I keep running into this issue, and it honestly does seem specific with sighthounds.

[OnlyHerefortheBiscuits]

I keep running into this issue, and it honestly does seem breed specific with sighthounds.

Recently, a greyhound (a real beauty of one I must add) chased my miniature poodle in an off-lead area. My dog ran back to me in a panic, and I instinctively stepped in the greyhound's path. The greyhound slowed down to go around me, so I took my chance - I grabbed its collar and held it still. The greyhound didn't resist me or strain to reach my dog behind me and just stood there looking at me while i held her collar with those soulful eyes - they do have a gentle nature and I do honestly really like the breed.

I assumed the owner would come and collect their dog. Instead, the he kept walking in the other direction, and called out "Oh, he's friendly, he won't hurt her" as if there was no need for me to have grabbed the greyhound's collar. I wondered if I should leash his dog and walk it back to him with a few words. Or just not let it go until he physically came over to "collect". Would that have been too over the top do you think? I was confident the greyhound have given up the chase with the interruption but I sort of wanted to make a point. Wondering that to do next time?

This isn't the first time I've seen this and greyhounds are weirdly popular amongst my colleagues, and although these colleagues are all normal, respectful, open-minded, considerate and sensible people I otherwise really respect ....they all talk about their sighthounds chasing small dogs like it's just a harmless sighthound thing. (And to be fair - it is meant harmlessly, it's just a game to a gentle greyhound, there is no aggression in it.)

It seems like it's just a sighthound thing that owners take as part of owning that kind of dog, (I'd love an Italian Greyhound... but this prey drive business meant that I didn't get one) but do you worry that it might chase "the wrong dog" who doesn't take kindly to it one day? Greyhounds' skin is paper thin 😥, what happens if it chooses a terrier with a strong fight response or something?

I know they're fast and can out run any dog, but if they're close enough to chase they're close enough to get bitten? Their speed doesn't keep them safe...

Sighthounds ime play differently to most dogs, chasing is their thing, alongside shoulder charges, bitey faces and occasionally noisy growling. They can play very boisterously! They are genuinely harmless in the main, but if another dog is intimidated it should be recalled immediately
It's why my sighthound is kept on lead around other dogs, although other sighthounds are usually fine with him.

I don’t ever see greyhounds off lead running free and I’d shit myself if one took chase after my dog. It’s doing what they’re meant to do and might forget my dog isn’t a hare.

Having seen a greyhound killing a rabbit in seconds right in front of my eyes, I wouldn't trust them with any small dogs.
I don't think they would confuse a small dog for a rabbit but it might still grab or frighten the small dog.
So I would say, stay alert.

Sighthounds need other sighthound friends! I only let mine off (with excellent recall) when there are no other dogs around, they're too intense looking otherwise. Nothing more irritating than a "he's harmless! / just playing / won't hurt" owner.

A game of chase is only a game if all participants are playing.
Otherwise it's bullying.

In my experience young energetic dogs of all breeds love a game of chase. Some prefer to be the chaser, and others (like my terrier) love being the chased.

I guess the worry with big sighthounds is that they might get sidetracked by their predator instincts if chasing a very small dog. I don't really know how much of a worry this is: my terrier has a huge prey drive which never ever spills over into his behaviour with other dogs

The real issue is just that the owner should always be in control, and be extremely mindful of the reactions/preferences of the other dog and the other owner

I have a greyhound who couldn’t be less interested in chasing anything, but I would never give him the opportunity to change his mind!

Its really irresponsible for any dog owner to have their dog off lead and to wander off and not pay attention. I cannot stand the “don’t worry he’s harmless” brigade. It’s lazy, irresponsible and careless.

I have been known to clip a lead onto someone else’s dog to stop annoying behaviour and lead it back to them. Usually the owners either don’t care or are annoyed, but I’ll keep doing it when I feel the need to protect my own (he only goes out on lead and hates off lead dogs running up to him and bouncing in his face).

I have been known to clip a lead onto someone else’s dog to stop annoying behaviour and lead it back to them

@CeraUnaVolta that's exactly what I'm wondering if I should do / should have done. I just worry it's over the top with a dog who is clearly now chilled and no longer wanting to chase the thing

It’s not a greyhound issue really though - if the same owner had a lab they’d be saying it’s ok he’s friendly as it rushed over shoved its nose under your dogs back end.

It’s the same old human doesn’t control their dog appropriately because it’s not so far caused an issue for them, and if/when it does they’ll blame the other dog.

My mini-poo is about the size of an adult hare... which now worries me given what PPs have said...

she even has a little enticing bobble Pom-pom on her tail 😭 (though to be fair that would be right down between her legs at that point)

All the sighthounds in my area seem to be kept on lead. They’re beautiful dogs. I don’t worry about my dog because he’s a Labrador so they probably wouldn’t be interested.

My DH walks our two greys on the lead at all times. They go to an enclosed field to have a crazy zoom ( for around 5 minutes, they spend 25 minutes lying down afterwards ) 😂
They are the sweetest, gentlest dogs but I would never forgive myself if they were to hurt another dog 😔 I think they would actually be more at risk themselves as they really don't have much to protect them from a dog bite ( thin coat/skin, no layer of fat, no fighting instinct that I've ever seen ).

Now I'm going to worry about their walks! 😩

He sounds like an irresponsible owner. I wouldn't trust my greyhounds off lead around small dogs, or cats. The sighthound owners I know are the same and also muzzle their greyhounds as a precaution. I have young Saluki who is a typical sighthound and still very over the top with mouthing when she plays, the thrill of the chase makes her bitey. My GSD is the most placid dog ever and tolerates it well, but most dogs would probably get pissed off and I'd worry about a fight breaking out if she started chasing a random dog.

Sounds like a combination of two things - a sighthound playing in a way that’s natural to them, plus an owner who doesn’t seem to care that not all dogs want to be nipped and chased.

Sighthounds do play roughly but often fail to understand that other breeds don’t! There’s an entire whippet near us that’s forever getting itself told off because it charges other dogs and wants to nip and chase - the owners are totally oblivious and don’t seem to see the issue 🙄

We were walking our elderly dog last summer down one of the fields local to us when suddenly there was a galloping noise behind us. In the split second I went to turn around, the dog bashed into my leg very hard and ran past. If our dog had been between us like she usually would she would have been injured if not worse. The owner was nowhere to been seen, and about 10 minutes later we saw her across the field, whilst her dog was charging at someone else. It was not an aggressive dog, but it's size and speed were scary.
We saw the same owner a dog a couple of weeks later coming into the same field from a different direction and we did a very quick about turn. Her dog was looking towards us as if thinking it was going to come and say hello and the owner was as useless as before.

Even a gentle hound would try flip/turn the smaller dog and could cause injuries. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have dogs off lead in parks even dog parks.

My small dog was very badly injured and never the same again after being pounced on by a sight hound. Who had never, ever done anything like that before, and was very friendly, according to owner and her friends. I thought I was going to witness my dog being shredded to death. I don’t believe big dog was being ‘aggressive’, she was being a predator. It’s a big part of why I’ll never have another dog, and now have zero tolerance for just being friendly, won’t do any harm, saying hello dogs.

My greyhound is never off lead unless in a secure area ( tbf he is new I’ve only had him a few months but my previous one wasn’t off lead either). He is only off with another sighthound and is muzzled. They get a bit crazy and over excited and have been known to nip. Personally I’ve never seen a Sighthound off lead with non sighthounds.

I wouldn’t trust a sight hound around a small animal - ever.