Thinking of getting a dog, any advice welcome

[YourHandInMyHand]

I always had dogs growing up and would love to have one. We have a big garden, room for a dog bed and I have time for walking.

DS is 8 and likes dogs but has said he wants a good one "not a bitey bouncy one" (he's referring to a dog he's previously encountered).

I'm not working at the moment as I'm DS's carer, if I went back to work it would be part time, and if I was working a full day I would use a local dog walking or doggy daycare service I think.

I rather fancied a grey hound but local grey hound lady was a bit stumped last time I called as I have a cat and all the ones they had in had strong prey drive.

Does anyone have any advice on breeds that may be suitable? I'm wanting mellow rather than bouncy - have lived with both ends of the spectrum, labrador and cocker spaniel and know which end I preferred (though I did love the bones of both of them). I would prefer to rehome a rescue dog rather than give money to breeders.

[Scuttlebutter]

Around 20% of greys can live very happily with cats, so although you may have to wait a little bit longer, you can find one, and many rescues do have them. I'm meeting a rescue friend tomorrow at lunchtime - she has two gorgeous lurchers and several cats and the lurchers know who's boss!

If you mention roughly where in the UK you are we can recommend some good rescues for you. Most rescues, even if they don't have a cat friendly one in at the moment you call, will happily put you on a waiting list.

Good luck!

[YourHandInMyHand]

Thanks for that reply, didn't realise as many as 20% are okay with cats.
The lady did mention some lurcher pups but I didn't want a pup as DS would be a lot happy with an older more relaxed dog. I think the bouncy puppy stage would be too much for him!

My town is l l u H (switch it around I've typed it backwards so it doesn't come up in searches).

[ditavonteesed]

I am intrigued to know which of lab and cocker falls at which end, I have a cocker and very good friend has a lab and I would say they are very similar with regards to bouncyness.

[ditavonteesed]

there is a lovely grey rescue in sheffield (just outside) if that wouldnt be too far, they told me they get cat freindlies in.

[YourHandInMyHand]

ditavonteesed really? Our cocker spaniel was very very full on. Extremely fussy and bouncy. Our lab was soo laid back. He'd look at you like this while kids were running about, as if to say "who can be bothered with that?"

A few other relatives have had labs and spaniels and they have fitted with this. ^

Sheffield may be okay. Would want to visit and spend time with dog before making decision though and don't drive. Will have to look at travel times.

[McFarts]

Yup my lab certainly is as zippy as your cocker , tho in fairness OP he is 100% working lab and is far from your big laid back type of lab, at home tho as he has matured, he is laid back, so long as ive run his little legs off as some point .

[Scuttlebutter]

I think Dooinmecleanin fosters greys for a rescue in the NE so hopefully she can namecheck a few. I'd definitely recommend RGT North Yorkshire Branch, and there is Tia Greyhound Rescue in Yorkshire as well. If you click here you can see a list of the RGT branches in the NE.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Thanks for that link I will have a look.

[TheCunnyFuntWearingAPoppy]

Your the Lincolnshire Greyhound trust often have cat friendlies in, it's where I got my Grey from. The main Kennels are in Boston which is almost 2 hours away from you, but the other, smaller kennels are only an hour. See here. I know it's a bit of a trek but Kev and Mandy really know their stuff, they are always happy to help with aftercare. I really recommend LGT :)

If you ever want any help on Greyhounds or other sighthounds (or even just to talk pointy!), pop over to the Pointy hounds cushion sometime :)

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Yes I do, I foster with GRACE

They do get cat friendlies in (I have a cat). There are more, I'll find out their details and let you know.

[Aquelven]

That about a Staffie?
They aren't as bouncy as most other terriers, great big softies they are. And brilliant with children.
There are always lots of them to choose from in rescue as they have a completely undeserved reputation based solely on their looks.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Aquelven - unfortunately there are lots of the kind of staffie owners around here that give them a bad reputation and because of this DS is a bit scared of them. He's a very black and white thinker so whilst I can think about breeds with an open mind in this case I know it will be a no go for DS.

The GH rescue I spoke to previously was my city's one. Last night I emailed the next nearest regional one asking about cat friendly dogs.

If I found a rescue that was a fair stretch away would that be possible for the actual rescue? I'm just thinking from a practical point of view it will mean a long drive for them too when they do a home visit. ??

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Not necessarily a problem, it depends on the rescue. GRACE will re home hours away if the home appears to be right on paper, some rescues re home around the country and have home checkers for different areas.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Oh that's good then D0oin

I will wait and see if I hear back from my local GHT first. Am hoping they are a bit more positive about finding me a cat friendly one than the one I called before.

[TheCunnyFuntWearingAPoppy]

Your, I don't know about other rescues but LGT have rehomed to Poland, Switzerland, Ireland, Cornwall (admittedly these already had LGT dogs) and other places in the country that are a fair way to travel. Where you are wouldn't be a problem for them.

I think your best bet if you really want a GH is to get on the cat friendlies waiting lists of all the GH rescues that you'd be willing to travel to.

There is also GRWE, they rehome all over the country, but they aren't just grunds, they have Lurchers and sometimes Salukis and Whippets too :)

[TheCunnyFuntWearingAPoppy]

I should add that although the LGT rescue is based in Boston, the people that run the charity snd do all the homechecks only live in Lincoln.