Greyhound - should I get another?

[79andnotout]

Hi,

Does anyone work for a greyhound trust or have experience of them?

I have a 5 year old greyhound who's high on the neurotic scale. She frequently freezes on walks if she hears a loud noise, or there's too much traffic/motorbike, or a gunshot/firework and our dog walkers have never managed to get her on a walk, after over a year of trying. However, she loves other dogs, especially sighthounds, and bounds around them wanting to play when we encounter any. We've had her three years and she's really grown in confidence in those years but is still very distrusting of the world outside our house.

Would getting a calmer, less neurotic grey help?

Thanks!

[CMOTDibbler]

IMO, sighthounds love being with other sighthounds, and especially getting to play and run. Whether it would help her with anxiety is another matter though tbh. One of my lurchers is generally fine, but hates fireworks/gunshots and it doesn't seem to be helped by being with ddog1 who isn't phased by anything. What has helped ddog2 is an Adaptil collar which was nothing short of miraculous for fireworks this year.

[dreaminofholidays]

hey, I haven't had mine as long as you but... our first grey is a nervous boy. He's terrified of men, fireworks etc and often freezes on walks.
We adopted a 2nd 7 months after we adopted our boy and she settled straight in. He takes confidence and reassurance from her when we are outside of house but in the house he is still the boss which is nice.
They have bonded beautifully, never a cross word and they really love one another. So happy to have our lovely pair.

I am sure you have more experience than me but I really think you know the matches which are right. So trust your gut when you take your grey to meet a potential sibling.

Good luck xxx

[Scattyhattie]

Maybe offer to foster to see how it works for you all & hopefully join the foster failures club A confident friend can help some anxious dogs but not always & they need to get along well.

My greyhounds always loved meeting other sighthounds & not that interested in other breeds. I've always preferred to have multiples, they can sometimes seem not that bothered about each other rather than chummy but do enjoy the company.

Many greyhound/sighthound rescues home nationally & are always needing fosterers if your local greyhound trust isn't forthcoming (GT kennels are independently run so quality/polices vary). Greyhound gap seem good at assessing & supporting its fosterers/adopters.

[79andnotout]

Thanks everyone for the info! It sounds like two if they were well matched might be the way to go. Our situation is a bit complicated in that we also have two cats and both work full time so she is alone on average four days a week from 8.30-4pm. Think this would stop us from fostering.

We have an experienced dog walker who comes in the afternoon, but our hound won't walk with them, so she gets half an hour of audiobook and some treats instead! Pretty frustrating but at least it breaks up her day. We've recorded her while we're out but all she does is roll around on the different sofas and sniff the cats when they come and go.

[Sexnotgender]

Following with interest!

We have a grey and he doesn’t do walking as he’s terrified of literally everything and just freezes. He’s a delight in the house and we have a massive back garden which he hurtles round multiple times a day so is getting plenty of exercise but wondered whether a second more chilled grey would help him overcome his fears of the big bad outside world.

[79andnotout]

@Sexnotgender - good you have a garden! We just have a small terraced garden that is no good for her. I think I'm going to track down some greyhound walking events to see how she fares on those. Might be a good place to start.

If anyone knows of any in the north west, I'd be interested!

[Poshjock]

My best friend married into a pair of elderly greys who wouldn't walk in the outside world. The introduction of a labrador and a beagle helped enormously!

I don't know the NW, but google search - you may find specialist rescue near you, often they will be glad of assistance in walking etc and that may give you the ability to see your ddog with others without committment.

[79andnotout]

Thanks @ Poshjock - there seem to be lots of greyhound places in the area, so guess I'll just contact a few and see what walking arrangements are etc.

She goes walking with our friends springer spaniel sometimes. He taught her to not be scared of getting her feet wet! Doubt she'll ever be jumping after him into streams, but at least she walks through puddles now...

[userxx]

My parents have a neurotic one so I fully understand!! I'm definitely thinking a confident male as a companion will help. I'd be giving it a go. Our neurotic one got a lot worse after losing her more confident companion, such a shame.

[dreaminofholidays]

@79andnotout what about the rescue you adopted your grey from? Is it worth seeing if they may have a match as they know your current girl too.
When we adopted our girl it was on foster with a view to adopt, I was terrified about them not getting on but they walked so beautifully together when they first met and were happy around one another.
Lots of greyhound rescues are happy with people who work full time as long as you have a way to break the day.

We have a local greyhound playgroup and that has been brilliant in helping my nervous boy. He's happy with all the men and people there now. Highly recommend.
Makants look to be really good from what I've seen online x

[MorningsEleven]

Racers are usually kennelled in pairs so they benefit hugely from having a pal after they retire.

[79andnotout]

Hi @dreaminofholidays - we got her straight from the trainers, not from a rescue. I contacted several rescues in my area and filled in the questionnaires and no one responded. Probably because I was a novice dog owner with cats. I was working from home then too, so it wasn't because I was out of the house.

As we got her straight from the trainers we had a lot of work to do - she had never been inside a house before. So it was a bit of a baptism of fire! Those first months were hard. Fortunately we have a good behaviourist and she helped us along a lot.

@userxx - yeah it seems most data points to that! I will see if I can walk her with some of the rescues and if any form a strong bond. She seems to love all greyhounds without fail, so don't think it will be difficult on her part.

[TheCounter]

I'd be wary about having another one that's more confident if you have cats tbh.
It only takes a sudden movement for certain greys instinct to kick in.

[Claredogmum]

A confident male will definitely help. The cats might be a problem though. Only one of my six I could have trusted with cats and I couldn't say 100%.

[79andnotout]

Hmm ok, that would definitely be a problem. Our grey has a decent prey drive but she's also quite eager to please and very food motivated so we could train her (indoors, outside there's no chance we could stop her).

[TheCounter]

Yeah I'd be very careful tbh. I've got a Whippet and it injured my sister's cat in her house as a result of me being lured into a false sense of security.
It began and ended in the space of a couple of seconds with no indication at all.
Been in the cats company loads of times and there was no warning signs, just the usual natural curiosity and playfulness routine until the cat got spooked and decided to attempt an exit.