Training a Sighthound

Sighthounds have captured the hearts of dog lovers for centuries. From the graceful greyhound to the smaller whippet and everything in between, sighthounds are renowned for their charm and athleticism. However, some of their specific breed traits are lesser known and require a different training approach than other breeds. In this article, we will explore what makes a sighthound unique and what to consider when training to ensure the best results for both ourselves and our dogs. We’re not going to cover general training techniques but instead, focus on sighthound-specific training considerations.

What makes sighthounds different?

Prey drive and historical roles of sighthounds:

Historically, sighthounds have been bred to be hunters. This was fantastic for our ancestors, but in our day and age, this can create some problems. Most of us don’t want our dogs catching their own dinner anymore. Of course they don’t realise this so they have an innate prey drive that is hard to contend with. 

A sighthound can see incredibly far into the distance, so they may see a rabbit or a squirrel that you can’t see. Their prey drive kicks in, and the only thing on their mind is catching their dinner. Let’s pick a greyhound for our example here, who then darts off at speeds of up to 72km/h, and before you know it, they’re out of site. It’s our job as responsible owners to be aware of this and tailor our training around this fact.

Temperament:

Sighthounds are known for their independence due to their past as hunters, where they could be leagues away from their owners when hunting. They also tend to be gentle souls who don’t respond well to harsh corrections.

Fortunately in today’s world, most trainers use and recommend positive training techniques so we don’t need to make any adjustments here. It’s just useful to be extra mindful of this whenever we feel ourselves becoming impatient, which is a normal part of dog training. 

How will training our sighthounds be different?

We have explored why training a sighthound might be different, but now let’s see how that looks in a practical sense.

Recall training:

Again, we won’t cover the basics of recall training, you can read about that here, but instead we will focus on how it is different for a sighthound.

Recall training can be particularly challenging with sighthound breeds due to their innate characteristics and instincts. Sighthounds have a strong prey drive and are highly motivated by visual stimuli. When they spot something moving in the distance, their instinct to chase often overrides other commands, making it difficult for them to focus on returning to their owner. Additionally, sighthounds are known for their independent nature and can be less motivated by food rewards compared to other breeds. This combination of a high prey drive, visual stimulation, and independent temperament makes recall training a significant challenge with sighthounds.

Because of this, you will want to move at a slower pace and really try to build a strong foundation in doors before introducing distractions. Use high-value rewards and experiment with what your dog responds best to – often, sighthounds will respond especially well to a small fluffy toy that is moving. This will imitate the thrill of hunting for them.

The name of the game here is to move slowly. When you do progress outside, try to control the environment as much as possible. You may want to start in a garden and then move to a gated field with few distractions so that it will be easier to keep your sighthound’s focus and also reduce the risk of them taking off, which is a possibility if they see some prey in the distance. Again, this is all about building a strong foundation before you’re faced with the things that they will find especially distracting. Once they have a reliable recall in one place, keep progressing. Don’t get disheartened if you have a setback; this is normal. You can go back a step, keep working, and then try again.

You may also want to take extra precautions, such as using a muzzle. If your sighthound does run off, the squirrels will appreciate your foresight. Similarly, you will want to use a long line for longer than you might with another breed for the extra layer of security. If you’re extra vigilant, you may notice your dog’s ears prick up as a telltale sign that they’ve seen something, and you can stop them before they take off.

Training with distractions:

What good is training if our dogs won’t listen when we really need them to? This is why it is good to practice everything with distractions often once basic training is accomplished to make sure your commands are followed reliably.

However, training with distractions can be particularly difficult with sighthounds due to their highly developed prey drive and acute visual acuity. Sighthounds are bred to spot and chase moving objects, which means they are easily distracted by anything that moves in their environment, from a squirrel darting across a park to a leaf blowing in the wind. Their instinct to chase can quickly override any training commands, making it challenging to keep their attention focused.

To adjust training for sighthounds to better handle distractions, it is crucial to start with a solid foundation in a low-distraction environment and gradually introduce more difficult settings, and it is also advisable to pay particular attention to impulse control to encourage them to think rather than just responding to their natural impulses.

Difficulty to sit:

Sighthounds often struggle with the ‘sit’ command due to their unique anatomical structure, which can make it very uncomfortable for them. Weirdly, this doesn’t affect all sighthounds equally, so you may or may not need to take this into account with your training. When first beginning training, just watch them and see what they do naturally. If needed, swap out ‘sit’ for a ‘down’ or ‘stay’ command, which serves the same purpose and will be more comfortable for your dog.

Conclusion:

Training your sighthound isn’t all that different from training a different breed of dog. However, we do need to keep their uniqueness in mind to get the best results and to ensure we’re caring for our hound’s wellbeing. Just a few adjustments will make the training process a lot more rewarding and will lead to better results in the long term.