Right, decision made. But how the bloody hell do I find a greyhound puppy?

[monkeyfacegrace]

I have spent the last decade with rescue dogs and all their problems.

I got myself a beautiful little whippet puppy at the start of the year who is just the most perfect little darling EVER.

But, I want another

I'd love a Great Dane, or an OES, but I think they may be too big.

And I've fallen in love with pointy nosed sight hounds.

But where the bleedin' heck does one find a greyhound puppy at 8 weeks?!

At the track's kennels. They sell off/give away excess pups.

Can I ask what's wrong with a retired greyhound? They make lovely pets and usually retire at about 4 or 5 years old, so still very young dogs.

Greyhound puppies are not recommended for first time greyhound owners. There are SO many adults with no 'issues' at all in need of a home who could fit into your life. Would you consider an adult?

No I couldn't consider an adult

As I said, I've spent a decade with rescue dogs (all believed to have no issues either, hollow laugh), and unless they have been properly socialised in those first 16 weeks, it's a constant battle with desensitisation as opposed to socialisation.

I child mind, so although my dogs are never unattended with the kids, they do mix and I can't take that risk.

I've had two pups before, a collie lab and a Whippet so I know what I'm doing.

I just can't find any litters of greyhounds at all.

Pup needs a friend

I can't link on my phone but www.ourgreyhounds.co.uk is the website of the Cumbria branch of RGT. They had two puppies last time I checked.

Greyhounds, by nature, are very sensitive, nervy dogs. They get far more training and socialisation at the track than you could offer. A pup is more likely to develop issues than a retired or failed ex racer.

Why not foster one and see for yourself? If it doesn't work out, then get a pup but I'll be shocked if you are unable to find an ex racer that is anything but relaxed and loving.

You'll be hard pushed to find a greyhound that isn't a racing one...there were only 40 puppies registered by the KC last year.

Are you wanting a show type or racing type?

If it's the former you may be in for a long wait as litters are very few and far between. There are some listed on Champdogs and also the Kennel Club site. There were only 40 registered with the KC last year and I believe it's quite hard to 'break into' show greyhounds.

If it's the latter then I'd try finding a racing breeder whose ethics you agree with and get in touch with them. I'm not sure how breeders/trainers are about selling pups young though or whether they'll only let them go once it's clear they're not suitable for racing.

Is there any particular reason you want to go for a greyhound over another whippet?

We got our greyhound puppy from a racing kennel. You are 'rescuing' really because the puppy is unwanted and going... somewhere.. Even if it is one that would race it would then be a retired greyhound afterwards.

Were are you? I got my girl from kennels in Suffolk. I could probably dig up the link?

I originally found litters on Greyhound Data and sent emails about whether any were unwanted.

I'd like a greyhound as opposed to another whippy as I love their sheer size.

I don't work so am home 24/7 and only look after kids a few hours a week (unofficial and don't get paid) so I literally have endless time for walks and training.

The kennels I have spoken to only re home pups if they show no chasing instinct, so around 12 months.

I hate to think what happens to the pups who are born with a small deformity like one eye or a cleft lip. Those are the ones I want, me me me!

I should say though, I have a rescue lurcher who probably came off a gypsy site and he actually has a nicer nature than my greyhound girl. She had the equivalent of a public school education with puppy classes and endless socialisation. I took her to puppy dates FFS!! She is still a madam.

If you are prepared to pay the listed price you will find one on Greyhound Data.

I will just add that there are numerous greyhound rescues all over the UK, many of which foster dogs in family homes prior to rehoming. They do this so that the dogs can be child and cat tested, housetrained and generally assessed. You probably have a better chance of getting a child-friendly grey by rehoming one than by finding a puppy which is unlikely to have been bred in a family environment and then trying to socialise it yourself.

I know and deal with a large number of greyhounds and only a small percentage of them would be classed as unsuitable for children. The majority are laid-back, placid and calm.

Sorry for hijack but would a failed racer be ok with a cat....? I love greyhounds but always thought they were a complete no no with small animals.

If you're determined you want a pup - and I'm not questioning your reasons here as I wanted a pup this time around too - why not a Lurcher puppy? ELGR have loads of puppies, born in rescue in at the moment and I know of other rescues with imminent arrivals due too.

I have a rescue Lurcher pup myself, he was in rescue from birth and ready for rehoming at 8 weeks. His sister left at 8 weeks old and we picked our boy up at 10 weeks.

Thing with a lurcher, is they aren't a breed. You don't know what's in them, so what size they will end up, what health issues they could have etc.

You've all got me thinking about just biting the bullet and fostering a retired and see what happens. But that'll be my fourth rescue and I love baby dogs

Maybe I should just get my great dane pup and be done with it

You can get a reputable lurcher breeder.

Google exmoor lurcher, for example, they breed lurchers with the most lovely gentle temperaments.

Mine is a sleek black beauty. Quite greyhoundy looking!

Lurcher

There is a rescue group called 'Hounds first' who have a litter of Lurcher/Greyhound cross pups at the moment looking for rehoming.
Rescues quite regularly have litters of Greys or Lurchers as some of the bitches get dumped from coursing/racing are pregnant as very of them are spayed.

I would register with some rescues and say you are looking for a younger dog, they do show up.

FWIW retired racers are for the most part some of the most socialised dogs ever as they live in little puppy 'packs' and then with kennel mates. They have almost always been with other dogs their whole life, not through choice but as a money/space saving thing for the owners and trainers.
The 'issues' tend to be a spot of house training when they arrive as they are not used to home life (no different to a pup as you know). Some can be nervy and some can chase cats.......mine prefers squirrels

and as affanfantoosh says, laid back, placid and calm (except when squirrels are about obviously!).

Although Adult hounds are used to being a dog so to speak, they are not used to life with humans so they look to you to teach them. They are adorable, trusting, affectionate and very willing to learn, like puppies. Our girl was 4 when we got her and has been surprisingly trainable.....when we can get her off the sofa.

I would potentially be worried about a large young grey playing too boisterously with your whippet. I have a friend whose whippet was killed by their greyhound (entirely accidental, the grey body slammed her, they fell and she broke her neck).

I have a big boy whippet of 22 inches, and have recently adopted a Lurcher from EGLR, they were adamant that the biggest dog they would let me rehome was 25 inches, as they wouldn't consider anything bigger to be a safe match.

Another one who would recommend EGLR. They spend a lot of time on ensuring their lurchers are fostered before adoption so will be able to give a really accurate picture of their character and personality, and as they are lurcher specialists they really know their dogs. I would have absolutely no hesitation about sending someone with DC to them and trusting them to place the right dog with your family. Lurchers are among the healthiest of dogs - I know lots in their teens still going strong.

Many greyhound rescues get dogs that are surprisingly young and given the long life expectancy, you can expect many happy years together. And although you may not have had the socialising responsibility yourself, the early life/career of a racing grey is very much a known quantity. You will have an very accurate idea of their breeding and how they have been raised.

If you are determined to get a pup, then the Racing Post classified section has racing greys and litters of pups for sale.

I was able to visit a racing grey breeders last year (was a day trip with the rescue my boy came from), the puppies were 9 weeks old, ridiculously adorable and total land sharks, my hands had the scratch marks for ages! Not a breed I would recommend to have around young children as all they do to play is bite bite bite. Out of curiosity we asked the breeder how much they would be to buy one and he said £2000-£2500 each depending on male or female.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Will contact Evesham rescue in due course then.

DH has said I'm not allowed another dog until we lose our very old 14yr old boy so got some time to keep thinking.

although very old dog shows no signs of dropping off his perch, dammit