Hello,
I'm new to this forum.  I need a little help/support.  I adopted a retired greyhound 3 months ago.  He's wonderful.  However, there is a fox with 6 cubs in the garden next door.  This morning one of the cubs got into the garden and my greyhound attacked and killed it before I could get to him.  I don't know what to do.  It was very upsetting and I am now not sure if I should allow him around smaller dogs when walking him.  He has been doing very well at the park and I've allowed him off the lead in fenced in areas around other dogs.  Also should I be phoning the rspca to report the death of the cub?
Thanks.

I wouldn't worry. The cub strayed into your garden and your greyhound acted in the same was as my dogs certainly would! Just one of those unfortunate incidents I'm afraid. Has he shown any signs of agression toward other dogs?

A small foxcub would look very much like the thing greyhounds chase around the race track, so it would be natural for him to catch and despatch it. He is following his instincts, and while it is upsetting it is just one of those things that happen.

I would suggest you contact the Retired Greyhounds charity people and ask if anything like this has happened before with any other hounds and if they have some advice. I have always found them to be very helpful.

In the mean time I would be watching him around smaller dogs certainly but do try not to get anxious when around other dogs, as he will pick this up and get worse! He will pick up on your tensions, and react accordingly, by trying to protect you.

If I am not mistaken foxes are not protected as such and are a pest species so as you didn't set out to hunt the foxes there is no problem on that score.

It is perfectly natural for a dog to kill a fox, the same as to kill a Rabbit.  I would certainly not trust him around cats, and be careful of any small dogs moving fast as it has not been unknown for sight hounds to mistake them for prey, but he would be fine with one close up when he knows it is a dog.  This s one reason many sight hounds are excersised muzzled.

As lady in my Country Park muzzles her whippets as they chase, can catch and have killed squirrels, which is upsetting for any children or other people that might witness it.

Oh I would also be more worried about your dog contracting Sarcoptic Mange than the welfare of the foxes.  Watch for any signs orf irritation around the face and legs and balding patches. 

There is now a licensed treatment for this distressing parasitic skin infection, which kills a lot of urban foxes and causes a lot of distrees to dogs and cats that pick it up.

mmmmm   ?????
Dawn.

I would be on guard re. other dogs and certainly other pets, because there is something called predatory drift which can occur if a dog mistakes a much smaller dog for prey. I'm not suggesting your grey is going to be a problem, but he obviously has strong instincts, so am just suggesting that you need to be careful for now. I do agree that what happened was probably fairly normal and not unusual. If you wish to PM me, i can put you in touch with several greyhound owners who will be able to help you and who can share experiences :)

Lindsay
X

The three ladies that I know with rescued greyhounds all exercise them wearing muzzles (the greyhounds, not the ladies :D !)

Margot

:-D lol @ Margot

I was walking the dogs with my friend who has a lhasa apso,way up ahead we saw a lady with 3 dogs,1 was a greyhound,they were ALL off lead,friend called out to lady and asked if her dogs were ok with other dogs,to which she replied "ofcourse" in an annoyed tone :rolleyes:

Anyway when we got about 20 feet to her and the dogs,the greyhound looked up at the lhasa and proceeded to run her down,ofcourse she caught her,she had her pinned to the ground BUT she took one sniff,looked a bit confused and backed off of her,thank god!! I'm not sure why the dog let go,probaly realized it was another dog?? But as some of you have said,some greyhounds go after the little dogs :(

We got the usual reply from these ignorant owners of "oh she's only playing" as she hurried off!

Collin i would definately contact the rescue group,they are bound to have dozens of tactics for you to use :)

Oh and just wanted to say good on you for rescuing your boy :)

I think ANY of my three dogs would have killed a fox cub. None of them are ex racers!

Killing a fox cub or a rabbit for that matter, does not mean your dog is going to eat little tiny dogs in the park.

But, do exercise some caution. Whilst a little dog sitting minding its own business may not be 'lunch' a little dog hurtling past at speed may trigger your dogs chase instincts.

I actually DONT like exercising greyhounds/tall pointy dogs in muzzles for two very good reasons.
1/ Most of them WILL still catch whatever they are chasing, and instead of killing it quickly, will just batter it to death with the muzzled face (the dog doesnt KNOW it cant bite with a muzzle on).
2/ Many lurchers/greyhounds will attempt to remove the muzzle whilst they are running, which in a smaller, shorter legged dog might not be a problem -- in a long tall greyhound that can = broken neck/leg/back.

Use caution and common sense, and LEARN your dog first before letting him off in an area with lots of little dogs.

My saluki x grey is safe around little dogs now. She worked up until last year, killing basically anything her previous owner pointed her at, including cats!!! She is EVEN safe around MY cat, EVEN outside (although i dont ike her playing wth him!), however other peoples cats are still fair game for her.

She has not once injured any other pet animal and with me has only killed squirrels (at my request) and the odd rabbit -- and she has had 9 years of zooming around killing anything that moves!

It can be done iwth patience and time.

Em

I was a bit hesitant at this post, I will tell you why.

6 is a biggish litter for a Fox, not that unusual, but 4 or 5 is the norm (in my experience.)
Only ONE of these Cubs LEFT the rest, and "got into" the OP's garden????  why not the others?  Where was mom?
This was daylight?  Dusk or night is normal, especially for babes.  (again there are exceptions to the rule)

Now call me too sceptical, and apologies to Collin if I am barking up the wrong tree, just a bit suspicious with all the troll posts of late.
Dawn.

This site agrees that 4-5 is the normal size litter. Perhaps there's an abundance of food in the OP's area?

Yeah, as I said, I am NOT doubting the OP, just a bit wary.
Dawn.

My dog also had a fox cub last week, it was alone in an  overgrown area. I was shocked when I saw what he had done, at first I thought he had got a rabbit, he catches loads of them. I have a cat at home and he doesn't bother that. My friend bought a Border terrier puppy and she was only 8 weeks old and very tiny when she visited but my dog was fine with her. You will just have to extra carefull with your dog.

Collin,

Do not worry about your dog, please.  I adore foxes, but to most dogs a fox is vermin and quarry.   My terriers go absolutely nuts, furious when they smell fox. Same response to squirrels.  And cats (not having been raised with any.) 

I don't think this is a "sighthound" problem specifically.   Some dogs do seem not to care about foxes, my husband had a border collie that would hang out with them.  His friend's mixed breed once brought a fox home with him - the two were standing on his front steps expecting to be let into the house.   However, any dog I've ever owned would attack a fox if they got the chance. 

Stacey

As I understand it, ex-racing greyhounds can have a tendency to chase things that resemble prey to them.  If you are really worried about him attacking another dog, it's probably easiest on your nerves to buy a muzzle.

A greyhound chased after my Staffie, once.  Got a helluva shock when my Staff turned round and galloped back to meet it!  Just as well she only wanted to play :)

Hi Collin i wouldn't worry about your greyhound killing a fox cub. I own 2 ex-racing greyhounds who catch rabbits for my dinner and will gladly kill a fox, squirell, or any type of wild furry, but they are 100% with dogs. They run off lead over the public fields not muzzled and greet and play with every dog they meet. They have even ran with a pair of yorkies trying to keep up with them. Any dog will kill a fox. And yes they will chase cats, but most dogs will anyway.