Adoption - why so many lurchers/greyhounds?

[Kermit power]

Disaster has struck my plans.

I had no idea how bloody expensive fencing was! It looks like it would cost £2k+ to get 6' fencing round our garden, which is a non-starter at the moment, and apparently rescue centres tend not to let dogs go to homes without a fully enclosed garden.

Seriously frustrating, given that I work from home all the time, so wouldn't ever need to leave the dog out in the garden unaccompanied anyway. I presume that rescue centres don't expect adopters to never let their dogs off the lead in a park or wherever, so why the fuss about a back garden if there's someone there all the time with the dog anyway???

[BigTZ4M]

Just fence a portion of the garden off and explain that's where the dog will be let out. That's what I did when they complained that the five bar gate was only four foot high. Just took it out of the equation.

[bakerstreet]

How much fencing do you have to do? £50-70 per meter for featheredge is the norm subject to which end of the country you are in.

6ft fencing is a must though as if they can see over it, they will try and jump it and Greys aren't the hardiest of breeds and will probably hurt them selves trying to jump a small fence!

We were in a similar situation.Two weeks before our visit, there was a large gale and we lost a lot of fence panels. Thankfully our neighbour repaired a lot of it and we were good to go. We also paid out for some new fencing, but that was only £350.

[Kermit power]

Initial measurement puts the whole garden at roughly 25 panels, and average pricing seems to be around £100 fitted per panel.

I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of rescue centres whether a 400 square foot enclosure of roughly half lawn, half decking would be acceptable, as existing fencing, house & garage wall would bring that down to around £500.

[Gretchen]

I’ve had a couple of rescue Greyhounds before. They are great placid dogs. Mainly ‘retired’ before 3/4yrs old so still plenty of life left in them. They don’t need massive amounts of walking as most would think. When in kennels (not racing) they’re benched so they love a sofa to curl up on for most of the day.

One of the Greyhounds I had had killed a cat but saved another dogs life by giving blood. He was the longest resident dog in the kennels and was huge! But would curl up nicely. I put a sofa in the kitchen for them to have to themselves.

The retired dogs I had had ear tattoos so I was able to trace their history, from whelping to racing. Both ears was an Irish dog and the other, one ear, was an English dog. Long time ago now. I’ve got high fencing and although have said I’ll never have another dog (current two are Lab and Border CollieX at 14) I’d have another Greyhound. BUT I have cats, chicken and duck. They will chase, catch and kill.

They weren’t dogs that could be recalled. They’d just come back when they were exhausted. Probably after a ten minute flat out hoon. Loved to watch them run, the stance they take on. Your garden will be churned up.

Let them out one morning after high winds not realising a panel was out in the garden. One of them disappeared. Later got a call from local animal shelter to say he’d been found in a factory asleep under a radiator...by health and safety. Daft dog would also walk in to glass doors.

Good luck. Definitely worth taking in a rescue

[kurt535]

Week 4 of rescue Lurcher ownership and loving the experience. I suspect Ive been lucky with my 1 y/o Staff/Grey cross but, so far, so good.

- recall fab
- waiting fab
- walking on lead brilliant
- no interest in small furry things

BUT

She hates sitting. I spoke to the rescue home this morning and they confirmed many Greys simply don't like the 'sit' due to their build. Am happy to abandon this and move onto getting her to lay down for training.

Overall, really amazing dogs but my one is proving a lovable nightmare for wanting cuddles all the time! She stops me working!

[bakerstreet]

kurt535 said:

Week 4 of rescue Lurcher ownership and loving the experience. I suspect Ive been lucky with my 1 y/o Staff/Grey cross but, so far, so good.

- recall fab
- waiting fab
- walking on lead brilliant
- no interest in small furry things

BUT

She hates sitting. I spoke to the rescue home this morning and they confirmed many Greys simply don't like the 'sit' due to their build. Am happy to abandon this and move onto getting her to lay down for training.

Overall, really amazing dogs but my one is proving a lovable nightmare for wanting cuddles all the time! She stops me working!

Most greys can't sit like a 'normal' dogs Some say its the muscle mass that they have. We went oo over 20 greyhound walks and many had in excess of 40 dogs and I only ever saw a few sit.

We took ours to a photoshoot. Photographer refused to believe that ours wouldn' sit, He attempted to make him sit. This resulted in some snarling and a bit of baring of teeth. He stopped trying after that

[Gretchen]

Definitely soppy sods. I miss the head pushing these dogs do. Literally leaning into/against you with their entire muscle power to show some love.

[moorx]

Gretchen said:

Definitely soppy sods. I miss the head pushing these dogs do. Literally leaning into/against you with their entire muscle power to show some love.

Oh yes, the 'greyhound lean'. Lovely


Some of the lurchers I've had have been able to sit but not generally the greys. Max, our springer/saluki can do a lovely sit:



Excuse Jet there, he goes through phases of baldness, commonly known as his 'chimpy look'.

[bakerstreet]

Gretchen said:

Definitely soppy sods. I miss the head pushing these dogs do. Literally leaning into/against you with their entire muscle power to show some love.

Ours would lean on randoms. We used to cross a narrow bridge and obviously you meet dog walkers or just people out for a stroll and if they liked dogs they would always stop for a pat and this would result in a bit of leaning. Sometimes it was embarrassing but also endearing

[DMN]

Mine can sit, when she's begging to be fed:


Has zoomies with the dog walker who takes her out whilst we're at work:



But most of the time is just:

Edited by DMN on Wednesday 7th March 15:53

[bakerstreet]

DMN said:

Mine can sit, when she's begging to be fed:

That looks more like a Galgo than a Grey. Lovely looking dog though

[Jasandjules]

bakerstreet said:

e. Its reportedly in the thounsands and about 4000 are re-homed and no one really knows what happens to rest, however assumptions can be made.

We don't need to assume, there is evidence of people who have sheds and bolt guns and many dogs are dropped off weekly.

[Gerradi]

Dog tired

[Andy-SP2]

My grey doesn't sit.... If you do get one to sit you'll still find that their rears don't actually make contact with the ground.

According to rumour.....

Back in medieval times it was only nobility who were allowed to own a greyhound... One of the peasants stole a greyhound and bred it with another breed to create a lurcher...

[Gretchen]

I took this photo from a section of The Temple of British Worthies monument in the gardens of Stowe.
Thought I’d posted it here before but it appears not

[Jasandjules]

Why use fence panels? Will deer netting not do with posts every 10ft or so?

[scooby1994]

we always had springers then one day we were out shopping and my wife spotted greyhound rescue fundraising, she cant resist stroking any dog so off she went ,straight away a big lanky greyhound put its head on her leg and started to nudge and wouldnt stop till he got her full attention,that was it she was hooked,
we got in touch with northern greyhound rescue and after interviews and a home visits we were told that everything was fine and we could adopt a greyhound,we went to a farm in Stoke to meet a few dogs and that is when Charlie entered our lives,i had never really been a lover of greyhounds but untill you have one you just dont get it,
we had him for 13 years,he grew up with my son and they were best mates,he was lazy,but god he was fast,if he wasnt lied in front of the fire he was stood with his head resting on my wifes lap,he really was part of the family,sadly old age caught up with him and last year we took him to the vets for the last time,i have never seen my wife and son cry as much over anything,
if we ever get another dog it will be a rescue greyhound,they kind of get under your skin,and they are nothing like the idea that most people think they are,the only warning i would give is watch out for the boney elbows as they try to get on your knee,

Edited by scooby1994 on Sunday 17th June 17:10

[rscott]

Yep, once you've had greyhounds, I think you're hooked for life.

We're on our 3rd and 4th..