BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!

Subject: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 05:59 PM

We visited an animal rescue centre today quite close to Biggin Hill Airport, and spent some time with 2 ex racing greyhounds. The first was very nervous and not ready yet for re-homing - the very helpful keeper thought he had been hit by its racing owner, but the second, which had already been reserved, demonstrated that this would be the right type of dog to have in our home. Oddly enough they don't need much more than two 30 minute walks every day, and are generally very quiet and affectionate.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: frogprince
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 09:43 PM

Aren't ya looking for one with three legs ? At the risk of being more serious, wishing you luck in finding the right adoptee for ya.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 09:45 PM

The greyhounds I've met have all be very nice and good citizens -- much, much better than some people.

Thank you for wanting a rescue.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 01:09 AM

Name him "Santa's Little Helper".

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Jos
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 04:35 AM

One of my neighbours adopted an ex-racing greyhound. She said the dog was very intelligent and had worked out that instead of chasing the 'rabbit' round the track, she could just stay where she was and wait for it to come round again.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 06:31 AM

Ah that's lovely Bonzo. Hope you soon find The One.

We support Norfolk Greyhound Rescue. One or two people in our village have older greyhounds they've adopted, and they're so gentle and quiet.

A lady brought one to our garage sale last weekend, and he sat calmly beside me (I was on the garden bench) and laid his head on my knee.
Fortunately our two cats were indoors having a snooze.

They're such an elegant shape aren't they?

Good luck with your search Bonzo.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: peteglasgow
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 07:29 AM

we have a very lovely lurcher who came from a rescue centre last year. she doesn't like being left alone (we think she was badly treated and left in an allotment shed for long periods by a previous 'owner'- until she had a leg break and he got rid of her) or cats but otherwise is very quiet, affectionate and easy to have around. obviously when you have a dog like ours you talk to a lot of people with similar dogs and we all say the same positive things about them - so now i find it hard to understand why anyone would want any other type of dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Sep 18 - 11:58 AM

Years ago, my brother (a soldier) came home with a lurcher from a UN tour in Beirut. She was very bright, and I swear she trained her humans.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 12:46 PM

I think most dogs manage to train their humans. It's a struggle to keep it the other way around.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 02:51 PM

Very true!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: banjoman
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 06:16 AM

Some years ago we did a fund raising concert for an organisation which rescues greyhounds after they finish racing. Some of the things we were told included cutting off ears, abandonment om motorway verges to name but two.
They are wonderful animals and make great pets and I wish I had one. Unfortunately, medical problems prevent me owning a dog

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 06:41 AM

It's appalling isn't it banjoman? Norfolk Greyhound Rescue have a board of dreadful photos they erect at their fundraising events. I can't bear to look at it any more. Half-starved, beaten, shut away simply because the poor dogs are not useful any longer for racing, due to rheumatism, leg injuries, age etc.

We love to stroke and pat the lovely old dog which the organiser chap brings along. So gentle and quiet, with sad but loving eyes.

It was very kind of you to do a fund-raising concert for the rescue organisation.

If we didn't have cats, we might have taken on a rescue greyhound. But I can't walk far nowadays and even an old dog needs to be taken out each day.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Thompson
Date: 03 Oct 18 - 06:18 PM

I've known a couple of lovely greyhounds, friendly and sweet to humans and other dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Oct 18 - 10:35 PM

Overtime you will find they are practically feline and can cross a carpeted room unnoticed. Otherwise you will only hear tick tick tick tick.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 11:27 AM

Someone who visits Peter has a rescue greyhound. As far as I gather, the dog and owner have a great relationship but the dog is scared of lots of things from other people to cats, etc. and the owner has to pick quiet times/places for walks.

You do wonder what the dogs have been put through to get like that.

Hope you find a suitable one, bonzo.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 01:39 PM

We have an appointment to see 2 on Saturday!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 04 Oct 18 - 05:34 PM

Excellent Bonzo! Hope you come home with one of them!

