Our beloved Greyhounds are gentle, loving dogs — but like all breeds, some can come with their own instincts and quirks. One of the most misunderstood traits in greyhounds is prey drive, especially when they’re around smaller dogs or high-energy breeds like kelpies who chase balls.
At Hounds in Homes, we’ve worked with hundreds of greyhounds, and we can confidently say:
Yes, they can absolutely improve — with time, patience, and the right approach.
What Is Prey Drive?
Prey drive is an instinctive behavior in all dogs, not just greyhounds — it’s the natural impulse to chase moving things. In greyhounds, this can be heightened due to their racing backgrounds. They've been trained and conditioned to chase fast-moving lures, and sometimes this instinct can generalise to small dogs, fast runners, or anything that darts by.
Prey drive has nothing to do with how much a greyhound raced.
We’ve seen greyhounds that raced for years have incredibly low prey drive — totally relaxed around cats, small dogs, even birds. And we’ve also met greyhounds that never set foot on a track but have strong prey instincts.
Chase Drive vs. Prey Drive
It’s important to understand the difference:
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Chase drive is the impulse to run after movement — like a ball, or another dog playing.
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Prey drive includes chasing, but also involves fixation, grabbing, or potential harm.
Greyhounds were trained to chase mechanical lures, which builds chase drive — but that doesn’t automatically mean they have high prey drive. One can exist without the other.
But Not All Greyhounds Have It
Here’s something many people are surprised to learn:
A lot of greyhounds being rehomed are completely fine with small dogs — even cats and birds — from day one.
These dogs are relaxed, gentle, and show little to no interest in chasing. Some greyhounds need a little more time, structured training, and management to feel safe and comfortable around smaller animals, in time and safe interactions they go on to be amazing.
When Adrenaline Kicks In
When a greyhound sees another dog — particularly a small, fast-moving one — their adrenaline can spike. This can lead to:
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Over-arousal
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Fixation or chasing behavior
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Poor recall
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Difficulty listening or calming down
This doesn’t mean they’re aggressive. It just means their instinctive wiring is temporarily overriding their training. Remove them from the situation and do some calm walking on leash.
Can They Learn to Be Calm Around Small Dogs?
Yes — Heaps of greyhounds can absolutely learn to coexist peacefully with small breeds. But it’s not always instant. Some are completely fine from day one. Others just need time, consistency, and clear guidance.
At Hounds in Homes, we have had 100's of greyhounds all from different backgrounds live with small dogs and some eventually went on to live with cats (Although we dont test with cats) our advice is always.
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Go slowly — don’t rush introductions or force interactions.
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Learn to read your greyhound — body language tells you everything.
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Don’t push too fast — let them take it at their own pace.
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Supervise carefully — especially during the early stages.
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Set them up to succeed — use distance, calm environments, and controlled meetups.
Let’s Talk About Muzzles
We can’t stress this enough:
Muzzles are a fantastic for training and assesing behaviours, especially in the early days.
There’s a lot of propaganda out there suggesting muzzles are cruel or unnecessary. That’s simply not true. A properly fitted muzzle is comfortable, non-restrictive, and — most importantly — keeps everyone safe while you assess and train.
In fact, a muzzled greyhound is a well-managed greyhound.
When to Keep the Muzzle On
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During introductions to small dogs
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When playing with high-energy breeds (like kelpies)
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At the dog park or new environments
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If your dog is showing signs of over-arousal or chasing behavior
And if, after time and training, your greyhound still shows high prey drive or reactivity, that’s okay. Some dogs may never be completely trustworthy around small dogs — and that’s why the muzzle stays on in those situations.
Patience, Not Pressure
It’s easy to feel discouraged if your greyhound isn’t making fast progress — but every dog learns at their own pace. With consistency, positive reinforcement, and the right tools, most greyhounds can improve dramatically.
And for those who can’t? That’s okay too. Management and safety are part of responsible dog ownership.
Final Thoughts from Hounds in Homes
We’ve helped countless hounds transition into loving homes. Some settle in immediately with cats, chickens, or small dogs. Others take weeks or months to adjust. Either way, the key is:
Don’t underestimate the power of slow progress, a muzzle, and a calm, observant handler.
Greyhounds don’t need to be “perfect.” They just need your patience, your guidance, and your understanding.
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