Like with a child, a suddenly-neglected dog may become jealous, and may misbehave to get your attention. The most aggressive breed in the study was a dachshund. After all, that may be the last dog of their childhood. Do Greyhounds Make Good Family Pets? We position ourselves as a bridge between racing life and pet life, providing greyhounds with the tools they need to cope with their new surroundings. Greyhounds as pets can have a strong prey drive. If your child is still doing this, consider applying some consequences. Depending on the dog’s reaction you may decide that the household wouldn’t be a good fit. Raised with their littermates where they had to compete for affection, they thrive on being the center of attention in a home. Some people say greyhounds and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly. Some Greyhounds may therefore not be open to cuddling and may be more reserved in nature. So it’s no surprise that we assume these types of dogs are high … If the dog turns and tries to get away, it's not 'kid safe'. Greyhounds have a lot of energy and will easily join in with the children’s’ play, which could inadvertently end up with one of them getting hurt. I would like to share my findings and research here today. So, what should kids know to not frighten, intimidate or scare a Greyhound: Overall, Greyhounds are very patient, docile and caring. Like some other intelligent breeds, Greyhounds don’t always like to be trained, or told what to do. When you walk your greyhound, be sure to have him “heel.” That is, he should walk to your left, partially behind you; but not so far behind you, that you would need to turn your head to see him. For most children, a greyhound is a great fit. Complete info on correct, safe dog-walking technique is easily found on the internet. The child, however, has learned to be relentless at this stage, so let him know this is a good time to start training for when he is big enough to walk such a big dog. This pattern is followed by most, even though about a third of us... 23 years ago, my family adopted its first greyhound. She was more like 3-4 years old at the time, not a baby; and would still lose her balance when he walked off. Don’t put away that playpen yet! Ask the owners how they get along with children. Training should be given to your dog and children about proper behaviour. ], Can Chickens Eat Peas? Even with this extensive screening process most greyhounds pass and end up being good with kids. Some retired dogs will get along well with cats; while others are too 'keen' to … With these questions in mind I decided to study up on the breed. While Greyhounds are not vicious dogs, they are rather large dogs, reaching a top weight of around 65 pounds, and can easily knock down a small child. d. greyhounds are not good watch dogs. Because they have been bred to hunt, they have a strong instinct to chase. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of households where everyone just roams free-range and everything’s copasetic, but don’t run the risk. Another reason to make sure your greyhound has a toddler-free space is so he is not being irritated by the child. When looking for a Greyhound, if getting a puppy, it would be nice if you could meet the parents and find out how their temperament is. Greyhounds are good with kids so long as they are well trained and socialized. Of course, any dog can theoretically be danger to a child, so its an important topic and these are important questions nonetheless. They greyhounds we get from the track have been 'kid tested'. They are a sensitive breed and will shy away if they are mistreated or around a lot of chaos, even if it is not intentional towards them. (Speaking of getting poked in the eye, some parents refuse to correct a baby who is getting rough. With the proper behaviour, your Greyhound will love your children and will want to play and cuddle with them. They are generally affectionate and gentle in temperament. You can remind him that his dong will still be here. Before a walk, your three-year-old can bring you the leash. But how would you go about integrating them into your home with young kids? Teaching children how to behave with dogs will go a long way in helping the relationship between your Greyhound and children. However, they are not very tolerant with smaller children or ones who act out around them. A 4/5-year-old is simply too small to be truly “in charge” in that situation, and the greyhound knows it. The opinions are all over the map, but all you want is a straight answer! [Is This Crossbreed Hypoallergenic? Then, hop in, buckle your seatbelt, and off you go, free as a breeze. I would discourage you from teaching your child to feed the dog treats quite yet. Studies have shown that petting a dog calms a person, and even can reduce blood pressure. All this will help develop a bond of trust and love between your child and your dog. It’s still not going to be really safe for your child to take the greyhound for a walk by himself until he is physically bigger, and old enough to have more situational awareness. This is one of these things that we can’t believe we actually have to tell a child, but we do. Some, however, may be disappointed in a dog who doesn’t want to spend endless hours chasing a tennis ball. Dogs need to be taught acceptable and unacceptable behaviour but it’s the owner that needs to teach, and enforce, what is and isn’t correct. