Talk me through getting a dog...

[KateBeckett]

Hey everyone! This if my first post in the doghouse - was going to post this in chat but thought I'd get a better response here.

So, I have been wanting to get a dog for a good few years now, and DP has finally agreed that the timing is good, and has agreed IF I do my research and figure out all of the practicalities. This is where you guys come in!! :)

This is our situation;

We currently live in a rented flat, but we are moving in April, and will be looking specifically for a house with a garden, and with permission to have pets. I will ask specifically about being allowed a dog, and will get this in writing.

DP currently works 4 days a week, and either has mon, sat, sun or tues - thurs off work. I currently work 2 days a week and will be starting supply teaching. I know we will need a dog which is okay to be left alone for a few hours, and plan on getting a dog walker or similar for the days we are both out. I also intend on timing the dog coming to us with the start of the summer holidays so I will have 6 weeks at home with it so it can settle in. I would also consider getting another dog so they can have animal company, but would want to get used to dog ownership first!!

I want to get a rescue dog (NOT a puppy!!!) and would ideally like a greyhound, though would consider any breed as long as it fits with what we need / can provide.

Can anyone let me know what else I need to consider, or if there is anything wrong with my current plan?? I really really want to make this work!

Consider how much you like your house and how you'll feel when your furniture is chewed, carpets are pissed on and neighbours are angry with annoying barking...

Do you like having lay-ins? I have 4 kids and the dog is more work than all four of them put together...

Assuming you have children that may make finding the right rescue dog a longer process. We have one DC and cats, the combination made re-homing virtually impossible.

Start researching dog breeds especially temprement, breed specific medical issues, energy levels, special needs (e.g. if we had stairs our dog would have to be carried up and down them until full maturity and he's 20 kg at 6 months) and size.

Get a good dog book and get all adults (kids as well if posible) to read it and discuss as a family how you are going to handle house training, general training and what rules you want to have re. dog in bedrooms, on furniture etc. (even if you re-home there is bound to be some re-training needed). Crate training worked very well for us and most dog owners we know so it may be worth you checking into that.

Agree who is going to do what regarding walks, bathing, tooth brushing, nail clipping, regular medical stuff like worming and de-fleaing.

Cost food, flea treatments, worming, spay or castration, pet insurance, chipping etc. and check you can afford it. (some of this will be done if you re-home of course).

Accept after all that, that the dog may throw you a curve ball and some of the stuff you have decided may have to be flexible or be thrown out the window.

We went the puppy route and the first two to three weeks were intense, we lost a lot of sleep and I didn't get out of the house much so if you can find an older dog in good health that's a bonus.

Our dog was very much wanted, however the main dog lover in our house has yelled "he has got to go!" at least once a month since we got him.

Finally when we were struggling with some of our dogs behaviour Breaking bad habits in dogs by Colin Tennant really helped, especially the chapter on dog dominance. However there are loads of other books probably saying much the same stuff.

Good luck.

We had a greyhound bitch for 10 years, and we currently have a dog and a bitch which we have had for the last three years. They do like human company
but they are used to being left alone in racing kennels for long spells.When they
are settled, we have left them 4-5hrs or even 6-7 in an emergency.They regularly spend that time on their bed sleeping anyway if nothing is going on.
They are non barkers and non chewers in general(apart from the time we left our girl in the Mils house for a couple of hours to attend a funeral, when we
came back she had taken all the wallpaper off within reach. probably a bit stressed due to strange surroundings).They are naturally clean dogs. and housetraining was picked up almost straightaway.

The boy is naturally confident and has given the more shy girl his confidence
to a degree, greyhounds are kenelled togeher in racing kennels and
the two we had together settled quicker than the one we had on our own(although that could be due to temperament),

Greys make good pets for busy families because they are pretty low
maintenance, a comfy sofa for their 20 hrs kip per day.plenty of fussing, two
square meals and an hours exercise a day(although they are quite happy with more if you want) is all they need.

Thanks everyone! No kids as of yet, though hopefully at some point in the future :)

Right, I'm going to go and make a list of things to discuss / talk about!

