Calling all greyhound owners!

[HildegardeCrowe]

I’m thinking of rehoming a greyhound, have done all the research and they seem like the perfect dog. I alresdyvg

Sorry, let me continue....already have an elderly terrier and work 4 days a week but only for 4 hours at a time. I know things would depend on how a dog got on with my boy (who can be a bit snappy) but am very excited to rehome such a beautiful animal. Just wanted some advice please from anyone who’s rehomed one.

Talk to the rehoming team about your lifestyle and what you ĺike doing and they will be able to match up the right personality greyhound.

Although greyhounds have some similar traits, they can really vary in size, personality (calm, out-going, timid) and prey drive.

For me, I can handle prey drive but not a nervous dog, for others it will different.

Our current dog has no prey drive, can be walked by 2 year olds/off lead every day etc.

We lost our gorgeous rescue greyhound girl in May to Osteosarcoma but when we feel ready to have a dog again it would be another greyhound without a doubt. She slept beside me every night for 7 1/2 years and was my best friend, I miss her so much. She settled into our life where I work full time and used a dog Walker without any issues at all, although they aren't always so easy.

Some take a while to settle but once they feel secure and get used to life in a home you really can't beat them. They are the most gentle, loving dogs. My best friend also has a grey, he's had a few more issues but they still wouldn't change him for the world and he stayed the weekend with us recently and slotted into our family like he had always been here.

Just be prepared to love it like it was your child and have plenty of space on your sofa as greys will always want to be by your side. They are loyal, gentle and loving souls. Greys like a good walk but are built for speed rather than stamina so a good off lead run in an enclosed space (although ours went off lead anywhere as she had great recall and no real prey drive as she had never raced) or 2 x 20 minute walks a day are more than enough exercise. The rest of the time they just want to be curled up beside you asleep.

Osteosarcoma is common in the breed though so be prepared for the most heart-breaking experience of your life if that happens. Ours got a month from diagnosis to us having her put to sleep as the pain was unmanageable. That month and the following weeks I cried more than I did about my divorce or losing a partner to suicide. It still brings me to tears now when I think her. But all the tears and the pain are massively outweighed by the love and joy she brought into our lives and we balance our sadness with the knowledge that she knew that we loved her and valued her more than anything else in the world.

@wontsomebodythinkofthechildren

We lost our gorgeous rescue greyhound girl in May to Osteosarcoma but when we feel ready to have a dog again it would be another greyhound without a doubt. She slept beside me every night for 7 1/2 years and was my best friend, I miss her so much. She settled into our life where I work full time and used a dog Walker without any issues at all, although they aren't always so easy.

Some take a while to settle but once they feel secure and get used to life in a home you really can't beat them. They are the most gentle, loving dogs. My best friend also has a grey, he's had a few more issues but they still wouldn't change him for the world and he stayed the weekend with us recently and slotted into our family like he had always been here.

Just be prepared to love it like it was your child and have plenty of space on your sofa as greys will always want to be by your side. They are loyal, gentle and loving souls. Greys like a good walk but are built for speed rather than stamina so a good off lead run in an enclosed space (although ours went off lead anywhere as she had great recall and no real prey drive as she had never raced) or 2 x 20 minute walks a day are more than enough exercise. The rest of the time they just want to be curled up beside you asleep.

Osteosarcoma is common in the breed though so be prepared for the most heart-breaking experience of your life if that happens. Ours got a month from diagnosis to us having her put to sleep as the pain was unmanageable. That month and the following weeks I cried more than I did about my divorce or losing a partner to suicide. It still brings me to tears now when I think her. But all the tears and the pain are massively outweighed by the love and joy she brought into our lives and we balance our sadness with the knowledge that she knew that we loved her and valued her more than anything else in the world.

You can feel how much you loved her. Do you have any photos you want to share?

She was so perfect

Oh my photos didn't upload...

What a beautiful photo @Nowthereistwo. I’m so sorry that you lost your beautiful grey @wontsomebodythinkofthechildren, do you think you might rehome another one? It’s exactly what I’m looking for, a gentle, affectionate dog who wants to be at my side. I live alone and having a dog is a must for me. I just hope I can find one that gets on with my somewhat demented jack but will wait until he’s no longer with me, if necessary. This is him, he has a lovely long snout, like a grey.

