Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Opinions /advice please - Is a retired greyhound a good dog for us?

46 replies

PetraStrorm · 27/12/2014 21:46

I am taking the plunge and starting to think about adopting a dog (landlord has okayed it). I grew up with small terriers (cairns and Westies) and started out thinking we'd get something like that, but the more I read about greyhounds and whippets the more I'm wondering if they might be a better fit. We are:
Me (single mum), teenage son and daughter who's nearly 5.
Smallish detached house with a smallish enclosed garden, in a quiet street. Lots of local cats, not many dogs. We have no other pets.

I work from home, eventually would have to leave the dog for one working day a week (9-4) but would get dog sitter/walker in as necessary. Otherwise I'm a real homebody.
I'm looking for a calm, friendly dog that I'll happily walk a couple of times a day but I can't do hours and hours of walking. I'd rather have a more mature dog than a puppy.

My concerns about greyhounds/whippets are - size: will they be too big? And off-lead exercise - do they spot something and bolt? Do they really need a lot of running about in big open spaces or are they happy on the lead?

Any advice/opinions very welcome, any suggestions of other good small/medium breeds would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance

OP posts:

Thread gallery

TooOldForGlitter · 29/12/2014 00:41

That's my lad with his girlfriend.

Opinions /advice please - Is a retired greyhound a good dog for us?

TooOldForGlitter · 29/12/2014 00:44

Here he is with a 17 week old border terrier pup. He looks terrifying in his muzzle but he was on his way home from doggy daycare and they put it on him just incase there were any probs with the pup - there weren't

LeoandBoosmum · 29/12/2014 00:53

EloiseDublin123, That dog is gorgeous... OP, I wouldn't rule that dog out just because it wouldn't be coming via an organisation. My friend has two dogs - both gained by accident - one he got whilst visiting a person who was fostering this 'stray' for a few days, the other was a Westie found on the road in the early hours...you could not meet sweeter, gentler or more faithful dogs!
The way the dog is sitting comfortably with the two others and a small child in that photograph is a good sign. One important thing to check though is that he is not food aggressive/ possessive. He looks an absolute sweetie!! At 2, as long as he has no major issues eg food possessive, he should be pretty malleable and trainable. Not too big either...it could be a great match. I wish I could take him :/

LeoandBoosmum · 29/12/2014 00:56

My post was also intended for Petrastrorm (the OP)

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 29/12/2014 11:32

Love all these dog pictures, folks! i must admit I'd never found sighthounds very aesthetically pleasing before (I'm more interested in temperament than looks), but the more I see the better they look

TooOldForGlitter - I think I'm one of the people who's seen greyhounds in muzzles and assumed it's because they can be aggressive, but I'm learning that that's not the case.

LeoandBoosmum I agree, he's looks a gorgeous dog and the photos are reassuring.

I'm still in the early stages of my search for 'our' dog, so my plan is to meet more dogs and owners and also take the kids to meet some dogs to get a feel for what would work for us. I've discovered that 2 friends of friends have rescue dogs (one is a greyhound) and another acquaintance fosters and socialises rescue dogs, so I'm going to chat to them as well.

I've already decided against any kind of spaniel, as I know a few and they are lovely dogs, but the wrong kind of bonkers for my family.

Can you tell I like to have my ducks in a row before I make a decision?

OP posts:

MuttonCadet · 29/12/2014 12:42

Another plus for retired greyhounds is that they aren't being regimes due to behavioural issues, just that they've come to the end of their racing careers.

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 29/12/2014 14:14

Good point MuttonCadet.

OP posts:

ScrummyPup · 29/12/2014 21:49

Eloisedublin123 What an absolutely gorgeous dog! Good job we have just got a puppy or I would be PMing you. Mind you ... two's a good numbet ...

TooOldForGlitter · 30/12/2014 22:30

The thing you have to remember with the muzzle is that many breeds of dogs would chase a cat/rabbit/squirrel if they could. The only difference is that a greyhound can go fast enough to catch them and in cases of high prey drive greys it's easier to use the muzzle just in case.

Eloisedublin123 · 04/01/2015 19:38

Hi there. Just wanted to say that Olaf has found a forever home so we are delighted! ??

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 04/01/2015 20:09

Great news Eloise .
After a LOT of thought I've decided that for now, though a greyhound might be perfect temperamentally, the logistics of a greyhound-sized dog won't work for us. One day though...