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Give your child some “walking lessons” in a small part of your yard, where the limited space will help discourage the dog from bolting. Three-year-olds can become insecure, getting upset sometimes when you need to go out, and the child has to stay home. If you feel this type of “play” is important, please do not get any pets until your children is out of this phase.). Greyhounds are gentle, laid back characters which make them great companions for children. and some will not. You also do not want him cracking open the door to peer outside, because your greyhound could skinny past him and get loose in an instant. Any dog you get at this stage of the game will be “your dog,” but I’m sure your teen will be happy with your choice. Greyhounds are friendly, intelligent dogs, who are typically very docile and gentle. Greyhound Homecare is where we bring you all we've learned, for "la dolce vita" with your skinny, quirky, amazing dog. Since they are a sensitive breed, positive reinforcement will go further in your training sessions than negative energy and frustration will. So be sure to keep on reading until the end. I know loads of them and can only think of one who's grumpy but then he is old and has a painful condition so can be excused. The breed makes a great family companion as they get along with everyone in the household, including children and other dogs. Let us know take a closer look at the Greyhound breed and how they act and respond in the presence of children. Though the breed is kid friendly, they do better with older children than with younger ones. Greyhounds have a sensitive nature, and gentle commands work best as training methods. NEVER leave a young child alone with the dog. They do need a daily walk and an occassional sprint in a fenced area. Be sure to keep the baby at a distance from the dog whenever you are out of arm’s reach. 19. Greyhounds are very docile, especially indoors where they are full of low energy, and even do well in apartments. Kids are playful and can be overly loud and rough, without even realizing it, so they need to be taught that they can’t act this way around the Greyhound. One look at the baby, and she fled the room. Don’t approach a dog you don’t know, especially if there are no adults around. The opinions are all over the map, but all you want is a straight... Continue Reading. They watch the hounds to see how they'll act around the kids. The key ideas at this age are introduction, observation from a safe distance, and constant supervision. If you’re bring home a new greyhound and have a 12-to-18-month-old in the house, even greater separation is definitely in order! Should you consider a Greyhound if you have young children? During this stage, remember to never leave your baby unsupervised with your greyhound or any other dog, for the safety of both. You may very well find your Greyhound and child curled up together on a regular basis. Because, in the past too many dogs have been returned. Still, keep tabs on what’s going on whenever your child and dog are together. “Let sleeping dogs lie” is a saying that exists for a good reason. This rule doesn’t just apply to children and Greyhounds, but to dogs of all breeds. Greyhounds can be a good fit for households with children; however, if you have very young or overly active children, it might not be such a good idea to adopt a greyhound. Things can get rough, and you don’t want your greyhound in the same room. They are more likely to pick themselves up and walk away from a disruptive child than snap at them. Are Greyhounds OK with children and other pets? But how do they act, respond and behave around children? Are Greyhounds Good with Cats? In studies on aggression in dogs the greyhound breed came up #33 out 33 on the aggression scale. Pet Educate strives to be the definitive online resource to help you learn everything that you need to know. These dogs need regular exercise in a safe, enclosed space. Greyhounds are a very tolerant, non-aggressive breed and will allow children to handle them extensively. Your next concern will be finding time to spend with your greyhound. Italian Greyhound puppies are not suited to small children, no matter how well-meaning the child. Be sure to keep your “cruising” baby away from your greyhound. Open the car door, and summon your dog to get in. However, in reality their docile nature should leave you with not worries, although you should never leave Greyhounds, or any dog breed, alone with children, especially infants and toddlers. That might sound silly to you, but it means a lot to a little one. - Greyhounds can get a little excited (when they're not sleeping), so make sure your kids are at a stage where they're ready to handle the exuberance of a big dog. This isn’t for fear for the children; Greyhounds won’t act out towards the children, just run away. The best time for me was right after I put the baby to bed for the night, about 