Questions...Sighthounds Muzzles Recall and Small dogs

[HoHum]

I have an ex racing greyhound, adopted about a year ago and she is lovley in every way. She is however the first sight hound I have had and I am still learning how best to manage her natural instincts.. so apologies for rambling nature ...

At four / five years am I every going to get her to recall ? My usual techniques of food and praise as well as practising when she's clearly not distracted by something else isn't producing a very consistent response. I know if she has spotted something and gone at speed I am not going to get her to break off and come back, but it would be nice when she is just pootling about!

I am fortunate to be able to walk her on downland where frequently we can go for an hour and see no other dogs. She is however walked often with friends dogs such as pointers and retrievers. and is perfectly social with them. But we have not encountered any small dogs when both her and them are off the lead. I worry that from a distance she will think it is rabbit and go for it.. were that to happen would she know it was dog and stop when she got closer?

Which leads me to muzzles. If she is off the lead anywhere around our local village she wears a muzzle as I always worry someone's cat could be close by. When she is on the downland she doesn't but I am wondering if she should, even though there is little wildlife to be seen?

How do other's manage this aspect of their sight hounds?

 

[Faro]

Have you seen the www.lurcherlink.org Website? May I suggest taking a look on there - or even posting your own question - as there is loads of really good info on sighhounds on there.

 

[HoHum]

Thank you..some lunchtime reading...

 

[Montyforever]

I have the worlds daftest greyhound ..
He does recall okay but occasionally pretends he's deaf! Worked with food, calling him and giving him a treat he thought it was a brilliant game. With small dogs he's fine, prefers playing with his bigger friends but he's never chased a small dog, I would muzzle yours though as you can never guarentee a cat/small dog won't catch you off guard one day.
Mine lives with my cat and rabbit now perfectly happy, he chased the cat once and she turned on him and attacked him so now he won't go near her even if she's running an inch in front of his nose
It is a challenge but as long as you are one step ahead all the time you shouldn't have any problems greyhounds are fab dogs!

 

[Hedwards]

I'd recommend joining 'thehoundlounge' (thehoundlounge.proboards.com) - its primarily set up to help sighthound rescues, however there are a lot of VERY knowledgable sighthound owners/trainers/fosterers etc on there, who will be only too happy to help!

I found recall with my lurcher girl a bit of a mission - she just tuned out and ignored me - food didnt work, neither did toys. However, me jumping about and looking like a crazy woman did - she's definitely a long way off being perfect for recall - however she is definitely getting better!

Good luck!!

 

[HoHum]

I found running away from her helps... which seems rather counter-intuitive..

Picture... because I think she looks very similar to Montyforever's in post!

 

[CAYLA]

I have to say I find the sight hounds the easiest in regard to recall inc my lot and the rescues, now the dalmation I have is one stuborn mother ficker (not mine I hasten to add). Have you put any long lining in? if in doubt def keep her muzzled when she is off as you are. To answer your question in general yes they do get rather deflated when what they spot turns out to be a small dog and they turn tail, but if the little one runs at the sight of a humungus grey coming towards them then obs they may chase till they get close enough to see it ain't a bunny.