Greyhounds are a breed like no other – quirky and curious, a jumble of contradictions. At rest, they’re goofy and ungainly, often sleeping with their legs in the air. But when they run, they’re transformed, moving with a mesmerising grace that can take your breath away.
For ex-racing greyhounds, life beyond the track is a whole, new world of weird.
They’re used to kennels and outdoor living, crates and racetrack traps. The domestic
everyday can feel like an assault course of the unfamiliar. Some take to it like a
spaniel to water. Others need more time and patient help to adjust.
For dogs that have never been inside a home, household appliances can be
overwhelming, stairs an incomprehensible obstacle. Even a gentle walk can be an
overdose of the unfamiliar and they just freeze.
These attacks of uncertainty mean they can appear slow to learn new skills, are
anxious with people and fearful of contact or show poor social behaviour with other
dogs. They may react to other dogs on lead or snap if startled from sleep. But all of
these problems can be addressed and behaviour improved with the right training.
The good news is that the greyhound is a big foodie. This combined with their innate
curiosity makes them eminently trainable with gentle, reward-based techniques.
Once they understand the rules of engagement, training can really fly. Once the
worryingly new becomes happy normality they settle into being the happy
companions that are a delight to have around.
