Bostons To Bulldogs: Why They Don't Speak Dog

All  dogs, including greyhounds, are social creatures. Being able to  interact, play, walk with and spend time with other dogs is (typically)  incredibly important for a dogs mental and physical wellbeing...but, not  all dogs like other dogs.

Until a  greyhound retires from racing and heads for life on a sofa, they have  rarely ever seen any other breed before if at all.  To them, greyhounds  are the only breed on earth!  So, it can come as a bit of a shock when  they go out into the great wide world and get surprised with every  shape, size, colour, short and shaggy haired beasts running around all  over the place!

Thankfully, due  to their communal or paired living arrangements growing up with other  greyhounds, they are, as a rule, very comfortable, confident and social  with their own kind.  They also take very well to other sighthounds, as  well as sighthound shaped dogs.  With the appropriate care and  socialisation, they go on to do very well in navigating all the other  ‘normal’ breeds out there…but there are some that can be a bit more of a  challenge for them to understand, and, from experience, these generally  all fall under the bull breed category.

Dogs  are social animals, we know this.  We also know that they a universal  form of non-verbal communication set within an instinctive array of body  language cues that range from the smallest most subtle shift in the  eyebrows to the waggiest of tails.  

So,  when that form of communication is hindered through breed traits such  as compact and front heavy body shapes, flat (brachycephalic) faces,  lack of a tails, skin folds and excessively noisy breathing, grunting  and wheezing…for a breed that has never been exposed to other breeds in  their formative and subsequent years, sometimes not leaving the racing  industry until they are past 5 years old, they do not know how to  respond.  

It’s important to set  them up for success and taking into account the types of breeds you are  introducing them to is really important as is very important for every  interaction to be a positive one.   
This is why we  recommend all our owners to pick their battles and avoid introducing  their hounds to small-medium bull breeds, particularly Frenchie’s,  Boston’s, Old English Bulldog type, until they are well socialised and  comfortable around a variety of ‘normal’ dogs to prevent reactive  behaviour.  It is far too easy for a hound to misinterpret their  hindered body language.   Many hounds will respond very positively to  other breeds, even small breeds, much better than a gremlin-toad  Frenchie!

Much of what is their  natural state can be misinterpreted.  Their facial features are  distorted, and with any that have undershot jaws that show teeth, or  that have constant open-mouth panting (typical of these types of breeds)  can be considered aggressive or overly excited behaviour.  The  breathing is also…something…sorry to any owners but I don’t know how you  live with that constant background noise!  These noises are very  unsettling for other dogs and can be considered to be growling or signs  of distress.
Their compact, forward heavy posture can  also be interpreted as confrontational, and their play style is much  more bulldozer-ish and physical than a greyhound is used to which can  also be considered aggressive by an uncertain or under socialised hound.
We’ve  discussed socialisation and reactivity in previous posts, and no doubt  will again in future as they are such broad subjects, but a hound’s  behaviour and ability to interact with other breeds in that early  settling period is largely influence by their emotional mindset and  stress.  

Now, don’t get us  wrong.  While they aren’t our favourite breeds (though we adore squishy  staffy!), we recently had a French Bulldog that came in for rehoming at  work and good lord, he was literally toad shaped and had severe  breathing issues that sounded like he was possessed.  He was cute in a  very very very ugly way and the noises he made gave us the serious ick!   How on earth the owner tolerated it for so long we don’t know!  It  wasn’t a surprise that he had difficulty socialising with other dogs,  because even the most social of dogs would have taken one look and  either run away or gotten defensive.

We  have homed many a hound to live with bull breeds of varying type in the  past, but they were dogs of a particular temperament, and careful  introductions were done prior to adoption.  We are always a little  cautious.  Yes, perhaps over cautious, that happens when you’ve seen  both the best and worst of these situations.  
When  advising new owners, we recommend starting their socialisation with  medium to large dog breeds that look like dogs.  Not jumping straight in  on day one and introducing them to a wrinkly bulldog or tailless  Boston.
Once established and socialising well with  other dogs, you can start moving down to smaller breeds and onto the  weird and wonderful.

This isn’t a  greyhound specific issue; this is a common issue amongst many dog  breeds in interacting with brachycephalic dogs.  It is just more likely  to be a concern with a retired racer due to their lack of socialisation  and understanding.

Of course,  they are 100% capable of learning, socialising and going on to be great  friends with these types of breeds.  You might just have to take a  little extra care in introducing them depending on your hound!