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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Might be adopting a greyhound!

44 replies

User5trillion · 12/08/2018 09:34

We have been thinking about this for years and now youngest dc is 5 we are decided the time is right.

Yesterday we went to the rescue and met 3 dogs. We took them out for walks and understandably they were a bit wary but lovely. Should we fall in love with one? They all seemed perfectly nice and suitable but is it like buying a house, should you just know?

We have no preference on sex or colour and we have no other pets.

We had a home check 2 years ago when we first discussed this and will have another one this week.

Does anyone have any advice on how to help new dog settle in? We have an old cot mattress to use as a bed but do we need a special dog bed? I have ordered the greyhound for dummies book I see recommended on here. Any other advice?

Tia

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 03/09/2018 08:31

There are only a couple of harnesses that are crash tested.... and if you’re using a harness he’ll take up your entire back seat, so not so handy if you’re needing to fit children in there as well.

Original poster

User5trillion · 08/09/2018 12:17

Allow me to introduce you to dave! He is a bit unsettled but he hasn't even been here 24hrs yet. He has been as good as gold so far (crosses fingers long may it last).

OP posts:

ThePricklySheep · 08/09/2018 12:22

Hello Dave!
We adopted a greyhound about six weeks ago. It hasn’t been quite how I expected (she’s more nervous out of the house and refused to walk without all five of us) but is otherwise absolutely lovely!

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 08/09/2018 12:28

He’s gorgeous! The black ones really are they handsomest

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 08/09/2018 12:31

That was gobbledygook . Most handsome, I meant.

Original poster

User5trillion · 08/09/2018 12:46

He is a beauty, I just hope he isn't lonely, would love another to keep him company. Kids adore him already.

OP posts:

MyGirlDaisy · 08/09/2018 19:23

He is gorgeous and obviously loves his new bed, awesome dogs!

MrsMozart · 08/09/2018 19:33

Welcome Dave!

Washedwithrain · 08/09/2018 19:36

Oh Dave you are gorgeous. I have a friend who has rescue Greyhounds. Hers are adorable too.

MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 08/09/2018 19:43

What a beautiful dog! Best of luck in your forever home Dave!

I have a rescue lurcher (another sighthound so not a million miles away) and they make wonderful pets. Can't imagine our house without her now (only after a few months).

5000KallaxHoles · 08/09/2018 20:08

You installed him incorrectly on that photo. Seriously though he's lush (I love the big black dopey as fuck boys).

We're onto greyhound number 2 - the ridiculously named Bunny (we didn't pick it) which takes some explaining when my speech delayed daughter is telling people about "her pet Bunny" and they assume it's a rabbit. They take a while for their personalities to emerge sometimes - they can be quite shut down coming out of rescue... our current one's got personality in bundles... previous one always remained somewhat aloof all her life (lost her to cancer a few years back).

Original poster

User5trillion · 08/09/2018 22:17

He is very quiet still, we did have a little game of chase. I bought him a duck toy,'i threw it and he did a loop around the living room before pouncing on it.

His farts though, I knew they were stinky but my whole house has an odour now, urgh

We have begun our socialization and have met a few dogs, he is very interested, esp by the small furry ones. There was a huge husky that barked at him, he virtually hid behind my legs.

He likes lying out in the garden and looking out the window, he is mad keen to escape out the front door.

No accidents so far but we did lift the persian rug, just in case.

I bought him a collar for his id tag but I guessed the size and got it way wrong, he just slipped his head out of it!

OP posts:

Tatiebee · 09/09/2018 22:15

He's beautiful OP, and a roaching greyhound is a happy greyhound! Greyhound farts do stink, especially when a bit stressed but that will improve once he settles into a routine of feeding g and walking. Ours stinks on grain free food so we just give him Burgess greyhound and lurcher food, he's much better on that.

MyGirlDaisy · 09/09/2018 22:28

They are quiet dogs generally and it will take him a while for his full personality to emerge. I would say 18 months for our boys true character to come out, although he had been moved between various kennels we think so was in a state of shock on reflection. He looks happy though - do you have a greyhound house collar for him, might be worth it if he is trying to get out of the door. Plus there are some really lovely designs and a black greyhound looks stunning in most of them!

Original poster

User5trillion · 10/09/2018 13:47

We did buy a collar but guesstimated and was way out, they have such slim elegant necks he slipped out of it!

He is still very standoffish, his bed is in the other reception room and we won't come into the living room of an evening. He loves sunbathing in the garden and is there now.

We live by the beach and he wasnt keen at walking on the sand but happily trotted along the pavement.

I work part time and tomorrow wil be his first day on his own. My mil will pop in and give him a quick walk.

OP posts:

Original poster

User5trillion · 16/09/2018 11:25

We are having a few teething problems! One is the chewing of shoes esp my slippers and the second one is pooping in the house at 4am. He has an evening walk at 7 pm and gets let out in the garden to do his business at 9.30. We have some dig training starting in early oct, which will help but does anyone have any advice for the interim? Tia

OP posts:

MyGirlDaisy · 16/09/2018 12:24

Oh dear! My mums greyhound used to collect shoes when they first got her although she didn’t chew them. She took them back to her bed which we thought was because she wanted something of mum’s, can you put the shoes out of his reach and perhaps let him have the slippers or something else of yours if he is taking them to his ‘den’ - does he have toys or something to chew, or have you tried taking the slippers off him and giving him something he can have, a kong maybe?
The pooping I have no experience of, what times does he eat, he may need a later evening walk for transit time?! Will he do his business in the garden, as my dog doesn’t like to and tends to only poop in the garden if he is poorly although he happily pees out there. Does he sleep downstairs ? Could it be that you don’t hear him asking to go out especially if he is a quiet dog? I hope everything else is going well, he looks such a lovely boy? One other thought, if you got him from a greyhound specific rescue could you have a chat with them because they have probably seen it all before.

Original poster

User5trillion · 16/09/2018 14:01

I think he needs a later walk in the evening and we will give him a long walk at 7pm and a poo walk at 9.30-10pm.
We will feed hom earlier as well.

He has several dog toys but is only interested in shoes and cushions!

He can't master the stairs yet. He has only been here a week or so, so its early days yet. Luckily we have vinyl floor downstairs!

OP posts:

MyGirlDaisy · 16/09/2018 15:20

He, and you, are doing really well, living in a house after a life in kennels must be very strange for them. My dog has loads of toys and he only plays with one teddy for about 2 minutes and that’s it! I don’t think they are ever taught to play, which is sad, whereas my mums lurcher plays for ages with her toys. Oh, the cushion thing, my dog will show his annoyance at DH going to work after a few days off by grabbing all the cushions off the sofa and chucking them around and leaving them wet and soggy on the floor, or if we dare to go out as a couple for dinner in the evening and leave him behind! At least it shows that they are confident enough to know they are not going to get in serious trouble and shows they feel at home. With regard to the stairs, be careful what you wish for, as soon as he mastered the stairs he came up to bed when we did. This means he now sleeps next to me on his bed on the floor, it’s very sweet but I get woken up two or three times a night by him shaking and changing position, dreaming and whooping or scrabbling his blankets up! Hopefully the earlier dinner and later walk will resolve the poop issue, it may just be he needs to get used to a different routine to the one he had in kennels, as you say very early days.

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