What breed is this puppy?

[TodayIs]

Apologies for a second thread (first was for advice) I didn't want the pics getting lost mid thread.

We've been told this lovely pup (half way through adoption) is 6-7 months and a Lurcher. I'm wondering if she's pure greyhound (she's almost identical to a retired racer I fostered in 2017) or if anyone can see another breed in her?

What do you think?

[TodayIs]

@Floralnomad

Agreed - she's still at the shelter and they said they'd put her in a harness but haven't so she keeps choking herself on the collar when she's on lead, pulling hard.

I've got a 3 Peaks comfy harness waiting for her.

[CMOTDibbler]

I really like the Total Recall book by Pippa Mattison for recall training. You need a whistle (gundog ones are best as you can match them), and really tasty treats which depend on your dog a bit so experiment. I use the analogy of if you wave some ryvita at me across a field I might wander over if I want to see you. Wave some chocolate at me, and I'll be straight over. If I know the possibility is that you also have a praline magnum for me, I'll be leaving anything else when you call. Same with dogs - you want them to know that there is not only something worth coming for, but this time could be the jackpot when they get something really good.

Where are you roughly? Often people will get together and split field hire between them, but you may not need a totally secure field if you can find somewhere enclosed and quiet. For instance our local nature reserve has a field which is enclosed but not high fences and its an open space so no distracting squirrels and rabbits.
I start my pups with a harness and trailing long line (after we have established come to me in the house/garden reliably) going from one person to another in a quiet area. To begin with they are shuttling 10m for chicken breast chunks so they succeed and get massive, exuberant praise, and we work from there. But recall around the house is done and reinforced several times a day.

She does need either a martingale collar or harness - the one she is wearing in your photo is only suitable as a tag collar. And I'm sure you know to never use an extending lead or long line to walk on

[TodayIs]

@CMOTDibbler thanks very much for those tips, I'll follow all of that up if we take her.

Absolutely RE collar/harness, she's still at the center and that's what they've used. And I don't use extendable leads. I have lots if experience with Grey's & sighthounds but only as adults.

First puppy!

I'm not worried about training for (not getting) separation anxiety, housetraining or general manners it's just recall I'm less confident with - with our adult Grey's they had zero recall if they saw something small and furry.

I had a severe shoulder injury from holding onto an adult grey (a foster) when she'd spotted a squirrel, and I've been pulled to the ground when (same grey) saw a rabbit --I don't want to repeat those experiences!

Being a Longdog her prey and Chase drive will be so strong, it may not be the right puppy for us.

[CMOTDibbler]

Of my pups, only two have not been furry trainable out of the 40 or so. One of my own dogs is a grey x saluki (ish) and has zero prey drive. So much so that he gets bullied by the chickens and cats.
If you work hard on 'leave it', discourage all interest in furries/birds with a good 'look at me' and an emergency 'down' command if possible it really isn't a bad outlook. I think all my pups go off lead and most don't come to me till 4-6 months

[TodayIs]

@CMOTDibbler

I can't thank you enough, that's really reassured me.

The puppy is massively treat and toy orientated so that's a good sign training wise isn't? She seems eager to please and wants to do the right thing so hopefully this time next year we'll have a happy pup that is able to be recalled.

I just hope I'm up to the job, I want to do all the training right by her. I've just bought the Total Recall book. Thanks again, so much!

[Floralnomad]

I hope you don’t think I was being judgey it just made me cringe a bit when I saw the photo .

[Floralnomad]

Will also add that we got a patterdale x pup from Battersea when he was about 5 months , he has an incredible prey drive and is a proper working type terrier but I’ve managed to get him off lead and very reliable with lots of work I just have to be selective about where I let him off ie not near ponds or in woods where he can disappear down holes . When we got him he had obviously never lived in a house and was docked so probably bred to work .

[TodayIs]

@Floralnomad not at all! I'd rather you say; I may not have known and the poor pup would suffer not being in a correct harness.

That's really encouraging to hear about your pup; sounds like you devoted a lot of time and energy into him and his training :)

Well I've contacted the center and we pick her up on Tuesday. Off to visit her now for some 1 to 1 training for lead pulling with their behaviourist.

[CMOTDibbler]

For tiny continuous treats on the lead, liver paste in a tube is great. I get mine from Treats2sit4 (the dogs are addicted to their atomic drops), and because you can squeeze a smidge out and let them lick it it really works. Primula can be used in the same way for variety.

And remember, its a long term, continuous, process. Some days they will be complete gits, and some days its all perfect. Don't get discouraged!

I guess you will be toilet training, in which case I can't recommend puppy bells enough. You hang them on the door, and everytime you open the door, jingle them. The dog soon gets the idea that they nudge them with their nose and you'll open the door. Saves missing them looking meaningfully at the door. I got mine on Amazon

[Smolo]

@Diddleysquat I've just been having great fun with that dog scanner app! My cavapoo came out as a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever, labradoodle, golden doodle cross so it completely missed out the cavalier but picked up on the poodle. On the other hand I am apparently 89% human and 11% bearded collie!

[Scattyhattie]

She's beautiful, there's definitely saluki in there with those ears. Saluki's are more long distance hunters to greyhounds sprint & a little more vocal.

I think recall ability, much like prey drive is often more down to the individual dog than breed necessarily & the person trainings input/skill level. On paper sighthounds are more tricky than handler dependent breeds but plenty do have a reasonable recall.

[TodayIs]

@CMOTDibbler thanks again, much appreciate your advice, I may well ask lots more!

We visited her again today and she really pulls like a train. She's good while distracted with treats but then lunges crazily when she sees a dog/person in the distance and won't be distracted. The behaviourist said just keep at the training.

In the meantime would those Halti type leads be any good in helping stopping the pulling? She's so strong, I'm only short & light.

@Diddleysquat the app is great! Every picture I've tried has put the puppy at 90+ percent of being a Galgo Español.

[CMOTDibbler]

Has the harness that you've ordered got a front attachment point? They are designed to be used with a double ended lead and then when they pull, the dog ends up turned around. I confess I don't like haltis.
I find for pulling dogs, not letting them get in front of you really helps. I'll walk with the dog on my left side, lead loop on right hand and the lead held against me with my left hand loosely. Then as soon as they go to pull I have control and I'm not off balance if you see what I mean.
It takes a lot of patience and repetition!

[Diddleysquat]

@Smolo its fun isn't it? I was surreptitiously trying to scan dogs in the vets waiting room this week