I always found it so hard to choose two from a litter of kittens.
We picked Minty and Murphy, and had to leave 'Kinky' behind. We didn't have the resources for three kittens, and Kinky had a rather bad kink in his tail. I felt so sad for him.
Fortunately, the breeder decided to keep him, and magically the kink straightened itself out!
She sent a photo of him when he grew up, and he was a stunner!

I'd always bought males, but once there were none to be had in our area. So we picked a little female and called her LoobyLou. Once we got 'her' home, she proceeded to clean her nether regions, and it was evident it was a 'he'! He was called Booboo after that, and I managed to change his pedigree certificate with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
I'll be thinking of you Bonzo on Saturday!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 11:35 AM

I think I would love a greyhound, not least because I am told they like a quiet life. But I am a cat person, so the poor creature would have to teach me what dogs want and need. I'm not sure that would be fair to a greyhound who has been subjected to racing.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 12:30 PM

I agree with you, that one should learn as much as possible before taking on an animal, in order to give it the best possible quality of life.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 11:44 AM

I'm not sure I've ever been involved in selecting an animal.

I believe Portia (a lab retriever cross) was picked by my parents from a pet shop but I was a baby then.
Meg (a border collie) was offered to Pip by a patient from a farm near Tryfan (Snowdonia, N Wales) who didn't want the one of the litter that turned out brown and white.
I think Misty (blue merle mongrel) was one another member of hospital staff wanted to home.
I think cats (prehaps with parent picking?) have either been "unwanted" or just "found us". Every one over the last 20 years were the latter, as was Willy Weasel the ferret.

Misty was the probably easiest of the dogs we had, excitable if she heard a word that could mean an outing but easy going otherwise. Portia was lovely but probably saw herself as another parent/guardian. Meg, probably attempted to express before - I think we gave her a good life (while sometimes thinking she'd be even better working sheep on the mountains) but she was quite ("hard wired") as a working sheep dog with the needs that go with that...

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 12:09 PM

Greyhounds and lurchers are indeed lovely animals but, as a cat owner, I would ask the owner of any such to make sure they are restrained if passing close to small furry animals. They are after all hunting dogs with an inherent inclination to go for what they regard as prey. Often with disastrous consequences. :-(

Where do whippets fit in to the scheme of things? As a northerner it should be as obvious as my flat cap and muffler but, sadly, I don't know!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 01:20 PM

We chose a lovely 4 year old lady greyhound that ran her last raced in July. We will bring her home next weekend. My goodness what awful weather to be at the rescue centre, but of course with dogs there is no such thing as bad weather!!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 01:23 PM

Oh what excellent news Bonzo! I'm so very pleased for you!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 01:25 PM

Really wish you have a good time together, Bonzo.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: peteglasgow
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 04:20 PM

oh and well done bonzo - you are about to discover what a weird number of people - even without dogs - go around with dog treats in their pocket. important tip - never, ever, give your dog anything off the table!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 04:33 PM

One of our neighbours has a lovely dog with a lot of Jack Russell in him. He's called Buddy. But if he catches even a glimpse of one of our cats, he goes crazy. Luckily, his owners have him well under control and hold tightly to his leash.
The chap, Bob, says Buddy could toss a rat in the air and break its neck, and could do the same thing with a cat!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 05:10 PM

We believe it was a Jack Russll that cut delia's life short, Sen. Dogs do need to be kept under control. this is pretty worrying.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 06:44 PM

This greyhound used to race at Crayford and a search of her racing name shows that she always came in last!!! Quite a bit of kit to buy!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Oct 18 - 05:35 AM

We were told that she suffered a hock fracture, which is a fairly common injury among racing greyhounds, but now fully healed. One thing I didn't know abount greyhounds is that they don't sit because it's very uncomfortable for them.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Oct 18 - 07:25 AM

And of course their legs run faster than their brains so much patience is needed for the first few days in the new unfamiliar home environment!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Oct 18 - 03:23 PM

Well done Bonzo. I hope you get as much pleasure with your new friend as she will with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 03:04 AM

That's interesting Bonzo about greyhounds not sitting. I've noticed the one with the chap at the Norfolk Greyhound Rescue is usually standing. If you stroke or pat him, he always leans against you - very sweet.