I've contacted a whippet rescue organisation about adoption - I'll be as honest as I can be on the form / home visit and see if they think we're a good match for a whippet. Even though the final decision will be mine, I've talked to the kids about their preference. Teenage DS likes the idea of a Westie, and DD (4) really likes 'the ones with long legs and pointy noses' - I was sure it'd be the other way round!

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 06/01/2015 07:35

Petra - I noticed that Evesham Lurcher and Greyhound rescue have a lovely little whippet in, who is just on their FB page at the moment. They can homecheck anywhere, so don't let the Evesham bit put you off if you are interested

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 06/01/2015 13:32

Thanks CMOT - will have a look

OP posts:

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 30/01/2015 13:54

Quick update: we have just passed our home check with a whippet rehoming charity so the search is on in earnest! It might still take a while to find the right dog for us, but I'm already getting excited at the prospect

Thanks for all the advice. Fingers crossed I'm back here posting dog pictures soon...

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2015 14:34

Congratulations! Hounds First have got a few whippets in right now, so worth a look with them

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 30/01/2015 17:11

Thanks CMOT - I'm now registered with Hounds First, Just Whippets and JR Whippet rescue (home check was with Just Whippets) and am obsessively checking their websites and facebook pages! I'm also keeping an eye on EGLR but haven't filled in any forms - yet!

OP posts:

TheCunnyFunt · 30/01/2015 22:23

Oooh how exciting! There is also Scruples Whippet Rescue, I believe they rehome nationwide :) I am so jealous, I'd love a whippy, I have a Greyhound, I love him to bits but he's just so boring. He doesn't do anything. He sleeps, he eats, he walks and runs off lead occasionally. That's it. He loves his cuddles and tickles though. My 3.7yo DD asked me a few days ago 'Can we send Sprocket back and get a real dog?' She'd love to be able to play with him but the only toys he's interested in are ones that resemble small furry animals and he likes to disembowel those by himself, without the aid of a human. If I could go back in time I wouldn't get him, but I'd have gone for a whippet instead. I do love him but I wish we hadn't got him, I'm not giving up on him just because he's boring though, he's here for life.

Original poster

PetraStrorm · 31/01/2015 10:18

Cunny - Scruples is now called Just Whippets - they are the ones who home checked me this week. The woman who visited does home checks for lots of dog rehoming charities and she said theirs was the most comprehensive form she'd ever seen. It was about 10 pages long.

I'd love a greyhound - I like boring dogs, I suspect I'm a bit boring myself . But I think I'll have to wait till DD is a bit bigger and we're in a house of our own instead of renting (probably a pipe dream but you never know). Then I can build up a nice pack of sighthounds .

I met a lovely old greyhound the other week and the owner said her dog was a bit aloof and had never learnt to play. I suppose it's not part of their upbringing/instinct if they're bred for racing. A friend of mine has cockerpoos and they are lovely dogs, but if they're not asleep they're pretty much in your face/wreaking havoc the whole time which would drive me mad. I'm hoping a whippet will be a happy medium

OP posts:

TheCunnyFunt · 31/01/2015 11:12

Oh I didn't know Scruples had changed their name!

Yes my friend had a whippet, she was lovely, like a mini greyhound but with a bit more ooomph :o

I also know a cockerpoo and a cocker, they are both mad as a box of frogs.

Silverjohnleggedit · 31/01/2015 17:57

Like gingerfudge we have a whippet with dodgy recall, whistle trained but very inattentive....high value treats are no competition for the the thrill of the chase. We exercise him on a long line attached to a perfect fit harness - no problems so far, he seems happy with the amount of running he gets. Again I would say he is only affectionate on his terms - sometimes he likes a cuddle mostly he likes to be in sight of you but lying alone. We spend a lot of time trying to build the bond but he is just independent and a bit aloof - like a cat and in no way biddable.

StripeyCustard · 01/02/2015 11:26

We went through the thought processes involved in getting a retired greyhound too. The recall put us off - I wanted a dog to be able to sniff around in woods or scamper with the children on the beach - plus I was scared we would lose a greyhound due to recall. We went for a non-sighthound puppy in the end.

I think it really depends on what the point of a dog is for you. We didn't particularly want an aloof dog - current puppy nearly snaps herself in two wagging when we come home.

Flip

1 2