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Original poster

advice please about possibly getting a dog

34 replies

chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 15:34

I have a 14 year old cat and a 3.5 year old child. I am pretty definate about not having any more children and my husband and I would like a dog, for us and our daughter. I think she needs someone to play with around the house and for a run around the park. she loves dogs, my cat is too old and been with me all her life and just runs away from her.
I am thinking specifically about a retired greyhound!

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 15:37

I would personally not get a dog with a 14 year old cat unless your cat is used to dogs.
They become very old and kranky! My 14 year old cat has attacked one of my dogs twice this month and has never done it before. If the dog retaliates could be fatal

Apart from that it's a great idea. Not sure about a retired greyhound being very playful but thats because I have never had one. Hopefully someone who does will be able to say if they make good playmates for children

SixKindsofCrisis · 12/08/2007 15:40

Retired greyhounds are meant to make lovely pets but you will have to check at the rescue centre whether the dog you want will be able to live with cats. Greyhounds are keen hunters of cats. A neighbour recently took on a greyhound and had to return it because it hunted his cat. The second greyhound he gor was fine with the cat.
3.5 sounds a good age for a child to start being with a dog. Some breeds and individual dogs are much less tolerant of kids than others. When my dcs were tiny I chose a gundog breed because they are v v tolerant. I now have a terrier who would not like to be around small children but is fine with my 8 and 12 yo

Original poster
chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 15:40

I have been told and looked on the retired greyhound trust site, they apparently make very good family pets and they retire them as young as 3 years old, many can live with cats and love children. AND they are short haired so won't malt everywhere. Just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences?
I am worried about my cat though???

OP posts:
SixKindsofCrisis · 12/08/2007 15:45

The neighbour I mentioned had previously had another greyhound (died of old age) that was also ok with his cat. So 2 out of 3 of his dogs lived happily with cat.
I guess you'd just have to talk in detail about the individual dog you might take on -- and check that if things worked out too badly you could return the dog.
(All three of his greyhounds were lovely in my view! Gentle, sensitive, beautiful.)

magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 15:46

Whats your cat like with other dogs? Some cats are very tolerant others aren't. One of mine is fab and the other isn't

Original poster
chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 16:00

well we would be getting it from th retired greyhoung trust and on their website they have each one assessed as being okay with kids/cats etc or not. so I guess you just have to go by their view and then if it doesnt work out try another one from them.
My cat has not really come into contact with any dogs, she is okay with cats asong as they dont come too closeto her and my friend lived with me for a while with a gerbil and she wanst' bothered about that at all.

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 16:02

Ok then I would be very wary to be honest. If she has never had any contact with dogs before, is 14 so pretty set in her ways it may be hard to expect her to tolerate a dog in the house.

Speccy · 12/08/2007 16:04

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newy · 12/08/2007 16:04

As the owner of a dog, would just like to say puppies are vv hard work. Mine is now 10 and ds is 4months. Dog slightly disturbed by crying and used to start barking (not good for the neighbours) but got used to it. Main problem is with dog taking toys etc also loves to chew nappies so make sure they are out of reach! Also dog v friendly but also v clumsy so have to make sure she doesn't tread on ds.

magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 16:06

Newy, the OP is talking about getting an older dog
But I agree puppies are bloody hard work

Speccy · 12/08/2007 16:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 16:09

Agree with speecy about older dogs with younger kids. From previous experience I would alkways get a puppy with children under 8
But thats just me and it can work out well.

magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 16:09

Sorry Speccy, can't spell today

Original poster
chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 16:10

well I guess i was VERY worried about the gerbil being so like a mouse, cat-mouse
etc etc and suprised she took no notice

I dont want to get a puppy for all those reasons, weeing everywhere, scratching house and furniture and us being at work all the time, thought I could get a nice kennel and dog could live outside in kennel also big brick garage off back garden, while at work instead of stuck indoors all day.

I would wait for cat to go before but she could be with us for years yet!

OP posts:
Speccy · 12/08/2007 16:10

This reply has been deleted

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Speccy · 12/08/2007 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 16:15

okay okay, feel like I am being told off now lol. actually thought cat might be able to slope off and be quiet in her old age without dd chasing her around everywhere and trying to play with her if I got a dog who atually WANTS to run round the garden and park etc .

OP posts:
RubberDuck · 12/08/2007 16:27

chocolatemummy: be aware that most greyhound rehoming centres will NOT let you keep them outside. They have very thin coats and are not suitable for living outside. Plus they should be kept on a lead at all time outside (if they start to run they focus on the chase, not on approaching cars etc, and at 46mph you are NOT going to be able to catch it!!).

Also, greyhounds don't tend to "play" which may or may not be another consideration.

We've looked extensively into it ourselves, but probably won't until ds2 is at least 5.

RubberDuck · 12/08/2007 16:28

(and greyhounds spend most of the time asleep, lol - they only need 20mins exercise a day - perfect for what we want, but it sounds like you need a more energetic dog!)

newy · 12/08/2007 16:32

Also remember getting a lovely dog from dog home when I was about 8 I think and brother 10. He was a lovely spaniel, trained etc but unfortunately we took him home and he would sometimes 'turn' chased my brother down the hallway, tried to bite my dad etc. We took him back and it turned out he'd had about 3 owners who had brought him back but no-one mentioned this problem. I doubt poor old fudge got another home. I would say though it is lovely having a dog although ds did try to use her ears as a teething ring, which is not hygenic. Do watch out for the nappy thing though. Don't know anything about greyhounds, perhaps you can let people know you are looking for a dog, sometimes friends of friends etc know someone who can't keep theirs and you will get a bette idea of history etc.

Original poster
chocolatemummy · 12/08/2007 16:37

and this thread started out so enthusiastic aswell!
the 20 minutes a day thing is another thing that attracted me because it would be happy with a nice long walk in the evenings, It ca live indoors we have no prob with that just thought it might prefer it outside in the summer, we had a labrador as I grew up ans it lived in kennel in back garden until ripe old age of 19!

it seem more of you are against it rather than for, I guess we have to think further

OP posts:
evenhope · 12/08/2007 16:39

Our cats started to spray indoors when we got a dog. Once they start it takes months to break the habit and it is not pleasant.

pagwatch · 12/08/2007 16:58

I would hesitate to get a dog if I was out all day.
We have a beautiful big dog who we bought as a puppy so that not only could we be sure that we trainned it but so that we also knew all we needed to about its parents and their temperament etc. Two of the four breeders specificaly said that they would not sell to us unless we were at home reasonable hours.
having a dog again now I personally think this is so preferable because if you really do get a dog that becaome part of the family then he does actually get lonely. My dog follows me around all day and is a great companion for daughter after nursery and then goes absoloutely nuts with joy when the boys get home.
I would wait a bit - especially as you have an established cat. Poor fido - shut in the garden with a moggie that pees on his food

SixKindsofCrisis · 12/08/2007 17:00

Agree with concerns about working all day. Dogs need company. I'm really lucky in that I work from home. My parson russell is my office mate.

magnolia1 · 12/08/2007 21:17

Sorry if you feel told off but it's better now than after you have the dog
You really ca't have a dog and work all day, it's unfair. I know there will be some on here who say they do but It just doesn't seem right if you leave a dog every day 9-5 (hypothetical hours of course)
Also your cat deserves to live in peace and to swap the attention from a toddler to a dog is not really fair either.

Sorry I know it's not what you wanted to hear but believe me dogs are great but they are a huge commitment, a tie and not as easy to look after as people think.