Donate SIGN UP

Learning an adopted dog it's name. HELP!!

Avatar Image
cherrypoker | 21:02 Mon 05th Jan 2009 | Animals & Nature
16 Answers
Hi everyone!

As you all know i have recently adopted a 4 year old greyhound called Franky.
I was told that he knows his name which he seems to apart from when i take him out.
If he is off the lead and there is nobody around then he is fine, however if he sees another dog he takes off and no amount of shouting will bring him back.
I have only had 2 dogs and have raised them both from pups. Even Rocky bless him was abandoned at 3 weeks old.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanksxx
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 16 of 16rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by cherrypoker. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Why don't you try Franky on one of the long extending leads, which will allow him to roam about, but to reel him in when you want to. You could start by calling his name, then reel him in, praise him lavishly when he gets it right. At 4 yrs Franky is still quite capable of learning new things, so it would probably be best not to let him have complete freedom in the park, or wherever until he will come back straight away when you call. If he sees another dog, you can lock the extending lead immediately, and then gradually reel him in. It may take some time and patience, but eventually he should learn to respond to you and ignore the other dogs. Hope all goes well.
Lol at this. Greyhounds are sight hounds, which means they hunt by sight and are attracted to anything that moves. When they are in this mode nothing on earth will make them come back until they have investigated the 'quarry' much the same as beagles which are scent hounds when they get on the scent of something. It is nothing to do with not knowing his name, in fact during their racing lives greyhounds can be given many different names by kennelhands when they move kennels, and will always respond if there is nothing else on their mind.

I hope you are very careful where you let him off, because they have no road sense and would not stop if a car was coming, and also if the dog he is running after happens to be very small you may find he grabs it thinking it is a rabbit so be very careful letting him off unmuzzled. Also if they run off a long way, especially if not 'racing fit' they can stiffen up and be in a lot of pain due to a build up of lactic acid. Make sure he wears a warm coat this weather as well, as they have very little excess flesh to keep them warm.
agree with Lankeela - I used to manage an animal re-homing cenre and the rule was -any 'sight' dog went in a broad leather collar and a muzzle when out. they are fabulous loving beasties 99% of the time but it takes a nano second for them to kill any small animal it perceives as prey. this is instinct and what they have done for a living prior to coming to you. long lead is a good idea, keeps him and other animals safe. have you thought of taking him to training classes? local ver or animal charity should have contact details -its great fun. good luck,
I once saw a lady do an obedience demonstration with a greyhound, but that is one in over 40 years involvement with them. I tried agility with one of mine once, ok in a straight line over jumps, but the directional control left a lot to be desired!

They also have a real problem tucking their legs in to sit, in my classes I always got the owners to go straight on to teaching the down.

I do miss having one around the place, maybe one day I'll have room for another.
Forgot to ask - what was Franky's racing name? If you don't know, can you read his tattoo number?

Did you know you can show them, and in fact, greyhounds are the only breed you can enter at Crufts without having to qualify?
Question Author
Hi all!

Franky's racing name was fine control. He is an irish stud if that helps.
I do have a long lead for him but i like the idea of him running free, (big softy or what!).
The fields where i take him are well away from roads so at least he is safe that way.
It's just so comical when he runs off and there is little me trying to catch him lol. People must get such a laugh when they are watching!
He's so adorable though i could forgive him anything.
I will try the advice you have given me.
If anyone has any different ideas i would be happy to try them.
Lankeela, can you give me anymore info on crufts etc when you have time.

Thanks everyone!

Trudy + familyxxx
Lankeela, as a matter of interest why don't greyhonds need to qualify for Crufts?
FAO Lankeela,
What a vast amount of knowledge you have. Most impressive.
Franky has a very good racing record. He ran 54 times at Sunderland, winning ten of them, including three on the trot.
He was born on 7th April 2004, his parents were Climate Control (a blue dog) and Bertolini (a fawn bitch). He had one litter sister, also black, called Controlled.

Most dogs have to qualify at a Championship Show for Crufts, but greyhounds only have to be registered with the racing authority and also the Kennel Club. You will need a copy of his five generation pedigree from the Irish Coursing Club, and then you can register him with the Kennel Club. You can then enter him at any show - many shows don't have classes, so you would put him in 'Any Variety Hound' but at Crufts they have special classes for Racing/Coursing Dogs. Also the Greyhound Club have Open and Championship Shows with special classes for racers (show bred greyhounds are different to racers, usually much bigger).

In answer to how do I know all this, its because I am so sad, and have nothing better to do!
Question Author
Hi Lankeela,

Thankyou so much! It's really nice to get some background history on Franky.
As i said Rocky and Shep i have had from being born and i felt sad that i had missed that with Franky.
Thanks to you though i at least have part of a memory!
How do i contact the Irish Coursing club?
Franky is 31" high and weighs 83lbs so as you can imagine he is really big.
Thanks once again, i will keep in touch and let you know how i get on!

Trudy+ familyxxx
p.s Could you find out any background on my sisters greyhound. She is a black and white bitch and her racing name was swinging party. I think she is 3.
Wow 83 lbs, I bet he is magnificent. Black dogs always have a lovely shine on them.

Swinging Party was born just five days before Franky - 2nd April 04. Dad was Top Honcho a black dog and mum was White Gypsy (white and brindle). She ran in 18 races and won three, including one in Ireland before coming over to race at Sunderland.

From the Kennel Club website:
To allow the registration of your Greyhounds, they would first need to be registered with a Racing Greyhound Society. The certificate and pedigree information will need to be sent with a Form 9 application. This application can be downloaded directly from our website www.thekennelclub.org.uk by clicking on the 'Working With Dogs' header on our homepage. You will then need to scroll down to 'Kennel Club Forms'. Alternatively we can send these applications through the post, however we require your full address details to do this.

The fee for this service is �12.00 per dog.

This application will state for Border Collie, however if you simply cross this through and write Greyhound, we will still be able to assist you with your request.

If we can be any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/381/f orm9.pdf


Irish Stud Book,
Irish Coursing Club (Namings and Pedigrees Dept),
Davis Road,
Clonmel, Co.
Tipperary,
Eire.
00353-5222611.

(�11 for a pedigree as of 1st of July 2007)

www.irishcoursingclub.ie
Question Author
Hi again Lankeela,

Funny you should mention his coat. When i got him it was really shiny but now he is molting and there is a bit of dandruff.
I have been brushing him. Is he loosing his kennel coat perhaps?
Thanks for all the other info as well, i will definately be in touch.

Trudyxxx
Try putting some vegetable oil or a teaspoonful of margerine is his food. There is also a very good supplement which a lot of show people swear by called Yumega, now available in a lot of pet shops or online.

Talking of margerine, I remember the first greyhound I ever took home helped himself to half a pound of butter my mum had left on the kitchen table. They will help themselves to any food that is available, mainly because any food they have come into contact with has been for them.
Question Author
In Franky's case he is so big he can reach every worktop in the kitchen. If i have cooked meat i have to put it on the window sill in the kitchen so he can't reach lol.
Thanks for the advice about the margerine, i will definately try it.
If that doesn't work then i will try the supplement.

Trudyxxx

1 to 16 of 16rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Learning an adopted dog it's name. HELP!!

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.