How to Support a Greyhound That is Afraid of a Household Object

At GAP NSW, we’re committed to supporting greyhounds to succeed in domestic environments.

Part of that is educating our community on supporting greyhounds that may be fearful of certain household objects.

A list of potentially troublesome objects includes:

Fortunately, by gradually introducing our wonderful greys to new objects and experiences, we can help them overcome their challenges and live happier lives!

There are two core reasons a greyhound may display uncertainty or fear around an object.

To help improve the welfare of greyhounds, it's important for us to learn to recognise the body language they display when feeling uncertain or fearful around certain objects.

By doing so, we can provide a supportive environment and help them build positive associations with those objects over time.

Here is some common body language signals that a greyhound may exhibit when feeling afraid or anxious around an object:

It's important to note that every dog is different and may display a unique combination of these signals

To start with, it's important to identify the objects that are causing your dog stress or fear.

If possible, it's best to move these objects away from your dog so they are not constantly exposed to them. This can help prevent trigger stacking or flooding, which can lower your dog's resilience over time and cause them to live in a state of stress.

It's important to create distance between your dog and these objects so that they feel safe and have a space to retreat to.

This game involves identifying the object that your dog is afraid of and setting it up a safe distance away from them.

You can then use your hand as a target guide, with a treat in your hand, and motion towards the object. When your dog moves towards the object, mark the behaviour with "yes" and give the reward.

Following this, offer another high-value treat in the opposite direction away from the object. This helps your dog learn that they can approach the object, but also have the option to retreat.

As your dog becomes comfortable with the distance, you can gradually move your hand closer to the object with the goal of eventually being able to target and look at the object independently.

Once your dog has become confident with this, you can add in the verbal cue of "Say Hi." This helps to build your dog's confidence and gives them a proactive skill that can be transferred to other household objects they are afraid of.

With this technique, your dog can learn to approach and investigate objects that once caused them fear, and then choose to move away from them if necessary.

The timeframe can vary greatly depending on the situation and the individual dog.

For example, if we're desensitising a dog to an inanimate object like a broom, we can usually form positive associations within a week with twice-daily training, whereby the greyhound will likely build confidence around the broom.

However, if we're tackling something more complex like a vacuum cleaner, the process can take longer. Vacuum cleaners have multiple components and produce a loud, unfamiliar noise, so we need to break down the training into stages. We start by working with the vacuum cleaner when it's not in motion, then gradually add movement, and finally - introduce the noise.

GAP NSW recommends breaking down the situation into smaller goals (proximity being the most common). By taking this approach, we're able to move at a pace that suits the dog's emotional needs and avoid placing unnecessary pressure or expectations on them.

GAP NSW is a non for profit organisation that is committed to the ongoing welfare of our wonderful greyhounds.

Please view our greyhounds and locations to get started with the opportunity to meet your new best mate!