“My dog’s got one on them today!”
Something I hear quite often from people with sighthounds, especially on windy days!
Perhaps your dog seems more distracted, a little more excited or less responsive than usual. You’re doing your usual walk, but they seem to be noticing absolutely everything except you.
Sound familiar?
Let’s look at a few reasons why windy days might affect your sighthound’s behaviour, and how we can make things a little easier for them.
Sighthounds so are Greyhounds, Whippets, Lurchers, Salukis (to name a few) were bred to notice movement
Sighthounds were originally bred to hunt, predominantly using their eyesight. Spotting and responding to movement is a big part of what they were bred to do.
Now picture a windy autumn day. Leaves blowing around, branches swaying, things moving everywhere!
Think how often we catch something moving out of the corner of our eye. Now imagine being a sighthound, bred to notice movement.
Suddenly, there’s a lot more going on and a lot more competing for their attention. That leaf blowing across the path might be rather difficult to ignore!
Add in scent
Have you ever noticed your sighthound walk past something, then suddenly turn back for a sniff?
They may have caught an interesting scent and need to go back for a proper investigation!
On a windy day, the wind carries scents around, changing where and how your dog picks them up. A scent might suddenly catch their attention, seem to disappear or be harder to pinpoint.
So, alongside everything they can see moving, there’s information arriving through their nose too.
They might need a little longer to investigate something that we haven’t even noticed.
And then there’s sound
We know dogs have fantastic hearing. Especially when you’re trying to quietly open a packet of treats!
But think about how different things can sound on a windy day. Leaves rustling, gates rattling, branches moving.
Something that’s usually quiet on your walk might suddenly be making a noise. There might also be sudden gusts that set several things rattling at once.
That’s potentially a lot more for your sighthound to notice and make sense of, particularly if they already find certain sounds worrying.
Not forgetting how the wind feels
Think about walking into a strong wind. The wind pushing against you, catching your clothes or suddenly coming from a different direction. It can feel quite different to walking on a calm day!
Our sighthounds feel that wind against their bodies too. For those with fine coats and little insulation, a cold wind may also make the walk less comfortable.
It’s another thing that can make a familiar route feel very different.
The usual walk, with more to process
We might think, “But we walk here every day!”
And we do. But on a windy day, there’s potentially:
More movement to notice.
Different scents to investigate.
More sounds to make sense of.
Different sensations against their body.
That’s a lot more going on for your sighthound.
If they seem more distracted, excited or unsure than usual, think about everything that’s happening around them. The environment may be asking more of them that day, even though you haven’t changed your route.
How to help your sighthound on windy days
When the environment gets harder, make the training easier!
If you’re practising skills on a windy day, think about what you’re asking of your dog and how you can help them succeed.
Adjust your expectations. Something they find easy on a calm day might be more challenging today.
Choose easy, familiar skills. Give them opportunities for quick wins.
Notice those little moments of connection. A glance back at you is still worth noticing, praising and rewarding.
Consider your route. A quieter, more sheltered walk may feel more comfortable.
Be willing to change the plan. If they’re finding things difficult, you can shorten the walk or head home.
You don’t have to fit the same amount of training into every walk. Sometimes, giving your dog time and making things a little easier is the most helpful thing you can do.
Every sighthound is an individual
Of course, some sighthounds absolutely love windy days! Others would much rather be tucked up somewhere cosy.
Notice how your own dog responds. Are they enjoying investigating, getting excited by everything moving or looking uncomfortable and unsure? That can help you decide what support they need.
What about your dog? Do you notice a change in your sighthound on windy days? I’d love to hear about them.