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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: I adopted a greyhound named Alvin
at the end of September. Judy, our bichon frise, was shocked to meet Alvin.
The first few weeks were pretty tense. Now, Judy goes about her usual
business, and Alvin doesn't pay much attention to her, with one exception:
When people enter or leave our home, Judy gets excited, frantic and barky.
To Alvin, this behavior is stimulating. He'll run over, put his paws on
her and pounce. Do you think Alvin might harm Judy? -- A.T., Fairless
Hills, Penn.
A: Greyhounds are gentle souls.
However, former racing dogs once made a living chasing a mechanical rabbit.
As a result, some aren't able to co-exist in households with cats or small
dogs. Small mammals are even more of a concern. Given the chance, these
otherwise placid greyhounds may actually kill. Responsible greyhound rescue
groups temperament-test their dogs for adaptability before adopting them
out. We assume Alvin was tested and proved he could co-exist with a small
dog.
Sally Allen, president of USA
Dog, a greyhound rescue organization based in Indianapolis, says that
if Alvin were outrightly predisposed to assault Judy, it would have happened
by now.
If your greyhound is pouncing
with its rear pointed to the sky and its front paws slapping Judy around,
this is merely greyhound play. However, if Alvin is growling, you have
real reason for concern. And one additional word of caution from Frenchtown,
N.J.-based trainer and lecturer Suzanne Clothier, who's trained her own
greyhounds: "If Alvin goes too far, acting too crazy, a thin line may
develop between play and prey."
Clearly, your Bichon should get
her act in gear and learn how to behave when people enter or leave your
home. Aside from not setting off the greyhound, proper canine manners
will no doubt make your houseguests more comfortable. Meanwhile, don't
be afraid to correct any unacceptable behavior from your greyhound with
a stern "no" before it goes too far.
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