Whether to take on rescue greyhound

[Ginrummy]

A greyhound’s temperament seems just right for us and it appears there are lots that need homes.
I’ve spoken to the rescue centre and they’ve told me the dogs are not house trained, so now I’m having doubts about what I could be getting myself into. How difficult is it to get them to toilet outside, as that’s my main concern? I always knew having a dog would be a commitment but I’m wondering whether I’m cut out for full on dog training!
Any thoughts much appreciated.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

There are lots of different rehoming centres with dogs of all different backgrounds.
What about lurcher rehoming groups?
The groups I follow on Facebook have a range who are either cat friendly or not, either small dog friendly or not, either house trained or not.

I've certainly toilet trained a puppy with no bother and I know folk who have done it with older dogs but they did take a few weeks annual leave.

But there's a dog to suit most circumstances. Just keep looking.

[Santaispolishinghissleigh]

I have this ....
She used to live outside in a kennel. Though very hard to believe!!
She also used to poach - but is now a very loving family pet. And very much house trained.

[fenneltea]

I have a rescue lurcher and have homed dogs that aren't house trained before. It just takes patience and perseverence; they want to be clean and usually won't want to soil inside once they realise that they can ask to go out and they have a regular routine of going out (first thing, after food, walks and last thing at night) with lots of praise when they do go.

I don't think you'd regret getting one, a good rescue will make sure they match you with a suitable dog.

[Ginrummy]

She’s lovely Santa. Did the training take weeks, months?
Ok, I’ll do some more investigating...and thinking!
My other worry is the chase instinct. We live by a busy road so I’m concerned about it getting out when we’re going in and out the front door and whether that’s too risky. But I guess the home checker will be able to decide that.

[Eloisedublin123]

I took in an abandoned lurcher a few years ago (starving running the streets/ rescues full). We caught him. And kept him for a few months till we found him a new home. And we had two other big dogs 🙈 And he was almost wild when we got him, covered in fleas and starving. He learnt to go in the garden in a few days and was very smart and wanted to please. He didn’t need much walking at all and slept the rest of the time. He was surprisingly calm!

[Santaispolishinghissleigh]

We have dc +2 dc and dcats! Her prey drive is as sloth like as her these days! We just went outside a lot saying 'have a wee'! We have other ddogs which likely helped but even saying have a wee now she will squeeze a drop if that's all she has left!! Very obedient, very very loving!
Here with her dd!!

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

In a similar position Gin - I am looking at getting a lurcher or greyhound in about 6 months time. I love walking and initially thought they would be a good match for that, but am wondering how hard the housetraining will be. If I'm honest it's one of the reasons I wanted a rescue dog, although perhaps the point is they won't have been well trained? I also have a cat (very very old) and am wondering if I should wait until they pass on? Hope you don't mind me chipping into the thread x

[YourHandInMyHand]

They aren't house trained but they are usually in kennels where they are let out to do their business at set times, they don't like to mess up their kennels. I found it odd to have a dog that didn't "ask" to go out to the toilet as that's what I am used to, whereas for greyhounds its a bit like how a neglected baby/toddler learns not to cry , they don't have that pattern of learned behaviour.

They do want to keep their living area clean though and like a routine. I initially used to pop mine in the garden at regular intervals, as well as 20-30 minutes after she'd had any food. She never wet or soiled in my house once while I was training her.

She was scared of certain household things though like the washer and drier and tv. She'd never seen them before! And I had to teach her, hands over paws how to get up a set of stairs. She now doesn't bat an eyelid at the household appliances, flies up and down the stairs and loves sofas and human beds.

Greyhounds are such lovely dogs, and as you say there are so many that need homes. Some rescues use foster families first so maybe that's something you could look at. I used a rescue called GRACE. Some of theirs are fostered and some come straight from kennels but they are all kid tested and cat tested, which was important to me as at the time we had a cat, and I have a child.

[Ginrummy]

Ah thanks everyone, definitely reassuring me to go ahead 😊

[Greydog]

We have our second grey. She has been badly treated at one stage, and is nervous of a number of things - white vans, motorbikes, bicycles, the wind. Yesterday a very large lady frightened her! She came straight from the rescue to us - some have been fostered so have a better idea of house living, but training her took no time at all, she would only go outside to pee and poo from the start. She won't get on the car, but once in is no problem! We've had her a year now, and she's such a happy dog at home, it's only outside that she's less confident. However, she also comes with us on reenacting events, and she's fine in our tent, and meeting people, cautiously! This is her at a WW2 railway event, where a steam loco came into the station, and she never turned a hair! There's no working them out sometimes. And she is bone idle!

