Must greyhounds sleep on sofas?

[Greenier]

Been scanning websites for a greyhound to adopt. So many fab hounds. Frequently there's mention of dogs finding their sofa etc as if sleeping on a sofa is a must.

I get it that a greyhound would choose to jump in beside you on the sofa but surely they can be trained to go on a comfy dog bed instead, placed near their people. Or am I being naive?

Yep, I said upthread it's personal preference.

I would also say in terms of the other things you mention - if you can't fulfil your breeds' natural instincts and needs in terms of exercise, time off the lead and mental fulfilment then you shouldn't have that breed of dog.

There are loads of companion breeds out there who don't care about hunting or running for miles off lead. Get one of them instead.

Diet isn't quite so simple as you have to factor allergies and intolerances into it.

Greyhounds like to sleep at height and yes they will defo want to get on the sofa and bed - more than other breeds I’ve found - they ALL do it - maybe it’s because of their bony
structure

I’m sure you can train them
otherwise and I definitely wouldn’t shy away from getting one - they are the most amazing chilled companions

they are 40 mile an hour coach potatoes 🥔

they love a duvet so perhaps tempt them with that on a raised up bed

Not only is my dog allowed on the sofa she also has a heated throw 😊

Leather sofas are an abomination to a greyhound 🥴

Oh that is hilarious!

I’ve tried similar things with similar results!

My dog is allowed on the sofas but this is his sleeping place of choice. He is quite stupid though

Our greyhound has chosen a particular spot on the sofa. If a human dares to sit there when she wishes to use it she complains bitterly until we move! They are beautiful dogs but be ready for a hound who definitely believes that you are there to serve 😂

Mine never tried to come on the sofa, only dog I’ve had which didn’t. She did have an off the floor dog bed though, like a metal frame with a suspended mesh platform which she loved.

like this

https://www.hik9.com/products/hik9-bed-with-black-mesh-cover?variant=31039992135767&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23038076571&gbraid=0AAAAADR6Tab3HYWT_fqfn-mro4jRUhFJ4&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsY3LBhCwARIsAF6O6Xinc2cwwf1Sbu-dRrNTQsST3418S6mTeiW768SakWioz5Fm-UKz8e0aAsl-EALw_wcB

The floor would be a very poor third choice for most greyhounds and lurchers. Joint top choice is my comfy double bed with a nice, soft blanket and the electric blanket on all evening or cuddled up to me on the sofa. My lurcher had a horrible start to life and was rescued from travellers in a terrible state so i don’t begrudge him every bit of comfort now.

I don't know why my photo didn't load - trying again

Same here. I quite often reclined on a load of pillows with him in the evening.

My dogs (not greyhounds) do like the sofa. Sometimes they let us sit on it as well.

Loving these pics ❤️
I have two Borderjacks, and one of them definitely has some whippet/lurcher/greyhound in her, she's all bones and elbows!
Can't imagine not letting mine on the sofa, or the bed. That's definitely where they're happiest!

My brother has one and she doesn’t go on the sofa.

That’s because she has an Ikea day bed which is far more roomy, especially when it’s pulled out to a double.

Dogs don't have to go on the sofa. Mine don't go on it when I am at home. The youngest knows to stay on the beds/blankets on the floor. The eldest claims that she doesn't go on it when I'm out at work, but sofa cushions on the floor, a warm spot or the occasional paw print gives it away... and since it has been repositioned, she likes to stand on it to get a better view out of the window 🙄

My pup just uses my legs !

My small dog adores luxury and susses out all the best places. A floor would not work for her. Plus we love her near us.

I believe their beds in kennels are usually raised up, so if you get them from kennels (like almost all greys in this country), they assume the sofa is their bed. I remember when I adopted my first, we took her home and she chattered her teeth so much when she saw the sofa, we thought she was really cold. We didn’t realise that’s what they do when they’re really excited. She loved that sofa! I miss her a lot.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a greyhound wishing to snooze will be in want of a sofa.

They like being comfortable, and they like stretching and roaching, so a sofa is the perfect place to do this for 23 hours a day

If you don't want them to go on the sofa then you can train them not to go up. How successful the training is will depend on how determined your grey is!

They tend to be very sociable and affectionate dogs, so it's being near you for cuddles and fussing as much as being comfortable. I have a snoring greyhound on my shoulder at the moment.

We've had several greyhounds and they've all loved the sofas (and human beds!) We now have a Galgo (Spanish greyhound) and he too is a sofa fan. They've all had their own comfy dog beds as well, but most of the time they choose the sofas.

They all go round and round before they curl up - many times - so cute 🥰🥰

Perfectly possible and easy to do if you have a fire to put the bed in front of during winter!

Our old rescue saluki x greyhound was very territorial when allowed on the furniture. He'd been returned to Dogs Trust for snapping (not seriously enough to leave a mark) a lady on the face, when she leant over him whilst he was sleeping next to her on the sofa. Their recommendation was to give him his own armchair (which we didn't have space to do) or not allow him up on the furniture.

I always bought nice big comfy beds for him and he loved being covered up with a blanket. He would sometimes manage to pull the blanket over himself, or would otherwise cry until someone helped him! I think he was actually happy to have his own space and know noone would accidently disturb him whilst he was snoozing.

Since he passed away, we now have another saluki x greyhound who unfortunately has similar tendencies. She gets mad if she thinks someone is going to move next to her whilst she's laying on the sofa (she'll growl and show her teeth). At this point she gets sent to lay on the dog bed. It may be that she also ends up being a 'floor dog' if we can't train the sofa reactivity out of her.

All they really need is love and a warm comfy place to snooze. They really are amazing dogs and give back the love you show them tenfold!

Greyhounds certainly think they must!

Sleep startle in greyhounds is very common, I think because they are kennelled together. Mine have all done it, but they just snap the air. It scares the crap out of me sometimes! It's just something I warn people of if they're sat next to one of my dogs if they are very deeply asleep. If they're just snoozing they seem to have enough self awareness to not do it.

But it's a good idea to never approach a sighthound if they are in their bed as a lot of them sleep with their eyes open. I always make sure to wake them up before I approach if I want them to do something.

Sadly both of mine startle/startled whilst awake, which is more problematic. Our current girl will come over and lay on your knee for cuddles, then snap if you adjust position slightly, she will growl and bite (not hard but makes contact with you). I suspect as you say, they've been kennelled with other dogs, and have had to compete for comfy sleeping spots and possibly even food in the past.

If she was happy to lay on one end of the sofa, then of course we wouldn't bother her, especially when she's sleeping. It's difficult, because they're rescues so have possibly been mistreated in the past. I want to give her a chance to have cuddles on the sofa, but if it's too stressful for her, then it may be kinder to just not give her the opportunity to bite. We do seem to hopefully be making progress as she's not snapped at anyone for a couple of weeks now. She'll do a little tour of the living room chair and sofa (including spending some time snoozing on her dog bed in front of the fire), so she seems to be regulating herself a bit better.