Rescue Greyhounds and Lurchers

[GreekOddess]

I've been looking online at rescue centres. At the moment I'm researching and seeing if it's right for us as dh needs winning over.

There are lots of greyhounds and lurchers available. What are they like as pets? I remember when I was very young and my Gran had a greyhound and he was lovely. Why so many of these breeds available? I don't generally see them out and about.

Very, very lazy. They love sleeping. Really affectionate but can be a bit skittish. There's usually so many available because they're ex or failed racers. You need to ask the shelter if they're okay around children, cats etc and you might have to muzzle on walks.

I didn't realise that greyhound racing was still a thing? So the owners just abandon them when they're too old for racing?

Why are they so lazy? Are they exhausted from the racing? Why do they need to be muzzled?

Sorry for all the questions 😊

No problem

Unfortunately dog racing is still a thing. They get abandoned for being too old, not good enough, injured. It's very sad.

They're just naturally lazy. My old girl was a whippet / greyhound cross. We had her from 12 weeks. She slept something like 20 hours a day (usually on my bed). The others were walks and eating. Some need to be muzzled on walks as they're used to chasing & catching 'prey' so could chase smaller dogs, cats etc. Although mine was afraid of rabbits.

They don't seem to enjoy long walks but like to have short bursts of great speed. Then come and slobber all over you. My girl also loved a paddle in the sea. And then dry herself on us.

Greyhounds have been selectively bred for short bursts of intense energy (as opposed to something like a working spaniel which is bred for stamina and to be on the go all day). This means that they (greys) are generally happy with short periods of exercise where they can dash around a bit, and then go back to sleeping on the sofa.

Ex-racing dogs may have to be muzzled as having been trained to chase a mechanical hare, they might try to chase and catch rabbits, squirrels or even cats. Many greys can and do successfully live with cats though. They are lovely, lovely dogs and can make fabulous pets.

Sadly yes, they are usually discarded either if they're not good enough to race, or if/when they're injured or too old to race. The lucky ones end up in rescues - you don't want to know what happens to the unlucky ones

My experience is with a rescue lurcher that had previously been used for hunting/lamping. Absolutely gorgeous girl, incredibly placid, good with children, loves to laze around and very affectionate with humans. Great "pub dog" as she just loves getting a fuss from anyone. Not much interest in other dogs at all. Absolutely MURDEROUS with cats. She was a foster and I would have loved to have kept her but we couldn't for various reasons. We used to have her back for "holidays" but now we have a cat there's no way she can come to the house .

Not saying they're all like this with cats btw, some have been dumped due to their lack of prey drive and are absolutely fine, but it's something to consider and ask about.

Oh, and I don't know if it's exhaustion from the racing exactly, it's just that they're either running, or they're lazing. There's no in between.

They're very like cheetahs - even the shape is the same. There also not the sharpest tool in the box

This is my favourite photo. DS was about 2 and she was 12.

Thanks everyone They sound just about perfect for us!

I have two laid back kids one a teen and one a tween so no young children to think about. We live near countryside with a small to average sized garden and when it's not lockdown we are happy spending weekend afternoons in dog friendly pubs.

Dh spends 4 days a week working from home and after lockdown I intend to spend 2 days a week working from home as presenteeism is a thing of the past!

I just need to win over dh. I'm happy to take a couple of weeks off work getting the dog settled and will take it dog training.

Gorgeous photo

I have lurchers, and foster lurcher puppies for a rescue. Lurchers (who are just some sort of mix of sighthound and something else, often many something elses depending on what they have been bred to do) are in general up for a nice walk/run and have much more stamina than greyhounds. And then they sleep a lot, usually upside down. They love to have you around, but aren't needy about it or demanding your attention.
I have cats and chickens, and of the many puppies I've had, only a few were going to be totally untrainable around them. But the adults will have normally been trained to chase after furry things (and often this is the only way they get to eat), so are less predictable as the behaviour has been rewarded. But a lot of the puppies are dumped when its apparent that they aren't going to chase things. My older boy was handed in at 6 months for this reason, and the chickens bully him.
I love lurchers, and think they are great family dogs. But you say your DH needs winning over - this would always be a big red flag for me when I meet potential adopters. What is his concern?

