Greyhounds

Kimberley

Well, i visited the first kennels today. The only one that was ok with our JRT was a girl called Poppy but she did nudge her a few times, thankfully she had a muzzle on but she wasn't going for her like some tried to do. She has never lived in a home before and this worries me because where I work i'm not sure about leaving a dog alone for 4 hours if they have only known a kennel. I haven't said no to the Kennels but i'll see what happens at the RGT kennels next Saturday with the two dogs who have lived with small dogs in a house before. They are both boys.

What i'm worried about such as housetraining is that with this girl this morning her poo was yellow and very runny, it was yuk and i'm worried now, are their poo always like that? :eek: Also with a boy i'm worried about him cocking his leg on the TV etc if he is not housetrained so any tips on this would be welcomed

herbily

No, their poo isn't always like that! The dog you saw has obviously been fed something that doesn't agree with her - greyhound poo should look like any other dog poo, brown and firm. (Sorry to go into detail, but you did ask!)

I've had no problems with dogs straight from kennels cocking their legs on the TV or anywhere else except by the front or back door. They've wanted to go out, but not known how to tell me - greyhounds aren't necessarily vocal, they won't bark to be let out, but will just go stand by the door and look hopeful - which isn't very useful if you're busy upstairs. I had one or two accidents in the early days, all moppable - I can recommend getting a Turtlemat or equivalent to put by the back door (absorbent cotton mat with a rubber backing, that you can throw in the washing machine - but a towel will do fine!). Compared to a Jack Russell, there's more liquid to come out of them, but they've got much better bladder control because they're bigger. The main thing is that they're sensitive dogs and easily un-nerved, and that's when you might get the odd accident.

In my view, the best way of avoiding accidents is to show the dog clearly where you're expecting them to go, e.g. in the back garden, and then keep them on a regular routine, so they always know when their next toilet break is likely to happen. In kennels they get let out 3-4 times a day, and if you're adopting one straight from kennels it's worth asking what their current routine is. Honestly, compared to a spaniel puppy, greyhounds are a doddle!

BitterAndTwisted

Look, we're on the third page of all this lovely greyhound talk and not one blessed picture has been posted up yet. Come on people, do a girl favour willya?

I especially liked all the doggypics on the grey kennel site the OP posted on the last page and am thankful for that. I have been studying some of those lovely dogs very closely indeed. *sigh*

Kimberley

herbily wrote: »

In my view, the best way of avoiding accidents is to show the dog clearly where you're expecting them to go, e.g. in the back garden, and then keep them on a regular routine, so they always know when their next toilet break is likely to happen. In kennels they get let out 3-4 times a day, and if you're adopting one straight from kennels it's worth asking what their current routine is. Honestly, compared to a spaniel puppy, greyhounds are a doddle!

Thanks, the Kennels i'm visiting next week say that the two that are matched to my needs are clean in their Kennels. I guess we will give it a try and see what happens. I'm used to dogs weeing and pooping inside anyway from our own dog and when I foster.

Kimberley

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I especially liked all the doggypics on the grey kennel site the OP posted on the last page and am thankful for that. I have been studying some of those lovely dogs very closely indeed. *sigh*

Where was that?

lostinrates

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Look, we're on the third page of all this lovely greyhound talk and not one blessed picture has been posted up yet. Come on people, do a girl favour willya?

I especially liked all the doggypics on the grey kennel site the OP posted on the last page and am thankful for that. I have been studying some of those lovely dogs very closely indeed. *sigh*

You've seen mine! I don't have any other pictures of her I don't think :eek: something I must resolve soon.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Kates in the background - such a wonderful character. We lost her to leg cancer earlier in the year. She was 9.

Milli in the foreground - we lost her to heart failure in early December. She was 11.





Son of Erin. Our current big baby.

trudij

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Look, we're on the third page of all this lovely greyhound talk and not one blessed picture has been posted up yet. Come on people, do a girl favour willya?

I especially liked all the doggypics on the grey kennel site the OP posted on the last page and am thankful for that. I have been studying some of those lovely dogs very closely indeed. *sigh*

You asked for them....
Percy in the snow

BitterAndTwisted

Kimberley wrote: »

Where was that?

Post number 37 on page 2:

http://www.rgtcroftview.co.uk/default.htm

See? I've been paying close attention. Such lovely, lovely doggies. I'm especially taken with Jerry.

Son of Erin and Percy are very handsome indeed. Isn't Percy a great name for a dawg?

YorkiePud_3

... and the best tip anyone can give you about greyhounds ... when you take them out for a walk do NOT bother with those pesky little poop bags (which just aren't up to the job) or pooper scoopers ... *ROFL*

You need to take a good strong carrier bag and small hand shovel cos believe me, having a small dog to clean up after does NOT prepare you for cleaning up after a greyhound!!!

Can I just say it was lovely to see the pic of the lovely Percy in the snow ... these dogs are not hardy and DO feel the cold, so it's smashing to see one wrapped up snuggly and warm!

Another thing too (sorry, as someone said, it is a cult and we do wax lyrical about these fab dogs!!) ... they can rub the skin a lot off their back legs if they don't have blankets and a soft bed or bedding ... when I used to go racing it was sad to figure which poor things were probably just on boards without a bed ... their back legs would be totally bare and sometimes very sore, spotty and infected ... (can't tell you how many owners I reported for neglect!)

My two never had any accidents in the house ... even when Judy needed help being carried out the patio door into the garden, (towards the end, I mean), she would stand there and whine to tell us she needed out ... she didn't ever just get down and do it ... they are clean animals and, as with pups, if you whip them straight back indoors (preferred territory!) as soon as they have "been", they will get used to what outside is for. I can't tell you how quick on the uptake they are.

I will have to get a pic of my old lad scanned into the pc to show you ... it's my favourite pic of him .. he's laid on the hearth rug with a little yorkshire terrier sat one side of him and a chihuahua sat on the other, right up against him ... bless him, if they were running round and chasing each other, he would stand still and pick one leg up, then another, as they raced underneath him. I swear he was being extra cautious not to tread on them!

Kimberley, I'm sorry but I would give Poppy a miss and leave her for someone without a dog who could give her 100% attention to get her used to being in a house.
With her not being used to it, you'd have double the problem, both settling her in a house and getting her used to your dog ... and the fact that she was more than a bit interested today ... well, that would put me off.

If those other two are clean and used to other dogs, then I would wait and see them. Whichever dog you choose, it's got to be the right one for your home and your little dog so I'd wait and go visit them.
I know ... waiting is so hard ... !! But it'll be worth it!
I can't tell you how excited I am for you!