Greyhound or Sighthound owners.

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
What's he like with other dogs? I have a galgo x Belgian shepherd who can really run but there is the odd dog he doesn't like. I can tell within the first minute of meeting if he is going to get on with another dog and I've just introduced a new rescue pup so he's good with his dog language, just some he doesn't like, although greyhounds aren't usually in that category. We could meet and see if they get on? My boy is totally chill and happy go lucky with noises and traffic etc. Might help yours?

He's been totally fine with all dogs so far. He's not aggressive in the slightest.

I think I'm making progress, I just got him to walk around the block with some treats to get him to the end of the road, once there he walked fine.

We went over the chase near Marquis drive yesterday and he loved it, apart from some very icy trails which were probably hurting his feet.

But yes, a walking companion would be good. I live near the Walton school. Hillcroft Park area.

alvin-snow-262238281_417199383285728_1602152939018435220_n.jpg
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
He's been totally fine with all dogs so far. He's not aggressive in the slightest.

I think I'm making progress, I just got him to walk around the block with some treats to get him to the end of the road, once there he walked fine.

We went over the chase near Marquis drive yesterday and he loved it, apart from some very icy trails which were probably hurting his feet.

But yes, a walking companion would be good. I live near the Walton school. Hillcroft Park area.

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It's lovely that you've persevered with him, a lot of owners would've given up at the first hurdle. Have you any idea into his background? Boils my pee how some people treat their pets, it isn't a recent thing, been going on for years.
I think It's a shame that it's 'our generation' that have woken up to animal cruelty and are taking steps to do something about it x
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It's lovely that you've persevered with him, a lot of owners would've given up at the first hurdle. Have you any idea into his background? Boils my pee how some people treat their pets, it isn't a recent thing, been going on for years.
I think It's a shame that it's 'our generation' that have woken up to animal cruelty and are taking steps to do something about it x
A greyhound may never have actually been a 'pet' as such, and may find the different lifestyle a little suspicious for a while...
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Yes I know, I'm sure @shoes had a couple for a while, ex racers?
Tippy & Sandy - they had him sussed...

 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Yes I know, I'm sure @shoes had a couple for a while, ex racers?

Greys are usually 3-5 years old when they retire and as such are more like puppies when you get them.

As for his background, he was saved by Greyhound Rescue South Yorkshire and was a bit thin and needed a tooth looked at. He had his little boys op and then was fostered for a month or so. Then he came to live with me. He was fine with walks at first but adopted dogs tend to start to show behavioural problems after a few weeks. The addition of cold weather and fireworks not really helping. Apparently his rescue mate is different and has shown no issues with noise. They're all unique.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Greys are usually 3-5 years old when they retire and as such are more like puppies when you get them.

As for his background, he was saved by Greyhound Rescue South Yorkshire and was a bit thin and needed a tooth looked at. He had his little boys op and then was fostered for a month or so. Then he came to live with me. He was fine with walks at first but adopted dogs tend to start to show behavioural problems after a few weeks. The addition of cold weather and fireworks not really helping. Apparently his rescue mate is different and has shown no issues with noise. They're all unique.
I'm not surprised that a greyhound "was a bit thin".
Seriously though it must be very worthwhile seeing the progress you're making, good for both of you.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
I'm not surprised that a greyhound "was a bit thin".
Seriously though it must be very worthwhile seeing the progress you're making, good for both of you.

Well they're all lean of course. But they are often really underweight when rescued from the dodgy owners. The worst ones are often rescued from China.

The ones that are retired properly via the greyhound trust are usually in good health.