They are the best dogs ever- so lazy and affectionate.
If you are going to get a retired racer look for a rescue that fosters dogs before putting them up for adoption. That way your dog will have had some rehabilitation from his or her working life. This includes things like living in a house instead of kennels; getting used to household noises and smells, getting used to not being surrounded by other dogs all day. Sadly, some working dogs are mistreated and may need some time to learn to trust humans- fostering helps with this too. A dog that has been fostered well is likely to be easier to adopt.

CMOT. He doesn't like pets ☹️. We got a dog when I was a teenager and I was very anti the idea at the time, I thought it would be a pain and a disruption to our lives but I fell in love with our little mutt and she really enhanced our family life.

Dh had dogs as a child but the dogs were not part of the family I don't know why they had them if I'm honest.

Dh is thinking of the disruption but our children are growing and life is getting easier plus financially it's not the problem it would've been a few years back.

My sister has a rescue greyhound. He's a lovely chap - races around for 10/20 minutes on his walk, sleeps the rest of the time. Fortunately he's a very gentle dog - fine with the household cat and the kids. Go for it, they are great pets

I've had sighthounds and agree with everything pp have said.

The one I have now is an ex racer. He's a joy. Took no time to settle in a home.

Always on a lead unless we hire a secure field. He would chase and kill anything small and furry.

They love the company of other greyhounds as that's all they've ever known I guess?

Mine lives happily with a mutt but careful introductions were made.

I love him.

Oh he's gorgeous @RemotelessControl

Greyhounds are the least 'doggy' type dog you can get. They sleep allll day and wake up to poo and walk and eat.

I warn you, when you visit a kennels you'll be desperate not to leave without one. Their lives are so sad- bred to race- live their life in kennels.

Absolutely fabulous dogs. We had a 4 yo ex racer, sadly she passed away last year at the age of 15. She was so sweet, even fine with our chickens after careful introductions. Happy with our two other dogs, the most gentle loving creature you can imagine. I loved her. Here she is with our beagle

Thanks everyone for advice and the photos are adorable!

I only know two greyhounds, both beautiful, placid, sweet and gentle dogs.

As an aside:

He doesn't like pets
Dh had dogs as a child but the dogs were not part of the family I don't know why they had them if I'm honest
Dh is thinking of the disruption

Sounds similar to my DH, grown up around dogs as a child but somewhat indifferent to dogs now.

We do have a dog, DH likes dogs and likes her but she is very much ‘my’ dog and If he was living alone I don’t think my DH would go out and buy a dog for himself

And they can be disruptive, greyhounds might be generally placid but they are also huge!
That can mean trouble getting someone to look after them at short notice if required, my own dog is fairly large (collie) and she is never invited to DHs families houses despite the fact she will lie down quietly next to me and bother no one but the fact that the other other family members dogs are toy breeds and welcome makes me suspect it’s size related.

Kennels/home boards are often booked up months in advance, dogs aren’t welcome everywhere, they don’t tend to take well to being left etc.

I love greyhounds, you'll see why when you get one..... or two 😉

My Greyhound Joey. Ex racer we have had him a year. Whole family totally in love with him.

@OliveToboogie He looks like he's excitedly waiting for his favourite tv program to start 🤣

He is crufts woof 🐶 🐶 🐶

I've got a Saluki Lurcher and I've had her since she was a puppy. She never raced (found abandoned).

She's the sweetest, most adorable dog I've ever owned. She's fantastic with the cat (probably due to never having raced) and with my son's little dog who comes to visit.

As others have said, she's prone to short bursts of energy and spends the rest of the time sleeping.

She's also a bit aloof (in a cat-like way) but very funny and quirky.

They say greys only need 2*20 minute walks a day but we got a broken one, he lives for his walks and would wander the streets sniffing all day if he could. He can't so he compensates by sleeping . He is the softest, gentlest, kindest dog you could ever meet. My neighbour is terrified of all other dogs but says he's such a gentle giant (he's 34kg) he's more like a person. We're so lucky with him, he gets on with other dogs, big and small and is not interested in cats,hes even over squirrels now. They're ace dogs op, good luck :)