Thinking about adopting a greyhound

Notsosharp

Please don't feel awful, you really did your best. Its better to hand her back now rather than realise you made a mistake further down the line when it will be harder to hand her back.

Please keep looking, there will be a dog out there for you!

foreign_correspondent

absolutely - you have acted in kindness to her all the way through, and in her best interests.

She sounds like she will be a lovely dog for the right home, and that you will provide a lovely home for the right dog!

moomin5

tylersbabe wrote: »

. Put it this way this little girl deserved a better mom than me, I was wrong for her....

I'm sure Millie didn't need a better mum than you, just a different home situation. Please don't feel bad about returning Millie, as you tried your best to help her settle and are doing the right thing by letting her go to a more suitable home set up.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you with Millie, but don't be put off from adopting another grey as there are plenty that would be very happy to have you as mum and cope fine with being a lone dog. I'm sure my dogs like the peace & quiet during the working week so they can get the zzz's in :rotfl: when i'm working at home they pretty much sleep the whole day.

trudij

if you werent a good mum you would have kept her and forced ehr to live in an environment she really wasnt happy in. Your love for her shone out with each post you made,and to make the decicion to give her back,so she could go to a family,wasnt easy, so big hug for you.You did exactly the right thing - putting your pet first when you know its going to upset you is very very hard to do.

The perfect dog for you is out there,dont give up - you have a lot of love to give, adn even the short time you spent with Millie will help you with your next dog.

Slimcilla

I am really sorry to hear about Millie. Just remember - it's not your fault. She has had a nasty experience somewhere and your home wasn't suitable for her. I wouldn't let this experience put you off though. There are plenty more Greyhounds out there that are utterly desperate for homes.

I live alone and know in my heart that I can only leave Speedy for up to 5 hours. Any longer and he goes to doggy day care which he loves, I find he drags me in there, socialises with other dogs and gets really tired before dragging me home again. Thats my way of coping with leaving him for longer periods of time. As I am looking for another job at the moment I am getting more worried about what hours I may have to work and may look into asking a dog walker to help me out instead.

I have learned to live with him and in return I have the most fantastic beastie to come home to. It took a long time though and there were times when my Mother was ranting at me to get rid of him. Strangely enough he loves her to bits and the feeling is returned as she has come to realise what a star he is.. I probably could train him to be left longer and will be working on that in time.

Don't give up, you have had one set back - Greyhounds are not all the same but they do all need great homes and you have the ability to give a dog a great home. I concur that fostering is a good way but not so easy when you live alone, have another chat with your rescue people and see what they say.

Edited to say - when I say it took a long time for Speedy to settle what I mean is; it took 2 minutes for me to decide I loved him, 2 days to house train him, 1 week for him to realise "this is my new home and I love it," 2 weeks for him to stop being traffic shy, 1 month for me to decide that 5 hours was the longest I could leave him, 2 months for him to realise other dogs aren't scary and pass his dog obedience training test, 3 months to trust him off-lead and 6 months for him to stop chewing the occasional expensive item left in reach. I had a lot of help from my local greyhound club and owe them so much.. We had a few set-backs but got over them with a bit of give and take.. I had a puppy earlier this year and he was far worse to settle, unfortunately the puppy died and I just freaked for a month after as it seemed such a waste..
I added this just in case anyone else who is thinking of adopting a greyhound has been put off by this post - not to make Tylersbabe feel worse as I know she had the best of intentions for Millie.

CC x

tylersbabe

Ooooohhhh noooo......don't be put off, greyhounds are great, and Millie was truley beautiful we were just wrong for each other Millie, myself and the wonderful rescue group have learned loads.

It was not the rescues fault from previous info they had Millie was ok to be lone dog, unfortunatally not in a lone family tho!!. Much slower steps were required for Millies confidence to be built up again. I think I was a bit of a culture shock for her , any rescue dog will take time and love to settle, but their welfare is always of paramount importance.

I have requested to stay on the list so if and when a doggie that suits my set of circumstances becomes available I am still here. I did a me CV for next time, of things I like to do and working pattern :rotfl:

Through this I have met loads of lovely people who are owned by greyhounds (lol) in fact Millie gave me a great gift I learnt that, these dogs have the ability to steal your heart, but give you far more in return.

ETA just to add rescue already suggested fostering

thedoghouse

I have 2 beautiful ex-racing greyhounds: Max, my 5 year old brindle boy, & Molly my 3 year old black & white girl. They are the most gentle-natured, lovely dogs you could imagine & I would 100% recommend adopting one. A word of warning though: you may well end up with more than one (as we did) coz once you have one you get kinda hooked on them!

Tarry

They are beautiful thedoghouse I like their bandanas

tylersbabe

Hi thedoghouse

They are beautiful, adoring looks being given out in that photo.

As a quick update I have now officially adopted Evie, a greyhound who fits into my life fantastically. She has foibles but don't we all

Millie has new mum and dad, the most lovely retired couple I have had the pleasure to meet. Millie has gone from a very underweight hound to a fit greyhound. Separation anxiety remains, but is not an issue for her new family, as she always has someone with her, not solved but being part of a bigger family manages it :T

foreign_correspondent

Lovely to hear that Evie is doing so well Tylersbabe, and that Millie is happy in her new home - a good outcome all round!