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.

[lynsey91]

I agree that lots of greyhounds are lazy and don't need or want a lot of exercise but that is not true of all of them.

Also some can suffer quite bad separation anxiety.

I have lots of friends with greyhounds and lurchers and lots are involved in greyhound rescue. Quite a few of them have 4 or more dogs.

Some of the dogs are lazy, some want lots of walks and runs. Some can be let off lead and some just can't. Some can live with cats and others have killed neighbours' cats if they came in their garden.

[Myothercarisalsoshit]

My Lurcher boy. He's on the scruffy end. Totally lazy and daft but not particularly good with strangers and lethal to small furries.
I am totally in love with him.

[ohnoyesno]

Oh those ears!

[Toomuchgoingon]

We adopted this one 3 weeks ago and hopefully getting a friend for him next week. Beautiful dogs and great with the whole family.

[notquiteruralbliss]

We’ve got Salukis. They like to spend most of the day lying next to a human. They will do longer on lead walks but prefer a shorter run in the garden.

[Ghost24]

Firstly yesssss for rescuing 👏

Greyhounds are incredible big softies I absoloutley adore them!!

They rarely bark
Pretty lazy
Dont need tonnes of exercise
Smart
They like to be comfy so make room on the sofa 😅
The only negitive I can actually think of Is how much they dislike fireworks (usually)

They are a really underrated breed and if I didn't have 2 dogs already I would rescue one in a second 🤍🖤

[Tatiebee]

My two had never lived indoors when they came to us but I've never had to house train them. It was explained to us that they really dislike toileting in their kennel so naturally will wait til they can go out.

One we can let off lead and he has reliable recall, however my girl is far too prey driven and I'll never be able to let her off lead. She was a very successful racer so maybe the instinct is just bred too deeply into her? Despite that she is the most affectionate of the too and has lots of personality for such a lazy dog.

[cookiesdoughalot]

Top tips for the farts. Add a spoonful of natural yoghurt to their dried food. It seriously helps with the fart smell.

[cookiesdoughalot]

We adore our re homed grey hound, he was a former racer, and is the soppiest softy. I'm the one who didn't want a dog...& I fell in love with him, "we only went to visit at the kennels". My husband knew exactly what he was doing!!

Generally very lazy, would sleep all day, has his mental 20 minute zoom zooms. They do need an enclosed garden as if they go off you can't catch them.

Just a wonderful wonderful sweetheart, who loves cuddles, belly rubs, people, like a gentle giant..not overly keen on cats..but perfect for the more relaxed households. Would eat anything if given the opportunity (had been known to stand over my shoulder to get at my sandwich). Seriously fabulous dogs. ❤️

[jetSTAR]

Ah thank you @Splash2310 that is good to know.

[Splash2310]

@jetSTAR I believe it’s recommended to have a 6ft fence

[awkw]

To the poster who asked about housetraining an ex racer - ours was clean from day one. No idea how. He just was.

He was also quiet.

The biggest con (although it doesn't affect us in the slightest) is that he'll never go off lead.

Pre lockdown we'd hire a secure field for a good run.

Since lockdown he really doesn't care.

[tilder]

Thank you, @CMOTDibbler. I've read such conflicting views on here, good to hear it is dog dependant.

[CMOTDibbler]

If you can get a dog walker on your 2 days in the office, then its not necessarily a bar at all. It will depend on the dog, and a rescue will be able to advise. EGLR don't have a bar on anything (just about) and always work to the individual dog and adopter

[tilder]

Can I ask the dreaded question? Can you work and have a greyhound? Am working from home at the moment but will at some point be in the office 2 days a week, at home the rest.

I know they can be anxious dogs. It's this that has always stopped me in the past.

[CarolFuckingBaskinsPetCat]

I'm a lifelong dog owner and we have a great local rescue here in NI but most of their dogs have never set foot inside a house - I work from home but I do have concerns about one destroying everything

Love them. Great dogs

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

Oh yeah and the farts are enough to clear a room.

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

We adopted a grey hound based on our personal experience
Pros-
They don’t need a ton of exercise
They are sweet affectionate dogs
He was easily house trained and followed the rules of the house quickly
Cons -
He was very anxious and am would follow us round the house
He killed two cats and bite our DS unprovoked

[jetSTAR]

We are also thinking of rehoming a greyhound and the comments here are encouraging. We have 2DD’s aged 8 and 10. We have a small garden, but would a greyhound jump a fence?

[jojojoeyjojo]

I have a rescue lurcher and have also fostered lurchers. I think they are the perfect pet. My boy is so sweet and gentle and loves being around people but is not needy. He lives happily with our cat, although many lurchers and greyhounds are not cat friendly. He is perfect with other dogs.. big and small.. And loves children. He is happy with long or short walks and will snooze happily for hours. He is playful and funny... Doesn't shed and never barks. We all love him to bits.

[CarolFuckingBaskinsPetCat]

How hard is it to house train an ex-racer? I am so tempted..

[Tatiebee]

Greyhounds make amazing pets. I have two retired hounds and they are so low maintenance but are the sweetest, gentlest dogs we could wish for. I have three young children and I childmind and the dogs don't bat an eye at the children's noise, in fact I had a child recently who was terrified of dogs who took to my two straight away.

[CoffeeRevelLove]

Best dogs ever. Our last rescue wasn't because we wanted a pal for our daughter, but lurchers are still my favourite and will be our next rescue

[Splash2310]

Ooh, something else I forgot to mention - we are also very lucky in the sense that our kennels (Greyhound Trust) will take Lily back for holiday board at a very reasonable price if needed!

[Splash2310]

Echo everyone’s comments so far!

We got a family greyhound last year, shortly before I moved out to live with my OH. I had begged for a dog for practically the whole of my childhood and my Dad definitely got one to fill his nest with me moving out and my brother at University.

Getting a greyhound was definitely the best fit for my parents and I would recommend them highly as family dogs. Lily has been with us for just over a year, and was a racing dog in Ireland rehomed from the Greyhound Trust. She is incredibly laid back, absolutely adores my parents and fits impeccably into the family.

She was foot perfect from the minute she came home, no accidents in the house and she also slept through the first night, and has done every night since! She used to wear a muzzle out walking and now doesn’t need to - she’s also been to dog training classes and achieved her Bronze Citizen award, so you could definitely take it to training classes with the family.

I would highly recommend going to walk some at a greyhound trust or a similar - just because some of them, especially the larger males, can be quite strong on the lead, and prey-driven. I would also recommend going up to visit a couple of times and trying to get to know the different dogs - you’ll know when your grey picks you!

Good luck!