Home check for a greyhound - any advice?

FestiveFuzz

FestiveFuzz

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As title really, we're being home checked next week for the most gorgeous greyhound and now stressing we might not be accepted.

Home is a 4 bed detached house which we've been renovating for the best part of a year now. We have 2 rooms that still need carpets/painting, but they're not currently in use so we just keep the doors shut unless we're working on them. The rest of the house is finished.

Our garden is a reasonable size. We're just finishing the fencing this weekend (6ft all round) but there'll be a decent amount of space for him to run around in.

2 days a week we'll be paying a dog walker but the rest of the time he won't be left for more than 3 hours at a time. We've already been upfront about this with the rescue centre so hope it won't be a problem.

So is there anything we should be aware of that we might not have thought of?
 
Just things like is there a quiet area, where will the dog sleep sounds ike a perfect place for your new friend We have had our rescue girl for 4 weeks now and never been happier she is so settled.
 
Sounds pretty good to me! I think with large dogs they look a lot at the space in the garden and fencing (6ft min) so that sounds ideal :)

Somewhere quiet for him to take himself off to is a good idea - make a space for where you'd put the dog bed and stuff to show you've thought about it. Greyhounds are great, and lazy! So as long as you give them a comfy place in the house i'm sure all will be fine!
 
I've done a couple of greyhound home checks for a local charity.I'm not having a dig when I say they weren't as fussy as some, they just didn't use a tick box method.
A few things I remember from my dogs and the home checks were, be careful about doors, I don't have handles just the push type and one of our managed, god knows how, to open the door but being on rising butts he then got stuck in the room, one carpet knackered, be aware of french style doors, especially if the dog is charging about they do not always see clean glass, if you have a tiled floor not all dogs will walk on them, as already said a quiet area for the dog though not too far from the main family, not that it should make a lot of difference but check out any local cats, we don't have many but the one that did come in the garden got chased, jumped the gate and the dog skidded into the gate breaking a claw off, yet another vet visit, but more scary was he hit the gates with such force that he pushed them the other way and we were lucky they didn't ping open, we now have a rod that slides though so this can't happen.
Not all greyhounds 'do' stairs so unless it's a littleun or you're feeling strong it might be an idea to keep them down stairs until they know you a little better and will trust you to take them down.
And relax....................the charity probably want a good home for that dog as much if not more than you want the dog, my only suggestion re the home check is ask what they recommend, they could be talking out of their a**e and it sounds like you've got all bases covered but sometimes it helps them reporting back if there are areas that have been discussed, vet visits, dog going in car etc. some recommend a muzzle and some a harness, and the obvious warning about small fluffies though mine have all know the difference between rabbits and small dogs, my current boy prefers small dogs.
good luck and hope it all goes well.
 
Thanks all! I'm feeling a little less stressed about it this morning.

All of our doors have the round knob type handles and the cupboards have suffolk latches on them so hopefully they're not too easy to open with paws. We have an open plan kitchen/lounge with wooden flooring...we know it'll scratch but not too bothered. We do have french doors to the garden, but these are thick oak framed so look very much like doors...plus they always seem to have marks on them so I'm hoping they're fairly visible...I may look into window vinyls though so it's super obvious they're glass.

We have a wonderful corner space that's in the lounge/partially under the stairs that I thought might make a nice space for him. I've already popped one of the premier equine 1000g saddle pads down (it was too thick under our saddle so thought i'd use it for the dog instead) and a washable blanket. We always have blankets on the sofa too, and it's one of those L shaped ones so I might make one side up as we would once he's home to show we've thought about it.

He's such a sweet dog, I'd be devastated if they say no so keeping fingers crossed.
 
He'll think he's gone to heaven, good luck though I'm sure you won't need it but we MUST have pictures, lots and lots of pictures, oh and a little blog too of all his firsts, first time on the sofa, counter surfing, on the bed etc lol
 
I had my first homecheck recently and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! I was really nervous as I was expecting to be interrogated. It was more of an informal chat as she filled out the Qs and As from her list.

I was asked:

- Where the dog will be sleeping
- What he'll be fed
- How long will it be left for and what will my arrangements be when I go on holiday etc.
- Where and when will it be walked
- What experience do I have and with what breeds
- What vet will I be using
- Will I crate train
 
SpringArising said:
I had my first homecheck recently and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! I was really nervous as I was expecting to be interrogated. It was more of an informal chat as she filled out the Qs and As from her list.

I was asked:

- Where the dog will be sleeping
- What he'll be fed
- How long will it be left for and what will my arrangements be when I go on holiday etc.
- Where and when will it be walked
- What experience do I have and with what breeds
- What vet will I be using
- Will I crate train
Click to expand...

Ah that's good to hear...I've heard such horror stories as to why people have been turned down that I've also expected an interrogation. We've been visiting him pretty regularly as the rescue centre have made an exception to their usual rules for us, so have had plenty of chats about the home we can offer and our knowledge and experience so if it's just going to be an extended chat about that I'm fairly confident we'll be ok.
 
LD&S said:
He'll think he's gone to heaven, good luck though I'm sure you won't need it but we MUST have pictures, lots and lots of pictures, oh and a little blog too of all his firsts, first time on the sofa, counter surfing, on the bed etc lol
Click to expand...

Haha that goes without saying! I've already got a ton of pics but don't want to jinx anything but posting them before he's officially ours.
 
I've had an RGT home check and done an RGT home check.

Key points were
Quiet space/bed for dog
High fences
Daytime plans
Awareness of food/vet costs
Likelihood of the dog feeling the cold

We have hard floors in the hall and kitchen - advice was that we might need a runner down initially (we were prepared to get one, but didn't need it)

Glass doors - we stuck tissue paper on with water initially, and gradually peeled bits off - a non permenant solution as she figured them out.

She had a bed in the kitchen, sofa in the lounge and a bed upstairs (scrapped that one pretty quickly as she sleeps in our bed)

Ours has multiple coats and jumpers plus pretty collars and everyday collars!

Photos are a must!

Mine has met Mary King

11012859_10155528042615357_6424764632628896020_n.jpg


She's good with dogs of all sizes, and at sleeping

16864150_10210494350669393_2632941797279362151_n.jpg
 
I think it's a case of making potential owners aware there might be a problem, some are in pj's in September, I tried my boy with a coat in the bad weather and he hated it though was cold down the field without it, compromise, put a coat on to go down then when we arrive take it off for a while then on once he warmed up take it off again.
 
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