I have a customer who just adopted a retired racing dog. My second visit was this morning, and I really am feeling like I don't have the tools I need to be working with this dog. When calm, I can sit with him, give affection, and marker/reward some basic commands. As soon as he sees a potential thrown object in my hand all bets are off, though. When something might be chased, nothing else exists. And he won't quite "retrieve." He runs like the wind to get it, then darts past me with toy in mouth. So I started playing tethered, but the distraction of a thin lead distracted him to the point he'd stop the second he felt it. Then I tried off-lead from her porch, where I could physically block his passing. Then he shakes the toy and takes off the other way to try from the other direction. I'm trying to ignore/marker/good, but he's a special case. He'll drop it several yards away and slink off if I act like he doesn't exist. Then my choices are to walk over to where he dropped the ball (which I am too stubborn to do more than once), or wait until he takes it and tries to sprint by me again.
FWIW, food motivation isn't strong. He likes treats if sitting and calm, but "go time" is like any high drive dog's. We know very little about his history, except the obvious. He's not a bit fearful or shy that I've picked up on. That is to say, I don't suspect abuse beyond the norm. My thoughts for anyone adopting a high drive dog is always "let them enjoy a job," but two ball, etc. aren't adding up in his head. Even showing him a toy and trying to wait until he calms to throw it has failed, though I only have about four hours invested. I can only imagine the amount of hard-wired behavior that racing would instill, but he's a really sharp dog when not at that stage where he's literally trembling to run (seeing a ball/toy). He likes his crate and has had no accidents inside, and took to a "furminator" like a dog that had been brushed since a pup. But I really do feel that the dog needs to sprint to satisfy both nature and nurture. "Fetch" makes the most sense in my head, but I'm open to alternatives. Thanks in advance. You all at Leerburg have helped me so much with my own two dogs, my fosters, my Mom's rescue, and dogs I volunteer with. I can't thank you folks enough.

Are you going to be training the greyhound with them?

My pup has decent food drive, but in the face of anything moving or a toy it goes to zilch. Making her meals small and using smelly, kind of greasy food rewards works for us.

Think bologna and liverwurst.

Greys are tough to work with- at least in my experience. The chasing instinct is so strong and as a racing grey its been nurtured from such a young age that I don't think retrieving may work out.

Marker training with simple exercises is gonna be your best bet. Usually the hardest part is to get the dog to learn how to interract with people in a positive way. You have to understand that chasing was the ONLY fun thing the dog was ever allowed to do. They don't know how to "play" per se. So its like starting with a tiny pup. Getting it interested in interracting with you, toys, etc. can go a long way in training down the road. So you may want to lean away from the chasing. That one could take time.

IME some greyhounds just don't "crave" or "need" human approval/interaction too much. Every one I ever knew was incredibly stoic about procedures, would never offer to bite. Ones I knew would fetch stuffed animals a while, but would throw it themselves and chase it without a person if there was too much pressure to preform.Ones I knew would sort of "withdraw" or "disengage" if there was pressure.
Ram (the Indian fellow) seems to be having great luck using marker training with his hound pups -- I bet that will work for you, too.
Is there lure coursing around where you live?

Greyhounds can be really tough to train. Sometimes their attentiveness builds in conjunction with the bond they have with their new person. Sometimes some time and distance from the track helps.

I've had the best luck with marker training, but WITH a clicker, at least at first. Something about the sound a clicker makes vs. a voice 'reaches' them a little easier. sometimes you have to be super persistent but it usually works.

Eventually I like to use something like this "Chase It" toy as a reward for a chain of behaviours, and it's usually about that time that you get their full attention.

Persistence is key here, because Greyhounds are really bred to do only one thing, and obedience isn't it. I've had REALLY good luck with the clicker though, and there has only been one Grey I haven't been able to obedience train.

I DID train her, but in unexpected ways: I thought I was teaching her to sit and down, but what she learned was how to open the refrigerator and help herself to her treats. This is the same dog that could climb ladders and unlock all the gates

Contrary to popular belief, they aren't stupid and they are paying attention, you just have to find something that motivates them enough to do what YOU want them to. Even so, fetch is near impossible to teach most of them. I would employ a fenced area and the Chase It toy for running exercise, though most are actually quite lazy and a good daily walk will usually suffice.

Oh, and for the most part, physical corrections/e-collars/prong collars of ANY kind are inappropriate for Greyhounds.

I have no personal experience with Greyhounds, but I have had dogs that reacted similar to what you are describing.

First, don't give up on the marker training, almost every dog will get it eventually.

What I would do is attach whatever his favorite toy is to a 25 ft long line. Use your marker training to do some basics then as his "big" reward you can use the toy.

To me, it seems the dog has never been taught "in" or "come" commands, Obviously, it's a retired Greyhound, but ignore my stupidity for one moment....

So start marker training the "come" and "in" first. You could back chain it with the toy by just having the toy at your feet (on a line) when he picks it up, mark, and reward him with another toy on a leash as well, so he learns to come in and trade you. Then just start throwing the toy farther as he gets the game. Keep the toy on the leash and if he tries to go past you just lightly reel him in, when he gets to you, mark, and then throw the other toy on the leash. Make sure that he gets the toy all the way to you before you throw the next, then that way he won't start outing early.

You can also use a ball on a string, or a tug. Once he understands the "in" thing and that you won't take the ball away but that you will play with him, then you could transfer this over to a reward system.

I've worked with a greyhound named Frank who was the blood donor dog at a clinic I worked at. I suspect this dog is overstimulated/distracted when you are presenting him with his options. I would move obedience indoors, a greyhound outside is a greyhound that is suppose to be moving, running, chasing targets etc. Inside is normally quite the opposite. Odds are you'll be able to keep his attention better.

A greyhound also often has zero retrieve in them. It's just how sighthounds work. Usually they tackle something and you come and take it from them.

As an FYI sighthounds really aren't more difficult to train than other dogs. They're just a little different and less apt to do it just cause it'll make YOU happy unlike some breeds. You just have to learn to adapt your motivations slightly.

 Quote: Kristel Smart

I DID train her, but in unexpected ways: I thought I was teaching her to sit and down, but what she learned was how to open the refrigerator and help herself to her treats. This is the same dog that could climb ladders and unlock all the gates

leih

 Quote: leih merigian

 Quote: Kristel Smart

I DID train her, but in unexpected ways: I thought I was teaching her to sit and down, but what she learned was how to open the refrigerator and help herself to her treats. This is the same dog that could climb ladders and unlock all the gates

leih

It's funny because of all the Greyhounds I've worked with, she was the one that seemed to be the most 'disconnected' and the one who just couldn't seem to pay attention.

She was paying attention all right, she just saw a much simpler, more direct way to get what she wanted. Why do all those tricks for the human when you can just help yourself? My friends thought she was a little slow. I knew otherwise

Very interesting mindsets they have. I LOVE Greyhounds.

Sorry to take so long getting back. Thanks so much for all the replies and great advice.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

Are you going to be training the greyhound with them?

Only if I feel I can help the dog. FWIW I'm not charging her. So far I'm on the fence, but leaning towards finding someone more experienced with a dog like him. I'm very, very patient with your average energetic shelter pup. That often is the difference. Patience, consistence, and keeping them near me has always made progress, if not "worked." This fella may need more than I can provide. My Mom is out of town until Sunday and I have her pup full-time until then, so it will be next week before I can try again, but I'll use the tips provided by you folks and report back. Thanks again!