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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

Rescue greyhound growling at us when we come in the room

67 replies

smokeorfire · 01/06/2021 21:58

We have taken on a rescue greyhound, aged 3, and he's been with us for 10 days now. Without any particular problems.

But then this evening he growled at me when I went in the lounge where his bed is, twice, then did the same to my partner - actually standing up and blocking his way into the room.

I'm shaking and frightened. We've just taken him for a walk round the block and left his muzzle on.

Until now he's been happy, although today he did seem a bit out of sorts. I don't know if we've stressed him out somehow and didn't read the signs or if we've done something wrong / stupid that's made him think the lounge belongs to him.

Advice would be very very welcome. I'm genuinely frightened right now of a dog who's been gentle, accepting, contented up till now. Thank you.

OP posts:

cupsofcoffee · 02/06/2021 06:53

He's still settling in. Many rescue dogs behave perfectly at first as they're still somewhat "shut down".

The behaviour sounds like resource guarding (he's guarding his bed/space) and it's behaviour that must be tackled by a qualified professional.

Lots of people will come and give you advice about using treats or whatever but honestly it needs to be seen in person by a behaviourist who knows what they're doing.

Good luck.

Original poster

smokeorfire · 02/06/2021 07:39

@cupsofcoffee thank you so much for responding. He came from dogs trust so I'm going to ring them today for help from their behaviourist. I do think he got overwhelmed yesterday but definitely we need to take some action. He'd been with a foster dad for two months before us, but your suggestion that he's quite "shut down" rings true. I don't like this feeling of suddenly being scared of him at all.

OP posts:

cupsofcoffee · 02/06/2021 07:42

That sounds like a great plan

It is hard but it's an issue that can be sorted - but you really do need professional help from someone who can see the behaviour in person.

Letsnotargue · 02/06/2021 07:53

We had similar from our recently adopted greyhound. I think they start to settle in and then try to work out what the rules are by pushing the boundaries. It isn’t nice to see that other, growling side of them, but once he settles that will become a distant memory.

I echo the behaviourist suggestion - it’s a common issue but needs to be handled properly. Remember that growling is actually a good thing as he is telling you he’s unhappy. Dogs that have been punished for growling can end up going straight for a snap or bite as they have no other way to communicate that they’re feeling uncomfortable.

tabulahrasa · 02/06/2021 09:05

I was going to say contact the rescue about a behaviourist.

In the meantime though - you don’t need to be scared of him, growling is just communication... he’s told you he wasn’t happy about something, that doesn’t mean he’s going to suddenly attack you.

While you’re waiting for the behaviourist, if he growls, back off, respect whatever he’s saying no to and manage him in a positive way (it’ll not sort whatever issue it is, but it won’t make it worse) so if he’s in the living room and you’re going in, call him out, reward him then go in without him.

Original poster

smokeorfire · 02/06/2021 10:12

Thank you everyone. I feel very reassured by your shared experiences - and less frightened! We are behaving normally around him today and will practise positive management too.

As you say @letsnotargue it sounds likely that now he's feeling more settled he's testing our boundaries - which we need to be clear on. In the meantime, we also need to learn his boundaries and recognise the ways in which he's communicating these with us so we can allow him his space too.

Thank you again, I'm glad not to feel quite so overwhelmed, but also aware of how coherent and consistent we need to be to establish a happy home for us all.

OP posts:

Happenchance · 02/06/2021 11:21

@smokeorfire

Thank you everyone. I feel very reassured by your shared experiences - and less frightened! We are behaving normally around him today and will practise positive management too.

As you say @letsnotargue it sounds likely that now he's feeling more settled he's testing our boundaries - which we need to be clear on. In the meantime, we also need to learn his boundaries and recognise the ways in which he's communicating these with us so we can allow him his space too.

Thank you again, I'm glad not to feel quite so overwhelmed, but also aware of how coherent and consistent we need to be to establish a happy home for us all.

