Going to look at greyhounds today!

[sexnotgender]

I’m so excited! Can’t get one for about 6 weeks but going to visit the rescue and chat to the owner to find a dog to fit in our family.

Argggghhhh, might pee with excitement.

Oooh! I would love a rescue greyhound, but it would be difficult for me as I have cats and I understand either you have to find one without much of a chase instinct or undergo long and intense training. I do think they are beautiful dogs and said to be quite easy in that they're placid around the house.

I hope you find the right dog for your family. I would love to see a picture once you do!

I have 2 cats, I’ve spoken to the lady at the rescue and they thoroughly cat test their dogs. Obviously you still have to be very careful but I’m happy to wait until the right dog comes along.

I have two cats as well. I'd be really interested to hear how your cats take to the greyhound and vice-versa. My existing dog is a little Cavalier and he quietly slipped in at the bottom of the hierarchy when I introduced him to the cats as a pup, and he's stayed there ever since even when one cat died and I brought in a new cat. The cats know they are the masters!

Very exciting! Let us know how you get on

I shall keep you updated!

Both my cats are super chilled, never scratched or bitten me.

They can be shy around new people but they just take themselves away to somewhere quiet.

They are amazing companions. We had a ex racer from 6 years old and he was the softest laziest thing ever. Very gentle and stealth like despite his size.

Happy sleeping for 22 of 24 hours but then if he wanted he could have a crazy run around.

Very food motivated though so watch out for food being left out. The 'tub of butter' incident sill haunts us. He was a large greyhound so kitchen worktops were perfect hunting ground.

He passed away about 5 years ago and we all still miss him.

Beautiful dog and temperament. I'd have another in a heartbeat if circumstances were right. So excited for you OP.

@GrumpySausage He sounds gorgeous! I'm used to my dog not being able to get on the worktops, though occasionally if my cats get into the kitchen, they will helpfully knock food leftovers onto the floor for him!

Thanks grumpysausage he sounds fantastic! I shall keep my butter locked away

We’re moving to a new house with a mahoosive back garden, can’t wait to spend the days in the garden with hounds.

As well as butter, make sure Easter eggs (including the foil packaging), chickens and apples (?!) are hidden!

So pretty much anything edible or not to be locked away?

Yeah pretty much! I think it comes from their time in kennels/training etc but I'm not sure if our greyhound was particularly bad or if it's standard. May be worth asking at the rescue centre.

Also if it is an ex racer they should be able to tell you their former racing name and you can look into their history.

I had two ex-racing rescue greyhounds. Got one - Harry, then Frank came along a couple of years later. Totally different characters but lots in common too...the food obsession, the laziness, gentleness. Also both very aloof until they’d relaxed after being with us a few months. Eg Harry didn’t roll over onto his back for the first three months. And Frank was terrified on men raising their voices. My ex-H who is the most mild mannered man, shouted called to the dogs when we were out for a walk and Frank ran into the bushes cowering and shaking. I had to slowly coax him out. It was heartbreaking to see him like that and it took a long long time before he trusted us. Obviously been abused, presumably by a man, going by his reaction to raised male voices. So do rewarding though 😘

So exciting!! We are looking to getting a greyhound/lurcher in about 6 was too. Can you update us on how it goes? Love to hear of successful greyhound and cat matching! Our cat is rather feisty so will no doubt be the boss....

Good luck, I hope you find the perfect hound. We’ve had our greyhound for over five years, a retired racer. She’s the most gentle creature, a bit timid and utterly bonkers but we love her so much!

We had an ex- racer and she was amazing. Sadly she had to be PTS as she had an undiagnosed kidney issue. She was so chilled and great with our cat and when we had the kids she was great with them too. She never barked and was so sweet. I miss her. Laziest dog in the world though

Mine was obsessed with cheese - was the one way we could bribe her for walks!

If you have dcats your butter may not be safe anyway.
Our dcat used to open the fridge by hooking her claws into the door seal, then she and ddog would share the contents. Always the butter!!
We have Lurchers, one from puppy and her dm from 6 yo and both fine around the dcats.
Claws are an amazing deterant for a long nosed nosey ddog!!

One of mine (don’t know which one as was out st the time) ate a starfish I’d bought from a Cornish craft shop years before. He barfed it all up 🤦‍♀️

Visit was successful! Lovely 2 year old boy who is horribly timid as they tried everything to force him to race and he just wouldn't.
Lady says he's a different dog once he trusts you though. Over the next few weeks we will visit the shelter and hopefully build his trust in us so we can take him home.

Not the best photo but here is Sam!

He's beautiful!

A tip for socialising cats and dogs is to start them getting used to each others' scent before they come home. When you visit Sam, if you can take a blanket the cats have used and leave it with him, it will aid familiarity - similarly, if you can take a blanket Sam has used and leave it where your cats will smell it, he won't seem such a stranger when he arrives. The cats might also find a Feliway diffuser helpful in the early days.

Did you go a Greyhound trust kennels? Sounds like that's a really rewarding, positive match! We can't gi did timid and shy as we have school age kiddies in the mix with the cat...A great result for you!

Better photo of him.

He is from the greyhound trust yes.