Retired Greyhounds...

[urbanhippie]

OK, I'm desperate to get a doggie in the next few months. My OH used to have a rescued lurcher, and really would like a greyhound or lurcher as a pet. There's a Greyhound rescue centre near me that rehomes retired racing dogs, and we're looking into going there to find our doggie.

What I want to know is, has anyone ever rehomed greyhounds or lurchers before? More specifically ex-racers? I've heard lots of good things about them in general, but how are they with young children? And other pets, lizards etc?

Any insight, advice or thoughts would be welcomed. We really want to make sure we've done our homework before we go for it.

[marthaMoo]

Its all very dependant on the individual dog.

I know some ex racers live very happily with small animals and children.

Some ex racers just cant live with smaller animals.

If your looking for a dog possibly also try Greyhound Gap, they have dogs all over in foster homes. And they are very well assessed with other dogs, animals and children.

Greyhound Gap - Rescue for Greyhounds & Lurchers - Registered Charity no 1113207

[Muze]

I have always had ex racers and we currently have a 2 yr old called Barley now. He is the sweetest, calmest dog ever.He loves my son and other kids of all ages to bits and is very placid and laid back...all he does is sleep and i dont know i have him <3

He came from the track after an injury and lives with 2 cats (and cuddles and sleeps with them) and is fine with bunnies, guinea pigs, ferrets etc...in his own back garden.

BUT let him off lead in an open field and ANYTHING small and furry is fair game, You have to be aware of their chase instinct and they dont have any recall when this happens.

[lola]

I've got two ex racers and they're brilliant with my other dogs - AND because they were specially selected for cat-friendly training I never had any problems with them and my cat. I don't have young children around but people often stop me on doggy walks and ask if their children can say hello to the boys... they just love a fuss. Couldn't be easier to care for, just a shortish walk or two every day, good food and a sofa to lay on - that's the dogs, not you

I got them through the Mildenhall branch of the RGT and have always found them very helpful caring people. Every so often a local trainer visits all the dogs available for rehoming and selects suitable ones for cat-friendly training - they then go to live at the trainer's home (several cats live there too ) where they learn to get along with other animals - very worthwhile as lots of people like me want to rehome these lovely dogs and may already have other dogs or cats - this extra training means more are likely to be able to be rehomed

There are some pics of mine on my website, and here are some other links I've found useful that may be worth you having a look through....

Sighthound Welfare Trust - Working towards the end of abuse, neglect and exploitation suffered by sighthounds

Retired Greyhound Trust > Home

Kama's Cave - Home Page

[MissCat]

I have an ex-racer greyhound! he's soooo lovely!
he was a bit interested in chasing my 5 cats at first, but now he curls up and sleeps with them and couldnt be fussed about chasing them.
and he's AMAZING with small kids, he puts up with so much! (i have 3 aged 6, 8 and 9 and we walk the dogs to school every afternoon so gets all the strange little kids pouncing on him to say hello, he doesnt even bat an eyelid at them) and he loves our lurcher puppy so much they cry if separated now.
not all greyhounds are as amazing as frisby is i know, we have been so lucky with him.
only got him last christmas and he's already so settled it feels like he's always been here
but, i never let him off the lead anymore, as he does like to disappear on us.... (ended up in a field full of sheep, refusing to come back- fortunately didnt chase the sheep, i think they confused him bless him. he only came back when my puppy started barking at him lol)
he ends up with our sofa too and we end up on the floor lol. he just loooooves the sofa ^_^

oh if anyone is interested, the way i got him to chill out with the cats was to keep him on the lead all the time in the house/garden etc, for a couple of weeks after we got him. just loose attached to my belt etc so i could grab him if he tried to chase them. he eventually got bored of them and leaves them alone, though he does like to groom one of my cats ^_^) the down side is that now he follows me everywhere lolz
however although he does seem good with cats/kids i still would never, ever leave him alone and unsupervised with them.

[urbanhippie]

Thanks folks

It's actually the Coventry and Rugby branch of the RGT that I'm thinking of contacting.

I've heard so many good things about these dogs and I really think it's going to be one of these that'll make the perfect doggie for us

[MissCat]

Originally Posted by urbanhippie

Thanks folks

It's actually the Coventry and Rugby branch of the RGT that I'm thinking of contacting.

I've heard so many good things about these dogs and I really think it's going to be one of these that'll make the perfect doggie for us

if you dont have any luck with them i can put you in touch with the woman i got mine from, she works at a racing track and helps to rehome them too, she's really nice and understanding of certain situations that many dog rehoming centers wouldn't be forgiving over, also she's given me reams of help and advice etc
i cant recall exactly where she is based but i think its in the midlands somewhere. might be worth having a chat with her if you get turned down by someone else. PM me if you want her contact details at all.

[urbanhippie]

Originally Posted by MissCat

if you dont have any luck with them i can put you in touch with the woman i got mine from, she works at a racing track and helps to rehome them too, she's really nice and understanding of certain situations that many dog rehoming centers wouldn't be forgiving over, also she's given me reams of help and advice etc
i cant recall exactly where she is based but i think its in the midlands somewhere. might be worth having a chat with her if you get turned down by someone else. PM me if you want her contact details at all.

Thanks
I'm going to contact the RGT as soon as we get back from holiday over Easter. Fingers crossed they can help us, but if not I'll be in touch

[skimsa]

I've worked with Greyhounds and have a retired one myself. Amazing dogs so perfect for typical family/working households.
Mine likes to sleep for hours so no problem leaving him sometime, then when he greets you his like a puppy again. They just love people. As for other animals mines lived with many a rabbit cat etc and no problems