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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Is it feasible for me to have a greyhound?

25 replies

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 08:34

Looking for a bit of advice.

Have wanted a greyhound for ages but unsure if the dynamics of my family are suitable. I'm a lone parent to 2 dcs age 3&6, I work as a PT teacher 3 days a week.

I'm planning on speaking to a local resuce centre but don't want to waste their time if my set up just isn't suitable.

Thoughts please

OP posts:

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 08:39

Why wouldn't you be suitable? Go for it! They'll only find you a suitable doggie or say no. If they do say no, try at least 2 or 3 other rescues, some have silly blanket policies but others judge each family's circumstances separately.

BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 08:42

i would think a greyhound would be perfect for you. How 'part time' is part time? They do sleep a lot!

Original poster

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 08:59

Oh good - that's encouraging!

Pt is 3 days a week, realistically out 8-5ish but only during term time.

I suppose I'm nervous as, although I grew up with dogs in the house, I've only had cats up until now.

Oh, and I forgot to add I have 2 cats - problem?

OP posts:

Orchidskeepdying · 05/05/2012 09:05

Perfect for a greyhound. My greyhound sleeps for 13 hours a day... She is so lazy! Wakes to eat and go for a run. Actually she is also completely stupid... Result of inbreeding I guess!
If you do get one, keep her away from bins. They eat shit loads!

Lastly, she has terrible breath. Greyhounds get bad teeth. She has to see the vet lots for them.

Lovely dog though.... Just a bit autistic! Hth.

Orchidskeepdying · 05/05/2012 09:09

opps hope I didnt cause offence by saying autistic.... Sorry we do say she is becuase she is in her own world most of the time.

NotMostPeople · 05/05/2012 09:10

I have a greyhound/whippet Lurcher and three dc's, it's true that they are lazy and make a lovely family pet. So long as mine gets a walk every day he's happy.

Do you have high fences? Some rescues insist on this.

lucyellensmumnamechange · 05/05/2012 09:10

The cats could be a problem yes

Selks · 05/05/2012 09:13

Some greyhounds can't live with cats - some have a high prey attack instinct apparently - so make sure that you explore that issue and find one that can.

BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 09:14

oh, cats...... not so sure about that.... I'm sure there must be cat friendly greyhounds but you would prob have to hunt bit harder!

SnoopyKnine · 05/05/2012 09:15

Sorry our rescue would not rehome to someone out from 8-5 for 3 days a week. Unless you had sturdy alternatives and plans for those days out working. Even if it is only term time that would still be too long for a dog to be left.

Original poster

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 09:19

I have 15ft high walls/hedges around the majority of the garden and enough overgrown vegetation around the remainder to make sure it's totally enclosed (useful for containing the dcs too!).

I thought the cats would be problematic however some greys can live with cats though I thought?

Obviously it is dependant on the individual dog but how long would you expect one to settle in? I was thinking about getting one at the beginning of the long school holiday so we could all get used to each other however, id that likely to then disrupt him/her when I go back to school in September? Am I better having the work routine established from the start?

Thanks for the advice btw, I just don't want to balls up a rehoming by not going into it fully informed.

OP posts:

fuzzysnout · 05/05/2012 09:22

If you are out 8-5 you would need to either come home to let the dog out at lunchtime or pay someone to do that for you. Nine hours is too long without a toilet break. Also realistically might it sometimes be longer e.g. If you have a parents evening etc. The rescue would expect you to have thought about such issues before they pass you to take a dog.

Original poster

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 09:23

Thanks Snoopy, I suspected my work would be a problem . I do have family fairly close by and would obviously look into daytime walking options. I just hoped that greyhounds would be lazy enough to not notice I was out of the house!

OP posts:

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 09:33

The grey would fine being left while you are work- they just need a quick toilet break and will sleep the rest of the time. I pay a dog walker to come and let the greyhound out into the garden for 15 mins at lunch- not even a walk- £5 a day.

My greyhound is also good with cats. I had to train her. Some straight from kennels you can get tested as 'cat-trainable'. Others have lived in foster homes with cats and these are the easy option (although it isn't hard to train a cat-trainable grey).

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 09:41

You have to remember that ex-racers are not used to human company 24/7 and are institutionalised in kennels. They like routine.

To prevent separation anxiety on the first day you leave the dog for 4-5 hours and do this every day until they settle into your routine. You don't get them used to you being around. The only issue here is a toilet break, not the human company aspect of it.

