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Come talk to me about rescue greyhounds..... (please)

42 replies

mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 12:44

If i give you my story i would appreciate any tips, ideas, comments, criticism etc. Smile
There are five of us in my family dh ds5 dd7 dss13 plus two confident cats and a big fat guinea pig. I work from home and occasionally mobile (hair and nails) dh works 8-5. I have always had rescue animals, a few years ago i started to hanker for a dog but life just wasn't right to accommodate one. We went to the dog races a couple a years ago and that is were i fell in love with greyhounds we also have a couple of friend/acquaintances that have rescue greyhounds.
So life seems to have changed and we could next year fingers crossed afford a dog (dh now has permanent work) and so i have gone back to longing for a greyhound. I need a dog that will laze about whilst i do my clients one that will tolerate children (they will be dog trained as they have been cat trained) one that clean tidy and mellow (sounds like what you want from a husband lol) that can deal with 2 walks a day but that i can also build up to nice long rambles in the country does this sound like a greyhound or am i asking too much of any breed? also iv not owned a dog before Blush.
I would like to know about your hounds what traits do they have what illnesses are they prone to are they ill often etc. Also would i ever be able to let them off the lead? would i ever really need to? are they easy to train/well behaved etc?
And also how wonderful they are as pets.
Thank you in advance for 1 reading my looonng post and 2 replying

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impty · 07/11/2013 13:10

I think you'll find it hard to get a resue greyhound , because very few will be unable to resist chading your cats or guinea pig. With possibly terrible consequences! They are usually ex racers and therefore usually not great with small furries. I say usually, because its not always the case, but a cat friendly rescue grey isn't the norm.

I had this problem too. I had two cats but wanted a greyhound. I talked to lots of rescues, and ended up with a saluki x grey lurcher puppy. Because she was a puppy, she was taught to leave our cats alone (I suspect she sees them as special dogs, because other cats she will chase). Most hounds are very very lazy, but will happily walk with you for miles. My lurcher needed long walks when she was younger, but just gets about two 45 minute walks a day now, she could walk all day though.

Off lead, it depends on the dog, how much recall training you do. Some are off all the time, some never. I personally don't think it matters, but a good sized garden will help them be able to stretch their legs, and sun bathe.

Hounds don't have a great reputation for training, but I've found mine fairly biddable. They aren't particularly naughty, and they are certainly clever, just independent in thought. I think you have to persuade them to do what you want!

Illnesses- teeth and dental problems. I brush teeth several a month and have had no problems so far.

Honestly, I love my hounds (my other is an afghan). Quiet, chilled beautiful! What more could you want?

Unfortunately, lots of rescues have lurcher pups come in I suspect that's the way to go for you.

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 13:14

i was thinking of getting a younger one perhaps one that hadn't made the grade, i did think the cats would be a problem Sad can i be noisy and ask how much do your dogs cost on average per month? and did you get your pup as a rescue?

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 13:32

I don't know about re. the cats, all i can add is my friend has a rescue one - ex racer- and it hates walking, to the point it always looks seriously pissed off if on a walk :o and it doesn't cope terribly well in the rain. It makes me laugh so much! It is a great family pet though and is golden with her children

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impty · 07/11/2013 13:43

I got my lurcher from here. Both mine are rescues, but the Afghans story is long.

www.lurcher.org.uk/

I buy dry kibble and add some canned food just for interest (1/2 can per dog). Kibble (Gusto) I buy in bulk to get it cheaper, and the canned food from Costco. I reckon I spend only £15 per month per dog on food this way. They are tall, slim dogs so they don't eat tonnes of food..... well I'm sure they would if I let them Grin. Low protein is better though.

It is true that some hounds don't like rain, my lurcher isn't keen. I thought it was because Saluki's are desert dogs?

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impty · 07/11/2013 13:45

Damn I've just looked at the dogs needing homes section Sad

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impty · 07/11/2013 13:46

Ahhh they have a greyhound pup!

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mistlethrush · 07/11/2013 13:50

I've got a lurcher - and she'll cope on one decent walk a day but immediately switch to being out for 14 hrs exercising on holiday with no problem. She sleeps a lot in the house unless there's the possibility of a game (or food).

Cinnamongreyhound has just managed to rescue a cat-safe greyhound - followed by a cat-safe lurcher - the lurcher goes for long runs with her whilst the greyhound can't cover the same mileage.

How is this for the type of thing you might look at?

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 13:53

Thank you so much i have added it to my task bar to have a look at later i have also just found another rescue center in Great Yarmouth and will give them a call to, im going to look into insurance as well haven't a clue what that could cost Smile but £15 pm for food is doable im budgeting about £25-30 pm plus a credit card should anything horrid happen (it may seem awful but everything in our house i budget), Im really not looking at getting one until next year summer time is iv given myself plenty of time (which i see i will need) to find our perfect pooch. But it will definitely be a hound of some sort Grin

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 13:55

gosh that dog Hope is adorable

how on earth do people get away with keeping a dog like that, in those first photos, in this day an age? It beggars belief it really does

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impty · 07/11/2013 13:57

Tip, soft bedding. Use a (cheap) single duvet and fold up to right size for your dog. Cheaper than dog beds, easy to wash and change cover, not the end of the world if it gets chewed, thrown up on etc.

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 13:58

awww that lurcher link too! Please don't let me look at little dogs that needs rehoming!

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impty · 07/11/2013 14:01

owlady I've looked at Angels profile 4 times now.... I must step away from the computer....

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mistlethrush · 07/11/2013 14:02

Owllady - when the time is right, LL do home to families quite happily (provided its the right dog) and we got to 'foster' our dog first rather that officially adopt right from the start - this meant that if it turned out wrong for either us or the dog we could have a rethink etc. They rehome all over the country too - cornwall to Shetland! Lots and lots of support and backup too - and I'm sure that GWRE are the same (some rescues are not so good on the back up).

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CMOTDibbler · 07/11/2013 14:08

My lurcher came from ELGR too Impty.

We have 3 cats, two rabbits, and two chickens, and cmotdog is bottom of the food chain. We got him when he was 6 months old - he was a failed hare courser as he has a very low prey drive.

I think generally, a lurcher has more stamina than a greyhound, and a young dog is more likely to be furry friendly.

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Minnieheehee · 07/11/2013 14:09

My greyhound is an ex racer from a rescue. He lives with cats and small furries and a baby... He was retired for being rubbish, so that's clearly why he's responded to being trained to avoid the small furries.
He's an utter sweetie and a bit of a wimp to be honest. No dog is 100% with kids and he's never alone with DS. I'd highly reccomend a greyhound.why don't you spend some time helping at a local rescue, that way you may find one that's a good match. And please consider
a black one-they are often overlooked for the coloured ones!

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 14:12

mistlethrush, please don;t try and talk me into having another dog :o this is mothersmilk thread!

I was looking at angel too impty, she is lovely. She reminds me of one of the dogs I had as a child as her colouring is the same (though ours was crossed with a collie)

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:13

mistlethrush she is just what we would be looking for do you know if LL rehome all over the country we are is suffolk?

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:19

oh my iv just seen Annie as well on LL i want her too Sad may have to step up the buttering up dh

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 14:20

they do mothersmilk, she has posted that above :)

IMe breed specific rescues rehome nationwide and are very good on the support side of things and breed specific issues. Join their forum and get stuck in...

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:33

ok thats it im sold the only question now is what do i cook dh for dinner to soften him up before i give him the news Grin

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Owllady · 07/11/2013 14:38

a Chinese takeaway......

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CMOTDibbler · 07/11/2013 14:38

Sounds like a steak, chips and onion rings sort of conversation to me Smile

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:42

either one for my dh i think Grin what i need to make him see is that we need to begin looking now as it could take a year to get one that is best for us and i will need to save for the initial out lay but the ball is rolling and i am very happy now

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:46

im having trouble getting info on insurance without putting specific details can any on you helpful ladies give me an idea what i might pay? also am right in thinking dogs have vacs once a year like my cats? and how much are they?

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mothersmilkandherchickenseggs · 07/11/2013 14:47

initial outlay im looking at dog, bed, lead, coat, collar, toys and food would this be about right?

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