Retired Greyhound owners/rescuers - please advise!

[LadyVetinari]

Hi, I've never posted here before and fully acknowledge that my knowledge is very limited, so please be gentle if I'm being unrealistic!

About me:

• Some experience of training and looking after a puppy;
• Early 20s, married, in a lovely rural location, landlords are lovely and absolutely fine with dogs (and we plan to stay where we are for as long as they'll let us), DH indifferent to dogs (likes them but doesn't want to clean up sick), no DC planned;
• Currently home most of the day, but hoping to start teacher training in Sept 2015 so time at home will reduce then;
• Whatever happens, will be getting up very early to run before work and certain that I can commit to an evening walk as well;
• Can afford insurance, food, etc;
• Currently own a parrot but want one more pet, which will either be a greyhound or another parrot;
• Time with parrots and dog would not need to conflict, as parrots can't have free roam for hours at a time or they get anxious and bitey (nothing to do with how I've trained them - it's a recognised characteristic of the species I own).

From what I've read, it seems like an older retired greyhound would be an excellent fit.

I've read that many rescues don't object to owners working full-time provided that they can meet the dog's needs while at home, and the lifestyle that racing hounds are used to seems to support that view.

My reasons for preferring an older dog (8 or 9 ish) are firstly that I know they are less popular and I'd like to provide a good home for an animal who might otherwise be left in the rescue, and secondly (I know this sounds awful but) I'm well aware that my life could change a lot over the coming decade and I feel more confident about a 5 year commitment than a 10-12 year commitment at present.

If any of the above rings alarm bells, please say! Are there important factors that I haven't considered (e.g. the health implications of taking on an elderly dog which has put some serious wear on its joints during its years on the track, and has spent a very long time on a very specialised diet which may be geared more towards maximising short-term performance rather than long-term health)?

Also, I've read that retired greyhounds can display territorial aggression to people who "invade" their crates, beds, preferred places etc - is this often the case, and can it be overcome?

[LadyVetinari]

Oh, a couple of other things -

Firstly: if you would recommend that I continue to pursue the possibility of adopting a retired greyhound, would you recommend a dog or bitch (and why)?

Secondly: the dog would be mostly my responsibility, and I honestly don't mind cleaning up sick etc (I used to work in childcare so it's no big deal to me, whereas DH has had the luxury of being squeamish)!

[tabulahrasa]

I've done teacher training - you'll need a dog walker or some sort of dog sitting service... You're talking about long long hours, not just not being at home quite as much.

[LadyVetinari]

Tabulahrasa - thanks for the warning! That wouldn't be a problem, there are two different companies offering that service within a couple of minutes walk . However, I'm happy to wait until after I've done the PGCE and the NQT year, if your experience is that the hours decrease significantly at that point.

Also, if you don't mind me asking you yet another question, how long do you expect that the dog would be alright on his own? DH goes to work at 08:00 and is generally home by 18:30, so would a lunchtime walk be sufficient?

[tabulahrasa]

A walk in the middle of the day to break up the day should be ok, depending on the individual dog though...ideally you want no more than 3 or 4 hours alone (because it will be every day, not that you can't ever leave a dog longer than that.)

I couldn't tell you when the hours decrease as I only did training - I couldn't manage it around the DC. While in school I was leaving at 07.30, getting back at 18.30 with work still to do and uni assignments to work on as well. With a DP that works longer hours and 2 DC, one with a disability it become too much and sadly I decided it wasn't the right time for me to go on into teaching. (I intend at some point to go back to it though)

It's a very full on course and you might be fine fitting a dog in too, but you might be better waiting...I'd be a little worried about your DH not helping out of needed if he's not so keen?

[LadyVetinari]

That's good to know, thank you! My research gave me the impression that the 3-4 hour rule didn't apply to retired greyhounds since they're acclimatised to spending so long crated.

The teacher training does sound very arduous - I'm amazed that you managed to complete it, considering how much else you have going on! (I'm already a bit nervous, despite having no real responsibilities... )

I'm certain DH would be happy to take the "non-icky" responsibilities that come with dog ownership - feeding, playing, keeping company, evening walks etc. He really likes my family's lab. He's just very squeamish so refuses to have a dog unless I'm prepared to clean up after every stomach bug! To be fair, I'm certain he'd love a dog if we got one - he was initially about getting our birds, whereas now he dotes on them and asks me to leave them with him if I go to visit my folks without him.

