21/03/2025
The Frozen Greyhound: Understanding and Helping a Dog That Freezes on Walks💙🐾
If you own a greyhound, you may have experienced something known as the Frozen Hound behaviour. One moment, your greyhound is walking normally, and the next, they stop dead in their tracks—completely still, refusing to move forward. No amount of coaxing, treats, or gentle encouragement seems to help, and you’re left standing on the pavement, unsure of what to do next.
This behaviour can be frustrating, especially for new greyhound owners, but it is very common in this breed. The good news? With patience, understanding, and the right training techniques, you can help your greyhound overcome freezing episodes and build their confidence.
What is the Frozen Hound Behaviour?💙
The Frozen Hound behaviour is when a greyhound suddenly stops moving and refuses to walk any further. This can happen anywhere—on a familiar route, in a new environment, or even in the middle of an open space. Unlike stubbornness, freezing is an involuntary response to something your greyhound finds overwhelming or uncertain.
Greyhounds in this state may:
• Stand completely still, unable to move forward.
• Look tense, with their ears pinned back or their tail tucked.
• Seem alert but unwilling to engage.
• Appear distracted, scanning their surroundings as if looking for something.
• Eventually lie down, making it even harder to get them moving again.
While freezing is most common during walks, some greyhounds may freeze in other situations, such as when entering a new home, meeting new people, or encountering unfamiliar sounds.
Why is Freezing Common in Greyhounds?💙
To understand why freezing happens, we need to look at how greyhounds think and react to stress.
Flight, Fight, or Freeze Response
Like all dogs, greyhounds have a built-in survival instinct called the Flight, Fight, or Freeze response. When faced with something unfamiliar or stressful, a dog will instinctively:
• Fight (react aggressively),
• Flight (run away), or
• Freeze (stay still and assess the situation).
Greyhounds are not naturally aggressive, and many have spent their early lives in racing kennels with little experience of the outside world. This makes them more likely to freeze rather than fight or flee.
Possible Causes of Freezing on Walks💙
Every greyhound is different, and there can be multiple reasons why a greyhound freezes on walks. Some of the most common causes include:
1. Sensory Overload💙
Greyhounds have very sharp senses, especially sight and hearing. The outside world can feel overwhelming, particularly for ex-racers who have never experienced busy streets, noisy traffic, or unpredictable movement.
2. Lack of Confidence💙
Many greyhounds have not been exposed to everyday situations during their racing careers. A nervous greyhound may freeze when they encounter something unfamiliar, like bicycles, people, or other dogs.
3. Learned Helplessness💙
Some ex-racing greyhounds have never had to make decisions for themselves. In racing kennels, their routines were set, and they were always told where to go and what to do. When faced with too many choices on a walk, they may freeze because they simply don’t know what to do next.
4. Fear or Anxiety💙
If your greyhound associates something outside with fear (loud noises, fast-moving objects, unfamiliar people), they may freeze in an attempt to “disappear” and avoid confrontation.
5. Pain or Discomfort💙
Always rule out pain or injury, as freezing can sometimes be a sign that your greyhound is uncomfortable. Check their paws for cuts, ensure their harness or lead isn’t causing discomfort, and consider a vet visit if freezing is persistent.
Training Exercises & Games to Help with Freezing💙
Helping a greyhound that freezes requires patience and confidence-building exercises. Here are some effective training techniques and games:
1. Confidence-Boosting Walks💙
• Take short, familiar routes at quiet times of the day.
• Let your greyhound stop and observe without pressure.
• Give them time to process their surroundings before asking them to move forward.
2. The ‘Find It’ Game💙
• Toss a small treat on the ground and say “Find it!”
• This encourages movement in a low-pressure way and shifts their focus from their surroundings to an easy task.
• Gradually increase the distance of the treats to encourage walking.
3. The ‘One Step, One Treat’ Game💙
• Take a step forward, then drop a treat just in front of their nose.
• Repeat with each step to build positive associations with moving forward.
4. Using a Happy, Upbeat Voice💙
• Greyhounds respond well to happy, high-pitched encouragement.
• Instead of pulling or sounding frustrated, use an excited tone to make walking sound fun!
5. Walking with Another Dog💙
• If your greyhound is social, walking with a calm, confident dog can help them feel more secure.
6. • Introduce a Target Game💙
• Teach your dog to touch your hand (or a target stick) with his nose for a treat. This can be used to redirect his focus during walks and encourage movement.
• Encourage calm movement by walking slightly ahead of your dog (but keep the lead loose) and crouch down while calling them in an upbeat tone. Reward even the smallest steps forward. Avoid pulling the lead, as this can create resistance.
When Walking Isn’t an Option: Brain Games at Home💙
If your greyhound struggles to go on walks, focus on mental enrichment at home until they feel more confident outside. Brain games can tire them out just as much as a walk!
Great Brain Games for a Frozen Greyhound:
• Snuffle mats – Scatter treats in a mat to encourage sniffing and problem-solving.
• Puzzle feeders – Use interactive toys that make them think.
• Training sessions – Teach new tricks like paw, spin, or touch.
• Scatter feeding – Toss kibble around the garden or living room to encourage movement.
• DIY obstacle courses – Use cushions, tunnels, and low jumps for fun, no-pressure movement.
By building your greyhound’s confidence at home, you’re making it easier for them to face the outside world.
Final Thoughts On The Behaviour💙
A frozen greyhound is not being stubborn or difficult—they are simply processing the world in the only way they know how. Understanding their instincts and giving them the tools to gain confidence will help them overcome freezing and enjoy their walks.
Remember progress takes time. Stay patient, celebrate small victories, and always work at your greyhound’s pace. With the right approach, they’ll soon learn that the outside world isn’t so scary after all!
