Advice on breeds for rehoming please

Bosworth said:
Poor little chap, he would be far better off PTS than suffering in kennels at his age. Sometimes you have to make the best decision for the dog. I am sure you will find something soon. And please please do contact Scruples, they probably do have something in Scotland that would suit you :)
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Thanks Bosworth - I felt a bit like the girl was judging me when I'd suggested he might be too old. Having just lost our boy at almost 13 and knowing what the older years can be like, it would be too much to knowlingly go through that again.

I'll drop scruples a line - I've also been in touch with the Greyhound Awareness League who are going to see if they have anything suitable - they also have some lurchers available so fingers crossed.

Can't help but think of poor wee Chester though :(
 
Bosworth said:
I find some of the bigger rescues are very judgemental, and really not realistic. THere will be a dog out there for you and someone will do whats right by Chester.
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Thank you - I actually got quite upset when on the phone to her because I was imagining how my old boy would have handled being in a centre at that age.

I've sent scruples an application but there may be a sticking point with our fencing - we live in a terraced home, at the end so we have a 6 ft + fence on one side and then a smaller fence at the side of our neigbours - although ultimately the whole block is enclosed by 6 ft fencing.
 
I'd been looking to get a dog for a while and there was a Dogs Trust van at the local supermarket with a greyhound, the chap explained that his wife walked with crutches and was able to walk their two greyhounds at the same time. I've since got one and on a lead he's very good though we don't walk that often as I take him down the yard with me. He's nearly 3 now and is usually out for 3-4 hours but though I think they're wonderful initially you may need to build the long walks up gradually.
An ex racer or one that didn't make the grade make great pets they are so sociable with both people and dogs and I've never heard of one being aggressive either.

I've just noticed the mention of fencing, I got my dog from Kent Greyhound Rescue and didn't ask about what they had but explained what I wanted from a dog, good with horses, children etc and that I didn't have a high fence, they suggested a boy as they 'aren't quite so bright' as the bitches and are likely to walk to the gates and walk away but the girls are more likely to think about jumping and though the gates and much of the fencing is under 4' there's been no attempt to escape.
 
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A decision is made on an individual basis, you would be home checked and an decision made. so dont rule yourself out. MY Scruples whippet has never jumped a fence in her life....... she goes under, not over :)
 
Thanks Bosworth - fingers crossed we find the right dog for our family!

LD&S - that's helpful thanks - my concern would be that if it was a non "small dog" friendly greyhound it could cause issues but there seem to be thousands of them looking for homes who are small dog/cat and child friendly so here's hoping we find something.

I'd love to have a new dog in the home before Christmas - Bailey was such a big part of the family and we loved spoiling him on Christmas day and it would be nice to be able to do that for another dog!
 
Just do make sure that they are dog friendly my lab was attacked by two greyhounds, she was actually on the lead at the time and they saw her from a distance and just ran towards her and launched a full on attack, very scary, lots of blood, the owner had problems actually getting the worst one to let go of my dog.
So do be careful they can be lovely but they do have that instinct.
 
Shame about Chester seems odd that their info about him doesn't match. Shouldn't be made to feel bad if a dog doesn't suit your criteria.I'm sure you'll find a suitable dog sadly lots of greyhounds & lurchers waiting for homes.

Perhaps you could add some trellis or mesh to increase height of lower fence if necessary. I know lurcher link do consider less than 6ft fencing if they've suitable dogs so not always an issue with rescues, but it can increase your options if its fairly easy to remedy

RGT have some Scottish branches too, the homing policies tend to vary by branch. http://scotland.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/
Some rescues can be slow to update website for dogs available & often have waiting lists of dogs to come in. So even if you don't see a suitable dog it can still be worth contacting them ( well if they seem like a decent rescue).
 
Thanks 2greys - yes we'd consider some sort of fencing solution if required to allow the dog some off lead time in a secure space.

I've now registered my details with Scruples, GAL, GAGAH and SGS so hopefully one of them will have something that suits us.

My mum - who has minimal input on what we get other than it needs to be something she and my dad can manage - is being a royal pain and wants a dog exactly like Bailey - there is actually one at the local Dogs trust that is extremely similar to him and that's the one my mum wants - apparently she doesn't want an "ugly big greyhound" - I've pretty much told her where to go!!
 
