Greyhounds - anyone else got one?

dizziblonde

After being dog-less at the end of last year, we're now up to two of them - the rescue guy we got in January and yesterday we brought home a retired greyhound (she did 109 races) who is currently, suprisingly here, asleep.

Poor gal's got a behind balder than a baboon, still has her grotty kennel coat and looks a right sorry state but is the gentlest, biggest licker you'd ever come across. Haven't introduced her to the cat yet (she licked the cat they cat-tested her with) but she can hear her miaowing and see her through the frosted glass internal doors and ain't bothered in the slightest (I suspect cat may be MORE bothered).

Just thought I'd share!

bagginslover

Aw, she sounds lovely, where did you adopt from?

I have three quarters of a Greyhound, we aren't sure what he's crossed with, but he is always mistaken for a Grey, even by some Grey people! We've had him 6 months now and I can't imagine life without him now. He's the perfect dog for a lazy person (yup, talking about me!) he only needs short walks, and sleeps the rest of the time, he's wonderful!

dizziblonde

She's from the Retired Greyhound Trust - just tried to introduce her to the cat, she took one look and promptly fell asleep lazy mare! She's also so small people think she's half whippet but she's pure greyhound, just dinky with it!

scheming_gypsy

it's no surprise she's asleep; greyhounds will happily spend most of their time asleep. They'll leg it for 400 yards and then fall asleep again

trudij

Ive got one - hes wonderful Hes 10 now, and just starting to think about being less of a twerp - but only thinking about it....

cant believe it took me so long to get one !!!

dizziblonde

Good to hear he's still got spark in him since ours that we took on is 7 years old already.

Trying to measure her for a coat at the moment... take one measurement... dog lies down and tries to go to sleep... reposition dog to be vertical... take measurement... sleeping dog...

trudij

rofl - sounds about right - they are called 40 mile an hour couch potatoes for a reason!!!!!

I picked P up on his 6th birthday,and the only word people can come up with to describe him at the time is "sad" - he didnt wag, he never smiled, he just stayed quietly and peacefully in the corner on his bed and watched us warily. I had a reading done for him, and all he kept saying to the lady was "I dont want to go back" - made me cry when I read his reading !!
Fast forward 6 months, and someone has mastered the sofa, conquered the stairs to the new world of "upstairs" and discovered the beds, has a tail that worled round and round constantly and never stopped smiling,even in his sleep - and when she "talked" to him again, she said that she was amazed it was the same dog there was such a change.

Best move I ever made getting a grey - I have always told people that they make great pets, and when my springer died, I thought it was time I put my money where my mouth was !! Ive never replaced like with like. I dont think its fair on the new dog cos its too easy to compare - so when he dies (not that hes going to of course - hes going to go on forever!!!) I will probably look back to the gundogs (ive also got a golden retriever!), but I wont hestitate to have another grey when the time is right. or maybe two if I move and I have room for the extra sofas....

Mayflower10cat

This is such a lovely thread - thanks everyone, you've cheered me up after a few not so great happenings this week (not to me, but to dear friends).

I've two friends who've each adopted ex-racing greyhounds and the first time I went to see the new arrival, I had no idea what to expect! Certainly not a dainty, lean, soppy coach-potato who just wanted to put her silky head (and then two paws) on my lap and doze off... I had no idea that an ex-racing dog has very little desire to run at all, needs very little exercise and just wants to sprawl across your bed taking up ALL the room...!!!!

Good luck to you with your new love - they are dogs with a huge heart and so much love to give. So very loyal and the fact they are betrayed so often is heartbreaking. xxx

lostinrates

People keep telling me the couch potato thing.....compared with our other sighthounds mine is a real go-getter. She has a splint atm and trying to keep her still and quiet is a nightmare.

Although I've known a lot of greys (all show stock) I'd never thought I'd own one. She was actually a gift (I do not endorse giving pets as gifts!) but the best thing that ever happens to us dog wise. She is remarkably bright, almost collie-ish, very protective, but utterly endearing. Our vets all love her and bicker over who gets to do her dressing then spoil her rotton with treats. despite their reputation as a breed for having no pain threshold pour wonderful girl has been amazingly stoic and impresses everyone with her jubilance through a very difficult time.

I never would have opted for a grey before but she's my dream dog. Easy to clean, wonderful with people, good with the cats, chickens and horses etc. I sometimes have very limited mobility and her size means she's easy to stroke when I can't bend, and through her injust has been light enough to lift into the car.

BitterAndTwisted

All this talk of greys AND NOT ONE PICTURE, DARN IT!

Go on, show us

bagginslover

This is my 3/4 boy