I think 90% of the dogs we encounter on walks will bark or lunge at us

[Legendaryfrank]

Does this happen to anyone else as well?

 

Around my neighborhood we've been walking around now for almost a year since I've gotten my hound; and without fail most dogs will get fixated to him and start pulling their owners leash and lunging at us. Small dogs, big dogs, you name it and they will usually start barking. It makes it feel like something is wrong with us or we are doing something wrong..

 

Starry doesn't react too much, he will play bow but he's never barked or fixated on another dog on our walks. He's never pulled me to try and say hi to other dogs either. We've met other dogs on leash that were much more low key without any issues.

Edited May 26, 2021 by Legendaryfrank

[Jerilyn]

I think most family pet dogs have not had proper socialization and/or training. Our greyhounds excel in dog commutation due to the way they are raised around lots of dogs and people. So it’s them, not you.  I do make a point of praising Wiki loudly for being calm and ignoring the other dog that is going crazy. 

That said, I think there is something about the shape and style of greyhounds that confuses or worries other breeds. The low-set tail and ears pinned back as a default could be read as fear or aggression by another dog. There is a dog in my neighborhood that went full on Cujo as Wiki and I walked past just minding our own business. I seriously thought it was going to attack us and Wiki did too. My neighbors who walk other breeds of dogs all love this Cujo and say he’s nothing but sweet. 

Starry sounds lovely. Keep doing what you're doing and tell him he's a good boy.

[Legendaryfrank]

2 minutes ago, Jerilyn said:

I think most family pet dogs have not had proper socialization and/or training. Our greyhounds excel in dog commutation due to the way they are raised around lots of dogs and people. So it’s them, not you.  I do make a point of praising Wiki loudly for being calm and ignoring the other dog that is going crazy. 

That said, I think there is something about the shape and style of greyhounds that confuses or worries other breeds. The low-set tail and ears pinned back as a default could be read as fear or aggression by another dog. There is a dog in my neighborhood that went full on Cujo as Wiki and I walked past just minding our own business. I seriously thought it was going to attack us and Wiki did too. My neighbors who walk other breeds of dogs all love this Cujo and say he’s nothing but sweet. 

Starry sounds lovely. Keep doing what you're doing and tell him he's a good boy.

Thank you for the kind words! I'll make it a point to keep praising Starry when he stays calm on our walks. 

[RaineysMom]

same thing here.  90% of the dogs we encounter while walking, either another dog being walked (and HOPEFULLY on leash!) or in a fenced-in yard bark like crazy at our Rick too.  I didn't have this issue with Larry and Zeke although LARRY was the crazy dog that was a greyhound snob and barked at the other dogs so that may be why....

[Remolacha]

I don’t see that much here (always ankle biters who react) but greyhounds are, not common, but maybe more so than some places as there used to be a track in Phoenix and several farms, all closed now.

Oddly enough, several of my greyhounds have reacted very negatively to golden doodles. Not sure what it is, but they do not like them!

[HeyRunDog]

Grace and I sometimes encounter similar behaviour, and as has been said, a lot of it is due to the lack of socialisation. It doesn't help when the dog/puppy training classes are shut due to Covid.

If it's a dog we regularly see and the owner has a firm grip on the lead I will stop and have a quick chat and let the dogs say hello but without enough slack on the leads for them to touch until the other dog has calmed down, meanwhile Grace totally ignores the other dog. If it doesn't then it's a quick "bye" and Grace and I carry on with our walk. After meeting a few times the other dog does greet Grace calmly.  My thought is that if the dogs never get a chance to learn how to socialise then the problem will not go away.

Edited May 27, 2021 by HeyRunDog

[racindog]

Starry sounds like a perfect gentleman- smart, non-reactive and well socialized.  The other dogs are leash reactive and unsocialized-and dangerous.  And there are more of them than usual right now because a lot of dogs did not get socialized at all due to the China virus lockdown. Be sure you carry something to defend Starry with just in case one of the uncouth rogue dogs gets loose and attacks Starry.  Sadly many times an innocent dog that gets attacked is so traumatized by it that they themselves then become leash reactive and dog aggressive.  You can't let that happen to a great guy like Starry. He is depending on YOU to keep him safe. I can also tell you that many if not most of the owners of the aggressive dogs have no clue how dangerous their dogs are; make little effort to control them; and if they get loose from them they usually just run around waving their hands in the air and screaming because they want it to look like they are trying to restrain their dog but they really are not because they don't want to get bit by their own dog.  I was an Animal Control Officer in a large city for over a year and this is the sad truth.  Anyway all the best to you and Starry!  He sure sounds like a very nice dog and extraordinary friend. Just be very careful and have a plan in case one of the brutes gets loose and threatens Starry.  He wouldn't stand a chance with his thin greyhound skin and skinny legs. A nice dog like him probably wouldn't fight even to defend himself.  And if it is a small dog that instigates an altercation they will blame Starry just because he is so much bigger.  So its a no win situation for Starry. I was leading a hound 1 day when 2 loose large rogue dogs running loose attacked him.  Goldie just tried to run away but wouldn't fight back and they were trying to bite his rear legs/area to take him down. Luckily he didn't have to. I have a black belt in karate and I was carrying a Phillipeno fighting stick with me for protection "just in case."  The closest dog I caught solidly with a good side kick and sent him reeling back at which point he got up and ran away.  The 2nd dog I came down with a blow between the ears with my stick that sent him to the ground at which point he got up and ran away.  Because I was prepared my greyhound Goldie was not injured.  Had I not been I shutter to think how badly he could have been hurt or worse.  I will tell you also that we had a large Rottweiler show dog as well.  I could walk the Rottweiler everywhere and none of the dogs- not even the ones who attacked my greyhound- would bother us in the least.  Nor would they bother a greyhound if the Rottweiler was with us. Dogs are not stupid.  So yes, in my experience, they do tend to target our greyhounds because they know that the poor greyhounds are essentially helpless and can't or won't defend themselves.  People not controlling their dogs and also letting them run loose is one of my pet peeves.  That is one of the things I have always admired about greyhounds.  They are simply "above" common street brawls and are too smart and too wise to act like a stupid bully and start street fights. JMO  

[cleptogrey]

we live in a suburb of NYC, lots of sidewalks and lots of apartment buildings. 98% of the apt. dogs have Napoliananic complexes, 0 training, 0 exercise and are downright crazy! even a passive sighthound becomes aggressive when those crazy dogs lunge out. yes, all of my dogs were/are reactive to the crazy dogs. the 2% that are in control are no problem. we just cross the street when one of the 98% approaches. 

[Legendaryfrank]

This makes me feel much better, haha. Didn't think about the whole picture of most dogs not being able to socialize because of the pandemic, and our hounds are used to being with other hounds and can behave (usually!) 

@racindog thank you for the long post and sharing your experience!!

[ramonaghan]

On 5/26/2021 at 5:51 PM, Remolacha said:

Oddly enough, several of my greyhounds have reacted very negatively to golden doodles. Not sure what it is, but they do not like them!

Interesting! Sweep is a dedicated doodle-hater too. And they are all over our neighborhood!

[Moo]

I get this alllll the time, and Rumble will cry and whinge at anything that's not a) greyhound shaped b) the same size as him or c) a nice lady dog, although he still does sometimes. 2 tiny chihuahuas which were literally the size of his head and neck were barking and snapping at him, so of course he starts crying instead of talking back. 

[hudsy]

Both of the dogs I've ever had have always ignored all the other dogs at the park (except for the other Greyhounds, of course). I used to feel the same way as OP, I was always noticing other dogs getting defensive / barking out of the blue!