There’s a persistent myth that sighthounds and small dogs “don’t mix.” In reality, they often can live together peacefully and even form strong social bonds—but only under the right conditions, training approach, and environmental setup. Sighthounds are a group of dogs bred primarily for visual hunting—spotting movement and chasing at high speed over long distances.Their prey drive is the key factor that needs to be understood. Small dogs (like Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Pomeranians, and similar breeds) vary widely in temperament, but often share: - High vocalization (barking, alerting) - Quick movements and sudden bursts of energy - Strong personality and territorial behavior - Fragility due to size differencesThe important point here is not “small dog = problem,” but rather movement style + behavior triggers matter more than size alone.Rapid, unpredictable movement + high excitement = trigger for chase response in sighthounds - This does NOT mean sighthounds view small dogs as prey in a literal sense. - A Critical Foundation: Reframing the Sighthound’s Perception It is very important that a sighthound learns that small dogs are not prey, but are also dogs. This understanding can be achieved through: - Early socialization during puppy development - Calm, structured exposure to small dogs - Regular positive shared experiences in controlled environments - When sighthounds grow up consistently seeing small dogs as part of their normal social world—not as moving “triggers”—their ability to coexist safely increases significantly. Not every dog fits every home. Some sighthounds have high prey drive. Some small dogs are highly reactive or provocative. Compatibility is individual, not just breed-based.

Anyone knows the feeling? :p

Prey drive is a sighthound's “chase instinct.” It is something sighthounds are born with. It makes them want to run after moving things. When a dog sees something move fast, like: - a cat - a bird - a ball - a plastic bag :p Their brain can go: “CHASE IT!” They move first, think later. When a sighthound sees something fast-moving, their brain doesn’t pause to analyze. Sighthounds Do Not Hesitate Sighthounds were selected for one thing in hunting: speed of decision + speed of action. In the field, hesitation meant: - Prey gets away - Energy is wasted - The hunt fails So over generations, sighthounds bred to; - React instantly to movement - Commit fully once they detect it - Reduce “thinking delay” between seeing and chasing HOW TO LIVE WITH PREY DRIVE You don’t “control it.” You manage the environment around it. You only let your sighthound off-leash in places where they physically cannot run into danger. (So when something triggers them—like a cat running—they don’t really “scan everything else” anymore. Their attention narrows. They do not see the environment like other dogs when prey appears. They won’t notice cars, traffic, people, or a mountain exploding next to them :D Find Off-Leash Safe Areas, such as; - Fenced fields - Secure dog areas - Empty beaches Sighthound is born to run, and it must exercise off-leash. If there's no fence ; Scan your surroundings, make sure there are no animals around. Train your recall (it probably won’t work 100%) 😉 But if you spot an animal, dog, human, or any danger early enough, you can use recall before your dog reacts or sees it. Because recall with sighthounds usually won’t work once they start chasing. Optional, but for me it’s a must: have a GPS tracker. So if your dog runs out of sight, you don’t lose them. PS: If your sighthound is interested, you can join coursing events where they get a chance to chase a lure (fake rabbit) and fulfil their natural chasing instinct.

Sighthounds aren’t “normal dogs with long legs.” If you treat them like they are, you’ll make a big mistake. 1. They do not need marathon-level activity. Sighthounds are often misunderstood as “high-energy dogs” that need constant exercise or long daily runs. In reality, their energy is highly context-dependent. At home, a well-exercised sighthound is typically calm and still for long periods. In many cases, you may even forget they are in the room. They often: Sleep for most of the day Remain low-activity indoors This is normal behavior for the majority of sighthounds that receive appropriate physical and mental stimulation. However, if a sighthound is not given a proper outlet for their natural drive, this calmness can change and may be replaced by restlessness or frustration. Outside the home In open environments, their behavior changes significantly. They may show: - Sudden bursts of high-speed running (zoomies) - Intense focus on movement and distant stimuli - Strong visual tracking and prey response This shift is not constant energy—it is triggered energy. Key Takeaway Sighthounds conserve energy at home and release it in short, powerful bursts outside. They are sprinters, not endurance dogs. They do not require hours of continuous exercise to be satisfied. Important distinction They are not terriers or huskies. Those breeds are built for sustained activity and constant engagement. Sighthounds are different. They are not consistently active dogs. Instead, they are highly efficient energy users with a strong prey-driven sprint instinct.

Everybody yawns—usually when they’re tired or bored 😮‍💨 But there’s another type called contagious yawning. That’s when you yawn just because you saw someone else yawn. The “we-feeling” behind yawning Between humans, contagious yawning isn’t random. Research shows it happens more often between people who feel emotionally close. The stronger the bond, the more likely the yawn spreads. This connects to something called a “we-relationship”—seeing someone as part of your group, like “one of us.” What about dogs? A study at Birkbeck, University of London, tested 25 dogs. Each dog watched either: - their owner yawning - or a researcher yawning Over a short 5-minute period, their reactions were measured. The result Dogs yawned after their owners… But not after unfamiliar researchers. This was selective. What does this suggest? Yawning in dogs isn’t just imitation. It reflects attention, bonding, and social closeness. Science suggests it’s more than copying—it may be a sign of connection. ❤️ The “we” bond Humans and dogs may form a real “we-based relationship.” Not just owner and pet—but a shared social unit. In this bond: - emotions influence each other - attention is shared - trust runs deep It can feel like: “what matters to you, matters to me.” Let’s test it. Let’s make our own “noodle research” 🐶 Does your dog yawn after you? How often does it happen—and does it show up within a few minutes? Drop your answer below 👇