Thinking about adopting a greyhound

UKTigerlily

Aww greta news, do we get pics? You did the right thing with Millie, it takes someone with guts to admit the situations not right & do what's best for the Dog despite their love for it & you did & now you're all doing well!

southernscouser

tylersbabe wrote: »

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.

Wow, that is amazingly put.


My dad wants a greyhound. But my mum isn't too keen on another dog full stop. Our boy passed away in September and it still hurts like hell.

I've never seen the appeal or taken much notice of greyhounds before but reading this thread has really made me take a shine to them. Such gorgeous creatures.

Do they all sleep on their backs? :rotfl:

beachbeth

Sorry that it didn't work out with Millie but it really wasn't your fault. My friend is on her 2nd rescue Greyhound and the dog is lovely and very laidback. She just seems to sleep all the time and does so when she is left too. They can leave her in the car too if need be (obviously not in hot weather!) and she doesn't mind. Bear in mind that different dogs of the same breed can vary a lot in individual temperament.

However, despite her sleepiness they take her for lots of walks and she loves this too. I would only give one word of warning to anyone thinking of getting their first greyhound - my friend says anyone having a greyhound needs to be careful about letting a Greyhound off the lead as a lot of them love chasing rabbits or anything similar (I think its because racing ones are taught to chase the rabbit in races!).

My friend was used to letting her 1st Greyhound off the lead and the dog was very good and well behaved. However, one evening, they were walking later in the evening than usual and all the rabbits had come out. Her Greyhound immediately bounded after one of them, really enjoying herself and wouldn't come back. Unfortunately, the rabbit ran across a rail track and the dog followed. She was killed outright by a train. My friend was devastated and felt so guilty. She is now very wary about letting her new dog off the lead - she lets her loose in a local country park and on the beach only.

moomin5

very sad outcome Beth

Its a instinct to hunt/chase, a trait that has been bred for over a long time, race trainers just harness the natural desire although some dogs are less interested than others.

I personally choose not to let my dogs off lead unless its in a securely fenced area because i know they can become deaf while on lead if they see a cat, so its just not worth the risk of seeing them disappear off into the distance at 40mph. I know people who can safely let there greyhounds off lead and some have raced, but its very much down to the individual dog and how good its recall is during distractions. Greyhounds don't have much stamina and can be easily worn out during walks, unlike some other breeds that really need lots of off lead running.

My boys will only roach on their backs for a stretch or belly rub, they have various sleeping positions, normally stretched out on their sides or curled up like a cat

tylersbabe

Sorry to read about your friends doggie Beth.

I think Evie is a little girl with a high prey drive so will not be let of lead. At the end of the day they are "sighthounds" who are trained to chase, some can be trained to be let of lead, but others never will be.

As I take no persuading to post photos....Without further ado, here is Evie



Eating her yoghurt :rotfl:

Tarry

Elvie is gorgeous, Tylersbabe She certainly likes her yoghurt

Southernscouser - our Suzie sleeps on her back too, it's called roaching as it looks like a dead cockroach it is said (not that I've ever seen one).

thedoghouse

Aw, Evie is beautiful! My 2 like yoghurt 2 - apparently it's supposed to be good for their digestion...

Speaking of digestion, I don't know if it's a general thing with greyhounds or just my 2 but Max & Molly both seem to have quite sensitive digestions. I have to say that having tried a variety of specialist dog foods at a whole range of prices, in the end I've settled on Chappie, which goes down a treat with both of them & causes no upset. As a bonus it is miles cheaper than any of the other brands I was contemplating. Just thought I'd share that wee tip!

narabanekeater

I had to have my 12 year old greyhound PTS last Thurs
I urge people who are looking for a dog to consider a greyhound
The 2 we have had have made my family complete

ozanan

Sorry to read about your 12 year old, its never an easy thing to go though, you just have to remember the good times and they'll always live on.

Myself and my partner have been adopted by 5 of them. Pip(7yrs) and Fawn(6yrs) are lurchers, Abby(6yrs), Tilly(11yrs) and Bill(5yrs) are all retired racers. We also have a cat. Bill has a VERY strong prey drive, and while he has been rehabilitated with our cat while in the house - to the point that the cat uses his chest as a springboard to get on the back of the sofa - (just took time, patience, time, understanding and time) I wouldn't trust him an inch to not chase any small furry when he was outside, end result - they run in the garden and walk on the lead when out. Thats when we can wake them.

@thedoghouse we found that the cheaper the dog food the better it was on their stomachs. Pip in particular has a very sensitive stomach and we tried her on a host of vet reccommended foods, not one of which worked. Our local pet shop sells 15kg bags for £9 and that stuff works great, they all like it.

Our lot roach all the time as well, the two lurchers also frog - lying on their chest, back legs splayed out behind them like a...frog

tylersbabe

Hi Narabanekeater and hugs to you and your family, the kindest thing and best gift we can give, yet the hardest to do.

On another site a posters signature is "dogs only have a short life.....their only fault really", it is at times like this we know it's true.