Other greyhounds with the group have thick pads covered with a throw, just in front of the board with the awful photos, and they lie down on those. They all look happy and calm. (Each one has already been adopted by the workers for the Charity)

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 04:50 AM

The one in the right hand stall that still hasn't finished the race? Maybe you should bet on the left greyhound. Or is this a reference to a late-running bus?

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: frogprince
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 11:09 AM

Try to forgive me for throwing in something pointless, but: ever since I saw the thread title, I've been hearing it to the tune of an old Sons of the Pioneers recording, "Headed for the last roundup". It fits even better after hearing that Bonzo has adopted the consistently "last" greyhound.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: peteglasgow
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 11:55 AM

i've never known why we so often ask dogs to sit - and imagine them replying 'why?' our lurcher will wait patiently if i am talking to someone and will either lean into the nearest available knee or - and this is a sign i am taking too long - just lie down. she looks very awkward on the very rare occasions she sits - so why should she?

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 12:06 PM

Apparently greyhounds and lurchers all do find it uncomfortable to sit because of their shape.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 08 Oct 18 - 01:12 PM

What items are you having to buy for your lovely greyhound Bonzo? What will she need? A jacket perhaps, as winter is approaching? A bed?

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 01:20 AM

My new neighbor has a greyhound, which is tan and white. I had no idea they were so big. I googled them, and they come in several colors. What color is your new greyhound?

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 03:02 AM

My wife has ordered a greyhound bed, 2 collars - one house collar and a martingale collar, a couple of cuddly toys which they like and 2 coats - one waterproof and one for winter, for apparently their feel the cold!

Here is Dreamy!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 04:12 AM

Oh oh oh she's GORGEOUS Bonzo! Lovely lovely dog.
She looks to be in good nick, shiny coat and no ribs showing.
I wish you and your wife many happy years with Dreamy.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 08:22 AM

Thank you, we are looking forward to her coming home!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 01:38 PM

Thanks for the link to Dreamy's picture, Bonzo. She's beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 01:52 PM

We collect Dreamy dog tomorrow afternoon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 02:06 PM

I'll be thinking of you Bonzo!
Hope the bed, coats and other equipment have arrived.
Dreamy will be so happy I'm sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 03:59 PM

So do we hope they have arrived - luckily there is no rain forecast for tomorrow!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: peteglasgow
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 04:11 PM

it's exciting for you - i'm sure your lovely dog won't disappoint, i'm quite jealous

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 01:25 PM

After a very thorough handover at the animal rescue centre, we took her to our car - would she jump in the back we wondered? Yes she did, and settled down after a couple of miles. She was naturally very nervous when we arrived home - what's this strange place they've brought me to?

I took her for a walk to a nearby wooded area, she was very good on the lead, no pulling at all but when we got back home I made the mistake of removing her lead outside the front door - and off she went with me chasing after her. Other people in our street joined in the chase but fortunately she ran out of gas and we caught her!!

Now I know that must keep her on her lead at all times outside our house!

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 03:37 PM

Crumbs Bonzo, thank goodness she was quickly caught! Hope she has a good night and you can start to get to know her.

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 04:07 PM

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Waiting for the right greyhound!
From: peteglasgow
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 04:12 PM

i don't let our lurcher off the lead near our house - she will go for cats. though we were nervous at first about letting her off the lead she has learned to return a ball and do big and lovely figures of eight round us - have a bag full of treats handy and she probably won't go too far (probably parkland will be easier than woodland as there is more potential for them to chase stuff in the woods)