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Original poster

Anyone rehomed a greyhound? How did it go for you?

66 replies

wangle99 · 20/05/2007 10:09

I'm so excited after debating for a long time DH and I (and DD and DS of course) are hoping to rehome a greyhound soon.

Wondering if anyone else on MN has rehomed one and how did it go?

OP posts:
Original poster
wangle99 · 22/05/2007 21:46

www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

We are going via retiredgreyhounds as just happened to see a lady from there! I don't think they have any kennels specifically so am presuming they use local kennels. She hasn't said we will have to travel.

If you look on that site, there is a branch in North Devon/Somerset and in fact they have their own website which is quite good with dogs available on it. (So perhaps that branch does have its own kennels).

I have looked on other sites but nothing available near Cornwall of course sigh

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tortoise · 22/05/2007 21:55

Thanks. I will have a look.

expatinscotland · 22/05/2007 22:01

One of my best friend's has one. She's childfree by choice, however.

Davey is wonderful! He's a well-behaved chap.

He's not used to kids, but he gets on well w/DD1 when he comes around.

Very gentle.

I love their look, too.

tortoise · 22/05/2007 22:04

Looks like South West Sight Hounds - Bristol is my best bet. I have noted down a telephone number so i can phone tomorrow!

Let us know how it goes friday.

Original poster
wangle99 · 24/05/2007 21:56

Did you phone Tortoise?

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tortoise · 25/05/2007 17:43

Hi. No i haven't got round to it yet. I keep forgetting or am too busy!

Original poster
wangle99 · 25/05/2007 18:52

The lady from the Retired Greyhound Trust has been and we've been ok'd to get one

The only thing she pointed out was an area of our garden fence is missing so DH will be putting a board up there for the time being.

Having spoken to a friend who's a vet she recommended we didn't wait till July as the dog would get used to us being at home and then in September when I'm back at work and kids at school it would have a shock so hopefully getting one in next couple of weeks! Basically as soon as they can get a cat friendly male one to us!!!

We are going out to buy dog stuff now, sooooo excited!!!!!!!!

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tortoise · 25/05/2007 18:53

oooooh how exciting.I hope you find one soon.
I wonder what the opening hours are for phoning? Maybe i should just try it.

Original poster
wangle99 · 25/05/2007 20:44

Not sure Tortoise, if its a proper business might be 'office' hours but if its someone doing it at home then might be anytime.

Give it a go!

We just bought some raised bowls, a toy, a food scoopy and some treats

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tortoise · 25/05/2007 20:51

I will try tomorrow morning.

How exciting for you. I bet you can't wait.

hatwoman · 25/05/2007 20:54

we looked into this. I love greyhounds, they're so beautiful and elegant and gentle. but I was put off by the sight hound business. I couldn;t bare the thought of one catching anything - especially a cat!

edam · 25/05/2007 21:00

My sister had a lovey retired racing greyhound from the RGT. You do have to be very careful about the chasing thing, agree about keeping a muzzle on when out and about. And be aware about the fact that many of them haven't been well-treated during their careers, sadly, and aren't used to living with a family. (My sister's fell off the sofa because he'd never been anywhere near soft furnishings before and had no idea how to jump up, poor sod.) So stuff like tolerance of children can be tricky. But RGT woman should be making sure you get a dog who can fit into your household.

My sister's was very friendly and exuberant but sadly died only a few months after they had him (some kind of stroke).

tortoise · 25/05/2007 21:06

My mums chased and attacked a badger one night! He would go mad at the smell of my rabbit in its hutch and cats walking past!

Original poster
wangle99 · 29/05/2007 21:33

Heard today two dogs have been selected as suitable for us - both are male, 18 months old and are cat friendly. Presumably they were crap racers lol

Don't know when he is going to arrive but we are ready for him, bed, food, toys lol all here waiting!

