Why would anyone want a greyhound/ whippet?

[Nightshift24]

In my experience the prey drive is so strong in these dogs that they will hunt wildlife to the point that they cannot be let them off the lead incase they go for a rabbit or squirrel. That’s fine if they have responsible owners but many people continue to let them off. I know greyhounds that have killed cats. They have even been known to go for small dogs. What are the redeeming features?

Nope. Beautiful creatures and amazing companion animals. No more prey drive than other dogs and generally lazy b'stards
Rescue greys are awesome ❤️

Two friends had rescue greyhounds and cats with no problems. People like them because they don't need much exercise and most of the time lie around. I wouldn't have one in case it chased down a random cat in the garden or on a walk and wouldn't have a staffy for the same reason. Lots of breeds of dogs will kill prey if they get an opportunity - it's instinct and part of their make-up. I used to walk a neighbours border terriers and was shocked once when one of them killed a rabbit in front of me. Fortunately our dog likes to chase things (squirrels mainly) but doesn't have that killer instinct.

I’m not in the UK so our rules are likely different. If you have a greyhound it must be muzzled in public unless they have been certified to be safe otherwise, and then they wear a special collar that lets people know. You can’t self-certify, it must be a registered organisation and they give them tests to make sure they won’t chase cats etc. I’m not sure about whippets as I only know people with greyhounds. The reason they have greyhounds is that, apart from one walk a day, they are extremely lazy, self-sufficient (can be left while people go off to work, as they sleep most of the time), and they are generally not barkers so don’t annoy neighbours. At least that’s what I’m told by people who have them, no direct experience myself.

I have a greyhound - she's the second greyhound we've had. She's such a vicious cat killer that a couple of years ago, when out on a walk, on lead, minding her own business, she was attacked for no reason by some ones fluffy kitty. It just flew out of a garden and locked on her. She was so scared she just froze, and we had a job to get the cat off. She has no prey drive at all, doesn't bark, and is happy to sleep most of the day. Greyhounds are wonderful. Any dog can have a prey drive, that's what most have been bred for in the past

You've never had a high energy dog have you? My border collie has perfect recall and goes off lead. Why shouldn't we, if he's allowed and it's good for him?

I'd love a greyhound or a whippet. My favourite dogs.

This tbh.

A Lhaso Apso is barely a dog (in the nicest possible way). They need 30 mins exercise twice a day, are pocket sized and basically just cuddled. They’re not an ‘outdoorsy’ dog.

You cannot walk a dog like a GSD/Golden/Collie on a lead and claim that’s exercising it. It’s not. And you cannot expect those dogs to live a good life if that’s all the exercise they get.

Whippets are lovely. So are greyhounds. I wouldn’t have one (prefer my dogs fluffier) but they are lovely companions.

Lots of people have greyhounds for pets here. I've yet to hear of them killing anything. They are lovely dogs, and make great pets.

There are a lot of other breeds which have the instinct to kill.

We lost our beautiful cat to a greyhound, she was torn apart in front of my eyes in a prolonged and vicious attack. Though I fought very hard to get it to drop the cat it was absolutely oblivious and my sweet cat died a horrendous death. She had been sunning herself in our front garden and should have been safe.

I don't blame the dog, it was bred/trained to kill small furries. I do blame the owners. I also went from quite fancying one day getting a rescue greyhound myself, to now very firmly admiring them from a distance.

I’ve known (albeit one) he didn’t run off and hunt anything.
If you can’t control your dog or it has bad recall then it should be muzzled.

I have a whippet terrier cross. She only likes chasing bikes and joggers (but I don’t let her). She’s the absolute best.

My ex's dog used to chase squirrels constantly. He never caught one but it was a good game.

I don't see the issue.

I walk a whippet for his owner, he appears to have no prey drive at all, I also know several whippets who live with cats, and some greyhound that do. I fostered a greyhound who had been a successful racer for 4 years, but on retirement didn't want to chase anything. He was only interested in chucking soft toys about.

I also know some that have a very high prey drive, who would kill small animals. Then it's on the owner to keep other animals safe.
There are also lurchers with terrier or bully in the mix, and I had 2 bedlington whippets who did have strong prey drive and I would have to be careful where I let them off lead. They weren't very big though, and when next door's cat got in the garden they chased it to the top of the garden and then stood looking at it, it made itself biiig!!

All that in mind, in the home they are clean, low shedding, low dribble, love to laze around, gentle with no tendency to aggression, mostly independent and just sleep if you have to leave them.
Oh, also beautiful and elegant and light for their height.

