Are we suitable?

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Austen123

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hi,

my partner and I are desperate for a canine companion as we have come from a family with dogs and the house seems so empty without one!!

We are a looking at adopting a salukixwhippet 3 year female who was in a boisterous household and needs something quieter
So my partner and I both work.

him 8-430 and me 9-530.

I have a horse aswell so in the winter I can walk after work (as I ride before work and up at 530 so can let the dog out when I wake up and give fusses before I leave) My OH can walk before work as he usually wakes the same time as me.

In the summer, I can walk before work or take dog to horses while I de-rug and drop off on my way to work (2 min detour) and my OH can walk after work as I will ride in evening.

My OH works 5 mins away so can come home at lunch briefly to let her out for the loo. My work is very busy so hardly get the time take a lunch ( but I would 10 mins away and can pop home too if needed).

on weekends, I compete most weekends so OH can take her in tow when he comes for moral support and when we do the parent visits, they both have dogs so can socialise with them and can take for a longer when I'm with the horses.

if we go on holiday or go away for the day ect. one of our parents would take her, or, if needed, our neighbour would let her out.

I understand that we will organise insurance for her.

I worry that we have a busy life, but I do think there is a space for a dog.
what do you think, are we suitable?
 
Whereas mine would be maybe. Whippets are the most bone idle creatures alive! Mine if given the choice would get up for a wee about 11am, up for the day about 3 pm and back to bed by 6pm. They would slot into the lifestyle you describe with no issues.
 
yes. dogs are very happy to adapt to a working lifestyle with a lunch pee break. I see no reason not to take her
 
Do you know how much the dog is currently left and how she copes with it?

I know my breed (gsp) would definitely not like being left that much
 
lurchers are nothing like whippets or greyhounds, a young fit lurcher needs a minmum of 2 hrs exercise daily and an hour of that off lead, they are also very very dependant on company, one on its own left for that much of each day is unlikely to be a happy dog
 
ilovemorgan said:
hi,

……..

I worry that we have a busy life, but I do think there is a space for a dog.
what do you think, are we suitable?
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My honest view is that the new dog will do no more than be part of the picture, and a picture that you have in your own mind.

Whether you actually 'want' a canine companion, is another matter entirely, and from your post, it sounds as though you may not have actually thought this through.

Alec.
 
I work 8.30-4.30 and live in London. I picked up Mrs Spaniel - a working cocker a year ago and spent weeks wondering if we were doing the right thing and if I'd be able to devote the time she needs to her, especially being a city dog!
Mrs Spaniel normally get a 20-30 minute walk in the morning (depends how quickly I can drag myself from my bed) and we play ball while I am feeding my aviary birds and getting ready in the morning.
I share my house with my brother who works shifts so he can let her out for a quick wee when he is doing lunchtime change overs. But normally at least one week she has to wait until I get home.
She is quite happy to do so, I then walk her twice when I get home at 5, Normally we go to a field where she plays with other dogs or chases a ball endlessly for an hour. I take her out again at 7.30/8pm to the field or the park depending on the weather for another 30 minute walk.
Apart from our trips to and from the park she runs about off lead exploring for most of her walks.
She seems quite happy with this arrangement, so it is do-able depending on your dog. I leave toys out for Mrs Spaniel but I have a fitbark on her collar and that tells me she seems to spend most of her time asleep!
I did have the same concerns about whether it was enough for her and whether I should look into doggy daycare/ a walker hence the fitbark but she doesnt seem too bothered.
Twice during the week she comes up to the yard with me and runs about there with other dogs, bullying cats and chickens and rooting about the muck heap which is probably two hours (sits in the car/stable while I ride).

At weekends I do try to do more with her, I will take her out to Kent to one of the country parks there for a good two or three hour walk minimum on Saturdays and then to the field twice again in the evening. I don't think she cares where she goes as long as she gets a run but I try to visit all the ones near us on a rota basis so they don't get too boring and familiar to her!

Sundays are her best days, she goes for a walk, then to flyball training for an hour, then to the yard and then for a walk in the woods (grand total of 4/5 hours outside in one go) and a final walk in the evening.
I also occasionally spend some time doing trick training with her but not too any great extent.

She is a very active dog and I can tell when commitments mean I have missed out a walk or she has a lot of pent up energy and I do re-arrange a lot of my plans and activities at the weekend to make sure she has those days to burn off energy and interact with us. If you have a laidback dog I can see it working out but Mrs Spaniel would be bouncing off of the walls if she didn't have her varied little routine. She is very intelligent and likes to be busy and around me as much as possible so I did my best to adapt my lifestyle to keep her happy.
 
twiggy2 said:
lurchers are nothing like whippets or greyhounds, a young fit lurcher needs a minmum of 2 hrs exercise daily and an hour of that off lead, they are also very very dependant on company, one on its own left for that much of each day is unlikely to be a happy dog
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Well mine are a working bred, neurotic drama queen whippet and a collie/saluki/whippet of some sort. The lurcher is the easiest dog I've ever owned. The whippet is the best dog I've ever owned but hes much trickier! Even when mine were super fit and we were doing 50miles + a week fell walking and racing and all sorts, they still slept about 20 hours a day :lol:
 
It will all depend on the dog's temperament and on what she is used to. There is also a strong possibility that you are not being given all the reasons why she is being rehomed. You have a very busy life and if the dog has a few issues that you are not being made aware of will you have the time and energy to do whatever will be necessary to sort them out?
I assume you have seen her walked outdoors, meeting other dogs on and off lead, have ascertained she has good recall, is reliable around horses and other livestock and shows all the signs of being well-socialised with pets and all types of humans. She may be the perfect dog for you but make sure before you go ahead, your situation does not give you much leeway for dealing with a less than perfect dog.
 
