Ex-Racing Greyhounds?

[GinaB]

I have always, always wanted a greyhound and have *finally* talked OH into getting one when we get our own house. I would like a rescue and I have been told most of these are retired ones.

I am researching them as much as possible in preparation for getting one. But I have a few questions I know you lovely lot can help me with

* If they are an ex-racer, do they need to wear a muzzle whilst being walked?
* Can they live with smaller breeds of dogs ok? Such as mini schnauzers?
* As a sighthound, can they ever be let off leads whilst walking or only in secure areas?
* I have been told they require very little walking, but I like to do lots of walking

Will they be happy enough with this?

Thank you everyone, I'm sure I'll have more questions soon

 

[_Acolyte_]

Awww another greyhound convert - hurray

To answer your questions in order:

(1) Yes initially - it depends how 'sharp' the dog is, after the first few times mine have never worn muzzles, but I have used one on a confirmed hunter in the past. You will soon know when/if your greyhound is safe to unmuzzle! Although rescue organisations often say they should be muzzled all the time, to be on the safe side.

(2) Yes definitely! Say to the rescue organisation that you have a smaller dog, and they will pick you one that is safe with small dogs/cats/rabbits/young children/out at work/not at work.... whatever you want, they can find a greyhound to suit you

(3) Yes they definitely be let off the lead - but be aware that if they see something in the distance they might well take off after it! I let mine off in fields which are relatively enclosed at the moment because they are both pretty lively

but with Jura/Talisker before them I could let them off in most places

As long as there werent cats/ducks/chickens around

(4) Yes they will be happy with lots of walking - they are real sprinters, they are happy to race around for 20 mins then go and vegetate (usually on the sofa!) but they are also very happy with longer walks

The obsessive strikes again, sorry

 

[GinaB]

I knew I could count of you to answer

Thank you Acolyte! I have always loved them, but OH has never been as keen as he says they look ill and frail

Cheeky git that he is.

What else do I need to know about them?

I will definitely require one safe around smaller animals! As even though Beastie schnauzer will nto be moving in with me (as much as it upsets me to leave her at home with the parents and I'd love to take her, she will be too old and it would upset her routine) I do have a bunny and I'm hoping to get another mini schnauzer, or a mini schnauzer and a labrador. We were also looking into a cat too

Yes, I am animal mad

 

[_Acolyte_]

Ummmm - I am trying to think now, how they differ from other dogs! I have had them for so long now...

I can only think of good things to be honest - both my family and friends say how calm and well mannered they are (I've had 6 different ones from the rescue now, so a choice of personalities!), they are clean and easy to have around the house, and they fit into very small spaces really

There are things that MIGHT be a problem, but then again might easily not be! Some suffer from seperation anxiety, but there is lots of info available to help you with that. Flick my newest little girl has it, but it really isnt a major problem for me, there are just some things I do to work around it

And all of mine have not been safe with cats/rabbits/chickens/ducks/small furries - but that is because I specifically said they didnt need to be, there are lots of pics of greyhounds curled up with cats and rabbits for example in a very friendly way

And as you already know, being sighthounds they do see things in the distance and take off, which can be a bit disconcerting at first.... they go selectively deaf at the same time

But you soon become adept at scanning the horizon and spotting other people/dogs etc before they do

If I think of anything else I will let you know

As you know I need no excuse to blather on about them

Oh - just thought - I would recommend getting the greyhound insured, mine havent been until now and have racked up some phenomenal vets bills! But any breed might have had the things they had. Dogs seem just as sweet natured and lovely as bitches - I've got two bitches at the mo, but my 3rd one will be a dog in June/July

 

[ferdy]

Hi

We have had 3 rescue greyhounds – one ex racer, one young one which had never raced and a greyhound / saluki cross that we think had been used as a poaching dog. They make great pets so I am really pleased you are thinking of getting one.

