Greyhound puppy - am I mad?

[Bambinho]

I'm a long term greyhound owner and I've been looking to rehome an ex racer for the last 6 months after losing my lovely old boy. I have a female greyhound and I think she is suffering without a doggy pal. Also, I love having two big loons in the house. Only problem is that I also have a cat and the local retired greyhound charity that cat tests has had no suitable dogs in all this time. I can't trust other local rehoming charities as they have no facility to cat test.

Some greyhound puppies have become available at another charity and I wonder if this could be a solution, get a young one that hasn't had any training in chasing small furry things and have it live with the cat from an early age? What puts me off is that I love lazy greyhounds and I think a puppy would be a big commitment. I've heard they chew everything and are a bit wild.

Anyone had any experience?

Greyhound puppies are complete loons. Like, properly bouncing off the wall loons. And then around 18 months they become couch potatoes. I've fostered a lot of lurcher puppies, and the two greyhound pups I had as my first fosters are still stuck in my mind!
If you are prepared to put the work in with cat training them, you do have a pretty good chance, but it takes work. However I have had a few lurcher puppies that I didn't think were a good bet (we have 3 very savvy cats), so some show a lot of chase urge very early on.

Can I give little Skye a promo though? She's 16 weeks, and living with cats in her foster home

She is lovely - I hope she finds her forever home soon xx

Ah, Skye looks lovely but unfortunately I'm in the north east so a bit too far away.

Yes, you are mental. They’re known as LandSharks for a reason. 🤣

@HashBrownandBeans I know! I just can’t reconcile the lovely calm dogs they become with the juvenile monsters they start as 😄

I must admit I'm all 😍Puppies! then ready to hand back the landsharks after about 10 mins and kinda grateful theres the option to skip over the arsehole pup stage to mature dog that someone already part trained. There's benefits of course with pups especially around socialisation, I just like an easier life.

Does you girl like playful dogs/pups? They are quite full on like all puppies that's why they make them cute but If you have the time to spend training and entertaining the puppy so they aren't annoying for the other dog it can work out well Racing greyhounds don't train till nearing a year old they spend it in long paddocks with their siblings or other youngsters just playing chase so you may find managing cat interactions will still need some work as the chasing is innate trait they do for fun where adults tend get more selective about expending energy. Prey drive quite complex

I found when I had a 6m youngster (not a grey) that the lurcher would clearly tell him to get lost but the greyhounds would be giving it the subtle look away ignore and I'd have to go rescue them. They all barely tolerated and disliked pup for about 2-3 wks and then slowly started letting him hang out with them and eventually even engaged in some bitey face fun🙈

If decide against a puppy then it's still worth contacting rescues that aren't near and home out of area as some will help arrange a volunteer transport run to get the dog to you.
Jaxon Co. Durham
Podencos In Need - Diana Galgo
Galgos del sol more galgos have been around tough feral kitties so have a healthy respect.

https://lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust.co.uk/boston/ cat test their dogs so may have something suitable in one of their branches or on the list waiting to come in & they used to transport.
Animal Haven Ireland always struggle to home greyhounds & lurchers and regularly transport to mainland UK rescues/homes. They've cats & livestock so are usually tested with those.
Sighthound-helpline FB rehoming group

Thanks @ScattyHattie for all the links, I’ll look into them.

I’ve only seen greyhound puppies once, when I went to collect my previous greyhound, and it was just as you describe with a paddock full of little lively pups tearing around. It’s a daunting prospect which is why I’m trying to think it all through.

A big part of my strategy would be crating and pens so as not to annoy the existing dog and cat too much. Not sure how practical it will be with a growing greyhound!

Arrgh! Such a difficult decision. I so need another greyhound in my life and my heart is going out to this pup and his litter mates who have had an awful start to their lives.

Also remember that ex racers are institutionalised into a set routine that is quite lazy, which is why they are calm. Ask an owner of a show greyhound if they are as calm! 🤣

If you like lazy greys then don't get a puppy, stick to ex racers. I've never had puppies but usually adopt the failed racers at 18 months, and they have never turned into couch potatoes, they're still high energy (which we like). My two at the moment at 8 and 2, and demand four walks a day otherwise they just tear around my house all day woofing at each other. I have two cats, which is one reason I get them young as they are trainable, but it still takes weeks - months before the baby gates come down and I trust them enough.

Possibly a daft question, but since they are sight hounds would their prey drive be genetic?
My Bedlington boy is from a long line of show dogs and as thick as mince.
He astonished me by catching and dispatching a rat.

Lots of dogs love to chase after cats, not because they've been trained to chase small furries but because it seems to be in their DNA! Getting a puppy doesn't guarantee that it won't grow up to harass your cat. If I was you I would cast the net further and hold out until you can find a cat-tested greyhound.