Gala, our 'Galgas' or Spanish greyhound (yes, those that are tortured, hung, etc in Spain after being deemed as 'past it' as hunters) leads a double life. With me and son she is happy, waggy and playful, but when Mark is about she becomes a silent scared beast. Not that Mark resembles, or at least I imagine not, a Spanish hunter - being six foot six, blue eyes and pale-skinned.
We have no idea why she views him as a threat, but after two years it's no different - I can only imagine she saw or suffered some terrible things as a pup and has never recovered, viewing all men as a threat. Anyway, in order to try and create a different atmosphere we have become a host family to another Galgas who we are assured has no fear of men. And so far this is totally accurate. She loves Mark: head on knee, follows him about, whimpers when he has disappeared from the room for more than a few minutes, etc. So far so good, and I hope a little of her extrovert-ness might teach the older dog to be less afraid.
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