Greyhound Dog Training

One of the best ways to give your Greyhound dog training, is to join a basic obedience group class. These are inexpensive and fun; many community centres offer dog training classes. Ask to speak to the instructor before you take the class and find out what type of training is offered. Positive reinforcement is always the most effective type of dog training for all dogs but especially for Greyhounds. They respond well to gentle praise and reward. Greyhounds, for the most part, are sensitive dogs and don't respond well to harsh training methods. There are also many good books available on the subject. Some that are highly recommended have been written by the " Monks of New Skete". These monks are from a monastery, which specializes in raising and training dogs, and are extremely knowledgeable about the subject of dogs and positive reinforcement. Their books are not hard to find, most book store offer them and they are very easy to find on the internet.



Greyhounds do respond very well to praise and it should always be verbal, accompanied by physical patting and/or a treat. The verbal praise should be done in a high pitched excited voice. When expressing a command do not say it in a questioning voice. State the command in a firm confident manner in a deeper firmer voice, so there is no question what you are asking of your Greyhound. When your Greyhound is not listening or behaving badly, reprimands should always be done in a low-pitched voice. The command should be NO! This is all you need to train any Greyhound. Remember "Never hit your Greyhound", not only is it cruel but hitting teaches a dog aggression. Dogs also read facial expressions, so smile when your dog does well and frown when it could have been done better. Use a small piece of a treat as a reward for desired behavior for the best results. See the article on "Healthy Dog Treats" for advice on good 'reward' treats to use when Greyhound dog training.


Please do not use a metal choker on a Greyhound when you are dog training as this could damage their throat and thin skin. Use your safety collar/humane choke or a nylon choker. Never jerk your Greyhound by the neck. Greyhounds, because of their structure, can be especially susceptible to neck injuries resulting from harsh corrections while wearing a slip collar, especially of the chain variety. According to veterinarian, Dr. Raymond Bouloy, "The cinching down of a choke chain can cause many cervical problems". Something that is important to know also is that Greyhounds do not like to sit, because their long backs and well-developed muscles make this an uncomfortable position for them. Individual Greyhounds will vary in their ability and preference to sitting.