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Is is possible to train my dog out of this behaviour

17 replies

Riro · 27/02/2015 11:33

My adorable lurcher has come a long way in the two years since we have had her. She was a rescue dog so we do not know her history. She's really calm in the home and when out she doesn't react to other dogs when she is on lead. The problem is she's a menace when we let her off lead around other dogs. If another dog is running, she will join in, but in an anti-social way. She's very vocal and growly when she runs with another dog, which I know not all owners like.

My dog is very fast, and she runs right beside the other dog, touching it, and it looks like the other dog is keeping running because it is intimidated by my dog and doesn't know how to stop the running. If another dog does stop running or makes it clear it doesn't want to run, my dog does stop, but not many dogs do this. They keep running but they do not look like they are enjoying it. My dog will come back when I call her, so I can stop her, but I would like to be able to have her off lead and to play 'nicely' with the other dogs. Is there anything I can do?

OP posts:
Buttholelane · 27/02/2015 11:41

I don't know how to help but would urge you not to let her off lead until you know how to sort it.

My dog has been chased in this way by sight hounds although they were trying to slam into her as well as chase so I'm not sure how much of it was boisterous play and how much was more sinister.
It was truly horrific, she cowered and screamed and shook trying to hide....
You know other dogs don't like it so don't let her off anymore until you know how to stop it.

tabulahrasa · 27/02/2015 11:46

I've never really managed to change a dog's playing style...but someone might be able to give you ideas.

I'd just recall her as you say her recall is good and try to find some doggy friends who don't mind playing like that.

Stinkylinky · 27/02/2015 12:35

My dog is very vocal and growly when playing with other dogs and will chase and be chased for hours if we let him but he isn't being aggressive. He is overly social with other dogs though and wants to play with them all which can be a problem if the other dog isn't interested!

Riro · 27/02/2015 13:22

I'm sure it is boisterous play. She will play bow and play bark as well. I mostly let her off lead when we're in the park alone or a long way from other dogs. Some owners don't mind the way she plays as she helps tire out their dog. I always recall her and put her on lead if she tears off. I've tried to get her interested in a ball but that hasn't worked.

OP posts:
HcachumBabow · 27/02/2015 14:00

It sounds like typical boisterous sighthound playing to me. They don't mean any harm but it's a style of play that is (quite understandably) not always appreciated by other dogs.

I never allow my whippets to run off lead with other dogs. Even if all participants are up for a good chase it's very easy for a nip to go astray or for one of them to shoulder barge a bit too hard and the other to take exception to it.

I'd do as tabulahrasa says, keep her on lead around other dogs and try and find some like-minded dogs she can safely play with.

RandomMess · 27/02/2015 18:38

Can you look for a socialisation class that would be suitable? I know of one where it appears that it is a large pack of dogs running around a field. Dogs that don't know their manners do get put into their place.

muttynutty · 27/02/2015 19:04

Nearly 90% of dog training is preventing the inappropriate behaviour and allowing the correct behaviour.

The first step would be working on not letting your dog play in this manner.
If she does start to charge can you immediately call her off - if not then work with a long line. I would also be working on getting her attention onto you so she would from choice prefer to be with you than the mad dog chase

I would not be happy if you let your dog do this to my dogs. Also by letting her get more practice it will become a more ingrained behaviour.

So prevention and distraction

basildonbond · 27/02/2015 19:45

There's a whippet which does this to Ddog - he comes charging up, growling and slams into Ddog and chases him round in circles - Ddog is terrified but the owner does nothing to stop it as he's usually half a field away talking on his phone. A couple of times he's called over to say he's just playing but Ddog obvio doesn't appreciate it

Riro · 28/02/2015 10:58

I'd like to reiterate that I do stop my dog from doing this.

1 of 3 things happen when we go for a walk and she is let off lead. 1. There are no other dogs around and she walks by my side, or does a few loopy circuits 2. She sees another dog running, she runs up to it and the two dogs run around happily together. 3. She sees another dog running, she runs up to it and the other dog runs because it is frightened. I call my dog back.

Does this mean I can never let her off lead around other dogs because even when 2 happens, I am endorsing her behaviour? If that is the case, how do I endorse desirable behaviour if she never displays it?

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 28/02/2015 13:47

TBH, your lurcher is playing in a completely normal way for a sighthound. They love to run, and vocalising and barging each other is what they do.

The solution is another lurcher so they can be happy running Grin. At least thats what we did

muttynutty · 28/02/2015 16:31

at point 2. recall her - ask the owner if it is ok for the dogs to play if the answer is yes then release your dog to have a run together. IF your dog charges the other dog then recall and game ends. You need to learn the signals before the charging behaviour and interrupt at that point

moosemama · 28/02/2015 20:19

Totally normal sighthound play behaviour. Noisy, fast, argy-bargy. They live to run/chase and don't quite get it that other breeds might not feel the same way.

