New Greyhound plus scared old dog- settling in tips?

[elevenswan]

My parents got a new rescue greyhound yesterday morning. We had one previously who died about 3 years ago and they decided they were finally ready for a new one.

I live close by with my dog (18 month old cavalier) who is very friendly but a little bit nervous of other dogs sometimes as they have a tendency to go for him and he’s nearly been bitten a fair few times. We introduced him to the new female greyhound at the rescue centre and it went fine, took them out for a walk and all was good.

Popped in yesterday and today to hopefully get them used to each other and while it has sort of been fine, especially on the walk we took them for yesterday so they met on neutral ground, there’s been a couple of moments where I panicked a bit. She is BIG, 4 years old, very very bouncy and sparky for a greyhound. We have kept the muzzle on her around him for the time being just to be sure.

When they’re in the kitchen she seems to sniff him and is a bit pushy/interested but there’s been no growling or anything. In the garden however if he has started to run a little she’s gone straight up to him and chased him, that’s happened twice. Today she sped after him chasing him inside and he hid under the kitchen table, she was low on her front paws right in his face then she barked at him. She had the muzzle on so he was safe but he was really petrified, had his tail between his legs and was too scared to look at her again.

Do you reckon that was play, or was it ‘I need to chase this small running thing and kill it’?! Any tips for easing them in so they get used to each other? We’re trying to do it in small doses at the moment but I see them a few times a week and will need to look after her when they are away and vice versa. She’s straight out of racing kennels so she’s got a lot to contend with at the mo living in a house for the first time etc so don’t want to overwhelm her. Just nervous because she’s so huge and could completely destroy him, and I don’t want to scar him mentally either. He’s a wuss and that’s kind of his home too, I don’t want him to be scared there.

Has anyone had any success with a new grey and an existing small dog? How did you do it?

Thanks!

She just wants to play - sighthounds love to run with other dogs, and will initiate it by playbowing and barking, or by shoulder barging.

The greyhound behaviour you describe is not aggression.or anything negative, it's how they play.

It can be tricky, the combination of a grey and a small dog, if the small dog and owner are nervous.

Greys sometimes like to play by chasing another dog and "nipping" (not biting) their bottom. This can seem alarming (just warning you), and if my grey does this with a dog and the dog (or owner) don't like it I quickly put her on a lead.

But like I say, she is only playing. She will soon learn your dog does not like it, and lose interest.

Give it time

Even the bark is a "come and play"

It sounds like your dog needs more socialisation in a supervised environment where you can also be assured about behaviours.

It sounds like they will eventually settle to each other.

I met a lovely grehound who was really big - right at my elbow with her back so head higher and she was delightful if playful

That’s useful thanks. We have had a greyhound before for many years but she was very very chilled, calm, and steady. I had another rescue dog at the time who was small and she never showed much interest to be honest, she preferred her sofa. This one is a whole different kettle of fish! I think she’s just very boisterous at the moment and slightly lacking in manners maybe. She did growl at another spaniel on a walk this morning but the owner of the other dog says that happens a lot as the spaniel has unusual facial markings.

The cavalier is starting another round of training classes this week to get more confident hopefully, he just doesn’t stand up for himself at all.

It sounds exactly like my in laws springer who is lovely and sweet but utterly bonkers. He is so daft if a dog nips him because they don’t want to play he’ll squeal but try to go back for more.

My shih tzu has a love/hate relationship with him. He has much more energy than her and doesn’t like to give in so he winds her up. He also uses his giant paws to bat her on the head which she HATES. The way we have dealt with it is making sure the spaniel is exercised separately and every time he goes to play and wind her up he’s pulled away. They are starting to develop a nice relationship now and will lay next to each other.

This was them a couple of days ago

Ahhhh so cute! I hope one day my two will be like that. My spaniel is usually completely bananas and high energy too, so he should be a good match for the greyhound! If he can just get over his dog shyness

Yes, even the barking is "come and play"

It is so funny when greys sort of bow down to a smaller dog, bottom in the air, to encourage them and come play

If she was 'hunting' him she'd be deadly silent, you honestly can't mistake it. Growling, barking, bouncing and zooming about and charging up to him is definitely trying to get him to play.

Our grey has been off the track nearly a year now and has been with us 5 months. We don't have a dog here but she is so much less interested in small dogs then she was when we first had her. She "spoke" beautifully to a tiny, terrified Chihuahua yesterday, whereas the first time we went out with her when we get her home she tried to eat one.

It's very early days and I'm guessing from what everyone else says, she's trying to play - but if it were me, I'd keep the muzzle on for a bit.