TRAINING YOUR GREYHOUND

Training any dog requires consistentcy, committment and patience. We promise that your perseverance will pay off and help in building a loving relationship with greyhound.

In this section..

Basic Training | Toilet Training | Exercise
Obedience Training | Letting Off the Lead | Recall Training | Distraction Training | Letting Go | Introducing Pets

BASIC TRAINING

Decide Your Ground Rules -

• Training starts before you have even chosen your greyhound.
• Decide how you are going to train your dog. What command words will be used?
• Are all the family going to follow the ground rules and command words?
• Will your dog be allowed everywhere in the house - on settee/up stairs etc ?
• Have you set aside few days holiday to concentrate on toilet training?
• Are you going to attend dog training/socialisation classes?

Going Home -

• Ensure all your home and garden are ready.
• Have water bowl and bed in position
• Do not have whole street in to meet your new dog!

Arrival, Keeping the Dog on Lead -

When you arrive home hold the lead firmly before opening the car door. Walk your greyhound around the garden to show boundaries and to allow him/her to relieve themselves. Praise and Treat. See Toilet Training.

Show your dog around the house.Walk dog towards Patio/Glass Doors and tap glass. Allow dog to put nose against glass. Then allow your dog to explore the areas they will be able to use. Show bed and water. Have people in house sitting down and allow dog to approach them –stroke, speak
quietly.

Let Dog Off Lead to Make Own Exploration -

NB Shiny floors and loose rugs can be a hazard - but dogs will learn to navigate. Keep nails clipped.
* Stair gates are useful to reinforce training if stairs or some rooms are out of bounds. *

First Night -

Most greyhounds will be used to sleeping in pairs and may feel a little lonely and distressed when left alone. How you react will create a happy future for everyone.

• take the dog out relieve itself last thing. Show bed and give chew/treat, stroke, say good night, then leave.
• If the dog whines or cries try to ignore – keep going back will teach that this behaviour gets your attention – this is why so many dogs end up in the bedroom.
• A radio left on low and night light may help the dog to settle. Sometimes a soft toy or garment may also help.

On this first day start using your command words:

GOOD BOY/GIRL (Name)

NO (In conjunction with pull on house collar if touching table top for example)

COME (Name)

ON YOUR BED /LIE DOWN (essential to ensure dog is not around food preparation, meal times etc.)

TOILET (Choose your own key word)

HAND SIGNALS:

• A POINTED FINGER held up can be used to to reinforce 'NO'
• A POINTED FINGER moved to indicate 'ON YOUR BED'
• A CLEAR HAND GESTURE can Reinforce 'COME'

*ALL DOGS THRIVE ON SET ROUTINES/REPETITIVE WORDS/PHRASES.*
*NEVER SHOUT AT, OR HIT, YOUR DOG. THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE AND WILL RESPOND TO THE TONE OF YOUR VOICE. YOU CAN SOUND DISPLEASED WITHOUT SHOUTING OR SCREECHING*