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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Behaviourist or trainer

17 replies

KatieMcKatie · 10/01/2021 13:26

I got a retired greyhound 4 weeks ago. I live with my husband and two kids (9 and11).

I don't know whether I need a trainer or a behaviourist to deal with snapping. I don't know when you use one or the other.

Everyone gives the dog his space, I have drummed it into the kids.

He has started coming up to me and the kids and snapping at us. We are not bothering him when he's resting or eating. He hasn't broken skin or punctured anyone but he grazed my son's hand this morning. I was keeping the dog company in the kitchen while he ate breakfast and my son came in to talk to me. We weren't interacting with the dog at all.

It's happening more and more and I want to deal with it.

I am on Dog training advice and support on Facebook.

Thank you for any advice.

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 10/01/2021 13:29

Did it come via a Rescue?
If so they should be your first port of call

FuckPolitenessSSDGM · 10/01/2021 13:33

I'd be wary of having that dog around my children, especially if you feel the behaviour is happening more frequently or escalating. It's not fair on the dog, who may ultimately get put down, or on your children who may suffer life changing injuries through no fault of their own. Contact the place you rescued him from ASAP, maybe he needs a quieter home without children.

RoganJosh · 10/01/2021 13:38

We have a retired greyhound. We got a behaviourist as she was scared of other dogs, doing some other stuff that we weren’t sure about. I think you need to speak to your rescue and get a behaviourist in pronto. Look for a reward based one as they follow modern thinking rather than outdated pack theory.

Also join the retired greyhound group on Facebook. Or a local one if there is, there’s a Scottish one, for example.

This morning could have been because he thought your son was going to take his food?

Also google the ladder of aggression so you can catch warning signs. And don’t tell him off for growling, take notice and listen or the next step is a bite.

Original poster

KatieMcKatie · 10/01/2021 13:41

Thanks we have been to the rescue. I managed to get a video. The contact there said it was playful, he wants to play. It may be but doesn't feel like it! We are a bit scared tbh. But maybe it is playful and we lack confidence so if that is something to work on I don't know if we need a behaviourist or a trainer. Sorry I should have made that clearer. It's been a stressful morning.

The charity do have a behaviourist we can consult and we are calling later. I just want to know all my options. Honestly I don't feel comfortable really but he doesn't do this for OH and the children don't want to give up. Feeling a but lost tbh. Thank you

OP posts:

RoganJosh · 10/01/2021 13:45

That sounds promising.

What’s his tail doing? We had similar and it was also playful. Her tail was very happy and doing circles. We have told her not to snap as she’s running around the garden and she stops.
I’d read that you’re meant to go ‘ow’ like it hurt, and turn your back on them.

RoganJosh · 10/01/2021 13:46

Can you share the video?

Original poster

KatieMcKatie · 10/01/2021 13:47

@RoganJosh he honestly didn't go near the dog. It's a kitchen diner, dog was in one corner with breakfast and son came in to ask me something. I don't really know what triggered it off. Thanks I am in the fb group for greyhound owners, I will ask.

OP posts:

RoganJosh · 10/01/2021 13:50

Share the video with them.

We were scared of ours for a while and it was awful.

I did also read that if a dog wants to bite you, you’ll know about it. So yours is choosing not to hurt you (much).

I don’t want to reassure too much, in case it’s not the same as ours, but it’s not hopeless.

RoganJosh · 10/01/2021 13:52

Oh and what happens if you then try and play with him? With ours it was “oh look she didwant to play”, as she went crazy for a toy that we threw around.

Hoppinggreen · 10/01/2021 13:52

I think if he’s approaching you to do it it’s more of a problem
Does he rush at you or approach slowly?
See what the behaviourist the Rescue suggests says but do check their experience qualifications too.
I think given that dc are involved you have to be really really careful, it will be no fun living with a dog you don’t have confidence in

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 10/01/2021 16:02

Trainers are for things like learning to sit, house training, walking nicely on the lead, not jumping up and so on.

Behaviourists are for things like aggression, fear, reactivity, resource guarding... and snapping.

I'd speak with the rescue's behaviourist. Ultimately, their job is to keep the dogs in their new home wherever possible (and happy there!) so they should be helping you.

Frenchdressing · 10/01/2021 18:54

Our rescue snaps. Worried me at first but he does it when he wants attention, wants food, wants to play. I tell him ‘no’ and/of ignore and move away. It’s not aggressive but we’re trying to discourage it obviously.

Veterinari · 10/01/2021 19:10

Behaviourist, APBC accredited. They dig down into why the behaviour occurs rather than focussing only on changing it

SquidInALid · 10/01/2021 20:05

Behaviourist I would think. Sounds horrible for you all

Original poster

KatieMcKatie · 10/01/2021 21:00

Thank you so much everyone.

OP posts:

Sitdowncupoftea · 11/01/2021 14:24

I would contact the rescue for background information initially. I would be wary of taking advice from Facebook groups as you may do more damage than good. I would be looking for a qualified behaviourist to help you 1 on 1. I'm not sure if 1 on 1 is permitted under lockdown?

Original poster

KatieMcKatie · 11/01/2021 16:39

Thanks. I spoke to the rescue centre and they put me in touch with a behaviourist they use. They had some things we could do in the house like use a long line (indoor lead type thing) and a muzzle (he has one for walks anyway). I went on the website recommended above (APBC) and spoke to a behaviourist listed there who one of my friends has used too, it turns out. He said really he would look to rehome because we would always be managing the behaviour rather than fixing it, and also to be wary of say the kids having friends over - what if a child (not one of ours) got bitten? The pain and damage aside we could be in legal trouble too. He thinks the dog would be better off in a home with no children. A lot to think about.

Thanks, I only said I was in the FB group as it is mentioned so often here (and I have learnt a lot from it), I thought I would save people the trouble of linking to it etc. I always wanted to get some personal advice, just there's so many people out there I didn't really know where to start. Thank you all

OP posts:

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