Talk to me about your greyhounds

[boulevardofbrokendreamss]

Always had dogs, old boy was PTS in June. We feel ready to have another dog and I'm seriously considering a rescue greyhound. Tell me about the pros and cons please!

One think that concerns me is that rescue say a 5 yo we just won't have that long with them.

Our greyhound was the gentlest soul that ever lived, he was a massive lazy couch potato! He didn’t want to go on long walks (actually would stage a protest when he decided we’d gone too far and refuse to move!) , he loved a quick zoom in a circle and then he was done and wanted to go home.

He was great with people, disinterested in other dogs, but couldn’t have lived with a cat or other small furry.

We rescued him when he was 6 and had him until he was 13.

I've not got a greyhound but did rehome a big dog at 8 years old. Reason was an older dog fits better into my lifestyle and energy levels. He's now 12 1/2 and I do think it's a shame that he's realistically getting towards the end of his life (although he's still got loads of enthusiasm in him) and we've only had 4-5 years together. However, it has been really rewarding to know that I gave him a really good happy 4-5 years. It's also lovely seeing them doing normal dog things for the first time and coming out of their shell. So there are negatives of getting an older dog, but positives too.

Both of our ex racers were 3 when we adopted them, and I hope they will be with us for a long time yet as they're only 9 now. One of ours was retired early due to injury ( he broke his toe on the track ) and the other was classed as a "failed" racer as she doesn't really have much of a prey drive.

Obviously I am biased, but they are the most gentle, sensitive, sweet natured dogs you'll ever meet. They have not been treated with the love that I would consider normal for family dogs and it's heartbreaking to know that. It takes a little time for them to relax and go from rejecting fuss, tolerating it and accepting it to actively asking for it. My heart swells when I rub their bellies, scrunch their ears and kiss them goodnight and tuck them in with cosy blankets 😍

One more thing, greys are happiest with other greys! 2 is a good number, just saying...😉 Good luck!

We have 2 Lurchers... Sight hounds are fab... And even more fabulous in pairs.... Oh and they love a cosy blanket and clothes...
Did I say pairs are fantastic?

We are on our second - best thing we ever did was getting a greyhound. Both retired at 3 - lost the first one just under 4 years later from bone cancer and adopted the second one a week later. Fairly different from each other but both unmistakeably "greyhoundy". They've had a different life from family pets, but not necessarily worse in many cases. They'll usually have spent a year or more with their siblings and mother (unlike family pets) and often share a kennel with another greyhound when racing. Both ours were clearly very well treated when racing and used to a lot of fuss being made of them.

It's amazing seeing lots of greyhounds together (e.g. on a greyhound walk) - rarely a cross word amongst the lot of them. They love a run and a walk, but also a lot of sleep. Quite a lot of them do have a strong prey drive, but then so do lots of breeds, of course. The usual reasoning is to attribute it to greyhounds racing after a flappy bit of plastic on a track, but they were originally a hunting dog so it's in their genes. Our current boy is a proper sighthound in terms of scanning the territory but he also loves following scents.

In some ways, they're like cats - training works when they see there's something in it for them but they won't do things they think are stupid or pointless. Because they're used to having other greyhounds and people around a lot they can be a bit subject to separation anxiety, but that can be worked on. I think they're quite sensitive creatures, as well.

I adopted mine at 4 years old. There are bonuses to adopting a slightly older dog ( e.g toilet training was not an issue) but if it something that does bother you - I quite often see ones for adoption about a year old. Sighthound rescues as well as Greyhound trusts have ex racers. I get the impression very young Greyhounds are crazy with a lack of manners!

I take the philosophy that however long our boy is with us is enough. We are his retirement home and here to spoil him. That sounds like he is all take take but there are so many advantages to having a grey. From DH point of view black retired greyhounds is the way forward forever. Mine is very lazy but has been conditioned slowly to enjoy one long sniffy walk a day (1.5 hours). He is more interested in sniffing than looking or chasing, but loves a good run in a secure field or by the coast where we live (luckily a secure straight run of grass and then little pebbles which he hates). He is a very healthy dog and I can trace his breeding line back to 1870 ish.

Yes they do take a while to come out of themselves and learn how to play with humans. They can seem aloof until you get to know their language. Things like leaning in for affection and just staring at you with love - oh it's gorgeous!

Disadvantage of my boy is he has sleep startle. He growls or snaps if disturbed in a sleep - and problem is he likes to sleep on the sofa next to us. I know his brother (who came to England from their Irish Kennels with him) could not be rehomed with another Grey so that is perhaps part of it. Mine is a little bit silly in the brain department and doesn't actually realise he can do indoor stairs so he doesn't sleep in bedrooms or come upstairs luckily.

Generally they are also quite big (but can wrap themselves into prawn shape) and that also means they can surf tables and grab food. They are used to seeing food then eating it - that's taken a bit of training. I work from home and DH works late so he is not on his own an awful lot . I've heard they can have separation anxiety but my boy now loves it when one of us leaves the house because it means a peanut butter lickimatt , classic fm and full use of every inch of the sofa at will.

If you let us know the area you are in someone might be able to recommend kennels/trusts to approach? You can also go and walk them with kennels or foster ( that will fail most probably).

Our greyhound we fostered for a short time came from a greyhound rescue aged 3 after being retired from racing.

