Making Friends — With You

greyhound_heart_cartoonSetting Limits

You’ll probably go out of your way to make your new pet comfortable in his new home. Of course you want him to like his new environment and love you in return. Spoiling is OK, up to a certain point. Have you ever met a spoiled child? Bratty, bossy and totally unpleasant to be around. You don’t really want your greyhound to turn out like that.

Animals, just like children, need limits set for them. Consistency and clarity about what’s acceptable behavior and what’s not, and knowing that you’re in charge are key to a good transition for your greyhound.

Throughout the dog’s life, he’s relied on someone to set boundaries for him. First his mother laid down the law, and the puppy quickly learned that as long as he followed the rules, life was great.

The leadership role was transferred to humans as your greyhound left his litter and began his training. Although he was exposed to lots of new experiences and places, there was one constant factor he could rely on — there was always a human to tell him what was good and what wasn’t. Every dog needs this reassurance.

Be The Leader

A dog without a firm, consistent leader (alpha dog) quickly becomes a bratty, overbearing animal that no one wants to live with. The dog suffers without the one thing he needs most, acceptance and a place in the pack. You are that leader, so act like one. Be firm and fair, and you’ll have a dog you can take anywhere and be proud of.

Discipline

Greyhounds are so smart, and react so well with positive reinforcement. This means praise and hugs when they do what you want. They’ll know you’re happy, and they’ll continue to try to make you happy.

When you need to discipline, and it must be done while the ‘bad’ incident is occurring (like peeing in the house, chewing on something they shouldn’t, barking, etc.), use your voice, not your hand. Lower your voice to a growl, get his attention (I grab his muzzle and make him look me in the eye) and tell him “no” or “bad” and then leave him alone for a bit. He will be so chastised, he may never do it again. If he does, you escalate the level of your voice, and be even more forceful that you mean it. It really is like dealing with kids, some of them will ignore you until they really think you mean it.

Occasionally new greyhound pet owners fear reprimanding their pet because they think the dog won’t like them. Unfortunately, these are the adoptions that have problems several months later. After 2 to 4 weeks of no reprimands, he might not react well to you suddenly trying to get him to pay attention to what you want.

Plan to keep a balance from the beginning, being fair and consistent. These dogs don’t want to be bad, they really really want to please you. So get into their heads, understand why they are doing what they are doing, and don’t cater to every whim every time. In the long run, it’s better for your pet and you. Remember you have a new family member, not a house guest!

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