My older Lurcher plays well with other breeds, because he was raised from a pup with a Soft Coated Wheaten and a Belgian Shepherd x Border Collie and learned his playskills from them. He also has a good recall, so I can pick and choose who he plays with anyway, that way I can check with the other owner before I let him go.

My younger lad is a much more natural/instinctive Lurcher type and he will play just like your girl if allowed, only he's been known to remove clumps of fur from my older lads rump when he was younger and more OTT. I don't know his background as he was dumped at birth, but I suspect he may have been from working lines and he does the other ill-mannered Lurcher thing of nipping necks and tails as the other dog runs as well. Many Lurcher owners muzzle their dogs for free-running for this reason. They don't intend to injure, it's purely play, but with sighthound thin-skin it's a recipe for lots of vet visits when they play together.

I don't allow him off-lead with other dogs for this very reason, but he's done a good job of reminding my older boy that he's actually a Lurcher too - so they have a blast together instead. It's interesting that, having been introduced to Lurcher play by Pip, our older lad still plays nicely with other dogs, so in his case it's definitely a case of nuture over nature - although he is much more of a mixed breed than Pip, with a good dollop of Collie in there as well, so not as sighthoundy to begin with.

Their instinctive desire to chase is triggered when they see a fast moving animal (note I said chase, not kill as some people would have you believe) and it really is very hard for them to resist. You can teach them not to go - although it's not easy.

The one thing I have done is work extremely hard on Pip's recall, so I can call him back mid-flight if he does decide he'd like to have a run with someone else. I use a whistle for consistency and also because whistles seem to get through to a chasing sighthound brain much more easily than vocal cues. He stayed on a long-line until I was sure he would come back, even when really tempted to run and was really good until a few months ago, when puberty hit, then we went back to basics and did it all over again! Hmm Grin

Generally speaking I wouldn't let him off in a typical dog-walking park where there are lots of other dogs off-lead. He would stay on a long-line in that situation and does socialise with other dogs, but only on the lead. We generally walk up to the fields at a quiet time of day for mine to have their loopy lurcher blasts and I agree with CMOT, that a Lurcher pal would really help your girl to burn off her need to run. I know my boy won't run unless he has someone to run with, so wouldn't get enough exercise without our older boy to play with.

Are you a member of Lurcher Link? If not I would advise joining. You can then post asking for advice from lots of very experienced Lurcher owners and also ask if there's anyone nearby that would like to walk with you occasionally.

Riro · 01/03/2015 11:36

Thank you. I should go to Lurcher Link and ask advice. It is through Lurcher Link that we got her in the first place.

She's a whippet sized lurcher although a bit longer in the body, so isn't too heavy when she does the shoulder barge thing, but it still must be alarming to some other dogs.

When you have your dog on a long line, what do you use? Do you use a harness? Does your dog run when on the long line or do you use it so they have more freedom to explore? We have friends with a larger lurcher but they don't seem to get on. I do use a whistle for recall. It's fantastic when she is mid-run to see her turn and run back to me, albeit with use of a larger wide turning circle.

OP posts:
moosemama · 01/03/2015 12:50

My older lad is from LL too. Smile

I have a perfect fit harness and use it all the time, not just when he's on a long-line. I've several different length long-lines (really cheap on Ebay) and he has more length depending where we're walking. He can play, snuffle about and run around a bit, but I wouldn't encourage proper free running, as the speeds they can get up to aren't a good idea when they're going to hit the end of the line in seconds, as either you or they can easily get injured. I've taught him, on the advice of a very experienced Lurcher Linker, the cue 'steady' to makes sure he's aware when he's reaching the end of his long-line and he's pretty good at staying within it's confines.

If you're long-lining for recall training and leave the line trailing it's a different matter, then I'd suggest tying knots at regular intervals and standing on the line before she gets out of range. The problem with using this method for sighthounds is that they can be out of range before you've even managed to move towards the line, so you have to be on your toes the whole time.

If she's recalling well to a whistle already, you probably just need to do some more reinforcement and work on her coming away from other dogs, so you can choose who she gets to run with more easily.

I'd definitely see if there are any other LL-ers in your area though, as it would be lovely for your girl to enjoy some proper Lurcher argy-bargy with like-minded friends.

Riro · 01/03/2015 13:58

Thank you. We do love her. This is her only negative.

OP posts:
moosemama · 01/03/2015 15:06

They're such sweet souls aren't they? The younger of my two has his fair share of issues, all arising from his rescue situation, but both my boys are such sweethearts, we wouldn't be without them for anything. Smile

GobblersKnob · 01/03/2015 15:15

Is it possible to find someone sight hound specific walks? I joined a local group on fb and now do several sight hound only walks a week.

The opportunity to do some serious running and play in the way they enjoy means they are far less inclined to both other dogs at other times.

Another possible solution might be to get another, once they have a playmate at all times they are often uninterested in playing with other dogs (though this didn't work for mine).

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