FrankieCob said:
Well mine are a working bred, neurotic drama queen whippet and a collie/saluki/whippet of some sort. The lurcher is the easiest dog I've ever owned. The whippet is the best dog I've ever owned but hes much trickier! Even when mine were super fit and we were doing 50miles + a week fell walking and racing and all sorts, they still slept about 20 hours a day :lol:
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they will sleep given enough exercise and company but the OP does not sound like that will be the case, non of my lurchers have been easy and they have been demanding when it comes to company
 
My answer would be maybe, very dependent upon the nature of the dog. My current dog, a Vizsla, would not cope with that lifestyle at all. However, my previous dog, a lurcher (collie x saluki/deerhound) would have coped admirably. He was a typical lurcher who could run at the speed of light but once he was home loved to just curl up on a sofa and sleep.

If the dog is finding it's current home a bit too boisterous it may appreciate the peace. One caveat is that our old lurcher was very unsettled when he moved house - even with his own family, so it may take a while for the new arrival to feel at home.
 
I am afraid my answer is no.
You are busy at work all week and competing and looking after horses the rest of the time. You sound as if you fancy a dog for your occasional pleasure, not to rescue the dog and give it a happy life as a companion.
I have flatcoats that definitely wouldn't like being left so much and I have a lurcher too. Yes, she likes her down time but she likes to run, interact with us and likes us around, not just left alone to sleep.
I have also bred and owned whippets in the past and don't agree with the poster who says they are lazy! Mine loved to join in with everything.
 
I would say no too.
My little Shih comes to work with me - after spending anything between half and an hour at the yard.
She then gets another 15 min walk when we get to the office, sleeps all morning and then gets a 40/45 min walk round the commons, then sleeps till home time.
After work we then return to yard for up to an hour of on/off lead bombing about poo-picking and horsing.
Home for dinner (both of us) and another walk before bed time.

No way would she be 'happy' with much less, unless weather very wet in which case the yard stuff gets curtailed a bit.

Only my last 2 dogs in their final years would cope with being at home during the day with a garden visit at lunch time, def not a younger dog.
 
to be honest it does sound like you are very busy. It is not even if the dog can cope, but if you really have time to enjoy them. However, like others have said it depends hugely on the dog. Understandably a lot of dogs do get left while owners are at work and they manage just fine.
I have a GSD, who is left about 7 hours some days (i work a short school day and OH used to have some half days but has just started a new job so now is not so flexible). However usually once a week my friend has a day off and takes him for a long walk, so it is 4 days tops that he is left that long. I also have school holidays.
However, unlike some dogs who just have 20 minutes around the block before work, he comes to the yard with me. I have 4 horses and often do 2 others at another yard. He therefore is often out of the house from 5.30-7.30 am. then home for breakfast 7.30-8.15. usually already falling asleep exhausted before I leave for work! as he gets to run around fields and barns all morning.
 
Its not a lot of company for a dog seeing as you are also busy with other things tbh (and have been there, done that-I am not judging), unless your OH is really committed and will be doing the bulk of the work. Even then it means that the dog is alone much of the day and of course overnight.

Some dogs are more independent than others, some will entertain themselves happily-my younger dog will entertain herself on the yard for example but the setter never has and will basically lay down and sulk. He didnt even like me poo picking so when that happens, its a lot of extra time to find when you are doing horses yourself and of course, they deserve time dedicated to them.
 
I'd say no. You seem to have very little time free and even weekends are busy competing. My lot aren't left more than four hours and even then, they have the neighbour coming in. What do you want to do with the dog? Will you have time to do proper walks?
 
It would depend on the dog for me. We have a rescue collie who is happy to sleep when we aren't home, but has mad moments when people are around. Are you ok with being busy at work/yard, coming home and having a dog bouncing around in your face? I know my dad has struggled with that, sometimes he just wants some peace after a tiring day!
 
If it was pure whippet I'd be inclined to say it would cope as they are bone idle. Even my working bred whippet sleeps from 8am to 12 then blesses my mum with her presence for a walk. She then goes back to sleep until I get home at 6 for another walk and dinner before returning to her bed until bedtime wees (we are currently living with my retired parents, she had the same routine but with a dog walker at lunch when we lived elsewhere). She gets a LOT of running when she's out as she is ball (and small furry) mad and we always do a good few miles when out.

I do however know several Saluki crosses and they need a lot more stimulation, exercise and company.
 
I have a whippet, a whippet x staffy and a saluki x whippet.

I don't think any of them would be too great left alone for long periods. The staff x would be especially destructive.

I don't think it's fair personally. An elderly rescue greyhound may adapt okay, but I don't think it would suit a young lurcher.
 
My greyhound has had to do that occasionally, she just sleeps but is over the moon to see someone when we get back.

Wouldn't want to do it every day though!!
 
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