Original poster

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 09:45

Thanks for that bats, it kind of blows my "get them settled over the summer holidays" theory out of the window but does mean I could get one sooner!

OP posts:

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 10:28

I had a really good rehomer from a local independent greyhound rescue. She just kept on saying whatever you do don't over pamper, spoil or when you take her home let her be in your company all the time. I had 2 weeks off work at the time and so would have done this. It was the best advice ever.

Many of the returns the rescue gets are because of people just not listening. Whatever you want the dog to do you give them the routine and consistent boundaries from the start. Decide beforehand which sofas they're allowed on for example and stick to it. So, there's some planning to do beforehand- but then it makes life easy afterwards! They're very easy doggies to look after all :)

NotMostPeople · 05/05/2012 12:05

Bats is right. We started off with our agreed rules, but have gradually softened as time has gone by and he's less chewy. Mind you ours was a lurcher pup rather than rehomed grey.

SnoopyKnine · 05/05/2012 12:34

Totally disagree about leaving the dog for 4-5 hours to prevent separation anxiety. I DO agree with starting as you mean to go on but leaving for 4-5 hours from day one is asking for trouble.

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 13:21

Greyhound specific advice. Of course it's sensible to leave for shorter period(s) first to make sure everything is ok and do desensitisation training alongside so doggie knows you're always coming home. The rescue will give you a dog they know can cope.

batsintheroof · 05/05/2012 13:42

Snoopy I know you are involved in rescue but it doesnt sound as if you have much experience of rehoming greyhounds. They adopt your home as their kennel. Being left for 4-5 hours in a kennel for them is normal and they would likely sleep for most of it. It is rare that they are destructive and they are very clean inside. What isn't normal is the craziness of human living spaces and absence of other dogs. A quiet start to get used to surroundings is good. separation anxiety can often be sorted with the addition of another dog in greyhounds as they're much more used to doggie company than human company.

I just wish there could be 100% positivity on threads such as these. The OP is in an excellent position to rehome one of this breed and for the dog to thrive. We don't need potential loving owners being dissuaded from rehoming with the state our dog population is in.

Original poster

MavisGrind · 05/05/2012 14:10

Thanks for all opinions. Coincidentally, having looked at my local rescue's website this afternoon they are having a 'meet a greyhound' event tomorrow so I shall be going along to have a chat with them.

OP posts:

SnoopyKnine · 05/05/2012 14:11

I am not trying to make things kick off but leaving a domestic dog for 4-5 hours is not recommended whatever the breed.

I have lost count of how many greys I have successfully rehomed over the last 15 years!

I will always come from the angle of what is perfect for the dog not the owner but I am always 100% positive about rehoming to the right homes. 15 dogs will be rehomed today incidentally one ex racing greyhounds.

Scuttlebutter · 05/05/2012 18:45

OP, I am heavily involved with greyhound rescue. Both the rescues I volunteer for absolutely would home to you, provided we could see that you had provision for a dog walker to come in on school days. Cat friendly greys do exist - a good ball park figure is that about 20% of them are either cat friendly or can be. You may need to wait a little longer for the perfect grund but they are out there. As others have said, grunds love routine (they are used to it) and they are also used to canine company - more than any other dog, I think they really benefit from having another one (or more!) around.

In general, they are terrific dogs. Quiet, peaceful, very gentle, sleep a lot. They are mostly very healthy and live well into their mid teens. Ours are 13, 12 and 8 and the 12 year old is still running around like a nutter and the 13 year old does if she gets a sniff of a squirrel. Most greys can happily cohabit with small children, provided that children have VERY clear boundaries about not disturbing sleeping hound, and particularly bearing in mind they sleep with their eyes open. Come over to the thread - A new cushion for pointies - we've all got either greyhounds, whippets or lurchers there, and you'll get lots and lots of help from fellow enthusiasts.

If you want to say where roughly in the UK you are, I can point you at some good specialist rescues. If you'd rather not say on the board, please feel free to PM me.

SnoopyKnine · 05/05/2012 18:54

Ah Scuttlebutter got there first I emailed a lot of greyhound rescues this afternoon to see who would rehome to someone out at work all day.

Most of the replies are as Scuttle and I suggested you will need to have sturdy plans for the days you are out working. If you want the list of rescues just pm.

Interestingly all of them recommended that Greys should not be left for more than 4 hours a day.

I hope it works out for you.

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