Should I get a greyhound?

[AlreadyGone]

There's a greyhound thread a few years old which I've read and found very helpful. But there's still a few questions I'd really like help with.

We've been thinking about a dog for a while but couldn't decide / settle on the right breed.

Then a couple of weeks ago we met a beautiful greyhound. He was so calm and peaceful and friendly and tolerant I totally fell in love!! And then I find out they don't need hours of exercise - bonus!!!!!

But we do have 2 DCs, 7 & 5. We have a piano and a drum kit and generally sometimes they want to make quite a bit of noise.

Am I kidding myself? Are we just totally unsuited to have a greyhound?

Is it true they all need quiet homes?

Can they be trained to get used to kiddy noise?

Can they be taught to play?

Will they go to chase when on the lead and pull me over?

Where is the best place to buy pretty greyhounds coat?

Yes, they are different from other dogs, but still more 'dog' than any other animal iykwim.

The crate MUST be a Good Thing: v comfortable, cosy, treats to be found in it from time to tim. He needs to want to go to his crate as a place of comfort and safety and peace and quiet. NO CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CRATE - had to repeat that rule a few times as we had a giant crate (definitely can roach in it!), covered with blankets and DSs thought this would make a great den for them.
DHound still has a crate at our caravan and sleeps in it every night. I only close the door when we are going to bed because he would otherwise come and expect to sleep with me and that is SO not going to happen!

I used the muzzle we got from the rescue for a few weeks until I thought I could judge his reactions. As posted above I was wrong once and it was awful although no longterm harm was done. So the muzzle went back on, and we worked quite hard on having lots of positive socialisation going on with small white fluffy dogs. I still don't trust him, but simply keep him by my side now when breeds much smaller than him are around. He loves meeting dogs but I feel it needs to be a fair match to let them do their doggy thing unfettered.

Ah yay! I've only just come across your thread. We adopted an ex racer in October last year, she's great! Lazy in the house but loves her walks.

Our house is very full on, 3DC one with ADHD, one with ASD and a lively 3yo, not forgetting the cat! She doesn't bat an eyelid with the DC, unless they make stupid howling noises like my DS who thinks he's a wolf, then her ears prick up with excitement. When she realises it's just him she strolls back to her bed again .

She started out in a crate which we then ditched about a month ago. She's the perfect house guest and we have slowly started training her basic commands. She's a bit, erm, thick though. Poor love!

We got our collars and lead from Meggie Moo and her fleece coat from Milgi. We didn't get a coat given to us from RGT, so we bought a waterproof one from Pets at Home which does the job.

She's brilliant on the lead, just walks next to us. Have only let her off lead if it's fully enclosed, her recall is slowly coming on but I'd never rely on it.

Good luck, exciting times ahead! The only thing I would say is prepare yourself for buyers remorse. I know I was in a state of anxiety for a while, having this huge thing impose on your house was quite a shock. But I soon got over it and I can't remember a time without her. We now love her and wouldn't be without her!

Oh and it's only fair to share a pic...

Here he is.... 'Veyron'

Not the one I already posted, he was too barky/jumpy.

You're all being incredible helpful - thank you.

I'm not going to get a crate for now. He's got a lovely doggy mattress coming and we're clearly the utility for his night-time bedroom. For the daytime when he's had enough of the kids he can go and hide in DHs office with him.

I've just bought him a squeaky soft pheasant, one of those ball throwing stick thinks which the DCs will love and some nice freeze-dried liver treats for training.

I need to get him some PJs. Those blue pirate ones up thread are definitely on the list!!

Oh, he is very handsome! And he looks like he knows it too...

He's very handsome and sleek looking. Lovely. Black goes with everything so there's no barriers to him amassing a large coat and collar collection

Greenie is that a colour co-ordinated lead and fleece?! She looks very smart!

Oh, you should see the velvet colours and coordinating leads that MeggieMoo do!
There are whole worlds of greyhound related retail opportunities out there!!

Is he black or blue?

velvet collars - I swear that was autocorrect!

Brilliant news!

