Hi,

I tried the search button to see if anyone had posted about what rescue greyhounds are like to have as pets but not much came up.

Have any of you lived with a rescue greyhound?
I'd love to hear about what they are like to live with generally.
I've researched our local greyhound rescue whom say positive things about them. In my mind I am left with an image that they seem to fit in well to home life, are calm and good with children. Walk well on a lead.

It would be great to hear feedback from owners about their opinion on rescue greyhounds and anything about them to bear in mind. Just to get a full picture really.

Thank you

I have not one but know someone who did, I was surprised how affectionate it was, a really very nice personality type of dog, the only other thing I have been told  by someone else who had rescued one was they 'fall apart' very easily (his term) when asked what he meant he said they are fragile dogs, thats all I know.

Old chap in the village has had about 3 or 4 over the years, regularly potters round with his stick in one hand and dogs lead in other hand, they always seemed very calm and laid back.

I habe spoken to few rescues about living with a retired greyhound and in all.cases they have said the same as u have found . Speaking to owners the comments have been similar. Some may have never if of been  in a home so housetraining maybe an issue and getting then used to being in your home and the attending noises most catch on very fast to the luxury of a sofa !!! .prey drive can be something to consider and many wear muzzles when out and about although I gather some are capable of living with small.furries .it's not somethi.g I would want to risk . Yes I have been told.that they are very sensituve and dont take to harsh discipline  of amy type.alsp can be real  babies and dramatize  any bump or hurt :) maybe that's the falling apart bit. They also seem to be very matter fact about strangers partly ignoring them and apparently  prefer their own breed and can be a bit tricky around other breeds.s It seems to vary as to if owners let them off lead except in secure fields as once they spot somethi.g they can be gone . I havnt yet owned one so my comments  are from speaking  to owners who to a man have said it was the best choice they ever made even  if.they previously had other breeds

dont take to harsh discipline  of amy type

Yes that was the impression I had/have of the one I met in the owners house, it seemed as if it could/would be a very sensitive dog, I liked it very mush.

Mavis
and good with children

I don't think they would like to much >if any< pulling around or playing, very much a dog for calm and sensitive handling only, that was my lasting impression.

http://www.retiredracinggreyhounds.com/10reasons.html   found this which also.may give food for thought depending in your situation

can be real  babies and dramatize  any bump or hurt :)

Sounds like your average Shepherd

Lol yep those too :)

Thank you for all of your replies, it's great to hear feedback about their niches, I think a greyhound would be a lovely addition to our family.
And thank you for the link to the rescue site, I'll give that a read.
I had no idea they were so sensitive and definitely something we will bare in mind, especially when it comes to getting them used to household noises.
We have my nephews who visit about twice per week, they are 6 and 1. The 6 year old is sensitive himself, and not keen on dogs who are too boisterous, and would definitely not allow the 1 year old to invade th greyhounds space.
We lost our Labrador in February this year and my mum was keen to get another labrador puppy. But I think its the companionship we are all missing and I feel a rescue greyhound would be a great addition, as long as we take on board their specific needs.

Thanks again for your feedback

This is a great source of greyhound information thankyou furriefriends

I think a greyhound would be a lovely addition to our family.

Well, based on all you told us/me about the entire family situation & from what seen of one of of them & heard from those who do rescue them, I dont think that, from the way greyhounds seem to perceive their relationship >>AND their emotional needs<<< (emphasis) a greyhound itself would be suited to your family situation (part of which is 'growing' family).

On a more subjective level, I had dogs as very young child, I have had one or more constantly since 1976, you know what? there is only one breed AND  only one >type< of the same breed I am suited to actually live with for all its life. Although I like dogs generally I dont think that I would be a very good/suitable owner to other dogs, 'most' of which are highly suited to young children, you seem to have a proven record of being a good dog owner with labs, maybe think about them again at least.

Sorry if it's not the comment you want, but, you're post invites honest replies.
.

This is very informative...you may already have read it & I have to say I have heard the retired greyhounds make fabulous pets & if they are like their smaller cousins they love a sofa https://www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk/rehome-a-greyhound/greyhounds-as-pets  The lady across the road from me has a few & none are muzzled out on a walk, we quite often talk when we meet on a walk with all our hounds together

I appreciate your honesty Euro, thank you, I will take on board what you have posted.

The most important thing would be for the dog to be happy, and like you say, although a greyhound may be suited to us, we may not be suited to a greyhound.

We have talked about rescuing an adult labrador and will look into this a bit further. Our lab bitch was very suited to our family and was very much the grandma before she passed away. We are reluctant to have a pup, mainly because we miss the morning and evening walks.

I think the way forward will be to contact the local rescue greyhound for further advice and also contact labrador rescues.

