Do you think this is the right dog for us?

[CommunistLegoBloc]

I would love to get a dog. We own our own home, have a 30ft garden and are near a big park. We are also within driving distance of lots of lovely rural walks, although we do live in the city. I work from home, but there is a possibility of (flexible) work that would take me out of the house in the future. DP works a lot, but shifts. If we were both to be out of the house I would arrange a walker, but it's unlikely at the moment. I can't foresee being out of the house all day, for example, although there will always be the odd day when things crop up. What do people do then?

I've been looking at rescue greyhounds or lurchers. I definitely want a rescue dog, and also don't want a puppy. I like greyhounds because they're beautiful and they are advertised as cuddly and lazy! I've been told they are quite low-maintenance as dogs go - is this true? I also keep being told they like to sleep on sofas and in your bed - I'm sure I'll love my dog but that might be a bridge too far...

Basically I want a dog that is soppy and loyal but who likes a good bound about the park. Does a greyhound sound right, or is there another breed I should be looking at? Am I missing any important points? I'm sure I am. I want to research breeds and make a sensible decision but there's a lot of information and it's all a bit overwhelming. I had a dog as a child but this would be my first in adulthood.

Thanks so much for getting through this :)

Lurchers would fit you perfectly. Both of mine came from EGLR who foster their dogs so they are really able to advise on a dog who will fit you. I think Maddie is particularly lovely of their current group.

When we have to be out for more than 5 hours we get a neighbour to pop in , or there are dog walkers who do ad hoc. We also use a lady who does home boarding as day care if it will be a long day out.

I need to stop looking at EGLR, Tally is so gorgeous.......

She is isn't she? But alas very norty! I adore her ears

I have an ad hoc official dog walker rather than rely on neighbours but depends how well you know your neighbours I guess.

With lurchers/greyhounds some will have ok recall but a significant proportion probably won't. I had a greyhound from the RGT and their official advice is to never take your dog off the lead. Mine was ok most of the time but if she saw a hare she was off and fields and fields away. I used to have to sit and wait for her to return. Which was ok in the middle of nowhere but in a park/more built up area I wouldn't have dared take her off lead incase she chased a cat or squirrel.

Tally looks like a Podenco, she's lovely.

She is isn't she? But alas very norty!

She'd fit right in here then

Thank you for this amazing advice. Oh god so tempted by ALL the lurchers on that site. I am vaguely worried about the prey drive thing - it'd be nice to be able to go for a walk off-lead and be somewhat relaxed. I suppose I'll have to try to find a rescue who will match me with a dog who doesn't seem into chasing small furries. Anything else I should consider? There's not much chance I'll resist getting one now, I think

I wouldn't get too hung up on the prey drive thing tbh. Most dogs have a prey drive, the issue with sighthounds is that they can run fast enough to catch them. The important thing is putting the time into teaching recall so that you can call your dog off whatever it is thinking about. Unless its ddog1 who is frightened of chickens. Bless him.
This is ddog2 and one of our cats

That is adorable. Completely adorable. My FIL has cats (they are wanderers but do come in for a cuddle occasionally) and we'd spend time there, so whilst the dog doesn't have to be best buddies with them, I'd prefer if it didn't kill them. I'm hoping to rehome a dog with good recall, but that might just be dreaming!

Rgt matched me with a non prey drive greyhound and she was mainly very good. Cat friendly with my cats. Didn't chase the chickens, or the guinea pigs. Never seemed interested in squirrels in the park but Id never have risked it with been so close to roads.

It was just bunnies and hares!!

I had an ex racer greyhound from when she was 5 to a peaceful passing at 12 and I was clueless then about dogs. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely, soft, cuddly dog and she was adored totally by all our family. From your op I would highly recommend a grey or a lie her - you will be fine and so will they

Thanks guys :) have sent an email to RGT and will ring some other places tomorrow. It'd be nice to be 'matched' based on both of us. Is that a normal thing to happen or do people just reserve a dog when they like the look of it? Sorry for all the questions! Excited!

Aww get a German Shepard, I love them. The best breed in my eyes. And loads that need rescuing and get ignored because of there size.
They're soooo clever, mine is 90% of lead. Can do every trick in the book. So well behaved. Loyal. Perfect

Apart from the shedding, but I suppose all dogs do that

A greyhound would be perfect for you if you work from home. They love to sleep so won't be constantly pestering you for a play or a walk!

Make sure your garden is really secure with a high fence, five or six feet. You might get a dog that's too lazy to bother but my very elderly lurcher jumped a normal fence after rabbits recently.

I would keep a greyhound on the lead. Again, some are fine but if they did take off they'd run across roads and apart from the risk of them getting killed I couldn't bear the thought of them causing an accident.

That's the only disadvantage though. Good luck and I hope you have great enjoyment from whatever dog you choose.

Have you had a dog before? Some breeds are good for first-timers. Others require more experienced owners. (I've always said that about my son. If he was in the RSPCA, there'd be a note saying 'experienced owners only'. I digress...). How much time do you have to walk a dog each day?

My favourite dogs are springer spaniels but they are bonkers if you don't let them run off lead for at least an hour a day. We can get away with a more sedate walk for the evening jaunt, but that hour morning run is an absolute essential, and two hours is better. They're the happiest dogs in the world. Such a sunny nature.

My dog is a greyhound cross (with deerhound and whippet in too), have and her for 2 years now. She has a super cozy beddie by the heater, but doesn't get on sofa's. She is frightened of cats, cattle and horses (very useful) and doesn't go for sheep either. She's even frightened by spiders. She's a wimp, which is good

She has no prey drive, that's just luck, it means she can go off lead. She loves playing chase (and winning) with other dogs.

One of her siblings is a real hunter, who also chases cats (and has killed 1) and a totally different kettle of fish.

So yes, lurchers are great but they vary hugely, even within the same litter

They are very loving and you really bond with them, as far as I can tell. You also make friends with other lurcher/whippy/grey owners (mutual admiration galore :))

best dogs IMO

I need pictures of all of your dogs

Heres the other one. Mine do spend a lot of time snoring on the sofa with the cat - in fact its happening right now

Have you phoned EGLR yet

I've asked about a dog with the Blue Cross, emailed RGT and will call EGLR tomorrow, promise. After that picture, how could I not?!

Greyhound, Podengo, cavachon.

Another greyhound owner here. She is wonderful. Off-lead is the only issue I can think of really, but mine does her regular 2-minute wappy dash round the garden and gets a proper run around once a week at dog daycare when I'm at work.

Because she's a retired racer and had never lived in a home before, I found it really easy to set the rules for her. And she was house trained from the start once she'd worked out which bits were house and which were not (took a couple of days). She was also, at some point in her racing career, trained to pee on command which can be handy.

Mine has never been upstairs so doesn't know about human beds, and she doesn't go on the sofas either. I understand this is unusual for greys .

Downsides? Loads and loads and loads of poo, which doesn't bother me but you have to clean up outside a lot. That's it really.

She rarely barks - like, once a week or so at the most. Greyhounds are just fabulous. I was originally going to get a Westie - now I've got the complete opposite