Retired greyhounds - walking and chance to be off lead

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

I think I've been convinced to get a dog and a retired greyhound seems to make the most sense for us. I'm thinking about suitable walks though, and giving the dog a chance to be off lead. We have an ok sized garden with high enough walls and gate where the dog could wander about but where I live, greyhounds need to be kept on lead in public to avoid them taking off and causing an accident. This really limits the opportunity for a dog to eg run after a ball or play games. Just wondering how other greyhound owners manage this type of exercise and fun for their dogs?

We found some fields close by that were fenced an allowed dogs. They really do love a run but our greyhound was not small animal safe so had to be muzzled.

Yes, I was thinking about possible muzzle too. We have some wide open parks near us but while many don't comply, dogs are supposed to be on lead in them. We're too far from any fields for that to be a practical, frequent option.

In that case, this dog is not suitable for you is it?

Muzzle definitely my aunties caught a squirrel in front of a load of children her sister pretended not to know who she was just joined in with the terrible isnt it brigade

www.dogwalkingfields.com/

Ask the rehoming place if they know of any rentable, secure dog walking fields. They do exist. There's one near me that is bookable for £2/hr or £1.50 for 30 mins (poo must be picked up).

No shit sherlock, Waffles, that's is why I'm asking questions before getting a dog

I'll look up rentable fields, never heard of them before, thanks.

Try riding schools with indoor arenas too.

In that case, this dog is not suitable for you is it?
😂

Pretty sure the OP has already considered that and is trying to now trying to see if there are any ways to make it work.

OP have you seen if there’s a retired greyhounds group in/near your local area? The one near us has monthly group walks and cafe meet ups. You might find Facebook better for that search though:

Or the rescue itself might be able to put you in touch with a group.

Retired greyhounds may not do much in the way of ball games. The ones I know look most perplexed at the idea of chasing a ball 😁.
Even my whippety lurchers (rehomed from a greyhound rescue) are not grasping the concept....

Greyhounds mooch around on lead and off lead. When off lead they will put in a few high speed laps (called zoomies) before going back to mooching and look longingly towards home.

They are for the most part not like other dogs... Although there are always exceptions to the rule.

Best for a greyhound is regular on lead strolls, the odd mad zoomie in a safe field, and a comfy sofa!

Even my whippety lurchers (rehomed from a greyhound rescue) are not grasping the concept....

My mongrel, but probably mostly whippet, loves to run at the ball, then entirely loses interest. Has fetched a handful of times.

I run him round the lake, no roads near. And there's a gated dog field near me. He would run into a road if not.

Main problem with off lead retired greyhounds is that they have been trained to chase small furry things.

They cannot differentiate easily if that furry thing is the one they are used to follow or those poor kids’ little poodle.
They can easily chase and kill cats, it is not their fault but the training they have got unfortunately.

Redred, I don't do FB but I have heard of a group locally. I haven't been in touch with them yet as it will probably be after the summer when we have time to settle a dog in with us properly. The rescue I've emailed says that in their experience prey drive varies wildly and they spend time investigating the dogs before they re-home so will be able to give me a sense of the dog's instinct and whether/type of muzzling required.

@MotherForkin
I’ve posted a link above about secure fields.

Thanks, I'll investigate.

We have had a retired greyhound since last April, and she doesn't go off lead apart from in our garden (which is big enough for zoomies). We go on the monthly Greyhound Trust walk near us, and lots of other people's greyhounds don't regularly go off lead either.

Ours gets plenty of exercise on the lead and likes to potter around the garden but mostly sleeps. If you are otherwise a good fit for a greyhound's needs, I wouldn't get too hung up on the off lead aspect personally.

Secure fields are great, or ask a local farmer/school if you can use their fields for a fee. We don't technically have any dog fields here but a local farmer lets us use so long as it's free of livestock.

The other option is doing something like canicross or similar - my SIL has a dog that can't go offlead due to her recall so she runs it alongside her bicycle. Not sure if that's something you'd be interested in? Obviously you need to make sure the dog can run nicely and won't constantly stop and sniff

Mine cannot be off lead ANYWHERE where we might encounter a cat, rabbit, squirrel etc etc etc. Her recall is pretty good - but if she gets a sniff of a rabbit it's game over. There is a large secure dog park near us which I have hired but she is so busy sniffing all the sniffs that it takes at least 30 mins before she can be bothered to go for a run.

My previous greyhound loved the beach - miles of open space and not a cat or rabbit in sight. And the seagulls weren't fair game as they just flew away!

My whippet/ saluki x is quite young, but can't be bothered with more than a few zoomies in a field about once a week then he'll stand still for you to put him on a lead and take him home. They are such lovely dogs. He's happy pottering around on a lead. We used to let him off but again, if a cat, rabbit or another whipped came near, he'd be off and they're impossible to catch. He's fine just with his walks ( unless it's too cold, too hot or too wet, when he'll hide under a duvet and refuse to come outside!) They are quite lazy dogs!

They don't really play games either.

Thanks for the extra info. I went for a run earlier and the park I was in seems to have expanded their dog park in the last few weeks (last time I was there it was very pokey for a bigger dog), so gives a much better option for off lead than previously. I'm much reassured now.

Bless you for thinking a greyhound will play fetch!

They are such lovely pets though but don't really 'dog'. They walk beautifully to heal on a lead, are so affectionate, playful in their own way, gentle and loyal.

Plenty of greyhounds will play fetch!

Some are 'doggier' than others, but many ex-track greyhounds have never had the chance to play the way other breeds of dog do. That doesn't mean they can't or won't learn... Every sighthound needs at least the chance to run. Just because a greyhound can be 'happy' with the two twenty minute walks a day that's often recommended doesn't mean they should.

What I always wonder is how come greyhounds always seem to walk so beautifully on lead? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one pulling. They always paid sedately along.