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The doghouse

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Original poster

Rescue lurcher

59 replies

Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 08:40

Morning everyone.

I’ve been after a dog for years, timing is right, youngest in pre school two days a week, oldest in school. I work from home and two days in a dog friendly office so can have a dog with me all the time. We also live rurally in a beautiful area for walks.

My intital feeling was to get a terrier cross but there was a greyhound charity in town yesterday and the more I read about grey hounds and lurcher the more I think they are perfect for us. I made the mistake of looking at the website and there is a gorgeous lurcher that I think would be amazing for us.

The only issue is my other half doesn’t want a dog. He previously said we could when the time was right, this was a year ago. But he’s back tracked and says a flat no. I can’t get to the bottom of his concerns yet to counter them.

But assuming I can convince him, is there anything I should know or any pertinent experiences you can share with me? I had dogs as a child but not as an adult. I have dog sitted for friends and just loved the whole experience. Also, we don’t holiday abroad and have Mum as stand by dog sitter if necessary.

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
ragged · 02/06/2018 08:45

Will your other half come around, do you think?
What does he think he won't like about having a dog?

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 08:49

I really hope so. I think his concerns are mess and smell and our house not being big enough. From what I’ve read lurchers fold up nice and don’t smell too much...

OP posts:
Rainydaydog · 02/06/2018 08:51

Sorry to hear that OP I was just about to say lurchers are lovely dogs. But I think you have to take your DP seriously in this, a dog makes a big impact on the home. It's not like it won't effect your DP so his opinion must be taken into account. Its not fair on a rescue dog to bring it into a family where it is not welcome by one member.
If having a dog is really important to you, you have to make that clear to him though. Your relationship will be damaged by him simply saying no and that's that. Some kind of compromise must be met.

ragged · 02/06/2018 08:53

Smaller dogs tend to smell less, but I think coat & regular washing matter most of all wrt smell.

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 08:55

I don’t think there is a fair compromise with this though is there. I just need to reassure him but at the moment I can’t work out exactly what his concerns are.

From my POV we are perfect for a dog and a dog is perfect for us. 😂

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 02/06/2018 09:02

A dog affects everyone in the household. I wanted ours but if DH has said no then I honestly wouldn't have bought one. The only thing you can do is to find out honestly what his issues are and see if they can be worked around.

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 09:04

Absolutely. I won’t get one without full consent.

Any good rescue lurcher stories I can use in the mean time?

OP posts:
FairfaxAikman · 02/06/2018 09:10

I find dogs fed poor quality foods are the ones that smell the worst.

A good grooming routine (not necessarily bathing as that strips the oils) and good food keeps the worst at bay with our lot - until they roll in Fox shit!

Kidssendingmenuts · 02/06/2018 09:11

Remember some rescues won't allow you to adopt unless your child is over the age of 5. Double check their terms before you fall in love x

Frouby · 02/06/2018 09:17

We have a whippet. She is the most unsmelliest dog I have ever met. She sleeps mainly on the sofa and it's fabric and it doesn't smell.

I don't think my house smells doggy at all. Even if we have been away for a week I can't smell dog when I walk in. The only time she ever smelt doggy was when she was in season but she has been speyed now so not even that.

She does fold up small. Is happy with a full day out or happy with a 20 minute walk. And she refuses to go out at all if it's raining.

DH was a bit reluctant to get a dog. But I managed to persuade him. Ddog is very much DHs dog when he is at home. She is currently sat at the side of me, with her mad bat ears up looking at the ceiling because she can hear him getting up.

Wolfiefan · 02/06/2018 09:19

Oh that's tough. Mine took years to come around to the idea of a dog. Won't he say why?
Lurchers do fold up small! Is he worried about a rescue do you think? Puppies are big on mess that's for sure!

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 09:21

Ahh, I’m starting to think greyhound type sight dogs are the best. Gentle, foldy uppy, dislike getting wet.

I think I can get oh on board. He won’t have anything to do, and ultimately I know he wants me and kids to be happy.

I’ve checked with the rescue centre already and under 5s is ok subject to house visit. But won’t wven get there without oh being happy.