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

whether I’m cut out for full on dog training!

You should anticipate having to do some training with any dog that comes to you, regardless of where it comes from. It might be training them to lie down, not get on the sofas or come back when you call, but there will be something, even if it's specific to your household.

The good news is that training is simple when you know how. I started with next to no knowledge 18 months ago and rapidly grasped the fundamentals.

Behaviour issues (eg aggression / reactivity, resource guarding etc etc) are a different kettle of fish, but basic training can be learned by anyone.

When you get DDog, sign up for some good quality training classes with a local APDT accredited dog trainer. If there's no APDT trainer in your local area, look for someone who offers positive reinforcement training, and avoid anyone who talks about pack leadership like the plague.

[Ginrummy]

Very funny image of teaching a dog how to use stairs!

[Ginrummy]

Avocados, I’ll look into that thanks.

[twiglet]

It depends on the charity we deliberately went with a charity which fosters first for our greyhound cross as we have a cat.

She was house trained mostly a few accidents but more due to being upset - really doesn't like men in hoodies my nephew managed to spook her.

Her preydrive is low unless it's a squirrel but we don't have many around us.

We did a lot of socialisation work with her and recall so she can be let off the lead now it's slow steps. Like others have said give them something comfy and they will sleep for hours!

[userxx]

Greyhounds are the best. Do it !!

[Toohotforme]

Try Greyhound Gap. We had our lovely boy from them - now sadly passed on. Most if not all of their dogs are fostered before being matched to a home. I love greyhounds they are the best!

[LuckyDiamond]

My auntie rescued the most amazing, chilled out 4 year old greyhound a couple of weeks ago. The poor guy has 2 x 20 min walks a day and a couple of meals. Other than that he sleeps. He’s only four but seems so knackered. He’s lovely though.

He chatters his teeth, even in the warmth. Don’t know what that’s about, it sounds almost like a cat purring.

[twiglet]

@LuckyDiamond it's exactly that it's a greyhound happy noise I've only known greyhounds and lurchers to make it.

[LuckyDiamond]

@twiglet I’m glad you posted cos we had no idea what it meant, we thought he might be distressed.

He’s so docile, I’ve never met a dog like him

[Vicliz24]

I have a whippet , not a rescue we had him from a pup . We had another one before him for 16 years . Sighthounds make the most wonderful pets and whippets and greyhound s are so cat like . They love to sleep and are so easy to house train . Some of the rescues have had dreadful treatment and most that I know of are extremely eager to please and very loving . My only word of warning would be to get their prey drive checked out if you can . Some are very prone to chasing and catching small furries. Eg the neighbours cats . Apart from that you couldn't ask for a better dog .

[Yourcupwillneverempty]

Greyhounds are very unique dogs, ex racers more so. Ours took days to be toilet trained really but won't ask to be let out so we just identified her moments and let her out then- after feeding, before visitors etc. She was trained very early on but we have problems with her being left alone, she will not go once she knows we're going out, gets very excited and will then stress pee when we're gone. We have wooden floors in the kitchen/ hallway/ bathroom so we just gate off the carpeted areas. You'll need a vet who has vetted greys before and they can cost a few bob in insurance. Basically they're a bloody nightmare but the loveliest dogs ever and can be the perfect addition to the family if paired right. Be warned, you get one and you want more!

[Wolfiefan]

With regards to dashing out the front? A stair gate is the solution.
Some greyhound rescues aren’t racers at all. And even racers may often be clean in their kennels. Some rescues foster. Like ELGR. So you would know what you’re taking on.

[Kentvalkerie]

Greyhounds are not housetrained, but they are kennel trained. It's the same thing and your greyhound will adapt very quickly.
My family have had greyhounds for 17 years now and they are just wonderful family dogs. The rehoming centre will help you choose the right one as they do vary; cat friendly, bouncy, nervous, happy living with other dogs etc. They tend to be very quiet to start with, but they gain confidence and start showing affection and their happiness rapidly. They love children and are extremely patient, their gentle nature builds confidence. My current grey hound comes to School with me and spends the day in my class of autistic boys. They adore him and he loves his fan club.

[fenneltea]

How lovely that your dog helps children kent, he sounds like a wonderful dog.

[CMOTDibbler]

I adore lurchers and greyhounds, they really are in general so chilled out and gentle.
Currently my two adult lurchers are upside down asleep on one sofa and my current two foster puppies are snoozing next to me. 6 months old and they are so lush. They've been with me for 5 hours and already snuggling up!