@wontsomebodythinkofthechildren > It's astonishing how these dogs can grab a hold of our hearts - paw hold for you. And, yes, OP, if you've done your research please get one. These gentle dogs need us.

Don’t they just, 8,000 retiring every year! So excited to find one to share my life.

@Nowthereistwo

Talk to the rehoming team about your lifestyle and what you ĺike doing and they will be able to match up the right personality greyhound.

Although greyhounds have some similar traits, they can really vary in size, personality (calm, out-going, timid) and prey drive.

For me, I can handle prey drive but not a nervous dog, for others it will different.

Our current dog has no prey drive, can be walked by 2 year olds/off lead every day etc.

What a lovely photo. I don't have a Greyhound; I do have Greyhound type Lurcher who is such a gentle, loyal soul - and they do get right to your heart. The most lovely companions.

I would rescue a lurcher too if I could find one. Also love whippets but you don’t find them in rescues anymore.

Lurchers and greyhounds can be a totally different kettle of fish, so do be careful. We have a Saluki X greyhound (rescue, 4yr old) - so actually technically a longdog not a lurcher - and although she is generally calming down now (got her at 15months) she is a total live wire. Very lazy and sleeps a lot at home, but can be a total nutbag - very reactive through a mixture of nerves and excitement, huge prey drive and very, very highly strung. Everything is her way or no way, no negotiation. Lurchers can often have bull crosses in them which again adds an extra element.
Greyhounds, from my experience of them, are much more chill. They have silly moments and can have very high prey drive but generally they're just less bothered. Our friends is an ex racer and although he can be rough and playful with other dogs in his eyeline, he's perfectly happy to just chill - at home, at the pub, in the car, go camping etc.
Mine has just had a full meltdown because she wasn't allowed on our holiday accomodation sofa (barking, crying, pretend nipping) though she is very good in the car these days. Ex racers can often be better at being left as they are used to being on their own in kennels (though not always!), Salukis are renowned for separation anxiety which has been a big issue for us.

They're both absolutely beautiful animals and I love them both dearly, but very very different so make sure you know what you want. I love my girl more than anything but I've aged about a decade in the last 2.5years.

Yes I agree with your post above - a longdog can be a handful! Lurchers are all different for sure - some more relaxed than others. Mine (grey x collie type) is super chilled, well behaved and gentle. My friends (saluki x something) is a lunatic (but a lovable one)! I rescued mine when she was about 7 and she was calm then, my friend rescued hers when he was 2 - he is about 10 now and still loony.
A friend's greyhound was 2 when she came home - she has always been bouncy but calming down now (is about 5). They are all different though, so you would just see whether any that came along are a good match for you.

Great to hear you're adopting a grey, you won't regret it

We have two, and had very different experiences in their first days home.

Our boy settled into home life easily. Roaching, a couple of days later he was on the couch! A few small niggles but he just knew he was home.

Our girl was in a very stressed state when we got her, having been returned to the rescue because she wouldn't settle. Skinny, covered in scars, utterly stressed and miserable
She needed gentle, patient voices. The only food that didn't go straight through her was chappie, so until her stomach could tolerate decent food that's what we fed her.
Now, she's a happy, crazy hound! Everything her big brother does, she copies. They both love toys, roaching on the couches and are spoiled rotten

I hope you have many happy years with the new furry member of your family

Oh @Modwolvesrock, how wonderful that things have turned out so well. Do you have a picture? I’d love two but my house is just too small. I still find so much prejudice about greys; if I mention I’m adopting one, so many people say they find them ugly. To me they are the most beautiful graceful dogs on the planet.

And thanks about tips re: lurchers - think it has to be a grey for me 😊

There's two lurchers for rehoming on a site in the SW. They might be worth a look if you live nearby.
Sadly they can't live with children otherwise dh and I said we'd snap them up. They're adorable...

www.teckelsanimalsanctuaries.co.uk/animals/6239/larry/

@HildegardeCrowe , I can't believe anyone could ever say they find any hound ugly!!!! They're utterly beautiful to me

I'll ask their dad to put photos up, I'm crap with computer stuff

I forgot to mention the humungous memory foam dog bed you'll be needing, we bought ours from Amazon. Hounds have no padding and really need a proper comfy bed. If I had my way ours would sleep upstairs with us, dh is having none of it.....