To be fair, many grey hounds are big dogs, and they can take up an awful lot of floos pace, or sofa space. I personally would not want one, not for me, but then neither is a St Bernard, or a pug for that matter, everyone has a 'type' they like. I personally could not have had a dog like Chester as he looks far far too much like my old boy Bosworth and I could not bear that. So I looked for a bedlington, similar size, but my 'type' of dog

If your mum does not want a greyhound... could it be that size is an issue? In which case a whippet or whippet x is a better size. Some greyhounds are ugly, but some are beautiful, same with all of us. Ask her if she would settle for a beautiful small greyhound :) Finding a replacement is hard, so very hard, you are not replacing you are adding, she will never replace Bailey and trying to do so would be nigh on impossible. I wish you good luck, the right one will come along and you will all adore 'it' as much as you did Bailey
 
I don't think she's being serious - I think she's just still upset about Bailey - she keeps saying not dog will be as good as him but I've already told her, although not dog will be the same as him, another dog will be good in it's own way.

Floor space is not an issues - both me and my parents are in 3 bedroom houses with plenty of room for a large dog.

I actually prefer "ugly" dogs - I think the look like they have more character but ultimately looks aren't important if it's the right dog.
 
LOL Bosworth, I truly mean this in the nicest possible way but I would guess you haven't lived with a greyhound? I had 4 of them living with me in a static caravan - they do not take up a lot of floor or sofa space, they are very tidy and tend to curl up quite small? It isn't unusual for me to be sharing a 3-seat sofa with 3 greyhounds for example :)

Personally I have never ever seen an ugly pure greyhound, they are one of the most consistently beautiful breeds around in my opinion :) :)

ETA - my four come in sizes ranging from 20" at the shoulder and weighing about 20kg to one who is 32" at the shoulder and weighs about 35kg - there is a greyhound out there to suit everyone, in various shapes and sizes :)
 
So one of the rescues has got back to me to review my application and I've been passed to the next stage of a home check.

Although it's not normal protocol, they have mentioned a specific dog that may suit our arrangement. It doesn't say anything on their website but there is another site which they advertise on which mentions he needs company as he gets upset when left alone although the are working on this and making progress - on average, the most he'd be along during the week is 2 hours while my parents go shopping - maybe 3 or 4 on rare occasions. At weekends we again maybe a couple of hours now and again - if we go out for longer we'd leave my previous dog with my parents - we never left him for more than 4 hours - not that he cared lol!

We'll need to find out more during the home visit but he is cat/small dog safe despiting completing 100 races and is apparently a wonderfuly dog who is full of life (I'd actually already heard about him via a friend of a friend who'd met him and fell in love).

They are going to try and bring him to the home check so we can meet him - very exciting!!
 
Good luck sounds promising!
Just because tested ok to live with cats doesn't necessarily mean they won't take chase outdoors , so may want to check he is easily distracted on walks too from prey critters.
Well its going to be your dog so get what you want, its not like you aren't considering your folks needs. I'm sure they will love an ugly big dog too once they get to know it.
My greyhounds don't really move much indoors so aren't as troublesome as a smaller active dog. I've a 25" 25kg female & 26"28kg male, the lurcher is 23"but weighs most &
 
Got a quick call from a second sanctuary today - they are also going to arrange a follow up chat before a possible home check - I'm wondering if perhaps I shouldn't have contacted so many sanctuaries as I don't want to mess anyone about but want to make sure we find the right dog for us!
 
2Greys said:
Good luck sounds promising!
Just because tested ok to live with cats doesn't necessarily mean they won't take chase outdoors , so may want to check he is easily distracted on walks too from prey critters.
Well its going to be your dog so get what you want, its not like you aren't considering your folks needs. I'm sure they will love an ugly big dog too once they get to know it.
My greyhounds don't really move much indoors so aren't as troublesome as a smaller active dog. I've a 25" 25kg female & 26"28kg male, the lurcher is 23"but weighs most &
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Mine live with a cat and are def cat friendly. They would also definitely chase a cat that moved quickly when they were off lead outside, including my own I suspect. The chase instinct is just so high in them
 
Agree with that too - my Amy (greyhound x whippet) lived with cats when she was with Cayla, but still chased one across a field just after I got her when we came across it unexpectedly outdoors.

I would be cautious about the first greyhound you mention, separation anxiety can be a bit of a pain in the **** to deal with? I'm not saying don't consider him, but do go into it with your eyes open and knowing it can take a lot of work to get them happy with being left even for short periods of time. I realise there will be only limited times you will leave the dog, but if the anxiety is bad then they don't like being left at all.
 
Picklenash said:
Agree with that too - my Amy (greyhound x whippet) lived with cats when she was with Cayla, but still chased one across a field just after I got her when we came across it unexpectedly outdoors.