I am considering a second one, but feels a bit premature as Alvin has only been with me 7 weeks. But a nice confident girl would help I'm sure.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Kinda coming around to the idea that it will be easier to get a second greyhound (I had two lurchers previously, so having two isn't a problem). A nice confident one who will make him feel a bit more secure. Tried taking him for a walk three times today, first attempt started okay then the bloody heavens opened and he hates rain, so wanted to go back. Second attempt, he was spooked by a window cleaner slamming his van door hard (it was loud, a dog started barking upon hearing it) and third was a no go either, he was shaking too.
 

timmo

Well-Known Forumite
A friend of ours sends his rescue greyhound up to Paws On Parade at Doxey- it’s the big fenced in field you can see from J14 of the M6. Free to run as much as they want and a chance to make lots of friends- he’s up and at the front door the second he hears their van arrive to collect him
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
A friend of ours sends his rescue greyhound up to Paws On Parade at Doxey- it’s the big fenced in field you can see from J14 of the M6. Free to run as much as they want and a chance to make lots of friends- he’s up and at the front door the second he hears their van arrive to collect him

I know of that place, never been. I go to K9 Pastures normally but my last trip in December was a disaster as there was very loud shooting going on near by. I'm waiting for the hunting season to finish (supposedly ends 1st Feb) before going back there again. He's usually mostly worn out after 10 minutes. Although recently I've done walks of up to 8 miles with him.

The shooting is just too much for him (it annoys me too, I like silence when out walking), so won't make much progress on his behaviour until that's finished. Even with a dog trainer helping me it's not every day I can get him out on the lead.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
How's He going on now @gilesjuk ?

(Thought about him when an ambulance suddenly blasted it's sirens just as it was passing me whilst walking today , and my heart was racing and made me jump . Thought about how your doggo must feel at sudden load noises)
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
How's He going on now @gilesjuk ?

(Thought about him when an ambulance suddenly blasted it's sirens just as it was passing me whilst walking today , and my heart was racing and made me jump . Thought about how your doggo must feel at sudden load noises)

Better since the hunting season ended at the start of Feb, I get at least one decent walk a day out of him. He's still afraid of my road now, due to associating it with loud bangs. So I either have to wait for another dog to walk down the road or treat him to get him moving. Once we're a certain distance from home he walks fine. He's still getting used to some noises, like the school and screaming kids playing at lunchtime.

The dog behaviourist didn't really manage to magically fix this, but it takes months sometimes. I actually now wonder if I've inadvertently trained him to stand still until he gets a treat.

I actually got his history looked into, he's a 4 years old not 3 and retired towards the end of 2019. So no idea where he was for 2 years until he was given to the rescue. But I have his racing name and pedigree now.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
So the latest problem is the bird scarers the local farmers are using. I thought getting up and walking him about 6.30am would mean missing them but the darn thing went off about 6.40am during the walk.

Surely with all the technology we have available we can find a way to keep birds off fields without setting off an explosion every 10 minutes?
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
So the latest problem is the bird scarers the local farmers are using. I thought getting up and walking him about 6.30am would mean missing them but the darn thing went off about 6.40am during the walk.

Surely with all the technology we have available we can find a way to keep birds off fields without setting off an explosion every 10 minutes?
I've never had a dog with this condition but can you not get ear defenders for dogs, just a thought?
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
I've never had a dog with this condition but can you not get ear defenders for dogs, just a thought?

It varies. Greyhounds have only known the track and kennels, so they've not gotten used to everyday sounds from an early age. Some are more genetically prone to it than others.

I do have some ear defenders but he can't quite understand why he can't hear anything, dogs use their ears and nose more than their eyes to determine if an environment is safe or not. Anyway, he needs to get exposure to sounds, that's one of the reasons he's a little stressed out, my house is largely very quiet. Once I can have the windows open things should get better.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
So the latest problem is the bird scarers the local farmers are using. I thought getting up and walking him about 6.30am would mean missing them but the darn thing went off about 6.40am during the walk.

Surely with all the technology we have available we can find a way to keep birds off fields without setting off an explosion every 10 minutes?
I've heard them early morning by us as well the last couple of days. Don't know if it's the local farmers fields , or the noise travelling with the wind direction . But sounded like a war zone at one point yesterday ! No wonder he's scared.
 
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