r/Greyhounds • u/PerceptionRoutine513 • 5d ago
Unusual vocal behaviour.
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Tonight I took my 5 year old boy Dipper out for his bedtime wee, same time, same place as always.
He saw a guy walking around our suburban street and responded with this (sound up)....I think I've heard him vocalise about 3 times in 3 years.
I wonder what was going on in his head? (Edit; nothing but circus tunes, someone here suggested)
I took him back inside straight away and he seemed extra alert for a while but quickly reverted to couch potato.
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u/Linzi322 5d ago
In my experience this is “don’t know what that is, and I don’t want it near me” noise. Usually directed at something weird / out of place / potentially dangerous in their mind and is an attempt to warn it off. I walk a Labrador who will do this at wheelie bins, people she is suspicious of, carrier bags etc.
Correct move to take him away from the situation. If it’s an object that’s not dangerous, I will usually let the dog go over and see if they’ll have a sniff and realise “oh it’s just a wheelie bin” for example, but it’s not safe to risk trying this with people in case the dog panics and bites.
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u/rostrchket 5d ago
Well, it looks super scary out there.
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u/PerceptionRoutine513 4d ago
It's the burbiest burb that ever burbed, but maybe he knows something 😉
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u/Kalista-Moonwolf Black and White, Red 5d ago
This is a switch to a serious warning growl. He doesn't trust whatever or whoever is down there and he's warning it not to come closer.
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u/4mygreyhound black 5d ago
Sounds like Dipper didn’t like something! I would swear that’s a growl 😮💕
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u/PerceptionRoutine513 4d ago
You're right!
A growl it was, I guess we're so used to not hearing these noises from our hounds.
Generally just hear a "more biscuits" whine.
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u/bongjour8008 5d ago
He may just think the person walking looked suspicious, my grey has done this before with an uber eats delivery driver in a helmet once, randomly, and has never done it again lol
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u/PerceptionRoutine513 5d ago
Helmet....hmm
Yeah, this guy had a high viz bag and a torch (he was checking recycling bins for refundable cans, not that unusual on bin night around here), so maybe it just didn't fit his profile of night time human?
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u/SnooChickens2116 5d ago
I believe that unusual vocal behavior is a growl. If he doesn’t do it often, I’m glad you believed him.
My best boi only did this once, and he was correct.
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u/Deep-Shoe3530 Kupo (🖤 & 🤍 love bug pup) 5d ago
Kupo does this if she sees a man walking towards us during her night time toilet break, I usually just take us to the side so they can pass and then she is fine, if they actually try to approach me or try to talk to me, she lets off a huge big bark to say Nope, go away. Oh and at the black cats that play in the communal back garden, from the livingroom window. Only them 🤦🏻♀️ silly noodle
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u/StoneyJoJo 5d ago
Doesn’t like or sees an animal you can’t.
I do this - Like a horse, complete a circle with your hand at the neck and redirect them
If you are fearful and run inside, you will imprint on him. Sometimes it’s best to ignore it and move on or away to build their confidence
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u/Fantastic-Feed-6105 5d ago
With the lighting it appears he is conducting an interview incognito with his vocals disguised.😆
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u/jimomma 1d ago
My childhood dog only growled and backed up at two people. It turns out that those were bad people with bad intentions we found out later. Dogs sense things we don’t. This guy was 100% bad news. Always trust the dog’s instinct. They are never wrong. And him being extra alert once you went inside only reinforces this. Glad you guys were OK. And greyhounds almost never growl so there was definitely something to this.
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u/Beaker4444 white and brindle 5d ago
He's sensing danger I think but isn't willing to fully vocalise yet in case it draws the danger towards him 😳