We had a beautiful lurcher for 15 years. He was a retired racing dog. At first we only walked him on a long lead with a muzzle until we could be certain he would return on command. Eventually he could be walked off the lead without his muzzle. He never chased any wildlife apart from birds in the sky (he wasn’t very bright) but liked to play chase with other dogs in the fields behind our house. He once ran home on a walk when a cat jumped out of the grass and hissed at him 😂

🤷🏻‍♀️ I grew up with whippets & cats.

Our dogs never killed a healthy animal, we used to walk them across open fields so didn't really have a chance to chaise small dogs.
Having said that, they did know where the jackrabbits lived and would go and chaise them. But even as a set of 3, the jachrabbit was faster and always got away.... the dogs tired out before they could get close!

I'm very sorry to hear this, it must have been heartbreaking and should have been preventable.
Also to hear about the chihuahua. 😭

Any reputable rescue and owner try to make sure new adopters keep muzzles on the greyhound until such time as they can be certain it isn't any risk to other animals. Which may be never for some.
I love dogs, but there a quite a few breeds or types that I'd prefer to see muzzled, I would muzzle my own if it were necessary (and did, for the foster greyhound). It doesn't hurt the dogs at all, and can stop them eating disgusting things while still allowing drinking and treats.

The presence of a muzzle also makes most people think twice about letting their dog or excitable children rush up to greet yours.
When fostering the greyhound a woman let her roughly 9 year old son rush up, put his hand right over the dog's head to pat him. Luckily he was a bombproof type, and also muzzled, but oh dear.

They’re not my type but the ones I know basically need a 20 minute sprint and then will spend the rest of the day on the sofa. And obviously minimal grooming issues. I can see the appeal. Prey drive etc - just like every other dog, it’s about training and (human) education. Before you acquire a whippet/Newfoundland/Chihuahua/XL Bully you research its breed, likely temperament, exercise needs etc and consider whether it would make a suitable pet in your circumstances. It’s down to the owners imo.

Why do you need to let a dog off the lead? IMO all dogs should be on the lead everywhere in public. I have a greyhound, it’s much more of a problem having dogs run up
to us than him chasing prey! Yes he would if off the lead but he stays on it. I don’t muzzle, we don’t walk on streets anyway so no chance of being surprised by a cat.

beautiful dogs - best breed in the world

Owner of one beautiful black greyhound , who spends her days snoozing on the sofa and loves her walks , she has no prey drive whatsoever , she’s encountered squirrels , and other wildlife on her walks and doesn’t even pay them attention let alone attempt to chase them , my mum has a Jack Russell which she regularly sees and she enjoys playing with , she has never even as so much nipped him , the jr tho has attempted to bite her many times , even nips humans too .

I wouldn’t walk mine in a park with other dogs loose. But if the dog ran up to the greyhound, who was on the lead, this is not the fault of the greyhound or the owner . Mine does differentiate small dogs from prey but I’d rather not put that to the test and I yell at people to recall their dogs and block mine. If their little dog still gets through, it’s really not my fault if something awful like this happens. But I do also walk quiet places where we don’t see off lead dogs. A park is not a suitable place for me or my dog . I’d never want to walk in one anyway I don’t like dogs dashing up to me.

mine ignores prey on a walk and just stares at cats or walks past, as he knows he’s not allowed to chase. So on a lead it’s not a problem. He’s very good. Off lead ’m not taking the risk

Sadly a horse was chased & attacked by a greyhound here at the weekend, there's camera footage of it & they are trying to find out the owner. Facebook comments are ranging from dogs will be dogs to no dog should ever be allowed off lead ever & they should all be muzzled.
As a previous rider I know how scary that would have been, we were attacked by dogs before & that was why we carried whips. As a dog owner (not greyhound) , I'd be absolutely mortified if that happened & firmly believe in the dogs genetics having a big part to play. My spaniel flushes, collies would herd, pointers point & greys run & chase.

This 100% - Our golden retriever is a year old and very high energy. If she wasn’t allowed off lead for a proper run at least once a week she’d go mad (and so would we!)

I agree they are generally lovely dogs, but I know of two cats in our village killed by greyhounds. One was our NDN's whose cat was cornered in their garden by a rescue that got away from its owner - they are sadly trained to chase and catch small fluffy things.

Also had a cat killed by a staffie a few streets away and a swan killed by a pitbull. We seem to be quite unlucky!

neither of my terriers have shown an interest, apart from chasing the odd deer, but failing to catch up.
the most enticing are cats but you dont see them in the park luckily

That is one seriously overweight whippet. Can’t see that one waddling its way to catching anything.

I know a few people with whippets and greyhounds. All rescues. All responsible owners who manage their dogs’ instincts just fine.

I have labs. They would chase anything that moves if I left them to it. They are dogs. It’s up to me to control them. Just as it’s up to my neighbour to put a bell on her bloody cat