How to Train a Greyhound to Not Chase

You’re going to teach your Greyhound to stop. That way whenever they start to chase, you can quickly bring them to a halt. Use this enough times and they will stop chasing altogether. So stand several feet away from them.

Hold up a treat and your dog will probably start automatically coming towards you. As soon as they do, take a step forwards and hold your hand out like a 'stop' traffic signal. This quick movement towards them will automatically make them hesitate for a second.

At the same time as the hand signal, issue a ‘stop’ command. You can use any word or phrase you like for this instruction. In fact, Greyhounds can learn hundreds of different commands.

As soon as they stop, even for a second, praise them and give them a tasty treat. Now practice this for a few minutes each day. However, make your dog wait there a little longer each time before you give the reward.

Keep practicing until they associate the instruction with the stopping action. At this point, you can lose the gesture and just rely on the command. Now start using it whenever they give chase to anything. You can even start with a few tests in the yard with friends. Keep using the instruction and you will soon break the habit entirely.

Throughout the day, call your Greyhound’s name and lure them over with a treat. Then when they come to you, hand over a tasty reward. Do this several times each day.

Now take your dog out on a long leash. Again call their name in a high-pitched voice and give them a treat when they come to you. You want to get them into a habit of staying close to your side. They will soon feel dependent on you and won’t want to stray too far.

After several days of your Greyhound returning to you when on the leash, try losing the leash where other people and pets aren’t around. Pat your knees and call the dog's name to bring them back to you and then hand over a treat.

Now you just need to do this regularly for a number of weeks. Soon enough they will be in a habit of staying close to you and won’t want to chase things and run away from you.

When you can see your Greyhound does stay close to your side, which may take longer for older dogs, you can then start phasing out the treats. By this point they will be in the habit and food incentives will no longer be needed.

The first thing to do is keep your Greyhound on a leash at all times in public. This will prevent them chasing anything until training has proven successful. You don’t want to risk injury to any other person or pet.

If they give chase to things in your yard then you may want to consider tethering them to something with a long rope or leash. Make sure they have enough space to roam around, but not so much that they can give chase. This should help remove the temptation altogether.

These can be bought from a range of online and local stores. Just hit the remote button whenever they start chasing and an unpleasant spray of citronella will be emitted. This should soon bring them to a stop and get them associating chasing with negative consequences.

Buddy may be chasing because he's full of energy. So, give him an extra walk or throw a tennis ball for a few minutes each day. The short sprinting will quickly tire him out and ensure he doesn’t have the energy to chase anything else.

Greyhounds do not respond well to punishment. Instead, remain calm if they chase something. Punishment may only encourage them further, open the door to other problems, and push back the end result.