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Wanting to Chase Other Animals
(particularly the small and furry kind!)

One of the most common problems with ex-racing greyhounds away from the track environment, is their reaction towards small, fast moving animals such as other dogs, cats, and squirrels. This is not unexpected, as you are dealing with a dog that has not only been conditioned from birth to chase, but also selectively bred for thousands of years to do exactly that. This is a deeply rooted instinct, and you must be prepared for it to take a little while for him to understand that this is no longer what he needs to do. Try to bear in mind that up to this point it is his enthusiasm for the chase that has kept him alive.

Many greyhounds have a reputation as cat killers, but what most people conveniently forget is that many dogs chase cats. The only difference between other dogs and greyhounds is that greyhounds are sometimes fast enough to catch them. Although initially this may seem like an insurmountable problem, in most cases it can be overcome, and again it is just a matter of getting your dog to understand that this type of behaviour is no longer expected or acceptable.

Distracting your dog when he behaves inappropriately

The best method is simply an extension of the ‘No’ command. Whenever your dog becomes excitable about other animals you need to be able to distract him and get his attention back to you, and this can be achieved using a variety of methods. Throwing something on the ground in front of him designed to make a noise (an empty aluminium drinks can with a few stones in the bottom is ideal) and simultaneously saying 'No' in a firm voice is a good distraction. It is noisy, visual, and unexpected. The noise of the can hitting the ground coupled with its unexpected appearance from nowhere should break his focus of attention from the animal in question. This backed up with your voice should cause him to stop and look up at you for reassurance. As soon as you have his attention praise him both physically and verbally, so he understands that turning back to you when he is unsure or something unusual happens is a good thing to do.

Eventually this should become habit, and every time you shout 'No' he should look back to you, giving you the opportunity to give him further commands (such as ‘Come’ if he is off the lead) and keep the situation under control. Be patient if this takes some time to achieve, as you are trying to override his natural instinct to lock onto prey and chase. If your dog does not respond to the noise from the can, there are other things you can try to divert his attention.

Sprays designed to deter dogs from jumping up are available from most pet shops, or a small squirt of water from a squeezy bottle or cheap water pistol on the back of his head can be effective. Another more high tech innovation is the Aboistop remote control collar. This is a collar worn by your dog that contains a small chamber of pressurised air. When you press a button on the remote control it releases a jet of air underneath the dogs chin. The advantage of this method is that it works over a longer distance than throwing a can or squirting water, and is also easier to disassociate yourself from. The disadvantage is that such systems are expensive, and usually cost upwards of £150. Many dog training clubs offer these collars for hire for a fraction of this cost, and if you are having problems with your dog it is best to consult a local dog trainer to assist you in assessing your dog and applying some appropriate methods of training.

Above all it is simply a matter of having the time and patience to try one thing at a time until you find the most effective one for your dog. Eventually you can start to use the 'No' command prior to the can/spray and save these as back up measures when he doesn’t respond immediately to your verbal warning. All of this gives him an opportunity for your dog to make choices (respond immediately to your voice or ignore you), and once he realises that immediate response removes the noise/spray aspect he will usually choose to listen to you.

Rewarding your dog when he behaves appropriately

It is also important to have a clear signal to give your dog when he behaves in a desirable way. All too often people will chastise their dog for being naughty and ignore it when it is being good. One of the most effective ways I have found to establish desirable behaviours is to use a ‘clicker’. A clicker is a small plastic box with a metal strip inside that you press to produce a distinctive click sound. It is actually more effective that your voice as it is very distinct and is always consistent.

There are many books available on the subject of clicker training and if possible it is always a good idea to try and find out about local clicker training classes. If your dog is correctly introduced to a clicker early on it can be an invaluable tool in rewarding desirable behaviour. Below is a brief description on introducing a clicker to your dog, however I would strongly recommend reading one of the many books on the subject first, as well as attending training classes if at all possible. As with all other tools used in shaping behaviour, a clicker is only as effective as the person using it.

For the first few days just carry a clicker and a little pot of treats around the house (the better the treats the quicker your dog will work it out - I favour small pieces of hot dog, sausage, cheese, and liver).

Every now and then click the clicker and give him a treat for no reason. Soon he will understand that every time he hears that distinctive click, something good will happen. The time taken for this to happen will depend on the dog. It took Jack several days, while it took Tegan several seconds!

Slowly increase the time between the click and the treat to a few seconds. You should find that as soon as he hears the click he looks to you waiting for his treat. At this point you can start taking the clicker and treats out on walks. If he looks away from another dog, walks nicely past another dog, or does anything at all (no matter how small) that is desirable immediately click, and his focus of attention is back on you waiting for a treat.

Remember that the point of a clicker is to clearly reward good behaviour, and shape your dogs behaviour by rewarding small steps in the right direction.

If you reinforce the good and discourage the bad and remain consistent then he should eventually learn 'The Rules' associated with this new life.

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