Thanks to everyone for your feedback

Glad your thinking about things, always the sign of dog owner of some kind, there are always bad points to all dogs & all humans.....anyway, enjoy the vid at least

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDjt441OqfY

Haha thanks for the video link, very cute to see them all getting along. I had no idea italian greyhounds were that small

Quite a few retired/ex/failed racers kept as pets near me & I meet quite a few in the local & around the farmer's markets.

They are usually very chilled laidback types & having been bred to run fairly short distances at high speed rather than the slower endurance type dogs like Labradors they have fewer inherited health problems. They can suffer from arthritis due to being raced too hard too young & can have a history of minor health issues like previously broken toes etc again often due to over racing too young, but this can be easily & fairly cheaply treated.

They can have very high prey drive & may need to be muzzled for this reason(many in training greys are never in public unmuzzled)& not because of any aggressive behaviour. I know of a few used by local farmers & shepherds to control the rabbit population & feed their owners other dogs.

99% are very gentle with humans & quickly settle in to indoor life. Don't need masses of exercise, which should really be offlead in "safe" areas with no chance of the dog chasing livestock or smaller furries(including cats & small dogs) They are usually lovely & well behaved on lead

Maybe meeting a few greys might clarify your preferances.

Don't really consider the Labrador the"perfect" family pet that suits everyone, but then I don't think there is a perfect family pet dog, different breeds suit different families

99% are very gentle with humans

Yes that rescue my X girl friend had was very gentle natured in a way that could be defined as 'significantly so' or a 'pronounced' characteristic, it just seemed to love the very laid back life she had provided for it.
.

The rescue greys I have met have all been lovely.  Some more energetic than others, one an absolute loon but so sweet with it.

If you want a completely honest 'review', get in touch with Greyhound Gap.  Lisa owns/runs it and she is absolutely brilliant, she'll tell you the pros and cons and she does a cracking job matching people to dogs too, on a national basis.

I would second Lisa at Greyhound Gap

A previous neighbour/friend has now had two.   She is into sighthounds mainly, having had Whippets for years.   The only problems she has had with the two (she lost one, I don't know why but adopted another), is with steps.   Hers were ex-racers and had clearly never known about steps.   But that was quickly overcome.   They are gentle and like most rescues I've come across, seem to appreciate having the chance of a good loving home for the rest of their days.

Oh and some may need housetraining.

Just to add that Greyhound Rescue make every effort to match hound with home because they want them to work.

"I had no idea italian greyhounds were that small "
It's a common misconception that the It. Greys are just miniature Greyhounds which isn't correct.   The Greyhound is the biggest of this type of sighthound, although some are smaller than others.  Then comes the Whippet (ditto re size - our Whippet is at the top end of the size for them) and then the Italian Greyhound which is a different breed too, but the most delicate and perhaps fragile of these sighthounds.

As for being sensitive, I think you'll find that IN GENERAL, most hounds can be sensitive.   I know I could demolish some of my male Bassets if I was too harsh with them.   Perhaps not so much with the girls.

Thank you Nikita for the information on Greyhound Gap, I will message Lisa.

I'm still drawn to a greyhound.

I know I might be generalising here but

Rescue Greyhound:-
- Gentle
- Good with children
- Good on the lead
- Sensitive, but loving and overall calm
- Healthy
- Training requirements (housebreaking)
- Are a large breed.

Rescue Labrador:-
- Strong
- Very active
- Can be destructive
- Waiting longer for a suitable dog
- May not be as adaptable
- Training requirements (behavioural)
- Health issues more likely

We had our Lab from a pup, therefore she was able to adapt to our family. I can remember the huge effort to train her, and I just wonder if a rescue Lab would be more of a challenge compared to a rescue Greyhound.

I have had a lurcher (collie x) in the past and could remember how gentle and sensitive he was.
I'm under no illusion that a greyhound would not require training,  but I just feel their overall temperament as adults, compared to an adult Lab, would suit us better.
I think we would be a good family for a greyhound, and would ensure it had a space to escape to for peace and quiet. Plus to have a rescue centre assess us, would, fingers crossed, be able to match us with a suitable greyhound.

Thank you everyone for your input, it's great to get different perspectives

Used to walk an ex racer with my dog walker friend.  No longer as the wife had a baby so did not need a dog walker any more.

they only had her a short time before I met her and she was fab.  She was OK off lead, but inclined to have selective deafness in known places, as she would stop to chat with other walkers who gave her treats, LOL

A rattle of my treat pot soon had her racing back to us though.

Just for Information the Italian greyhound is a very different  breed not just a miniature version of the usual.greyhound . High energy too and no regard for their own safety from what I've been told .very capable of.jumping quite high and damaging themselves in the process

Just for Information the Italian greyhound is a very different  breed not just a miniature version of the usual.greyhound . High energy too and no regard for their own safety from what I've been told .very capable of.jumping quite high and damaging themselves in the process