Hound training - Suffolk

[mrsbloggett]

Does anyone know if there are any training classes suitable for greyhounds in Suffolk. After a promising start when we rehomed our hound, she is getting alittle too keen on our cat (particularly in the garden) and to small furies out walking. Once her eyes have locked on I have great difficulty cutting through her concentration. I'm beginning to feel we need help before things get out of hand.

 

[CAYLA]

Im not sure how helpful a bog standard training class will help with this, they may have tips on trying to get her attention, otherwise be firm with her and maybe try long lining her in the garden so u can check/reprimand her for showing any undue attention, my dogs are mostly lurchers and where all rescues, and I have lots of cats, I do cat test and make all the rescue lurchers cat friendly before sending them off to new homes, I currently have a smooth coated saluki boy in, Im firm when it comes to the safety of other pets, so tend to go down a firm reprimand route rather than a try to get attention route.

You could try recalling her for a reward in the garden when the cat is not there, i.e call her and treat her, and repeat this frequently, it may work when she spies the cat and come to u for the assosiated reward.
Otherwise long line, and a hugely FIRM "LEAVE IT" with you angriest voice

and haul her back into u, she must know there is a consiquence for this unwanted behaviour, if u are really worried box muzzle her whilst u practice.
You could also try a rattle bottle as a negative assosiation for paying undue attention to the cat to throw down and yell "LEAVE IT" but u may frighten the sh!t out of the cat

It is a natural chase instinct and although easy to solve indoors it can be hard outdoors esp when small animals run, they dogs are bred to chase, u could also maybe use a rattle bottle outdoors to rattle beside her to distract her attention away from focusing on the mini meal

and reward her with a treat for walking on by.
Im very firm and can usualy get them to leave after my first reprimand

my leave it command is LOUD

 

[GinaB]

I bet your 'leave it' command is bloody scary CALA

You should ask Splotchy as well MrsBloggett, she is our resident Greyhound freak

 

[CAYLA]

I will have to record my "LEAVE IT" it's very impressive......I always describe it, but u really need to hear it

I will randomly record myself when training from now on

 

[CorvusCorax]

Me too, you can hear me three counties away

GiiinaB, if you can hear a 'NOOOOOO!' reverberating through Ards, that'll be me!

Echo all Cala says but you could also try to get someone to have a little fluffy thing on another piece of line, like a lure, swishing it about a bit, imitating the movement of a cat or other small fast furry projectile, to practise with, if you don't want to use your cat as a stooge too soon. When she has mastered leaving the lure alone, try with the cat.
Also, make sure your lure person doesn't make it obvious that they are making the 'cat' move, they are smart enough to notice

Like Cala says - she needs to know eyes on mum = fun times and treats, focused on something else = either nowt or a pop on the neck and earache!

 

[Spudlet]

Me three - I am an NCO's daughter after all

 

[CorvusCorax]

(I'm an NCO's grandaughter

Sergeant Major/Drill Sergeant - ATTEN-SHUN!)

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
I bet your 'leave it' command is bloody scary CALA

You should ask Splotchy as well MrsBloggett, she is our resident Greyhound freak

[/ QUOTE ]

I am NOT a freak, I am merely enthusiastic

Unfortunately for the OP all my greyhounds have been very very very cat/small fluffy unfriendly from day one

because they didnt need to be cat friendly with me.

I really can recommend www.thehoundlounge.co.uk for any greyhound advice if Caila's excellent advice doesnt work though, they are fab there