Frouby, did your other half take much convincing?

OP posts:
bluetongue · 02/06/2018 10:43

I also have a whippet that doesn’t smell ‘doggy’. Before him I fostered a greyhound that had a bit of a doggy smell that I really noticed in the house so I can tell the difference.

I’d recommend an adult lurcher or whippet though as mine did some damage to the house and garden as a puppy.

CMOTDibbler · 02/06/2018 11:10

I adore my lurchers, and as they spend so much time relaxing, they aren't under your feet all the time like a lot of dogs.

My current foster puppy (I foster for EGLR, and we certainly rehome to homes with under 5's, just depends on the dog in question) is very whippety and she is a delight and very cat like. She folds up very small - enough to sit on your lap

strayducks18 · 02/06/2018 12:45

My rescue lurcher is bloody ace. He is perfectly happy to sleep all day if you are around but also loves to go beserk in the fields. He's a sensitive soldier though and does like company. A sofa and your bed will be his birth right.

strayducks18 · 02/06/2018 12:48

Oh and although mine can fold small he's more of a stretch out on his back legs apart everything on display kinda hound

Frouby · 02/06/2018 13:08

Hemlock it took about 6 months to properly convince him we should get a dog. As soon as I mentioned whippet as a breed after much research he came around to the idea but I knew he liked sight hounds as they had them when he was growing up.

He was a bit meh about her when she first came. Then after jabs and socialisation we started letting her come to the pub on friday teatimes. All the admiring glances and conversations about her had him as proud as a new father and he dotes on her now.

She is 7 now. He has made me promise that if anything happens to her that we will have another as a house isn't a home without a dog in it.

It helped slightly that we were ttc at the time and it wasn't happening. A puppy was a bit of a consolation prize for me I think. But we did have ds 2 years later so I got the puppy and the baby.

Wolfiefan · 02/06/2018 14:08

How about borrowing a hound or several to walk? Many rescues allow volunteers to walk dogs. Tia for example. Don't know where you are?
Or a fete with a dog show? See some breeds?

TropicPlunder · 02/06/2018 14:23

My partner wasn't keen on a dog right now...but was just ok when one fell in our laps desperate for a home. I was concerned that he wasn't as enthusiastic as me and kiddo, but he LOVES the dog. I found him cradling the leggy mutt upside down like a baby, talking to her while she gazed at him Blush. But if it hadn't worked out I would have been so conscious of bringing a dog into our lives that he was ambivalent about and in retrospect, a bit of a gamble! I'm totally prepared to do all the dog-work, regardless

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 15:22

Well I went to the rescue centre and loved all of them...

I’ve left it that as soon as oh is up for it we can take the next step.

I’m totally convinced that lurcher or greyhound is the right breed for us. When we went round I didn’t hear one bark, they were all so friendly and gentle. Even the timid ones that aren’t ready for a home with kids. Honestly they were all gorgeous x

OP posts:
Phillpot12 · 02/06/2018 17:45

Which centre did you go to Hemlock? We are on the verge of getting out first sight hound now that hubby is on board. We have 3 children and a cat!

Wolfiefan · 02/06/2018 17:47

Pictures when you find your forever hounds!!! So exciting.

Phillpot12 · 02/06/2018 17:47

CMOT how old is your foster pup? Is she still v puppyish? We are thinking about 1yr + might be slightly calmer? Also officially not adopting until summer hols so we can be home for settling in but starting to "look"! 😬😊

Floralnomad · 02/06/2018 17:51

It took me 21 yrs to persuade dh and then he only gave in because dd , who was then 10 , was ill and really wanted a dog as well . I’m glad now that we left it until the dc were older as when they were younger we used to go out and away a lot and that wouldn’t have been possible .

Original poster
Hemlock2013 · 02/06/2018 18:03

I went to Celia cross in Guildford. They honestly were all gorgeous.

I think when they have done the house check (subject to full household approval) we go back and they bring the dogs out to ya which they feel suit our family which is lovely. I loved them all so can’t wait...

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