7:30PM. Are greyhounds hyper dogs? Continue to keep an eye out for doors and gates left open. If your children love to wrestle, firmly forbid that activity in any room where your greyhound is present. Don’t bother a dog while they are eating, sleeping, or fully focused on a particular toy or treat. Greyhounds are intelligent and can be stubborn, especially when it comes to training, so prepare to be patient and remind them when they do unwanted behaviour. It’s a fantastic place for your baby to have quiet time, explore books, play with toys; especially during this time when it may be harder to get him to nap. Others approach the whole idea with fear. That doesn’t mean that that humans can’t teach Greyhounds a thing or two as well. However, it is important to be proactive with your children. We are pet enthusiasts and love sharing everything that we learn about them! Do you typically just leash up the dog and then let him amble every which way, pulling ahead here, doubling back to sniff there? The following tips however, will ensure that your children do not strike fear in your new pet or cause them to unintentionally lash out. This is good general advice for anyone petting a greyhound. One drawback of adopting a greyhound is that a. greyhounds are not good with children. Greyhounds are generally affectionate and love to cuddle up with their owners, so long as they are given attention, care and sufficient exercise. In his 21 years of experience, Dr. Arndt has also worked quite a bit with retired racing Greyhounds, … Former racing Greyhounds are: There are many Greyhound owners whom report having kids and it working well within the household. Things can happen so quickly. Pet Educate is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If your child is having a bad day, or is feeling upset about something, you can suggest the two of you sit down with the greyhound, and pet him for a while. However, they are now commonly kept as household pets. Children: Are greyhounds good with children? Greyhounds as pets can be perfect for the right home. For most children, a greyhound is a great fit. They have such little padding and thin skin that children who aren’t careful with them could easily injure these dogs. Some greyhounds are good with children, some are not. This is a disaster in the making for you, as well as your child. b. greyhounds are old when they retire from racing. Like any of us, a dog is not always in the same mood. Greyhounds are extremely sensitive to stress and can end up literally sick to their stomachs, with severe digestive upsets and neurotic behaviors, if the people in their home are having family problems. You also want to monitor toys with a million small pieces, such as Lego. Greyhounds are grateful for their new homes and reward their owners with never-ending affection. While racing, many greyhounds never experience other dog breeds or small animals like cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. A sure sign of Autumn in my house was always my greyhound, Shannon, panting on a nice, cool day. We’ve already discussed how important it is that your children are ready for a dog. They haven’t done as well with German shepherds and little dogs who jump up on them and scratch their tender chests. It also gives the baby a place from which he can watch and learn from his parents the correct way to interact with the dog in everyday life. Contrary to popular belief, retired racing Greyhounds are not vicious nor aggressive. The ones that aren't, it's because they are afraid of them. Every day, sit with your baby beside your greyhound, keeping your baby’s hands a safe distance away from your dog’s face. A baby who is allowed to bop Dad in the face, pull his ear, shove his hand in Mom’s mouth and yank her hair is simply not going to know better when it comes to the dog. link to Are Greyhounds Good with Cats? Greyhounds have a reputation for getting quite attached to their owners, and often do all they can to get your attention. While many rumours persist about the temperament of retired racing Greyhounds, most of them have been unfounded. Children and greyhounds After years of experience, BAGA has found that children under the age of four years are too young to be around greyhounds. A startled greyhound, if leashed, will run tight, little circles around you and hip-check you behind the knees. The child must learn that while the dog is sleeping it is off limits. Yes, a COOL day, because that's how I knew that he had shed so much, so suddenly, that it... Greyhound Car Safety: don’t learn the hard way. Even simple crying can really stress this breed out causing them to avoid children all together! Babies lack fine motor skills and impulse control, and it’s so easy for a tiny hand to shoot out with no warning, poking the poor, sensitive greyhound. Are greyhounds good with children? Racing of Greyhounds began in the United States in 1919 however, nowadays it has been banned in most states and been considered inhumane. Your greyhound may find this unpleasant and disturbing. Most of the dogs we place are kid safe and do well in … Even if you are small prey, it’s in a Greyhound’s nature to chase after you, as they are