Well done for speaking to the rescue. If he's resource guarding he isn't testing boundaries. He's insecure and worried that you're going to take a valuable resource from him.

It might be an idea to get him vet checked to rule out a medical cause. If he's in pain he may be more likely to guard his comfy spot.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 02/06/2021 11:33

In my experience the Dog’s Trust behaviourists are very good, so hopefully they’ll going to be able to give you the right help. Is your boy an ex racer? And was he maybe asleep/snoozing before you entered the room? Greyhounds ‘suffer’ quite a bit from ‘sleep startle’ - much more so than any other breed I’ve had. This is often even more pronounced in ex racers, where they will have been kennelled separately and used to being woken (from what is usually their very deep sleep - sometimes with their eyes open!) by distant noises and sounds from other kennels or people moving around. They’re not used to people (or other dogs) being right there in the room and startling them awake. Even now mine still sometimes does this but she tends to spring in to air with a woof not a growl, but they’re all different. We started her off with her bed in the utility, away from the bustle of the rest of the house, so she’s be awake before we went in to her. Even now we make sure we’ve made enough noise to wake her before we get right up to her.

Letsnotargue · 02/06/2021 11:37

Sorry, I didn't explain very well. I meant more that they try to figure out how things work in your house: mine became territorial over the sofa as he decided it was his. We had to tread carefully and show him that it was to be shared. He's quite happy with that now, partly because we showed him that sharing was fun and involved biscuits, and partly that he is more settled and secure and knows how we operate.

Original poster

smokeorfire · 02/06/2021 18:52

Thank you for sharing your experiences. He's an ex racer yes. We've had a much quieter day, I spoke at length to the behaviourist who was great, so patient and gave me lots of brilliant advice. I was feeling much more positive. We moved his bed to a quieter place in the lounge, and he seemed happy to settle there, and have been for an easy walk with him.

But then about an hour ago I got up from my chair in the study and, admittedly, perhaps startled him slightly. He growled at me, I kinda said, look it's just me, he growled again and stood in the doorway. I had to ask my partner to come and move him so I could leave the room.

I know I shouldn't be frightened but I am. The past ten days, I've slept in the room with him, fed him from my hand, spent a lot of time together with him and my children without once feeling nervous. Now it feels different, and I don't quite know how to be "natural" around him.

OP posts:

Original poster

smokeorfire · 02/06/2021 19:50

And now he has just "bitten" my partner ... put his mouth around his arm with no warning at all.

I am crying. We need to say goodbye to him.

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 02/06/2021 19:54

That’s such a shame but if you have dc I don’t think you can take a risk that he could escalate.
You may just not be the right family for him and I’m sure Dogs Trust will take him back and find somewhere perfect for him. Please don’t beat yourself up about it

Original poster

smokeorfire · 02/06/2021 20:22

@Hoppinggreen no, I don't think we are right for him, although this time last week / or even yesterday it felt like we were. My little daughter, 12, is so besotted with him, was so happy when he came home with us and has been brilliant with him. I don't know how to make this okay for her, it wasn't at all how I anticipated anything turning out.

OP posts:

cupsofcoffee · 02/06/2021 20:32

Was it a bite or was it mouthing? A bite would leave a bruise and/or draw blood.

It sounds like the latter to me and not really a reason to re-home, but you sound very out of your depth so maybe it's for the best.

snowcobra · 02/06/2021 20:35

Please don't make any rash decisions. Are you certain the situation can't improve?

Hyacinth88 · 02/06/2021 20:42

We have had a rescue greyhound and they mouthba lot
Before I read your update I was going to say I would use a spray water and a firm No when any bad behaviour he is trying to assert Dominance

Happenchance · 02/06/2021 20:47

@Hyacinth88

We have had a rescue greyhound and they mouthba lot Before I read your update I was going to say I would use a spray water and a firm No when any bad behaviour he is trying to assert Dominance

This is dangerous advice. Dominance theory has been debunked.

