Greyhounds and compatibl dog breeds

lostinrates

We hav been talking a lot about this over the weekend. While we are still keen to take retired greyhounds in th future DH feels he'd like to get a dog that 'looks like a guard dog'. We would certainly consider a rescue for this too, I just wonder if a dog that 'looked like a guard dog' might react like a guard dog when our greyhound tried to get it to play? I think we might se hat happens with moves etc then maybe go to a bigger rescue cntre where their experince with other breeds/types might really help us find the right answer for us.

foreign_correspondent

ummm - well the gsd x in the photos above looks like a guard dog... and it doenst seem to have a problem with being laid all over by a lazy greyhound!:rotfl:

Loads of dogs will happily play with another, whether they look like a guard dog is immaterial really, the individual dogs temprement and how it has been socialised are key - look at your local rescues and then see if you can take your dog down to meet any you might be interested in, and let them have a walk together. A good rescue will be very keen to make sure they will get on before you take the dog, as they are as keen to get the placement right as you are!

there are so many dogs in rescue at the moment including a lot of pups and young dogs so it is a good time to be looking!

Billobel

I have been the proud owner of two greyhounds in the past (neither were retired track dogs) they happily lived alongside a GSD, Pointer, and a mini dach without any problems. Whilst I agree that another sight/longback breed would match your girl's needs, there is one downside to consider.

I have at the moment a three and a half year old whippet that shares my home and life with my two other dogs. Occassionally I have another whippet come and stay with us. When we all go out for walks the two Whippets take off at great speed and run together without a care in the world, or any respect for anything else around them. My whippet will come back to a whistle p.d.q when he is on his own, but takes a lot longer when the two of them are running together, thankfully the park that I walk in is very secure and I know that there is no chance of them running into any traffic, or causing any problems, but it is not a situation I would want to happen on a daily basis.

lostinrates

foreign correspondant, thank you again....yes, I agree, and I don't know why I didn't consider that GSD with th pointy lolled all over it! I think though the thing I'm worried about is not th cuddling up togther in the house, but rather the playing together, my girl is enthusiastic and goading, a more 'serious' dog might not feel its as amusing as her current laid back and indulgent chums. Thing is I have only really ever owned sight hounds, so I'm a bit biased....which brings m to answering Billobel's point about mor than one sight hound. My family's dogs are also sighthounds, so I'm used to multiple 'streakers' and how to handle them. My guess is the visiting whippet is both a disruption and a novelty, 'our' current group of three (my dog and my parnts' two dogs) all come back to a call, (well, one is a bit dodgy but genrally) so my best guess is that if you had both dogs all the time it wouldn't b a daily basis situation with work.

Thanks again for the input.

foreign_correspondent

I have known many gsd's, rottweilers etc that are not at all 'serious' and love a good goof around as much as the next dog!

Again, its down to ndividual dogs - my dog is older and steadier, perhaps more serious than my mums sighthoundy loon, but she is also the boss so this works fine - she decides when to play and when to stop, and Cleo mainly obeys!

elementalgrace

Lovely thread ... and particularly useful as I'm looking to get something to keep my greyhound company soon.

When we got him, he was about four, food obsessed with separation anxiety and couldn't mix with small dogs or cats. Since then, he's chilled out (despite sleeping most of the day) and thanks to some serious socialisation he's now fine with most small dogs, although not cats as yet.

I think a lot depends on the dog as for my beastie, I need a dog who is steady and reliable and is slightly better at recall than him so was thinking along the lines of a lab. Even though he's fine with smaller dogs, I tend to find that they tend to get a bit defensive because of his size (he's a giant!).

A good point though about dog shelters letting you see if your dog will get along with one you adopt. You should be able to take them out side by side and see how they get on together a couple of times before you decide to go ahead.

sammy_kaye18

See now this thread has reminded me of the story of Mr Ratty and the 'savage smotherings' he recieved from these 'dangerous' dogs.

http://coldwetnose.blogspot.com/2008/04/mr-ratty-responds-to-emma-milne-article.html

(PLEASE BEFORE you comment - READ THE ARTICLE FIRST!!!!!!)

so maybe you could keep a JRT in mind too.

lostinrates

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

so maybe you could keep a JRT in mind too.

While I agree I have met more 'dangerous' JRTs that Rotties, I think it wouldn't have the 'look' my husband is after. I feel compelled to add his disire for a 'dog that looks like a guard dog' is not to 'b hard' or anything else, its because he's worrid that living in a remote location, often with him away, he wants a dog that makes people think twice about knocking on the door (vn if we know it'll probably be a kitten:o )

sammy_kaye18

While I agree I have met more 'dangerous' JRTs that Rotties, I think it wouldn't have the 'look' my husband is after. I feel compelled to add his disire for a 'dog that looks like a guard dog' is not to 'b hard' or anything else, its because he's worrid that living in a remote location, often with him away, he wants a dog that makes people think twice about knocking on the door (vn if we know it'll probably be a kitten:o )

Thats fair enough I guess but i guess that depends on how the dog is raised we are lucky that ours has a very good temperment despite beign a rescue and havign a bad start but I agree I have come across some nasty JRTs too not that I didlike the breed or anything.

I guess its down to personal preference - are you after a smaller dog? or one of similiar size to a greyhound??