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Galgo (Spanish Greyhound)
I have a new training client who has a 6 year okd Galgo that she recently adopted from a rescue. I haven’t met them yet. Does anyone have experience training a galgo? Thanks, Ruth
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5 Replies
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Hi Ruth,
I had to look this one up! I’ve never encountered a Galgo before. I read a few articles about them – this one being the most comprehensive – and believe you can, for the most part, think of this dog very similarly to a Greyhound. Sighthounds need time to run, and it sounds like the Galgo has quite a bit more endurance than the typical sighthounds we’re used to, so this may be the biggest challenge for your family, getting the dog the run-time they need. The article also said they tend to be shy, so adapting to an urban environment may be challenging. In my experience sighthounds are less interested in tasty treats than many other breeds. You’ll want to consider a toy, perhaps a flirt pole, to use as a reward.
Don’t be afraid to let your client know that this is your first Galgo. They are still very rare in our country.
Once you’ve had your session, please come back and tell us what you learned and what this dog is experiencing, and we’ll do our best to help. Good luck!
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Thanks Catherine
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I met Frida the 6 yr old Galgo. Gorgeous brindle coat and looooooong nose! She is extremely skittish. I spent the first ten minutes of the visit sitting on the floor not looking at her, staying very still, and tossing her freeze dried chicken while I talked to her mom. Then we went into the living room and is wasnt long before she put her nose in my hand and let me stroke her neck. Eventually she lay down on the carpet between me and mom. But Every time the mom made a sudden movement or noise when we were walking around the house, Frida would startle.
We start training in 2 weeks. Im thinking about starting with easy, fun stuff for her like Name Game, Hand targeting, and “find it” games in week one. Shes only been in her home for 5 weeks at this point, so I know she has alot of settling in to do. I figured these games will help her begin to get comfortable with training and help deepen her relationship with her Mom without asking too much of her.
Does that seem like a good place to start?
Eventually Mom wants cues like sit, down, stay, and go to place. Thanks!
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Hi @Ruth , sounds like you have a good plan mapped out regarding the early skills to introduce.
If there’s any form of play that the dog enjoys — something she can do with her pet parent — that’d be a great tool for relationship building too.
Looking forward to reading more updates. ????
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@Ruth GOOD FOR YOU! I love that you didn’t rush her and that you let her come to you. Is she the same with any new folks she meets? If she is suffering from anxiety where she still has an extreme startle response after this length of time, it may be worth having the owner consult with their veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist for anti-anxiety medication. It can take awhile to get the right med and right dosage, but often can make huge impacts in the comfort of the dog and their ability to learn. Gently broach the topic with her owner, and hold it out as a possibility. If they are resistent to the idea, that’s okay, let them know you’re just suggesting it as an option you both can revisit down the road if, after X months you haven’t made the progress you’d like to. Some owners take awhile to come around to the idea, and I never push it. But, for the dogs who need it, the right meds are LIFE CHANGING.
I agree with Virigina, too – PLAY is such a great tool, and a wonderful sign that the dog is relaxing as you can’t be fearful and playful at the same time. :???? Please do keep us posted!
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