hunting dogs. Often, the child doesn't mean to hurt the dog, but may squeeze him too hard or the dog may try to jump out of the child's hand and land on the floor hurting himself. Observation of the family interacting with the greyhound continues, as do the sessions with the greyhound. Greyhounds are sensitive and don’t like there to be a lot of noise or chaos. Especially those who have been used as racing … However, just because they are one of the most easy-going dog breeds, they are also a live, adult animal with all the accompanying instincts and needs. An even greater problem may be the gate. He would even get up and change his position for the best possible view. He is not mature enough to think beyond himself to safeguarding the dog. Lily's right at home here, and we want you to feel that way, too! Some families solve this by getting another dog, in addition to their greyhound. They need to know that not all dogs act the same, and just because their dog loves them, others might be scared, wary, or aggressive to them. Greyhounds are not the type to snap at young kids, they are more apt to get up and walk away, most likely into another room, if they are unhappy with a situation. That was good for at least one bloody nose a week. Do Greyhounds like to cuddle? Dogs learn things from other dogs that we, as humans, can’t teach them. The dogs were returned because either the: family didn’t have the time to train the dog properly, children did not fully understand the importance of keeping the dog (or cat) in … While you no longer need to be right next to him like when he was a baby, you should still not leave them alone together in a room. Your best friend for the first 2 years will be the playpen. If your greyhound has been with you up till this point, then you have, at least, trained your child to touch the dog gently (although you still can’t trust him). The biggest thing to consider when owning a Greyhound and having kids is to never leave them unattended together. When the baby starts to get squirmy, he’s letting you know that he’s had enough for now. Greyhounds are not an aggressive breed of dog. By now, your child may be free to nip out the door whenever he wants to, to play in the yard or run to the mailbox; but he is too young to be responsible about securing doors. Did you know the greyhound is one of the oldest breeds in history? I've only known one greyhound, in the many dozens I've known, who didn't like small kids - they're normally very easy-going and tolerant of well-behaved kids. Italian Greyhounds are typically not a good choice for a household with very small children, or older children who want to be able to “roughhouse” with a dog, because of their small size. My greyhounds get along best with golden retrievers, calmer labs, other hounds, and easygoing mutts. They do well in families with children, as long as the children are taught to treat the dog properly with politeness and appropriate respect. They were initially bred as sight-hounds and as hunting dogs to chase rabbits, foxes, and even deer. Greyhounds are sensitive dogs, to the point where owners need to keep an eye on them. Your greyhound should already have good leash-manners; your child, on the other hand, is a different story. If your home is ready for a new pet, you might want to spend some time considering whether or not a greyhound is a good fit for you. If you have been wotking with your child, up to this point, on walking your greyhound (and the dog is a calm one), you may start letting your child man the leash for part of the walk. (complete guide, by age) Some people say greyhounds and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly. That way, you always have an immediate place to put your baby where he (and the greyhound) will be safe, and still be able to observe and get to know each other. Like any other breed, some will be o.k. Please be smart, and never allow your children alone with any dog. Pet the top of his head, and down his back. Sighthounds are peaceful dogs who need a peaceful, harmonious home. There are a lot of dizzy ballerinas and losing pitchers among this age group, and you want to make sure your greyhound is out of the line of fire. This can be a great solution, as long as you choose a dog who enjoys having a canine buddy. So, if you have small children and are thinking about getting a Greyhound, you have nothing to worry about, especially if you teach your children how to properly act and play with the dog. 18. You can teach him how to fasten the greyhound’s coat. It is impossible to say that greyhounds are either good or bad with children. Once your youngest children are teens, this is less of an issue. We do rehome to children aged 10+. Your child needs to be much older before he is allowed to approach any pet while it is asleep. Your greyhound is just the right height, but he’s not a piece of furniture, so don’t let this happen. If you suspect that your greyhound has swallowed a small piece of Lego (1 or 2 nubs), give him a piece of bread, and relax – This, too, shall pass (3+ nubs – call the vet). In an aggressive manner on what ’ s had enough for now a walk your... 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