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The doghouse

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Original poster

Greyhound rehoming

51 replies

xxxJess123xxx · 15/04/2020 14:48

Hi all, I work with greyhounds and I would love to rehome one.
Shes a small, quiet bitch.
I do live in a flat though and have a 1 year old and 4 year old.
Would you consider it? Someone will be home everyday apart from one day when my mum can bring her down for a wee (first floor flat)
Also as a side note, iv never owed a dog before but have worked with greyhounds for a number of years.

OP posts:

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 18/04/2020 21:52

Thanks guys, lots to think about. She really is a darling but understand kennel and home life is completely different.
We have rehomed some of our craziest greyhounds to lovely people and they have been super calm indoors, it's like some have a personality transplant when home on a sofa!
There is no rush so I have plenty of time to think xx

OP posts:

marblesgoing · 18/04/2020 22:02

@xxxjess123xxx
I have two regimes greyhounds,both ex racers.

Came to me straight from kennels.

Both house clean from very early on. I think one had one accident indoors and that was it.

We took them down the garden every couple of hours so they figured out where to go and they just did it.

They are beautiful creatures. They sometimes have a bit of a rep for being snappy which in my opinion is bollox. No different than any dog that gets provoked.

I taught my dc from day one to respect the dogs space and when the dogs are asleep in their beds do not approach them as they scare easy and would then be more likely to react.

They are very affectionate and the minute a child is curled up on the sofa it's not long before a grey will join them

Be prepared to sit on the floor a lot

Shambolical1 · 18/04/2020 22:05

ImPeckish Yes, and as somebody who has lived in a flat with sighthounds for nearly thirty years and been directly involved with rehoming them for fifteen years, that's what I offered.

It can be easy to get attracted to the rosy glow of rehoming a dog but without being prepared for the reality it's equally easy to come unstuck.

Don't want to know: don't ask.

Hodgeheg3 · 18/04/2020 22:12

I have a greyhound (ex-racer) and we’re currently fostering another. The one on foster is taking a bit longer to be completely toilet trained but my boy was clean in the house from day 1. I know people who have greyhounds in flats with no garden and they make it work. In my experience it takes a couple of weeks for a greyhound to get used to being in a house, it’s a really big transition for them so you’ll need to expect a fortnight of being woken in the night, having to let them out late and early etc. If you are going to keep your dog in the kitchen using a baby gate then you’ll need to be really careful about leaving food out. They’re a v food orientated breed and if they jump up, they can reach food at the back of a counter. Overall, I think they make wonderful family pets, so affectionate, and my children adore both dogs (they want to keep the one we’re fostering). It’s been a great decision for us as a family and I’ve had some lovely conversations with my children on dog walks that I don’t think would have happened otherwise. I’d go for it!

WantToBeMum · 18/04/2020 22:21

I wouldn't, with a 1 year old. Small children can be incredibly noisy and that would be stressful for the dog. It wouldn't be fair to pen him into the kitchen, that's like a punishment, being kept away, even if you think it's for his own benefit. Wait until your youngest is at least 4 and both kids can understand the dog's boundaries.
Aside from that, I do know of a greyhound who lives comfortably in a flat. He needs to go out 5-6 times each day so be prepared for multiple trips out.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 18/04/2020 22:36

Want to be, the kitchen will be where she can away from the kids, not where she will be kept all the time
She will be a family dog in with us in the living room x

OP posts:

ImPeckish · 19/04/2020 07:39

You sound like you'll be a thoughtful and responsible owner, OP!

It's great to be prepared but once you have her home, you will both learn from each other and work it out! Every dog owner with a million years of experience started somewhere and you've already got so much insight into the breed.

Gotta love a pointy nose sightsound :) she'll be roaching, leaning and grinning in no time.

Hodgeheg3 · 19/04/2020 08:08

Forgot to say, there are some great YouTube videos about dog body language that are really helpful for children and giving them the skills to recognise the signs a dog is giving off. Teaching them from day 1 to leave to dog alone when they’re on their bed is probably the most important from the outset. Initially you’d just have to supervise your 1 year old closely and not leave them alone with the dog at all. It’s also worth thinking about costs-insurance, food, flea and worm treatment all adds up. It’s great that you’re thinking about all these things now and you seem really committed to making it work.

DominaShantotto · 19/04/2020 08:13

Big issues we had with ex racers and kids -

Stairs - will take some training if they've bit seen them before - can you get her up and down them along with a baby until she's used to it?
Fluffy toys - mine still periodically pinches the kids bears and takes them off for a cuddle - to the kids absolute horror

BeeBella · 19/04/2020 12:14

We have a house not a flat but took an ex racer straight from kennels. She'd spent her whole life in them yet never had a single accident in the house and learned stairs within an hour of being home!