We had a rather moody 10 year old dog (OD) in situ when we considered having a greyhound. We took OD to meet the prospective greyhound at the rescue centre and there was an introduction of sorts. OD was unfriendly as he was with all dogs but the greyhound was just shakey and didn't know how to react to a non-greyhound dog.

Reassured by the the rescue staff we took the greyhound home and then took them both for a short walk. The greyhound walked beautifully on the lead but was very nervous and our OD didn't do anything to make her feel welcome.

However within hours of them being together in the house our OD settled. There was no challenging for the top position from the greyhound - she just followed OD around as she hadn't got a clue what to do in a house. And that's how it continued for a further 5 years until OD died. Our greyhound adored OD and our OD seemed to thrive on being in charge.

Our greyhound lived a further 5 years and after a brief period of seeming lost she adapted to being our only pet.

A few things to mention:

On her second day our greyhound was rolling around happily on her back (as greyhounds do) when she got her paw stuck in the base of a radiator and was trapped and squealing. It took me a while to free her, and I must have hurt her in trying to do so, but there was no snapping or growling and her paw seemed uninjured. I was amazed that she trusted me.

Soon after our greyhound moved in I went out briefly and left both dogs in the kitchen. When I returned the greyhound had clawed the kitchen door badly clearly frightened of being confined. I never did that to them again.

Greyhounds are special; different from other dogs and splendid companions. They are not clever dogs and they require only minimal exercise. DS took ours jogging once. Greyhounds seemingly can't jog but they know how to relax and be as comfortable as possible. All they want is to feel safe and comfortable.

Consider what is important to you. I wanted one that would walk well on the lead - most do, but some don't. Most can't be let off the lead. I didn't want a reactive dog but was fine with a nervous dog. These dogs have never lived in a home or been loved. It takes time and understanding and is absolutely worth it. When our circumstances change we will have another greyhound, probably a girl again as they are smaller.

We're on our 2nd greyhound now. They're incredibly special animals.

DDog1 was beautifully behaved, though had no recall to speak of and a high prey drive. Not scared of a thing and amazing with the kids. We lost her early though, at 7.5yrs

DDog2 is a different kettle of fish. Far more needy, reactive / fearful of other dogs who get in her face, and scared of most noises, the wind, carrier bags etc. Howls like a banshee when she gets her nails trimmed or gets an injection. However, she doesn't have a strong prey drive as we asked to be matched with a small animal friendly grey. And, as is fitting with her character, she is terrified of our chickens! A more gentle, placid, child-friendly dog you will not find

I have a moody old dog too @TreasuredMim and things would obviously depend on a successful meet. What is important to me? A really affectionate dog who just wants to snuggle up next to me (and will sleep in my bed), walks nicely on lead and who gets on with other dogs. I’d also have to leave it for 4-5 hours a day 4 days a week because I work. I’ve met greys who do that special lean on you which I adore. But above all else it’s the gentleness that they exude. I know some can have a strong prey drive so am a bit nervous about that. Your DDog2 sounds ideal @dollophead and luckily I don’t have any chickens! Obviously such a dog might be scared of my jack though....

@HildegardeCrowe She starts off fearful but soon becomes best buddies once she's met the same dog a few times In fact, another confident dog around like your Jack would be a great teacher. A rescue greyhound often doesn't know how to behave like a real dog if you see what I mean, so having an actual pet dog to model behaviour on would be a bonus I think!

I saw this post and thought I’d log on for some advice. I adopted a greyhound around 6 months ago and she settled really quickly but we have a couple of issues still - she still has ‘accidents’ in the living room (she can literally go from the couch to the other side of the room and urinate (even when the back door is open) and secondly she is very food obsessed and would take absolutely anything off the table or kitchen surface if she could. A couple of weeks ago she even ate bananas and kiwis from the fruit bowl so that is now out of reach 😀!

I’d appreciate any suggestions for tackling these, she is a lovely girl but we need to get this under control.

Thank you