[tabulahrasa]

An older dog won't have been just retired though - even if they're any good it's about 4, if they're not, it's more like 1 or 2.

You get lots of older dogs looking for homes, but they've more than likely been in a home by that point.

Some dogs would see a mid-day walk as an interruption to their napping time, but I wouldn't plan around that if you see what I mean.

I loved actually teaching, it was brilliant - it's just that the stuff round about it is a lot of work. I did actually have an elderly dog while I was doing it and found walking him great for getting thinking time for stuff, but there were days when I had to get my DP to do it instead as I was just shattered.

[LadyVetinari]

Oh - thank you for telling me, I'm very glad I started this thread! Most of the sites I looked at implied that the dogs went straight from track to rescue, unless otherwise stated in an individual dog's profile, and said they could race up to 6 years old unless they got injured .

I'm wavering a bit at the moment - circa £3,500 on dog walking fees alone for my PGCE year and NQT year is quite a big commitment... It would be wonderful if I could find a very old, lazy dog who just wants to be looked after for his last few years!

I couldn't contemplate taking any animal on without being certain that I can provide for it long-term, though, so it may be that another parrot is the way forward (mine do sleep most of the day, and they're happy with one another for company if I'm out).

The prospect of the teaching part of the training does really excite me, I'm just quite apprehensive because many of my friends have warned me that it will be a very fast-paced year! (Plus there's the pressure to do exceptionally well all of the time, since primary jobs are in such short supply...) I have huge admiration for parents who manage to complete postgrad courses, especially when their partners work long hours... Studying alongside a few during my MA has made me realise how lucky I am to be able to fit my life around my work, and not worry about finding an emergency sitter for a puking child on the morning of an assessed presentation!

[tabulahrasa]

I think they can race up to that age...but 3-4 is average.

You get websites like oldies that specialize in older dogs - they might be worth looking at.

But, it's not so much about the walking as company - an older dog won't need as much exercise and greyhounds are surprisingly lazy, but that wouldn't stop a dog from getting lonely. That's what dog walkers really do, break up the day and give them some company and something to do.

Ah, puking emergencies were fine - I have a fantastic sister who lives close by...it was just the day to day stuff, fitting in feeding them and doing their homework alongside mine that was hard...trying to communicate with my DS's school while being in school myself was impossible and as he has SENs, needed to happen much more often that with other children. Really mundane stuff like that.

Other people on my course were parents and managed much better than me - I think they deserve a medal, lol. Most of the people in my class are teaching now and still love it, a couple dropped out during and a couple like me decided it either wasn't right or wasn't the right time, but most people got through it relatively unscathed, lol.

[LadyVetinari]

Thank you for the link to Oldies, I'll hold onto that! I think I may have to go back to the drawing board for the time being, at least until I have quite a bit more money. It's a shame - I really wish I was in a position to help one of those poor little dogs right now, but I think it'll have to wait until I'm settled (hopefully in a nice little primary school).

Thanks very much for your help!

[stleger]

When my brother started primary school (about 100 years ago...) his teacher brought her poodle to school. I don't think that is allowed now . Good luck with your future greyhound - we took our dd to get a rescue greyhound, and ended up with a whippet/collie who is great. But I still need a greyhound.

[LadyVetinari]

I wish it was still allowed, stleger! Thank you for the good wishes, I really hope I can have one when I'm qualified .

[P0dge]

We've had 3 greyhounds. They're placid, quiet, lazy, undemanding, are great with people and most other animals. They make fantastic pets and I wouldn't have any other breed BUT I don't believe that any dog should be left alone for several hours on a regular basis. Most dogs like company and greys are no different.
You're very wise to investigate all these issues before going ahead even though I'd love to know that another grey is finding a home.
You can get plenty of help and advice from the many Retired Greyhound Trust rehoming centres and/or greyhound internet forums.
You could also see if you can find a local greyhound walk where you could meet some of the dogs and their owners. They're usually a friendly bunch and always happy to chat about their dogs.
Good luck with your quest with greyhounds but be warned, they are addictive! Most people who get one, get a second, and even a third....