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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

adopting a greyhound

39 replies

Roodog · 16/08/2020 16:26

After years of wanting to qdopt a greyhound, we are finally in a position where we're looking like we can do it.

I've been in touch with a couple of places that rehome greyhounds, some retired racers and others that haven't raced for whatever reason.

I've done lots of research and have what appears to be a very helpful book, Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies'. I just wondered if anyone had any experiences they'd like to share, or dos and don'ts to help us on our way.

We are hoping to find an adoptee in the autumn.

Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

Roodog · 23/08/2020 17:25

I've heard nothing but good things about them. She seemed very loving already even though she's only lived in a kennel. Can't wait to get to know her properly.

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relievedlady · 23/08/2020 17:35

Got two of the dumb asses

Absolutely gorgeous and I'd have more if I could

Odd at times and stoopid as in they will trip down steps and walk into things on a daily basis and beware of the greyhound scream of death when they do much as tap a nail

They'll take up all the sofas so Youl end up sitting on the floor more often than not and they constantly want cuddles and love.

The only downsides are the chase they love if they spot small furries,it can get scary at times but we have ours on harnesses as they can get quite bouncy

greyhoundexplorer · 24/08/2020 19:15

@Roodog

I've heard nothing but good things about them. She seemed very loving already even though she's only lived in a kennel. Can't wait to get to know her properly.

I love the bouncing. She wags her tail and gets so excited. She's also stubborn and if she doesn't want to walk she stops and turns round when she thinks we've gone far enough lol

So delighted that you have found your hound

79andnotout · 24/08/2020 21:17

They are so stubborn! Be prepared for a battle of wills when they want to go one direction and you want to go the other (you'll lose).

I don't think I'd ever have any other breed of dog, I love them!

Original poster

Roodog · 25/08/2020 08:16

@79andnotout what a picture. I can't wait!

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greyhoundexplorer · 26/08/2020 15:16

@79andnotout

They are so stubborn! Be prepared for a battle of wills when they want to go one direction and you want to go the other (you'll lose).

I don't think I'd ever have any other breed of dog, I love them!

Oh my god the stubbornness! She will not have her harness on if she doesn't want to go for a walk If you try to force her to walk cos you think she should, she locks on I've stopped dragging her down the street now

79andnotout · 26/08/2020 21:34

Yeah I have two and one will only go for walks when she asks for them. I've realised there is absolutely no point forcing her as I'll just be stood on the street unmoving in the cold for an hour.

Neither of mine will go for walks if it's windy or raining. Which suits me fine. And unlike me, they don't get fat by sitting on their arse for six months. I'm very jealous.

Whaleandsnail6 · 29/08/2020 09:10

We had an ex racer who died very suddenly in april. She was nearly 10 and we had her for 6 years. She changed so much during those years from an aloof, timid dog to loving being a family pet. She realised that sticking by children was a sure way to be fed any snack they had (which my friends toddler found hilarious!) and was just a gentle, loving, calm soul until she had a heart attack and nothing could be done to save her. Miss her so much, we are waiting for a rescue to get in touch with us about adopting another.

Whaleandsnail6 · 29/08/2020 09:12

We never got the confidence to let her off the lead but she wasn't bothered, she was happy to just stroll along side us and was not particularly reactive to other dogs running but didn't like being approached by them if she was on lead and they were off lead, she'd give a little growl until they went away. She hated laminate floor and refused to walk on it and also wouldn't go up and down stairs. I miss her little quirks

spookmeout · 29/08/2020 10:11

@Whaleandsnail6

I'm so sorry for your loss. She sounds amazing Ours hates other dogs coming up to her too

Original poster

Roodog · 29/08/2020 15:09

@Whaleandsnail6 she sounds really special, sorry for your loss. Ours is coming from the greyhound trust, Somerset and Dorset branch.

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somm · 29/08/2020 21:00

Sorry to hear about the loss of your dog, whaleandsnail; it's heartbreaking. Having lost dogs before, I didn't realise there was another level of pain you could get to. In my experience, if you have more than one dog, then the loss of one is helped by already having another one that you can turn to. We've had four rescue dogs, and only one of those was a puppy. When we lost him (very quickly, to lymphoma), at the age of nine, I grieved like I'd lost a human relative. I lost so much weight and my hair started falling out. At that time he was our only dog. I will never get another puppy, but several months after we lost our baby we adopted an eight-year-old ex-racer. He's an absolute pain in the arse, terrified of everything, but if we hadn't taken him in I think he'd have lived the rest of his days in the sanctury. He's a whole new ballgame, but that make him special :-) (not necessarily in a good way).

Lurchermom · 29/08/2020 21:36

We have a lurcher but we think she's got a good dose of grey in her (along with psychotic saluki). My advice would be if you end up with a younger one, treat them a little like a toddler - aka, whilst it's important to wear them out, also beware the dreaded over tiredness. When we first had ours (about 15months, so young) we were walking her quite a lot because she was totally psycho in the house. Saw a behaviourist who suggested walking less - and her behaviour totally changed ends up she was exhausted and didn't know how to channel that. Now we can recognise the signs, like you do with your kids and put her in her crate/a quiet room for enforced nap time (she happily obliges!).
She chews everything
Huge counter thieves, they steal for the sake of stealing, not because they're hungry. Anything left on the sides is fair game. My friend's stole a killer jar and she found him nursing it in his bed having not been able to open it. We've lost joints of roast beef, packs of butter, a whole broccoli... The lost is endless. Once I was rolling pastry, turned my back to wash my hands and she had the pastry off the side!
The more beds in the house, the better.
Look up Richard Skipworth; his greyhound dictionary tells you everything you need to know!
We muzzle ours out on walks - high prey drive and a total idiot around other dogs. Recall is total luck of the draw from what we have seen with friends and being on lots of groups. Ours has great recall so long as she doesn't have anything better to do.

Lurchermom · 29/08/2020 21:37

*kilner jar not killer

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