BarbarAnna · 19/04/2020 12:21

Our ex racer was clean in the house from day 1. She settled really easily.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 19/04/2020 13:04

I think the main thing I'm worried about is the fact I'm in a flat and physically bringing her down to toilet train while I have the kiddos. I think once she is clean it will be easier x

OP posts:

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 19/04/2020 13:05

As in bringing her out on a lead etc x

OP posts:

RemotelessControl · 19/04/2020 13:15

We live in a townhouse. Stairs were mastered from day one too 🤷🏻‍♀️

Agree about the fluffy toys being pinched though. And socks.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 19/04/2020 13:27

Shes been up and down stairs before so that's no a problem

OP posts:

ImPeckish · 19/04/2020 13:37

Agree about the fluffy toys being pinched though. And socks.

Ours used to collect shoes and decorate her bed with them. She never chewed them or damaged them in any way, bless her, she just loved collecting them!

RemotelessControl · 19/04/2020 13:57

Same. Just a little comfort

Scattyhattie · 19/04/2020 15:05

My greyhounds have spent most of the day comatose, I lived in flat with grey & lurcher which suited them fine. Its more hassle for owner I think not being able to just open door into a garden ,although taking out on lead is quite beneficial when housetraining as your with them to praise/ treat & can also pick up an poo straight away than it get trampled later on. It was closer to take mine up street than garden.
Only real issue with the stairs is if injured or old & struggling , my girl was 25kg I used a webmaster harness with handle & towel to help support weight up & down when injured as I'm not strong enough to carry fully.

If you've room, crates are very handy so can be in room but also secure/visual boundary for kids and during scary fireworks id put cover and they'd retreat in & would be able to relax enough to sleep. I only bought crate when greyhound needed to be on full rest due to spinal disc, as raced guess she traveled in similar as quickly settled in.

I would test how she is being woken from slumber unexpectedly a few times ( poke her from distance or toss soft object at her) as of my 4 sighthounds, 3 would airsnap a warning before fully conscious which if combined with a close face/hand could make contact even though not intentional bite. It is manageable & usually improves as they adjust to annoying people regularly disturbing them but not always, My girl was fantastic with kids while she was awake but grump asleep in bed, luckily something easy to manage in my home & she'd usually choose to go off to her own sofa.

You can get tall baby/dog gates which only my lurcher hoped over like a cat, some greys won't attempt to jump anything others would with right motivation. Don't underestimate their ability to thieve, reach a higher level on worktops than expect & bin raid.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 19/04/2020 15:10

No this is absolutely a abd idea. A flat is no flace for a dog, A rehomed dog is no dog for children. The dog has not grown up socialising with children. Toddlers and small children have to be very actively taught not to invade the dogs space/security, no hugging ear pulling etc. Wait unti you are in a house, the children are older and then get a labrador

Scattyhattie · 19/04/2020 15:24

With housetraining I went out about every hour at first day watching like a hawk for restless signs and gradually increased as I got learn their signals and them where to go. Soon get into routine, it is pretty much like principal of puppy training but with adult bodies don't need to go quite so often.
All 3 of my greyhounds came straight from racing trainer and its actually quite amazing how quickly they do adjust to all these random new things. First few hours can be panting & stressed which is to be expected. Their character plays a part on how they interact with novel experiences some are more outgoing, adventurers and others shy, nervous.

CaptSkippy · 19/04/2020 16:38

I had a foster lurcher in a flat. It worked out well for her. After about two months she felt so at home she was roaching on the couch.

Do keep in mind that sighthound rescues are more dog-like than most dogs. They understand dog language very well and respond well to consistent rules and structure.

The family who adopted mine treated her like a child and she became aggressive towards the other dog and had to rehomed again.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 19/04/2020 17:12

No more politics, could you explain why a flat is a bad place for a dog? Minus a garden we have plenty of space?
And a labrador?? No thanks!!

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 19/04/2020 19:27

Well no garden!
My pup spends more time in it than in the house on a nice day.
UTI/middle of the night wee/upset stomach. Yuck in the house.
Flats tend to be smaller and less space for a dog. Having a gate across the kitchen would do absolutely zero against the noise of young children.
Stairs are a pain. Wet and muddy dog and late at night and if dog is unwell.
I’m sure it can work but it would be hard and with young kids in the mix? I personally wouldn’t.

CaptSkippy · 19/04/2020 20:44

Not all breeds are suitable to be kept in flats, but anyone whose ever had a sighthound will tell you that they do great in appartments. Well, perhaps not podencos, but greyhouds, lurchers and galgo's are good appartment dogs. Although I would not keep a galgo without another dog companion.
These dogs don't need a lot of excercise. Although they like to run, they don't need to. Some even can't due to medical conditions.

You only have to be careful with a balcony. If a dog gets scared they may jump over the railing, with disasterous results.

RuthW · 19/04/2020 20:51

We have three ex racers. All have been toilet trained from the beginning. If not, it won't take long.

They are perfect for a flat. 30 mins exercise is all they need and then they sleep the rest of the day. You rarely get one who will play but they are very affectionate and love people. Some aren't good being alone.

Make sure you muzzle them outside incase of small dogs, cats and squirrels and which look like the electric hare.

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