Greyhound roughhousing with parents dog

[Tatie3]

I know it's only early days but we've had our gorgeous retired greyhound for three weeks now and today took him on a walk with my parents' jack Russell for the first time. They were as good as gold together, both wagging tails and sniffing and walked well together out for a walk. When we came to our enclosed garden and let them off our hound kind of mouthed my parents JR quite vigorously, I say mouthed as it didn't appear to be malicious but I found it quite worrying. The idea is that we will pet sit each for each other when we go on holiday so I would like them to get along peacefully. Does anyone have any advice on helping them to make friends calmly? I know this is only natural behaviour for my boy and I do believe he was trying to play and got carried away.

What is mouthed ?

I should add that he tries this with me and will attempt to grab my sleeves and coat when he's having zoomy laps around the garden.

I used to have 2 retired greyhounds and would never trust either with a small dog like a JRT incase they thought it was a rabbit - some never lose the instinct to treat small animals like prey. It's one thing with your sleeves but I think it is too risky and that perhaps they should not be alone or that yours should be muzzled. It could end badly.

Agree. Muzzle the GH around other dogs just to be safe.

Best of luck.

Thank you that's what I was afraid of

They cannot help it OP they are trained to be like this and cannot just forget it when they retire but they are lovely lovely pets as you know. I now have a terrier and would never have him off the lead as he is interested in squirrels & rabbits. Yours will be used to a muzzle from his racing days and it will only be for a short while each day.
I did want another greyhound but help at a local dog rescue and took this one as he had been there for 9 months.

I have two rescued greyhounds.
Have a look on youtube for greyhounds playing "biteyfaces" it's a very common game over excited greyhounds play and not malicious. It's an attempt to play and draw the other dog/person in further.
That said, a muzzle when playing is a brilliant idea not because of aggression but because of sharp teeth and how easily accidents can happen.

My current two greys are now very good with other dogs.
I’d have muzzled my previous two to play offlead with a dog they didn’t know well though.
One of them was just overenthusiastic and meant no harm but he was huge!

The other had really high prey drive and offlead play could trip her hunting switch in a heartbeat.

Muzzle your boy until you’re sure. If nothing else, you’ll be calmer so he’ll be more chilled out.
For what it’s worth, a small dog would not have been ‘mouthed’ by my high prey drive lady and escaped unharmed.

It sounds like yours is just under socialised but do muzzle until he’s learned better dog manners. It’s not worth the risk.

Agree with love, it's a plaything that greyhounds do, ours does this but also growls at the same time so it's extra intimidating. If it was aggressive the jack Russell would have been firmly clamped between it jaws.

I'm not sure I would feel confident about a grey around a small dog, maybe keep muzzled for now. Years ago a neighbours small white fluffy dog got into our garden, before I knew it the dog was in our dogs mouth, he let go when the little dog barked but it could have been a very different story 🙈

Thank you all, you have given me some hope. I do think he just got carried away and the little JR didn't yelp or seem worried but their size difference made it oil potentially quit e frightening. He's definitely undersocialised and has just started wagging his tail at other dogs rather than hiding between my knees. He's a sweet boy but for nearly 4 years he's been trained to chase little animals. We are hoping to start some classes at the back end of January so hopefully that will give him the chance to explore in safer conditions.

He sounds lovely and I’m sure he’ll be fine after a bit of practice with other dogs.

It’s a very good sign that your DPs dog wasn’t worried or upset. Sounds like yours was just trying to play.