Thinking about adopting a greyhound

lostinrates

I have a greyhound, but she came to me as a puppy (unplanned,long story, very happy surprise). She is show rather than racing stock, but she joins our family of other sight hounds and has been a wonderful addition.

I find compared to our other sight hounds she is fairly active. as for type of activeity, sighthounds do like short mad spells, but I find the grey is also able to cope with onger periods of activity. For example, we took her to the bech at the weekend and she ran around and trotted by us for a couple of hours, ha a long sleep and then did her normal hairing around in the evening with my horses and the other dogs I walk. In all she was active for about 7 hours (lots for a sight hound)and she slept from 7.30 pm through to 10 am the next day!

I would say as a weekend walker with a long sleep on mondays they' cope fine, but would struggle with long hikes everyday, preferring short spurts. This is physiological to do with muscle type. Mine'snormal routine includes a short walk (maybe a mile each way) in the morning, to do our horses, with a brief round around in the field, then a lazy day until evening when she comes back with me to the field. I work while she lies down and then she has a 15-20 minute run with the dogs I walk. She' not hard going.

she also ALWAYS comes when called. As I have always had sight hounds I really understood the importnae of teaching this to a puppy. with a rehome it might be impossible, I don't know.

I have to say, I think they ae fantastic dogs. I'm in love with mine
gin, having had from a puppy, our training is different. Mine sleeps on my bed with my two cats. She is fine with all other dogs, a little wary of people who approach her as opposed to waiting to be approached by her.

tylersbabe

Hi

Well Millie and I are muddling along fine, I left her last night for and hour and half and came back to a non munched/pawed home. But I think I made a mistake upon my return I was so pleased with her she got lots of praise and a bit of cheese. Unfortunataly the advice I have read advises to ignore coming and going so it is a boring and normal event.

Whoopssss hope have not made an error because she is doing so well. For a little girl who has only been here four days, and won't know this is going to be her home, I am really proud of her.

We also went plant shopping today and she enjoyed walking round garden centre (wooded area outside). Unfortunatley upon return I have discovered that Millie is not a born gardener in fact the whole experience totally bored her and she ate one of my new plants to highlight this fact :eek: :rotfl:

foreign_correspondent

oh bless her, I think she will be settled in in no time - just remember, keep leaving her in the room where her bed is for short periods of time and returning, even if you do not leave the house - and yes, make it boring!!!

sportage1kia

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

thanks. I was reflecting on this myself - my mum rescued a dog (her first one really) in April, she had a close friend who died in July - I think the dog was a great help to her in dealing with it - the company and the having to go out for a walk are invaluable at difficult emotional times.

Very Very True
Regards

Tarry

sportage1kia wrote: »

Very Very True
Regards

That is very true. Dogs really are great companions.

Mely

It will take time for Millie to settle in, but it sounds a if you have given her a wondeful new home. Good luck x

BridgetJones_2

Awh I'm so jealous that you have this smashing sounding dog. I always think greyhounds look so handsome esp when they were those little jackets.

Can't wait to see some photos!

rexywins

My family have rescued, fostered and kept greyhounds for many years....you wouldn't believe the conditions that we found some of them in. We always had cats, rabbits, birds and other small creatures but never had a problem with any of the greyhounds..... there's so many misconceptions about the breed and it's such a shame

user55

We need photos of Millie!

viatcove

My husband and I are in our 70's and after losing our last dog to old age at 18yrs old, 10 yrs ago,I was getting broody for another dog it took me all this time to grieve for my last pet dog.I got a rescued grey,3 weeks ago after reading about every kind of dog I could deal with on the internet,Sorry but I believe in rescueing a dog who has had a bad life to paying breeders who may be just in it for the money(OK I know there are good breeders too)you just need to read the papers full of adverts selling cats & dogs.Anyway my greyhound is 6 yrs old not a youngster,her story was she had been eaten alive with a 100 fleas,bad dental problems and very underweight.I took this responsiblity on,she is completely flea free had 5 teeth removed and is a good weight,had her first innoculation last week and gets spayed in November as she has just come out of season.A nicer girl I could not have asked for,walks a dream on the lead :A doesnt wear the muzzle now and I have 3 parrots (1 a huge macaw)who have 4 hrs a day out of their cages,she glances at them when we pass through the house to go out(they are in their cages),but when I say NO she ignores them.I had the worst scenario pointed out to me she could kill them,but we have a good routine so no one is left out and its working fine with us.Its true they are lazy gentle dogs and I love my new pet:D