Adopting a Greyhound?

[A Winner Is You]

I currently have a pet-shaped hole in my life, until this point I've always had cats but have been thinking about getting a dog for a few years so now might be the right time. Having looked into various breeds, and wanting one of a relaxed and gentle nature they would seem like a good choice, and lots out there needing a new home. But my big concern is I work full time, so will be gone for 10 hours a day during the week and have read conflicting accounts on how they would cope with being alone for probably the first time in their lives. Does it sound like a good idea, or perhaps I should just get another cat?

[Jakg]

Leaving dogs is a very divisive topic unfortunately.

In the past I've left mine (greyhound&lurcher) for a little less a couple of times a week, but obviously I had a dog walker come in the middle of the day.

I think as a first only dog that might be a stretch too far, which is unfortunate as they are not only lovely dogs but so many need homes!

[moorx]

The general rule of thumb for rescues is that dogs should not be left longer than 4 hours at a time. It isn't fair to expect a dog to last 10 hours without a toilet break or company.

I've had greyhounds and lurchers from specialist greyhound rescues when I have worked full time, but I always had someone going in mid-morning to let them into the garden, and someone else going in at lunchtime to walk them. I also always had more than one dog at a time, so they weren't completely alone during the day.

If you were able to put similar arrangements in place, a rescue may be willing to rehome to you.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if you have a dog and you work full time, you really need to be prepared to spend pretty much every evening and weekend with them. Otherwise, they are seeing very little of you.

[cologne2792]

We've had two and they are great additions to the family but leaving them for long periods of time is a bad idea.
They are, as a breed, very sensitive and the only dog I know that actively sulks like a petulant teenager.
My first ex-racer used to come to work with me and curl up on the passenger seat of my Escort Van.

[makaveli144]

You would stand a better chance of acclimatising a puppy to been alone but you would still need a dog walker at dinner time and you have to be able to commit fully to them for the first 12 months of their life.

[Pothole]

10 hours too long as discussed. Ours is fine for 4 or 5. We usually leave the back door open for him (we're lucky in that any nasties would have to climb over many other houses or fences to get to our back garden...) I work a lot of shifts so I'm often home until midday and then the lad gets home at 15.15 (that's dental chew time) but he sometimes stays on his own for longer, but never a whole day. He still mopes sometimes if we're all away for even 4 or 5 hours. Also as discussed, it's a real shame you can't take on on because they're really lovely dogs, mostly.

[moorx]

makaveli144 said:

You would stand a better chance of acclimatising a puppy to been alone but you would still need a dog walker at dinner time and you have to be able to commit fully to them for the first 12 months of their life.

I would be even less inclined to recommend a puppy to someone who works full time. Personally, I think leaving a puppy for 4-5 hours is unacceptable.

[A Winner Is You]

Thanks for the replies, is a shame my lifestyle doesn't seem compatible. My garden is completely enclosed though and halfway down the street, so could a pet door work for toilet needs? My sister lives close by so could check up on them, although it would be unfair to ask her to on a daily basis.

[Who me ?]

Possibly for a greyhound, BUT an ex track dog has had a few years of life without humans most of the day ( AFAIK) , but lots of doggy company. I've had a dog since I retired and could give a rescue a home where we could either take it with us all of th time or leave it in car ( or keep it company in shade if outside too hot).
Some folks see my ideas as extreme, but I ( and Swimbo, who is not a natural dog person agrees with me) would not leave our children in past years or grand/great grand children in a play pen /cage- so why a dog.

[moorx]

A Winner Is You said:

Thanks for the replies, is a shame my lifestyle doesn't seem compatible. My garden is completely enclosed though and halfway down the street, so could a pet door work for toilet needs? My sister lives close by so could check up on them, although it would be unfair to ask her to on a daily basis.

For a greyhound, a dog door would need to be pretty much half the size of the door - some of them can be nearly 30 inches to the shoulder! So it wouldn't necessarily be terribly good from a home security viewpoint.

A woman I work with has a dog door for her two cavachons, but I can't say I'm too keen. I'd be too worried about them getting stolen or escaping somehow.

[Jakg]

A Winner Is You said:

Thanks for the replies, is a shame my lifestyle doesn't seem compatible. My garden is completely enclosed though and halfway down the street, so could a pet door work for toilet needs? My sister lives close by so could check up on them, although it would be unfair to ask her to on a daily basis.

It's more than just toilet needs - greyhounds are very low energy but they still need some kind of mental fulfilment. And of course a cuddle...

Again - I don't want to be a downer - greyhounds are lovely dogs, who desperately need homes. If there's a way you could make it work, they'd love it.

moorx said:

A woman I work with has a dog door for her two cavachons, but I can't say I'm too keen. I'd be too worried about them getting stolen or escaping somehow.

Not to sound all daily mail but sighthounds, especially lurchers, can attract the wrong kind of attention (coursers) and this is always something that worrys me.

[makaveli144]

Whats a courser? And what attention, I always think Greyhounds look cute

[moorx]

Jakg said:

moorx said:

A woman I work with has a dog door for her two cavachons, but I can't say I'm too keen. I'd be too worried about them getting stolen or escaping somehow.

Not to sound all daily mail but sighthounds, especially lurchers, can attract the wrong kind of attention (coursers) and this is always something that worrys me.

Absolutely. A couple of mine were ex-working lurchers - one with the scars to prove it.

[moorx]

makaveli144 said:

Whats a courser? And what attention, I always think Greyhounds look cute

People use lurchers (often saluki crosses or bull lurchers) to course hares. Other people use them for lamping (hunting rabbits).

There are dodgy types who might want to steal dogs they think would make good workers.

[makaveli144]

Genuinely didn't know that... My boy is a Saluki x Canario.

And he would make a terrible working dog as he is a right couch potato

[moorx]

makaveli144 said:

And he would make a terrible working dog as he is a right couch potato

So was Joe after I adopted him aged approx 12, but he had been used (and abused) as a working dog before that, probably for badger baiting.

You can see some of his scars in the photos below.

Despite this, he was the sweetest-natured dog I have ever owned, truly one in a million. Only wish I could have had him in my life for longer.

[Jakg]

makaveli144 said:

Whats a courser? And what attention, I always think Greyhounds look cute

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_coursing

If you Google it, every single picture is of a lurcher.

[makaveli144]

Beautiful hound. I love the photo of him curled up on the bed, the way he is laid is the spit of my boy.

They have such an amazing nature, I love mine to bits and we realised how well natured he is when we got his wild child sister.

I can't believe I never knew about coursing, it isn't a side of dog working I had ever looked into or come across.

[moorx]

makaveli144 said:

Beautiful hound. I love the photo of him curled up on the bed, the way he is laid is the spit of my boy.

They have such an amazing nature, I love mine to bits and we realised how well natured he is when we got his wild child sister.

I can't believe I never knew about coursing, it isn't a side of dog working I had ever looked into or come across.

Hare coursing is illegal in England, Scotland and Wales, so it's not widely 'advertised'. Lamping/rabbiting with dogs is far more common as it's regarded by some as pest control.

Working lurchers are more common in certain parts of the country. Where I used to live, most people probably wouldn't recognise my dog Max as a saluki cross, but over here in South Wales, most people we have met know what type of dog he is.

[makaveli144]

We often get the "what is he" which has lead to some good converstions with other dog people. Did once get asked "what is it" to which I took offence and answered "a dog".