The Greyhound Rescue team has been doing some mythbusting! We’re here to correct some myths that continue to linger on the internet about our pooches.
Same sex dogs don’t get along: They can!
If you’re looking to add a second pooch to your household, you might notice a lot of articles online stating your second should be of the opposite sex. When it comes to a multi-dog household, it comes down to individual temperament, not their sex. Selecting your second pooch based on their characteristics is key, and implementing proper management techniques while your two pooches get used to each other is crucial to avoiding teething issues early on. Greyhound Rescue will help match you with a suitable hound to suit your resident pooch. You can read more about multi-dog households here.
The Dominance Theory: Ignore it.
Have you had people tell you that your pooch needs to ‘understand their position in the pack’? That they can never walk in the door before you so they don’t try to dominate you? This is all part of the alpha theory, and we’re happy to say it has been thoroughly debunked! It was based on a flawed study, and is a blanket statement that does not capture the complex nuances of behaviour.
The next time someone jumps to tell you that a behaviour is likely driven by dominance, stop and consider what the dog could be thinking. You can read more about how this theory has been debunked here.
Male dogs are harder to toilet train: Not necessarily!
Most greyhounds are very easy to toilet train, despite being like a puppy in terms of experience. Some greyhounds may take longer than others, but this is entirely dependent on their previous experience, learning capacity, and your ability to recognise their signals and create a good routine. Timing and management is key, and we have some great training tips here.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks: You definitely can.
You can definitely teach an old dog new tricks, and our GR alum are proof of this! From learning to sit, and shake hands, to climbing stairs and laying down, we’ve seen our hounds young and old learn new things. This goes for all pooches – after all, we get wiser as we get older right?
Comforting your dog when they are scared: Please do!
People worry that comforting a dog while they’re stressed can reinforce unwanted behaviours. We cannot stress strongly enough – you cannot reinforce fear. It is an emotion not a behaviour. If they want your reassurance and love when they’re scared, give them that reassurance and love. It’s no different to soothing a child when they’re frightened. Letting your hound know that everything is going to be ok may not be enough to completely erase their fear, but it could definitely help them to feel calm and reduce their anxiety in the moment.