Neighbour told DH her dog has been known to kill small dogs!

[SecondhandRose]

Out of courtesy DH told neighbour we are getting a mini dachshund puppy today. She looked taken aback apparently and said her rescue greyhound hates small dogs and has been known to kill them in the past.

As you can imagine we are now checking the garden is super secure.

She has two kids living in the house with her killer greyhound.

Greyhounds are sight hounds which means they have a strong prey instinct to chase and kill small animals, which may include cats, smaller dogs etc. It doesn't mean her dog will attack children, in fact with people they are usually gentle lazy dogs. She has been honest about it with you so at least you know to keep your puppy away from her greyhound. You're doing the right thing in making your garden completely secure and it would be sensible to have a further discussion with her about whether her dog wears a Baskerville muzzle when she takes it out (it looks a bit like a sort of basket/cage muzzle that fits over the dogs nose and mouth) as some greyhound owners use them to stop their dogs killing squirrels etc. You're probably right to be a little concerned but don't get panicky about it.

I understand your xoncern for your puppy and you are right to make sure the garden is secure. Perhaps tall to the neighbour about management of the dogs in the garden as greys can often clear quite high fences.

But please don't worry about her kids. A grey seeing small dogs aa prey is no indicator of generalised dog aggression, let alone aggression towards people, which is very different. I would strongly suggest you read some up to date books on dog behaviour to get a better understanding before you bring your pup home. E.g. In Defence of Dogs by John Bradshaw.

Some greyhounds chase and kill small prey, it's in their breeding and they are trained to hone this instinct at the track, because of the way they are raised (at the track/kennels, only ever seeing other greyhounds, not socialising with a mix of breeds) they sometimes don't distinguish between a smaller dog and prey.

Children generally are not small and furry, so you don't need to worry about that.

Your garden should be secure anyway and you should not be letting your puppy out unsupervised, nor should your neighbour be leaving her greyhound unsupervised in her garden.

I agree with SpicyPear on the muzzle, most greyhounds are already used to wearing them and they don't bother them at all. Ask if your neighbour would mind popping one on her greyhound whenever it is out, just to be doubly safe, although unless they meet off lead, they should be safe. Greys tend to only chase and kill when it runs, if both dogs are on lead when they are near each other, you shouldn't have any issues.

Her 'killer' greyhound? There are some figures somewhere about dogs most likely to bite people and greyhounds come in last.

CAlisto i dont think she meant that the dogs was a danger to children and probably just using emotive language as she is worried for her dog.

It is your neighbours responsiblity to ensure that if her dog has this history then he needs to muzzled whenever he is outside and in the back garden too, unless you can ensure that fence is safe.

"She has two kids living in the house with her killer greyhound." Says it all.

She said it not me. I don't really know the woman, DH went over out of courtesy. Our pup is not likely to be off lead round here anyway. Not until he is out on a proper walk.

I would be concerned.

Her dog will go mad knowing there's a small dog in the next garden, and if the greyhound has already killed dog(s)! I would be asking the neighbour to contribute to an 8 foot fence separating your gardens.

Id be concerned enough to tell her than if her dog EVER laid a tooth on your puppy, you would both sue her and insist her dog was pts and that you hope thats clear and that she keeps her dog under control.

Did she say her dog specifically or her breed of dog?

Actually, if her dog has any kind of training it won't be too hard to teach it to recognize your pup's scent and "leave it" so that it won't be inclined to whine at the fence, etc.

But even with familiar animals the sighthound instinct can kick in if they see something small running away--then it's catch first and ask questions later.

I find it a bit strange that the owners' of a dog that has killed other dogs (i.e. this is has happened more than once) haven't already been sued.

The issue is it's not worth the cost of suing, because all she would be ordered to pay is the open market value of your dog. You are not entitled to compensation for any upset etc as dogs are seen by the courts as things, like an iPod for example.

Why do people insist on "rescuing" dogs with issues that theyre not qualified or prepared to actually change.

There are millions of rescue dogs without violent tendencies. I dont see why there are breeds of dogs banned as potentially dangerous and PTS if found even as tiny puppies, when dogs with history are fine.

All greyhounds will chase small things. Did she say HER dog or did she mean her BREED of dog?

A dog attacking and killing another animal is not an issue, it is a dog being a dog, doing what dogs do naturally. This does not mean it is an aggressive dog, or has behavioural problems. I have watched my dog kill a wild rabbit. She is a timid, sweet little animal who happens to be a terrier.

Unless you are a vegan, and have only vegan pets, you have no right to complain about dogs eating meat.

Depending upon how you categorise "violent tendencies", either all dogs have them or none at all.

colditz Op specifically states its that actual dog that has killed dogs.

Op - my main concern would be your small dog escaping. It's relatively easy to fence in large dogs but small dogs are a bugger for escaping through previously non-existent holes.

FGS 'violent tendencies'? I have yet to meet any dog without violent tendencies of some kind or another.

Colditz, Who was complaining about dogs eating meat?
it is the greyhound owners responsibility to ensure that her dog is properly controlled but thats not much help if it kills your puppy.

And here is why people won't post in the Doghouse.

a dog chasing a squirrel or a rabbit is one thing.

A dog even chasing cats is a step up from that

A dog killing other dogs where they werent even fighting, is NOT a pet.

Her dog is unlikely to go mad at the scent of another dog, small or large. Greyhounds, as mentioned earlier, are sight hounds, they hunt on sight, if they see it running, they will chase. Scent hounds are an entirely different breed category. Her dog and greyhounds in general do not have an inbuilt desire to kill anything smaller than them, it is all about the chase.

violent tendencies, as in being aggressive or killing when not provoked

Of course not all dogs are like this.

My dog will chase squirrels but if i call her back, she will stop the chase and has never ever killed another animal herself or even hurt one

ive only ever seen greyhounds firmly on the lead.