Bringing home a sighthound puppy is an incredible experience.
They’re fast, intelligent, affectionate… and if you’re not careful, a handful.
If you’re reading this early, you’re in a great position. Because the mistakes most owners make?
👉 They’re completely avoidable.
Let’s break down the three biggest mistakes new sighthound owners make, and how to get it right from day one.
⚠️ Mistake #1: Not Starting Training Immediately
This is by far the most common mistake.
Most people:
- Pick up their puppy
- Put them straight in the car
- Wait days (or weeks) to start training
👉 That’s a huge missed opportunity.
Training doesn’t start “later”, it starts immediately.
Even something as simple as:
- Asking for a sit before getting in the car
- Waiting calmly before entering the house
These are micro training moments that begin shaping behaviour instantly.
Sighthounds are intelligent.
They’re always learning.
👉 The question is: are you teaching them what you want… or letting them figure it out themselves?
🧠 Mistake #2: No Boundaries (Because They’re “Cute”)
Let’s be honest…
Sighthound puppies are VERY good at getting their own way.
Those eyes?
That calm nature?
👉 It tricks owners into being too soft.
But here’s the problem:
If you let things slide early on:
- Jumping up
- Ignoring commands
- Pulling on the lead
👉 It becomes harder to fix later.
Sighthounds will push their luck if given the chance.
That’s why:
👉 Clear, consistent boundaries from day one are essential.
Not harsh.
Not aggressive.
Just consistent.
🐕 Mistake #3: Forgetting They’re Working Dogs
This is the one that catches people out the most.
Sighthounds were bred to:
👉 Chase
Which means:
- High prey drive
- Fast reactions
- Easily distracted outdoors
If you don’t account for this early…
👉 Walks become a nightmare
👉 Recall becomes unreliable
👉 Focus disappears outside
This is why early training is so important, especially using high-value rewards.
Because if your dog values the environment more than you…
👉 You lose their attention.
💡 Bonus Tip: Be Prepared for Puppy Accidents
When bringing a new puppy home, especially in the early days:
- New environment
- New food
- Stress / excitement
👉 Loose stools are very common.
And if it happens in public… it can be a nightmare to deal with.
That’s exactly why I created:
It turns loose mess into a clump so you can pick it up easily, no stress, no awkward situations.
🔗 Bringing It All Together
You’ll notice something important:
👉 All three mistakes are connected.
If you:
- Don’t start training early
- Don’t set boundaries
- Don’t respect their natural instincts
👉 You will run into problems.
But if you do the opposite?
- Start training immediately
- Be consistent with boundaries
- Use the right rewards
- Understand your dog
👉 You set yourself (and your dog) up for success.
🐾 Final Thoughts
Sighthounds are incredible dogs, but they require the right approach from the very beginning.
Keep it simple:
- Start training immediately
- Don’t fall for the puppy eyes
- Remember what your dog was bred to do
Do that… and everything becomes easier.
👉 Want to Make Training Easier?
If you want to improve your dog’s focus and make training smoother:
👉 I highly recommend these sausages.
And for those early puppy accidents: