Home check tomorrow night! Any tips??

[PacificDogwood]

After much rumination (see multiple threads ) we have decided to go ahead an foster a greyhound with a view to joining the Failed Fosterers Club and keeping him in due course

I've walking dogs for this particular charity for a few months, I grew up with a number of dogs, but have never owned one as an adult and don't have any sighthound experience (although I am learning).

The woman who will come for the home check tomorrow said to not prepare anything specifically (for instance, I am well aware that our indoor guinea pigs are currently not secure enough, nor is our garden) and that she wanted to see the house/garden as it was.
I have solutions in my head for all the problems I can foresee and have bought posh biscuits

Any other tips?
Anything I should ask specifically or any questions I might need to anticipate?

I have my eye on a dog, but am not sure how long it might take to be approved.

[Whippet81]

When I do a home check (for greyhounds) I'm mainly looking that the house and garden are safe and secure.

You will also probably be asked about discipline and using positive reinforcement etc (basically they want to know you're not going to beat the dog!). Also about how long dog would be left, what you would be feeding, where they will sleep etc. Also are you prepared for accidents as obviously most are not housetrained fully (although mine pretty much picked it up straight away with a few accidents when he got the asking the wrong way round).

Please don't get worried I go on the basis of finding a hound a lovely home not catching people out.

My main concern would be your piggies. Typically greyhounds and small furries do not mix. I have got friends with pigs in the garden but never indoors - are they in the main living room?

I am a bit surprised they want to see your house as it is - if someone told me things were not secure I would ask them to make it so and then I would visit. Surely they will want to visit again when you have made the changes?

Anyway good luck - greyhounds are the best pets in the world (biased). There is also a massive greyhound community on Facebook if you are on it - look up the Circle of Hounds and Sighthounds on Sofas - they are friendly groups that will look after you.

[BabeRuthless]

We had a home check from dogs trust and they were mainly concerned that the garden is secure. I think dogs being stolen from gardens is sadly becoming more common so that'll be something they may well look at. The man who did our check said it was more them advising on what would need doing rather than a flat out no if something isn't right.

[PacificDogwood]

Ty so much for your posts.

Whippet, I was hoping you'd turn up, what with your experience (there's a gorgeous whippet puppy waiting for a home in the rescue I am dealing with….).

Yes, I was surprised too that they were keen to come as is, but I know that they have dogs fostered by people in flats and with no gardens etc.

The GPs are in what's known as the 'play room' - no longer used as such and not our main living room, so my plan is to have a baby gate at the door AND bold the door high up (out of little people's reach).

I don't really 'do' FB, but this blasted dog idea may well change that….

I am hoping tonight's visit will come up with constructive advice and am happy to go with that.

[PacificDogwood]

Well.

We are only fecking approved! [grin}

Home checker brought one of her own hounds with her, my boys were all over him like a rash and he was lovely and v tolerant.
He then proceeded to do a ginormous wee in our hall.
Which he stepped into and then put pee-mud paw prints all over the carpet in the living room.

I was and [worried] because DH needed to be won over that a GH would be Well Behaved.

Oh dear.

He's not said a word since .
I think it was a really good baptism of fire…

Now waiting to hear about a suitable hound

[Whippet81]

Oh well done :)

Hmm maybe she was seeing how you would react lol to the piddle - one way to find out.

Would be no problem people not having a garden - I live in a flat and don't let mine in the garden in the winter loose (as he turns it into a race track) only a problem not being secure if you're going to let them in it unsupervised.

GP situation sounds fine to me :) ooh a whippet claps they are fabulous little hounds and so lovely with children. Tell DH pointy hounds are generally well behaved - I now know hundreds and to be fair there aren't many you see that are a lot of bother. Mine has never destroyed anything (other than toilet rolls - don't leave them about) and doesn't ever bark. I can leave him for quite a few hours and he doesn't do anything. You do have to be patient for a bit as they might be anxious but they're generally too idle to cause mayhem.

Oh and you do realise you will never be able to go to the toilet alone again?

You must join in the fun on Facebook - you will end up making your dog a page and everything.

I'm sure the rescue will support you but feel free to PM me - please let us know who you end up with. Also remember the first one you foster maybe won't work and you'll pass them on but you'll have done a wonderful thing - there will be one you will fall for and never let go - just don't feel disheartened if it isn't the first.

[PacificDogwood]

Aw, thank you, Whippet, for your kind words.

I have only just started being able to go to the toilet on my own as my darling offspring no longer feel the need to follow me there!

She told me that the whippet pup has found a home since I saw him and I am happy for him.
Puppies do melt my heart, but I really know that I don't want to take on a puppy just now - my ideal dog is a young adult, around 2 years old (so maybe a bit younger than your average retired racer but there's plenty about here with minor injuries that stop their racing careers, but not their suitability as a pet), I am not bothered about gender or colour. I would like to avoid a chewer - I'd rather cope with puddles than a chewed kitchen tbh.

FB scares me…. - the hounds may get me to have a look though.

I think fostering is right for us just now, just because if the first hound is not for us, I won't feel bad letting him/her go because I know they are going to their forever home so it's all good .

We shall see.
It was lovely to see the kids' reactions to the dog - DS4 walked him around with his Build-a-Bear lead and DS2 fed him some hot dog and he got our left-over dinner from one of our dinner plates

Good grief, I so need a dog in my life!

[Whippet81]

To be honest I think puppies are gorgeous but overrated I would never have one again. They are incredibly hard work. Also you don't always get the chilled out greyhound thing with them as a lot of that comes from having to hang around in kennels or vans all day waiting to race.

I see plenty at our local kennels that are 2/3 so I'm sure something will come up.

Dogs are great for children - there was never a moment I can remember as a kid where we didn't have an animal in the house - there seems to be a bit of pearl clutching when it comes to dogs and children but as long as you're sensible and have the right type of dog it's invaluable to them.

Fostering is by far the best option - it basically gives you scope to sort out what you can cope with without the guilt of giving up on them. Different people cope with different things. Like you I couldn't cope with a destructive dog but I can cope with them quite strong on the lead and with high prey drive - others can't. I don't mind the odd accident in the house but I couldn't cope with a constant barker.

Anyway I'm waffling on - enjoy finding your hound!

[PacificDogwood]

We shall be doggy foster parents from Thursday coming!!

I am literally grinning from ear to ear

[Whippet81]

:D what will be arriving?

[PacificDogwood]

Meet Monty, age 2 years, blue.
And lovely!

[Whippet81]

Oh he's lovely! Has he got a little overbite? (Might be the pic) I find this amazingly cute. Really hope he works out for you.

[gailforce1]

Very excited for you, he is handsome! Only 2 more sleeps!!

[PacificDogwood]

"Only 2 more sleeps" is what DS4(5) has been saying all day

I went to Pets@Home today and got totally overwhelmed by the choice of…. stuff. OMG. It's just like thinking about what you need for a new baby!
I keep having to remind myself that he is our foster dog and not our own well, for the time being anyway…

I am not sure about whether he has an overbite, I don't think I noticed. But yes, he is amazingly handsome

[GreySlippersBobby]

You need a sofa. I would say that's the most important piece of equipment when it comes to GHs.

[PacificDogwood]

So I hear!

I've not informed DH of this little tidbit of information…. let him find out for himself

On a more serious note: do I need to get a crate??
I'll have 3 days at home before Monday when I will be at work all day (usually 10-12 hrs) and Monty will be with our childcare (who is dog savvy and almost as excited as I am ). There may of course be occasions when he will have to be left in the house on his own… so, crate, yes or no?

He's only just stopped racing, has had a few weeks in boarding kennels, but nobody knows him that well yet. Clean in kennels, friendly with people, I've seen him really wanting to join in other dogs playing (retrieving sticks), was great with 2 of mine, but whether we'll have lots of accidents in the house or chewing or howling at night?? Who knows…

[PacificDogwood]

Raised feeder being tested

[gailforce1]

But did it pass or were modifications recommended?!

[PacificDogwood]

It passed.
They wanted breakfast in it this morning and I had to point out that is was the DOG's and that they were not to interfere with the dog eating...

[gailforce1]

Only ONE more sleep...

[PacificDogwood]

I had to put stuff back on shelf today as I am in serious danger of going over the top with dog related stuff

[gailforce1]

Hope all goes well tomorrow. Will be looking out for photos!

[Whippet81]

Personally would only resort to a crate if a dog was destructive or became very anxious and needed a 'safe' place.

I have members of my family who crate their dogs almost permanently (I know you wouldn't do that) and it has put me off as I think they are greatly misused.

I have got a friend who rehomed a GH who was very anxious and she had a crate covered in the living room he could go in if he wanted and it was fab.

See how he goes. My boy just lies across the floor all day (they are a tremendous trip hazard).

Good luck for today.

[Whippet81]

Oh just wanted to add another bit of advice (I'm full of it) GH's can be quite sleep aggressive - doesn't mean they are nasty just easily startled - they can also can sleep with their eyes open - make sure your boys call him before they touch him when he is lying down to just make sure he is awake and they don't startle him.

[PacificDogwood]

30 minutes to go

I've just reinforced to the boys:

• leave dog alone: let him come to you, don't crowd him
  
• never disturb when eating
  
• don't disturb when on his bed
  
• if he's taken something that belong to you, don't try to get it back; call me
  
• if he's done a pee (or worse!) in the house, don't panic, tell me
  
• don't let dog out without lead with an adult at the other end of it.
  

I've reminded them that they got a chocolate button every time they successfully did a wee in the potty when they were little, and that we would do the same (with doggy treats) for every successful wee in the garden.

Unfortunately I will need to go out tonight for about 1 hr - DH will be here, but he is not v dog-savvy. We shall see - I might come home and DH has already chucked him out he's a big softie

Re crate: I am only considering it as a safe place away from our kids and their numerous friends - it can be a noisy house. There's plenty of room for a crate out of the main traffic areas. It would be decked out to be his 'den' rather than a cage and I would only close the door when a particular need arose.

[gailforce1]

Hope all is going well? Been thinking about you this evening...