Greyhounds

Kimberley

To those who have Greyhounds as pets. I am thinking about just fostering Greyhounds from the RGT. I felt sorry for them when I used to work in a bookies some years ago. I know that not many people like to adopt Greyhounds. I want a change from fostering to just concentrate on one breed. The thing that puts me off is their size. My home is a small 3 bed house and I have a tiny garden. Do Greyhounds need a lot of space in the home and garden due to their size? I emailed the RGT and due to my work hours and having a 1 year old JRT they said they have a couple of suitable Greyhounds who do not mind being left for 4+ hours and have lived with a small dog before.

Tropez

Adequately exercised, greyhounds don't need any especially large space in their home. Most sighthounds are quite content to snooze most of the day, and greyhounds are no exception - often sleeping up to 15-18 hours per day.

Despite being a sighthound, they don't actually require that much exercise either. An hour or so a day is usually quite sufficient, although it doesn't hurt to give them a little more.

The one thing to remember is that it isn't unheard of for greys to jump six foot fences, particularly if you pick one with a high prey drive, so beware of that.

Some greys, like most sighthounds, will exhibit separation anxiety - the whole sighthound family is very pack oriented, although rarely do they try and become alpha.

Kimberley

Well I will certainly watch him/her in the garden at all times. I live on a Main Road and have a Carpark to the rear of me so I may fail the homecheck then.

My JRT gets plenty of exercise so he/she will too although I may leave him/her at home when I walk the JRT sometimes because he/she won't need as much as our JRT does.

Tropez

I wouldn't see living on a main road with a carpark nearby as something that would necessarily cause you to fail the home check but their ability to jump is something that you should just bare in mind.

And it would probably be a good idea to leave your grey at home while walking the JRT. Greyhounds don't really have much stamina. With some greys, particularly when they get a little older (say 5+) it is usually better to break their walks up into 20-30 minute sessions a couple of times per day.

Kimberley

Tropez wrote: »

And it would probably be a good idea to leave your grey at home while walking the JRT. Greyhounds don't really have much stamina. With some greys, particularly when they get a little older (say 5+) it is usually better to break their walks up into 20-30 minute sessions a couple of times per day.

I see, the two who are suitable for my needs are 6 and 7 years old. What if I took both dogs with the help of one of the kids and they bought the Greyhound back after 30 mins and I continued walking the JRT for her longer walk/run?

Oh and we have local woodland areas near me which are lovely to have long slow walks in and picknick areas, would that be ok?

Tropez

Kimberley wrote: »

I see, the two who are suitable for my needs are 6 and 7 years old. What if I took both dogs with the help of one of the kids and they bought the Greyhound back after 30 mins and I continued walking the JRT for her longer walk/run?

It might be a good way of doing things, and might also help the grey not feel alone.

Obviously, the rescue centre would be the best people to advise about the actual dog. You may end up with one of the exceptions to the rule who is quite energetic even after five years old but it is good to plan for the possibilities in advance.

Woodland walks are fine for greyhounds, perhaps even better than walking them in a more urban environment. A slow walk should be okay but it is best to always take a bit of water and not to venture too far from home until you get an idea just how much the dog likes to walk. Wouldn't be good having to carry a tired out grey for a mile or more!

gemmaj

I used to give my greys 3 x 20 minute walks a day, and it wasn't house/garden space I needed ... it was sofa space! They really are the worlds fastest couch potatoes.

lostinrates

Greys curl up tiny. Mine will curl up in the tiniest of places and don't go crazy in the house if they get enough exercise.

while the shorter faster routes are generally considered better my girl who is 3 and a half now, shows NO sign of slowing down and likes being busy, but then sleeps VERY deeply afterwards. Much of th time in the house she is in one room. Things to think about are beds: they are very bony and I think benefit from a much deeper, softer bed then some other dogs. For this reason ours sleeps on a sofa: big deep beds DO take up room in a smaller house, though the dog itself doesn't.Much of the time i the house our dogs are in just one room...e.g.at night time: I think my dog would much prefer to live in a smaller house/garden with enough exercise/off lead run than in a large house with not enough exercise.

Mine is also alarmingly bight: something I hadn't expected.

BitterAndTwisted

Kimberley your circumstances sound absolutely perfect for fostering a pair of greys. Company for each other and the JRT so probably no separation anxiety. My only worry is whether you'll have enough sofa-space for a pair of them.

I so envy anyone who has contact with greyhounds: I absolutely adore them and want to re-home an ex-racer one day. They're lovely dogs and so, so beautiful

Careful_with_that_Axe

We have, as a family, re-homed 3 ex-racing Greyhounds and they make the best pets. They are affectionate, loving and actually need less exercise than you would think. They can jump and can go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye. The original two we had (we lost them both this year) would go for cats, rabbits etc so we kept them muzzled when walking them outside. The one we are left with is so laid back that he wouldn't notice a bomb going off!
They can have sensitive stomachs and are somewhat food-obsessed to say the very least! Some of them (due to their background) can be a little timid and not know how to play, but they will come out of their shell given kindness and time.

We have had many different breeds of dogs over the years, but would never consider getting anything other than a greyhound again. Go for it - you really won't regret it!

Oh, and keep us posted!

narabanekeater

Ive worked with retired greyhounds for years and even met my hubby there
You can get some quite small !!!!!es and they are the most gentle of breed. Our 1st little girl would not walk it wa sso funny. The sofa, TV and love was all she wanted. There all so different, amazing dogs
The NGT will offer as much help as possible. But yes the poster who said about a 6ft fence being no problem was not wrong but please dont let this put you off the breed. Why not go to the NGT or RSPCA and have a look round. I bet you will fall in love. I do so much and not just woth hubby either. Our DD is named after our 1st greyhound. Please message me if I can be of any more help.