PurpleRainDancer · 02/06/2021 20:51

@cupsofcoffee

Was it a bite or was it mouthing? A bite would leave a bruise and/or draw blood.

It sounds like the latter to me and not really a reason to re-home, but you sound very out of your depth so maybe it's for the best.

Don't be so condescending @cupsofcoffee

PurpleRainDancer · 02/06/2021 20:53

Do whatever you feel is right OP - if that's returning him to the Dogs Trust for rehoming, do it. You shouldn't be frightened in your own home.

CovidCorvid · 02/06/2021 20:59

A bite doesn’t have to leave a mark or draw blood. There’s an actual chart of dog bite severity and a bite at the bottom of the scale can not leave a mark....it shows the dog has bite inhibition. Which is good but obviously there’s potential to escalate and with kids I can understand about you not wanting to take the risk.

If he’s been ok in a previous foster home maybe your home feels too busy/noisy for him and he isn’t currently coping. Maybe he’d be happier being adult only. Try telling your Dd it’s about doing what’s best for him.

Woofandwine · 02/06/2021 20:59

Sorry but I’m 100% with ignoring hyacinth- dominance has been hugely debunked and is dangerous. And there is a massive difference between an actual bite and a mouthing. Dogs don’t have hands so a mouthing is like a frustrated toddler grabbing up your arm with ‘pay attention/help I’m over threshold now now, now, now’.
That said, @smokeorfire only you know what you can work with. And there’s no shame either way.

cupsofcoffee · 02/06/2021 21:05

Don't be so condescending @cupsofcoffee**

I wasn't being condescending at least, I certainly didn't mean to come across that way.

But it's true that there is a big difference between mouthing and biting, but if you're not experienced with dogs, it's hard to tell the difference. Some people assume any skin on teeth contact is a bite and that's not the case at all.

Not all dogs have been taught not to mouthe - that especially goes for puppies that were removed from mum/littermates too early or that had very little socialisation. Greyhounds aren't raised in homes and won't have been taught how to behave in a house.

When I said OP should re-home if she feels out of her depth, I wasn't trying to be rude. It's best for everyone if the dog is in a home where the humans feel comfortable and confident around them.

JesusInACabbageVan · 02/06/2021 21:06

Hello OP, I really feel for you, it's exhausting taking on a new rescue dog. We had this with our rescue Podenco (similar to greyhounds but smaller) and I remember being so anxious and overwhelmed by it all. The most important thing is keeping your family safe so if you can't separate your children and the dog then maybe going back is the best option. But 10 days isn't very long for a dog to feel secure, so if you can give him a space to just be left alone until he's ready to bond with you then it might be worth persisting.

Ours growled and barked at everyone, resource guarded the sofa and air snapped at my children and was generally hard work but two years down the line she's the most chilled and happy dog you can imagine. Although she still tells the children off when they're being noisy and her preferred play is all about mouthing - she never bites though.

If you can give him time and space then do, but only you know what's possible for you and your family.

Good luck

TheDiddlyGang · 02/06/2021 21:06

And now he has just "bitten" my partner ... put his mouth around his arm with no warning at all
Yes, I resisted the urge to comment earlier because I was going to say he sounds like he is resource guarding and that I would be scared too and to give him back because resource guarding can escalate into more serious aggression and that in my (limited, unprofessional) experience it is rarely ‘cured’ and becomes a management issue and that being a big dog he could do damage.

I refrained from doing so because comments like that never, ever go well.

But in short, I’m not surprised it has escalated unfortunately and I wish MN would stop recommending ex racers as easy, perfect, problem free pets frankly.

cupsofcoffee · 02/06/2021 21:11

I wish MN would stop recommending ex racers as easy, perfect, problem free pets frankly.

Me too. There are, sadly, so many threads like this about ex-racers. The problems range from constant accidents, biting, guarding and severe reactivity to other breeds.

I think greyhounds are lovely dogs but ex-racers need a specialist home imo.

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