1 Month Ownaversary/Gotcha Day

texenstar

texenstar

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Hi Everyone!

So I adopted my retired greyhound from the greyhound trust 1 month ago. Not a huge milestone for most of you but I have had so much joy this past month that I just had to share. Sorry for the essay! :)

My original plan was to get a whippet puppy, however, after a bit of consideration about my time constraints and due to the number of beautiful dogs that are looking for homes in kennels my partner and I decided to pursue the idea of getting a retired greyhound.

We set off to our local greyhound trust with a couple of dogs in mind. Of course, the dogs we were originally interested did not include the one I ended up with! Bella was handed to me first to take for a walk and I was smitten. She was extremely bouncy and friendly and slightly higher energy than the other greyhounds there so we thought it would be a great match.

A couple of visits later and Bella came home with me :) I was shocked at how calm and settled she was in the house straight away, greyhounds really are great pets! She was a bit timid of a few things to begin with but as the days have gone by she has become more and more confident. She has started to play with us with her toys and wagging her tail at us.

Last week she came on holiday with us to Loch Lomond and it really was a pleasure to have her with us. I'm looking forward to starting some recall and training sessions with her and hopefully have many happy years together in the future :)

Thanks for reading if you made it this far! Just felt like I had to have a bit of a gush! I have added some obligatory photos :D


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Second visit at the kennels

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Learning how to be a cat

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Obligatory greyhound pose!
 
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texenstar said:
If i’m being honest, i am very tempted to one day get her a friend ;) i’ve heard people end up collecting them!
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Congratulations! She is beautiful! They are such a joy. We got our first greyhound at the start of November.... number 2 arrived on Friday. I doubt you’ll last long before you get another!
 
Lovely post and lovely pics. Ill be honest, they are not my cup of tea, I like a bit of fluff on my dogs...but...I do think, that a bit like ex racehorses they make fabulous pets, and yes I know you cant keep a racehorse on the sofa but you know what I mean. They are pretty chilled, often lazy and generally have great temperaments. A tenant of ours had a retired greyhound as a pet, whenever we visited the property is was asleep on the sofa, would look up, sigh and close its eyes again
 
How do they get the show greyhounds fat? No ex racing ones ever seem to manage!? (Not fat is good, I mean).
 
Clodagh said:
How do they get the show greyhounds fat? No ex racing ones ever seem to manage!? (Not fat is good, I mean).
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I have seen a grossly fat ex racer - he lived with an elderly couple, got little exercise (all on lead) and was fed endless biscuits! (human ones that is) He seemed to be as happy as anything but it made me cringe every time I saw him, I couldn't understand why the rescue co-ordinators couldnt't have a tactful word

I do realise mine are skinnier than most pet greyhounds mind you
 
Shady said:
Bit late to this but what a lovely post and what a happy , lucky dog. I also think you should get more!!!:)

Can I just add that your horse looks very beautiful as well and i'm now trying to work out the breed, the nose looks a bit Spanish?
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Thank you :) I am wanting to volunteer at my local greyhound trust but I just know I would end up bringing one home! :eek: My horse is a Lusitano so not far off :D Yours looks a bit arab like?
 
Levrier said:
I have seen a grossly fat ex racer - he lived with an elderly couple, got little exercise (all on lead) and was fed endless biscuits! (human ones that is) He seemed to be as happy as anything but it made me cringe every time I saw him, I couldn't understand why the rescue co-ordinators couldnt't have a tactful word

I do realise mine are skinnier than most pet greyhounds mind you
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A friend of mine has a fat one and they do look rather odd! Why would you say yours are skinnier than most? Bella lost of little weight after I got her, just from settling in I think. I have upped her food but doesn't seem to be gaining weight in a hurry. I do tend to walk her more than most other greyhounds, however, so not sure whether than makes a difference D:
 
texenstar said:
A friend of mine has a fat one and they do look rather odd! Why would you say yours are skinnier than most? Bella lost of little weight after I got her, just from settling in I think. I have upped her food but doesn't seem to be gaining weight in a hurry. I do tend to walk her more than most other greyhounds, however, so not sure whether than makes a difference D:
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I think that is why mine tend to be quite slim - Marty has lost 2kg since he came to me in September, he is now 30kg, definitely not a deliberate choice although he is a chunky little soul, he just gets more exercise now 😊
 
I think you should see their ribs anyway? Even at rest? Just a bit. I like to see Tawnys ribs just showing, she is a stocky girl and with no ribs she looks like a chunk.
 
texenstar said:
Thank you :) I am wanting to volunteer at my local greyhound trust but I just know I would end up bringing one home! :eek: My horse is a Lusitano so not far off :D Yours looks a bit arab like?
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Ooh , well done me then!! He/she looks lovely! We have a big PRE, same colouring as yours and yes, that's my little Arab in the photo, he got a bit chopped off when the forum changed and I don't know how to resize him:)
 
I am considering getting a greyhound when my eldest dog sheds off his mortal coil (hopefully not for a couple more years!) - however, I have been told they are not good with small dogs.

I have a stroppy Miniature Pinscher who can be a bit of a bully. I was thinking of maybe getting a bitch as he has a lot more respect for the ladies!
 
Hexx said:
I am considering getting a greyhound when my eldest dog sheds off his mortal coil (hopefully not for a couple more years!) - however, I have been told they are not good with small dogs.

I have a stroppy Miniature Pinscher who can be a bit of a bully. I was thinking of maybe getting a bitch as he has a lot more respect for the ladies!
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Some are not good with small dogs, most are absolutely fine! I’ve had 6 pure greyhounds so far, the 2 boys haven’t been great with small dogs and the 4 girls have all been fine
 
All three of my greyhounds have been good with small dogs, they have met a lot doing meet and greets at Pets@Home, Bramham ect.
Getting a bitch to go with your small man sounds a good idea.
 
I think it very much depends on the dog. The rescues will be able to advise which are suitable. My rescue does small dog testing before they re-home. There will definitely be the right greyhound out there.

Hexx said:
I am considering getting a greyhound when my eldest dog sheds off his mortal coil (hopefully not for a couple more years!) - however, I have been told they are not good with small dogs.

I have a stroppy Miniature Pinscher who can be a bit of a bully. I was thinking of maybe getting a bitch as he has a lot more respect for the ladies!
Click to expand...
 
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