1) None of ours have ever worn a muzzle – the only one that was a hunter was the greyhound / saluki cross and even then we just had to be careful about where we let her off lead and make sure there were no pheasants / deer nearby.
2) They have all been fine with smaller breeds of dogs – we just had to be careful with the ex racer for the first few weeks to make sure she was OK. In fact the ex-racer was easier to train with the cats than my mum’s terrier!
3) All of ours have been off lead – in fact the only time we ever lost sight of the ex-racer was when she was directly behind you – she was always off lead at the stables and fine with the kids / cats / horses.
4) I have taken 2 of them out with me with the horses, although they don’t need the same exercise as some dogs they are more than happy to be out with you as long as possible. The only time I found that I had to limit them was when it was really hot – I don’t think that with the lack of body fat that they cope with extreme weather conditions that well.

PS – they love bean bags- very comfy when you are bony!

 

[CAYLA]

Great choice GB, and great info from acolyte and ferdy........they make fab calm laid back small horses

, and can indeed curl up into a tiny space...even those that shoe keen to small animals, can be easy trained in no time, as they are so laid back, we work along side greyhound rescue northeast, and have sucessfully trained loads of them to live along side small animals............as suggested, if they spot something in the distance, they can atempt to take flight if off lead, but tend to turn and run back, rather then attack....it's jsut a fun chase instinct of any moving object

but they soon calm down.

 

[icestationzebra]

Really interesting thread Gina - I too hope to rehome an ex-racer GH very soon so this has been very interesting for me. I've also been trying to do lots of research and do think that some of the rescue centres err on the side of caution quite a lot with regard to things like always wearing a muzzle etc. I'm sure they are just being careful, but I have seen lots without and there is a lovely ex-racer chap in our village that never wears one, and is a complete gentleman.
The only problem I envisage is which one of us is going to get prime position in front of the fire

 

[_Acolyte_]

[ QUOTE ]
The only problem I envisage is which one of us is going to get prime position in front of the fire

[/ QUOTE ]

The greyhound will - no question about that at all

 

[icestationzebra]

As I thought

 

[Amazona]

Try going onto Greyhound-data.com
Its the sister site to sporthorse-data.com
It has a really helpful forum and a list of all the rescue centres dogs and details
Good luck in finding one ...I have 2 greys and they are fab!!!

 

[piaffe]

Want mine?!

In answer to your questions;

Mine wears a muzzle when out and about on advice from the centre and personal preference.

Mine lives with a small JRT and a scottie x JRT and is fine.

She goes off the lead, she doesn't go far as she's very lazy!

I think they cope with whatever you give them! Mine can come hunting all day or sit at home all day!

 

[fmay]

I arrived home from work years ago to find a jet black greyhound stretched out on the living room carpet with our deerhound and little lurcher. She was an ex-racer (tattoed ear) that had been abandoned outside the country park near where we lived. We were able to trace her history from the tattoo so we knew her age (and racing name). We called her Kelly and she was the gentlest dog we have ever owned. We never muzzled her and she was great with our other dogs and the children when they started to appear on the scene. She moved with us to a smallholding in Wales and had a glorious retirement and ended her days buried here as well.

Go for it

 

[mrsbloggett]

I've adopted two ex-racing girls in the last year.

Mel was extremely shy and nervous when she came to us, but time, love and patience was all she need. Six months later DeeDee arrived, & what a contrast; she's very bouncy and loves everyone!

My two have never walked out with their muzzles on, though we live in a rural area with not many cats, I guess if we lived in a built up area we may have had to be more cautious. We've had no problem with other breeds of dogs, including small 'ratty' types!

Mel was fairly easy to cat train, though DeeDee was only just out of racing so she was still pretty 'keen' when she came home. She's fine now as long as the cat walks around the house, dashing around is definitely likely to get yourself chased. We are still careful regarding the cat, she has always got dog-free zones.

I can let our two off the lead, always well away from roads, and their recall is pretty good. As mentioned in other posts, they can turn 'deaf' at times!

Do be warned though - if you get a greyhound you will have to relinquish all ownership of your sofa & bed!