She wasn't toilet trained as used to just doing it in her kennel, had never been in a house so didn't know what to do with herself, was extremely clingy and quickly developed separation anxiety from us when we went to the toilet and would howl if we left the house for a minute, training her to be left alone was a nightmare. She'd also never seen other breeds of dogs so would stiffen and snap if a small one came by us. She did not want to be touched or fussed, but wanted to be right next to us at all times. Her prey drive was so strong we had to muzzle her and she could never go off lead.

However, with time she softened and settled in. I just wanted to give you the flip side that some take longer than others.

IMO they're different to other dogs in lots of ways. Slower, quieter, gentler, sleepier. But lovely to be around.

I had one, lived happily with cats. Adopted her when she was 3yo. Could walk her off lead across the fields but if she saw a hare she was off, out of sight fields and fields away. She always came back though! But sometimes I had to wait for 20 mins for her to reappear!

She died during a routine dental at the vets , well actually after the dental. They found her dead in the cage in the recovery room later on. I have never forgiven the vets, she was 7yo. They are prone to teeth problems.

Always - that's so sad... Vet told us most Lurchers /GH have bad teeth from bad diet in their youth... Ours has half her teeth only and her breath could knock out an elephant..

Yes I read somewhere once that it’s due to the shape of their mouth?? 🤷‍♀️

im currently contemplating a second dog and a whippet is on my shortlist but am concerned about the teeth issue. Not sure if they’re as bad, I’ve read conflicting stuff.

We had one, got him at 5. He was the most wonderful, kind, hilarious dog. Kiss good bye to your sofa though. And never leave food out as they are perfect height and can be proper thieves 😂. Ours had next to no recall though and couldn't live with cats. Refused to go for walks when he couldn't be bothered and if everyone was in the garden in summer and he wanted to be on his sofa he would stand and bark at us. 😂

Adopting my greyhound is the best thing I ever did! I type this as he currently sits with his head perched on my shoulder - he's my (not so) little sidekick and is happiest when he's wrapped around me/lay on top of me. The cuddliest dog I've ever had. It breaks my heart that these gentle souls go through the first part of their lives without the love and affection other dogs receive, especially after realising how desperate mine is to be cuddled.

We adopted him at three and he's now five. He adapted to life as a pet very quickly considering he'd spent all of his life in a kennel before. It took him no time at all to discover the sofa and the joy of spreading out on a king size bed! Toilet training was mastered in the first couple of days and there were no problems with him chewing the furniture, unlike if I'd have bought a puppy.

We had a few issues with reactivity to other breeds of dog. Afterall, they spend their lives surrounded by greyhounds then all of a sudden find themselves in a totally different world where not all dogs look the same! We've worked through it though and now he has lots of doggy friends of all different shapes and sizes (including a Yorkie the size of a mouse!).

Don't be fooled by the "lazy" stereotype! Yes they do enjoy lounging around, but no two dogs are the same. He's very versatile and will happily snooze the day away whilst I work and then have a longer walk in the evening, but he's also happily joined us on 9-10 mile walks in the Peaks. We had to gradually build up his stamina but he now loves nothing more than a long walk in the great outdoors.

He's got me out socialising more and I now lead a local sighthound group with regular group walks.

He's my third dog but my first Greyhound and I know that they'll now be my breed for life. You can't guarantee what time you'll get with any dog, regardless of what age they are when they come into your life. All I know is that however long I get with him will be the happiest years of my life. He's my heart and soul dog ❤

We adopted our greyhound at 2(ish) and had her till she was 13. She had never been in a home before - bred in a big barn with multiple others dogs in a cruelty case. But she was made to be in a home. Toilet trained very quickly - initially puzzled by stairs. She did not have to wear a muzzle but could not be off the lead in the open in case she took off chasing. I used to help at the rescue where we got her from and the greyhounds were a fabulous, loving, lazy breed. Hope it works out for you.

Ours is snoozing behind me in the office. He was 3 when we adopted him and is 11 now and in pretty good health, hope to have him for a few more years yet!

He is lazy, sleeps all day but he does like a good walk and will walk all day if we're out, especially if there's a beach, he loves the beach :)

He's not particularly interested in most other dogs, will say hello and walk on but he adores my in laws poodle. No real interest in cats either. He's a lovely lovely dog, I've even had people stop me in the street and comment on what a lovely temperament he has, he's very calm.

Toilet trained really quickly, I think he only ever had 2 accidents and was up the stairs straight away, he's very nosey 😁he's also very affectionate and loves a cuddle.

The only con I think is that we've never really got confident with his recall so unless we're in an enclosed field he's on the lead. He seems perfectly content with that though and there are a few round here to choose from so he doesn't really miss out

I'd definitely say go for it, they're ace 😀

I've had mine since she was 2. She's now just 7. Can't recommend them enough. She is the most loving gentle soul. She will walk for a few miles, is off lead will come back immediately when called. Doesn't have a huge prey drive, although hates cats. Someone up thread there's has sleep startle, mine hasn't.
So you see from all the answers you have each are different, but above all,they are beautiful,elegant,loving and loyal. You will never regret adopting a greyhound. Good luck x

Very disappointed in the lack of pictures in this thread! I think they’re such beautiful dogs, but also have two cats so not a breed for us!

One of my dog's dgps is a greyhound...
Dps are saluki and deerhound/gh...
I give you The Pony..