you must find the laughable side of your personality to survive. it's FUN and GAMES and a PISSER!!! ENJOY!

[greysmom]

Whether you begin training now or later depends in part on the personality of your dog. If she fun, motivated, and outgoing, then puppy classes might be something she'd enjoy a lot. If she's shy and takes a while to warm up to new people and situations, it will probably be better to let her get used to her new normal before throwing a lot of formal training at her.

 

A greyhound will be a puppy until well into their 3rd year, so be ready for a long ride!

[krissy]

I am always a huge proponent of training your dogs. Some greyhounds can require a little more creativity to motivate, and especially the retired racers have to "learn to learn" as I say. A 12 month old will probably be easier in that regard... but also maybe not as it sounds like she maybe hasn't really had any form of training that even the retired racers get (leash walking, handling, etc).

 

As greysmom says, if she's outgoing and confident, I'd sign her up ASAP for a fun, positive training class to start. If she's a bit shy and you have some dog training experience then I'd just start at home. I've fostered a number of dogs, and regardless of personality I always start them right away (that said, I've never had an outright spook who was afraid of me, so that would be a different situation of course) with the basics. I'd start with stay, recall, down, and leash walking as your basics. If she really struggles with the concept of training, then I would maybe start with just a nose touch until she gets used to the idea that you are trying to get a behaviour from her.