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mandymac · 29/05/2007 21:38

My mum has an ex racing greyhound and he is lovely. Not phased by my 2 year old dd at all. One problem my mum had was that the dog wasn't house trained as such, as it had always been in kennels, I think she has pretty much got him trained now, but you might want to check this with the dogs that have been selected for you.

winestein · 29/05/2007 21:42

I chat to a couple of retired greyhound owners on "our" walks. The dogs are beautiful, and require relatively very little exercise and are known to be good with kids. Both are very gentle and both very good with my rambunctious dog. I would almost certainly have one if I ever had another dog. And always an ex-racer

tortoise · 29/05/2007 22:11

That was quick wangle99. how exciting.
I haven't managed to speak to anyone yet, even though i have phoned a few times.

Original poster
wangle99 · 30/05/2007 08:55

I had heard that they sometimes aren't housetrained - generally if they've come straight from kennels rather than a foster home. I think ours will have come from a foster home as we have children and they need to be sure they are suitable for a family environment. Its ok though we have wooden floors I can deal with mess!

Tortoise - keep trying!! It doesn't seem quick it seems ages, mind you the children are asking 20 million times a day (ok slight exaggeration!) 'is the dog coming yet' arghghgh

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Fubsy · 30/05/2007 22:24

Id love a greyhound or lurcher - but Ive heard that the rehoming places expect you to have a completely enclosed garden.

I have a shared drive with my neighbours, and they have threatened us with legal action if we so much as leave the car in the drive more than 5 minutes.

Obviously if I had a dog it would go out with us on a lead, or in the car on to the moor - we live near Dartmoor.

Would that completely preclude us from adopting?

merlotmama · 31/05/2007 23:58

A colleague is traumatised this week because her neighbour's greyhound got hold of her cat. I'll spare you the details but the cat is no longer with us and what was left of it didn't look too nice.

alycat · 01/06/2007 00:28

Wangle, how's the dog? have you got it yet??

I was brought up with Afghan Honunds and when I'd left home a few years decided to get a greyhound - like the hound shape, so elegant, can't be doing with all that fur (off affies)!

Our greyhound, Cuthbert - yes really- was fab! Fully house trained, never chased a cat/rabbit/badger/hedgehog - although did once have a huge goat over!

He had 2 short walks a day and just lazed around the rest of the time, bit anxious if left in the car chewed a bit off the door whilst I was paying for petrol, but was the best dog ever.

I worked really long days in Londo and used to drop him off at the 'dog minder' on my way to the station. Sometimes I'd go to collect him and he'd be in the kids paddling pool, sandwiched under 2 small children and being washed!

One of our cats has just died, and when the other goes will def get another greyhound - she's old and the shock of a dog indoors would finish her off now ther's a thought!

Original poster
wangle99 · 01/06/2007 18:38

Alycat - fingers crossed for tomorrow we should be bringing our new greyhound home and I am SOOOO excited!

Apparently there is a HUGE waiting list for cat friendly greyhounds ie hounds that have NEVER raced or are a bit crap at racing and therefore have been retired very early (about 18m old) but spoke to lady who runs the nearest greyhound kennels (in Devon) and she has a dog that has been living in her house and totally ignores her cat, she said she is quite happy for him to go to a cat home and will not take long to accept the cats living here.

I asked her a time schedule for getting the dog from her and she said 'tomorrow morning any good for you'

We are actually going up tomorrow afternoon so fingers crossed.

Greyhound

merlotmama that is awful, did the cat stray into the dog's garden?

OP posts:
Original poster
wangle99 · 01/06/2007 18:39

I should have said that link is for the greyhound we are hopefully getting!! He's currently called 'Jimmy'.

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Original poster
wangle99 · 02/06/2007 20:20

We have our dog

Drove today to pick him up - the journey was a nightmare due to holiday traffic leaving and entering Cornwall so took longer, Jimmy (now renamed Murphy by us) travelled well, he was very anxious and kept panting but is doing fantastic!

He has thoroughly ignored our cats and the local neighbourhood dogs, he is getting on ok with PILs dog, he's eating, drinking going outside to the loo and has been on two walks! Obviously its early days but he's lovely and already it seems odd to think he wasn't here before today!

Couple of pictures...

Pic 1

Pic 2

OP posts:
Fubsy · 02/06/2007 20:45

He looks very relaxed and settled already! Good luck with him.

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