I have a greyhound bitch. She is literally the perfect dog bar the god awful farts and the fact that she can never be left alone, ever. She hates it and will destroy the house, she even sleeps in our room with us her seperation anxiety is that bad. She is okay being left with other dogs, but never alone. My dogs won't let her snuggle with them on a night, hence her sleeping in our room. Oh, yes and if it rains, it is of course, my fault and I get the huge "Why are you doing this to me" sad eyes. She refuses to pee in the yard unless you go out with her. Walkies are a no-go in the rain, not good when you have two other dogs who don't mind the rain (I did mention she can't be left alone didn't I?)

Her good points far outweight the bad.

The rescue will let you know all of your potential new dog's foibles and you can decide if you can cope with them. Scuttle is the poster you need for advise on great Greyhound rescues to contact.

This thread should help.

Finding a dog friendly landlord can be difficult, so this may limit the the type of property or area available to you. You usually have to pay an extra damages and cleaning deposit up front, sometimes provide a reference for the dog (landlords will be very wary of an unreferenced rescue dog, or young puppy), and may be limited as to the size of dog you may have. Moving will also take longer. I speak as a landlord here.

If you plan to get a dog at the start of a holiday it is very important to get your dog settled into your usual working week routine from the outset. If he will be left on his own for certain periods when you are working, he needs to become accustomed to this from early on to avoid separation anxiety at the end of your holiday.

You need to think about what you can do with the dog when you have a family day out. Holidays are easy if you use kennels but I find days out to Alton towers, visiting family, etc harder to sort out.

Also remember that you will constantly be covered in dog hair and any glass doors/panels which are dog height will be covered in dribble and also that they poo more than you could think possible and that you have to pick it up, whether that be in your garden or out on a walk

I've had my German Shepherd for 10 yrs from a puppy and she is my baby but they really do impose a lot of restrictions on your life. As well as planning for outings, you can't stay overnight anywhere on a whim either!

Thanks for all the advice everyone :) I will keep you updated!

Lots to think about. The thread that PR referenced and the ongoing one on pointies (this refers to greyhounds, whippets, lurchers and similar sighthounds) are both good reading.

A greyhound sounds as though it could work very well for you. Most reputable greyhound charities have regular greyhound walks, events etc where you can go along with no obligation, meet, cuddle and walk a few hounds, and ask lots of questions.

Pointies are absolutely addictive, and it's virtually impossible to stay at one. They love company and are generally a very easy dog to have around, as long as there's a comfy sofa for them. They are most emphatically NOT a high energy, always on, into everything, bustling, noisy sort of dog. If that is what you want, then you will be better off with a different breed. In the house, htey are quiet, peaceful, and sleepy (with satanic bottoms). They really perk up when out though. Generally ex racers become available for adoption at a very young age, often less than two, or between two and four, and they are generally very healthy, long lived dogs, so you will be getting the benefits of taking on an adult with a long life expectancy. Grunds often go to their mid teens. Plenty can (and do) live successfully as solo dogs, though they love company.

If you would like to know more about the wonderful world of grunds, please do ask questions - I could bore for hours on the subject. Also, if you need any help in sourcing a good grund rescue, happy to oblige.

Finally, although i don't talk about it very much on here, when you adopt an ex racer, you are generally taking on a dog that would otherwise be shot or dumped - you really are saving its life. The racing industry discards thousands of healthy dogs each year and they can make wonderful, loving and very special companions. There, soapbox dismounted.

A lazy cuddly dog is most definitely what I'm after scuttle :) I've done a bit of research into greyhounds (and have read the pointy threa a few times!!) and I think they are the most beautiful dogs :) info on good rescues would be amazing, we are in the west yorkshire area!

I will probably be back with lots of questions after talking to dp :)

Due to renting issue, have you thought about a whippet? My neighbours rent and have one, the fact that they are small and don't take up much room apart from on your sofa seemed to swing it for thier current landlord. I love sighthounds and when I win the lottery I will buy lots of sofas and open a halfway house. It's all decided!

Greyhound rescue west of england (GRWE) might be worth a look, although they rehome all over the uk. They have all kinds of pointies too, not just greys!

You should come and say hello on the pointy thread :)

tiagreyhounds.org/site/

A friend of mine got his dog from here - might be local depending on which bit of WY you are in.