I would be cautious about the first greyhound you mention, separation anxiety can be a bit of a pain in the **** to deal with? I'm not saying don't consider him, but do go into it with your eyes open and knowing it can take a lot of work to get them happy with being left even for short periods of time. I realise there will be only limited times you will leave the dog, but if the anxiety is bad then they don't like being left at all.
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We definitely plan to find out as much as we can - he sounds perfect in every other way and there was no mention of it on their website or during the phone call but I don't know if they just assumed that when I said my parents would look after it during the week I meant all day during the week. TBH, I would be reluctant to take anything that couldn't cope with 4 hours on its own - I think 4 hours is an acceptable period of time to be able to leave a dog without it getting upset - it would always be walked immediately before and afterwards too.

I'm trying hard not to fixate on a specific dog and to keep my options open to avoid disappointment.

Re cats - it's not an issues - we have not cats in our family although our neighbour does have one that comes into our garden sometimes. There are also about 10 cats at the yard but a greyhound would be on a lead anyway and muzzled in that sort of situation.

Still open to look at lurcher/whippet types also although not much about that seems suitable at the moment!
 
I totally agree, you are offering what I would consider to be an absolutely ideal home for a greyhound and 4 hours is very reasonable for any dog to be left :) Good luck, I hope one of the possibles works out :)
 
Picklenash said:
I totally agree, you are offering what I would consider to be an absolutely ideal home for a greyhound and 4 hours is very reasonable for any dog to be left :) Good luck, I hope one of the possibles works out :)
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Thank you - that's reassuring to know that we aren't being unreasonable!
 
I just meant to not assume that a cat friendly dog won't chase cats outdoors & to ask how he reacts as you want an easy to walk dog for your folks. I've a non cat safe dog that looks but will just walk by on lead & 2 at the opposite end of scale that go nuts. Its not just a sighthound thing but they do have an advantage on speed.

It will depend how bad the seperation anxiety is, but can be a problem if you've attached neighbours and he could whinge if he's just in a different room rather than left as such. Is he in a foster home at mo?

Just let the other rescue know the situation so your not wasting time on multiple homechecks etc, though as you've not progressed far yet no harm checking if they've suitable dogs available.
 
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2Greys said:
I just meant to not assume that a cat friendly dog won't chase cats outdoors & to ask how he reacts as you want an easy to walk dog for your folks. I've a non cat safe dog that looks but will just walk by on lead & 2 at the opposite end of scale that go nuts. Its not just a sighthound thing but they do have an advantage on speed.

It will depend how bad the seperation anxiety is, but can be a problem if you've attached neighbours and he could whinge if he's just in a different room rather than left as such. Is he in a foster home at mo?

Just let the other rescue know the situation so your not wasting time on multiple homechecks etc, though as you've not progressed far yet no harm checking if they've suitable dogs available.
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Hi - yes I understand what you're saying. I know that some can live with cats but the chase instinct will kick in if they spot something. My dad is still fit and strong and certainly for the first few months the dog would be muzzled when walked until we had a good understanding of just how strong his chase instinct was.

I've still not heard back from them re homecheck but they had already mentioned that even if this specific dog wasn't suitable there are others that might be. I'm also going to meet some other dogs on Sunday who are part of a local greyhound rehoming charity - they have a monthly greyhound walk nearby and all the homeless dogs get to go too so we'd get to meet some of them and find out a bit more about them :D I've very excited!
 
Most greys aren't as nuts in there reaction to critters on lead as my girls thankfully & they are still manageable. Glad you can join a walk its a good to see them out of a kennel environment, the greyhounds really enjoy meeting others & nice for the 2leggers to socialize too.

I've found being a greyhound owner quite social with various events & while out people often ask questions or to stroke the dogs. Pointy owners often gravitate towards each other to let the dogs greet which I've not noticed happen much with other breeds.
 
Why not see what's available instead of going for a breed or type? We would have never had a jrt until we found her as a stray. 17 years she was with us. Dogs adapt to you as we'll as the other way round.
 
So we picked up the ashes of Bailey today :( We are going to keep them at my parents until the Spring when we'll go to Arran and sprinkle them on the beach at Whiting Bay - one of his favourite places.

We also took all of his toys, beds and jackets from our house to the local SSPCA rehoming centre (he has additional stuff at my parents that we will also donate).

We had a look at some of the dogs available - it was heartbreaking :( Unfortunately there was nothing suitable for us - OH and my mother do not want a staffy - my dad and I wouldn't mind one if it was of the right temperament but OH says no - I gave him a hard time about it but he's not for shifting :(

Going to a local greyhound walk tomorrow to meet some of the homeless dogs and also got a home check tomorrow night although they can't give me an exact time and I have to go out but mum, dad and OH will all be there - any idea what they generally want to check/discuss.

So things are moving in the right direction at least!
 
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