If there is no red flag, carry out step X consistently for seven days while keeping a record. With no meaningful improvement, switch to Y for the next seven days. A red flag at any time means stop increasing the challenge and use Chapter 28—do not wait for the week to finish.
Path · Barking
Record the trigger, then teach a workable pause
- X · Days 1–7
Keep a three-day ABC record, block or increase distance from the predictable trigger, and reinforce a quiet turn-away or mat response.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
Use a lower-intensity setup for three two-minute practices daily. Audit whether attention, an opening door or the trigger leaving keeps the barking going; never shout back.
- Red flag
Extreme fear with poor recovery, or freezing, growling or lunging at someone approaching: stop and go to Chapter 28.
Path · Destruction
Prevent rehearsal and identify the unmet need
- X · Days 1–7
Remove dangerous objects, use gates or a pen, and first meet sleep, toileting and safe chewing needs.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
Review when and where it happens, turn one meal into sniffing or a food puzzle, and expand access only under direct supervision.
- Red flag
Suspected swallowed material, injury while damaging an exit, or sudden change: contact a veterinarian first and use Chapter 28.
Path · Jumping up
Make four paws on the floor open access
- X · Days 1–7
Use a short lead or gate to prevent contact. Mark and give attention as soon as all four paws are down; practise the mat before arrivals.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
Ask one calm helper to rehearse controlled entries: mat first, then greeting. Advance after eight of ten greetings keep four paws down.
- Red flag
Freezing, growling, a bite that marks, or strength that makes an older person or child unsafe: separate safely and use Chapter 28.
Path · Lead pulling and lunging
Distance first, loose-lead learning second
- X · Days 1–7
Increase distance immediately and use a turn-away or food scatter. Tight lead stops movement; a loose lead lets movement resume.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
Move to a quiet route, practise “see, then look back” for five minutes at a distance where food still works, and check the Y-shaped harness fit.
- Red flag
No recovery from the trigger, redirected biting towards the handler, or loss of safe physical control: stop exposure and use Chapter 28.
Path · Alone-time distress
Return before distress, then build seconds
- X · Days 1–7
Record a baseline, find the shortest absence without distress, begin with seconds and return calmly before the response changes.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
Shorten to the last successful duration, separate keys and shoes from real departures, and add a safe chew the puppy can complete independently.
- Red flag
Sustained severe distress, drooling, damage around exits or self-injury: do not let the puppy “cry it out”; go directly to Chapter 28.
Greyhound-specific paths
Breed-specific 7 + 7 day path
Freezing on a walk
- X · Days 1–7
For 7 days, stop all pulling, use a gentle sideways arc or ground scatter to create an easier exit, and record surface, sightline, trigger distance and recovery time.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
If there is no improvement after 7 days and no red flag, use a quieter route for the next 7 days, begin farther away and reward one voluntary weight shift or step.
- Red flag
Jump to qualified behaviour help if freezing blocks necessary movement, eating or recovery, or the handler cannot maintain safety. Sudden freezing, gait change or apparent pain needs veterinary assessment.
Breed-specific 7 + 7 day path
Preventing sleep-space startle
- X · Days 1–7
Only when no snap or bite has occurred, spend 7 days making the bed interruption-free, using barriers around traffic and requiring adults to call from a distance before approaching.
- Y · No improvement after seven days
If the space still cannot be protected after 7 days and no snap or bite has occurred, strengthen child and visitor barriers and ask a qualified reward-based professional to review the setup.
- Red flag
Any snap or bite skips the waiting period. Secure separation, arrange qualified behaviour help and veterinary assessment, apply the management steps only while waiting, and never disturb sleep to test the response.