Panicking totally normal and likely to continue on and off for a few weeks. Ours never liked his crate but I found it to be quite reassuring for me while I got used to the idea of having a dog in the house.

We followed the RGT advice which is take them in the garden on the lead as soon as you get them home and show them where they are to go to the toilet. Take them out every hour or so until they have been and then praise like mad when they do. We had two accidents in the first afternoon but nothing after that. Have some biological washing liquid on hand in case he does have an accident indoors as it will get rid of the smell and prevent him going there again.

Lead him around the house by the lead and after a while let go off the lead and let him explore.

Totally doable to not have him upstairs, ours is not allowed either. We have a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs which we're about to remove to decorate so we'll see if he tries to go up while it's not there!

Ours has never had a bath but I took him to the groomers at Christmas and will probably do so every few months.

With greyhounds you should brush their teeth by the way. Our vet advised us to wait a month or so to let him settle first but given his horrified reaction when we first tried last week I'm wondering if we should have done it from the off. So maybe think about that. Or at least give him dental sticks.

Just take it all slowly and remember that EVERYTHING will be new to him. He won't ever have seen his own reflection so any shiny surface is likely to be of great interest and possibly a worry. He may well be a bit of a pain around food at first but you can train them out of that.

I know it's your first dog so be prepared because it is a massive adjustment. 2 months in and I'm still adjusting! Please don't worry if you don't instantly fall in love and wonder what the heck you have done. I had a major wobble a few weeks in and posted here about it and everyone was so lovely and reassuring.

Good luck! You must be so excited!

Ours had to learn about glass doors/French doors in to the garden.
We had to lead him up to them and show him that there was a solid obstacle that he could not just race through if he saw a cat in the garden....

Our garden has been very cat-free. Ours it NOT cat safe, at all.

pacific the home have called him black but he's dad is that kind of mottled sandy colour and his mum is black, so he's a bit ginger on the chest and tummy.

He's clothing choices are going to require some very careful thought.

I am excited lamb but also sick with nerves. The kids are super excited!!

his dad

What a strapping lad!

Yes, matching everything! She has a velvet house collar that matches her martingale collar and lead

She also doesn't go upstairs, we don't need a stairgate as she can't manage it anyway. The cats safe place is upstairs so that's where he pretty much lives now.

And yes to glass doors, she walked into ours on a few occasions and was a bit like 'wtf is that'. Made us chuckle.

We took her straight out into the garden on the lead and starting using the word 'go toilet' straight away. She now pees and poops on command.

We started cleaning her teeth after a month, she tolerates it but as soon as she sees the toothbrush she runs away and I have to chase her! Also we had her nails clipped recently, she was brilliant for that. Never been bathed or groomed, it's on my list of things to do! I've got a dry shampoo type thing that I massage into her, again she runs as soon as she sees it but comes back with her tail between her legs and tolerates it.

I used her muzzle for the first month when we went anywhere. Then only used it in the woods where dogs were off lead, now I never use it. I don't let her say hello to any other dogs, just keep walking and tell her to 'leave it'. My friends dogs she is fine with though and she plays happily.

Exciting times ahead for you

Ddog1 has more coats than I have! And we don't talk about how many collars mine have - theres even a box in the christmas decorations box of the christmas collars and bandanas. When meeting other pointy owners you always get to chat about collars!

Veyron is a very handsome boy. He'd look amazing in a red or purple fleece imo. The owners of both Milgi and Meggie Moo are really good at advising on what will look lovely on a particular dog

Oh dear. I went in the Meggie Moo website.

on!!!!

All is now lost

They are gorgeous, aren't they?

He is going to be one very stylish dog!! And DH is going to hate me!

Love Meggie Moo! Here's my dog in his comic book collar. 😊

He's gorgeous op

I'm looking forward to getting her summer collars!

I hope he enjoys his retirement as much as this lazy girl .

Lambchop I love his collar, I remember you saying your DD chose it but I've not actually seen it. It's great.

Roaching is so undignified!

And I love both the meadow and the cartoon collars

I have two new foster puppies arriving in a minute to keep my mind off it though!