Very close to getting a dog

[rammstein]

In my pursuit of finding things that make me happy, I've been wanting a dog forever. It has taken quite some time to get the wife on board, but she's come around. Living with my brother's dog for while helped her to understand that animals aren't just things that get hair on you and try to lick you.

After a long internal debate, I've decided against getting a puppy. We cannot be there every 2 hours to let the little guy out, and its wrong to expect it to go longer.

Luckily, my wife works 2 blocks from our apartment, and a mid-day outing will be a daily occurance for the dog. We have a good, hour-long loop to walk on without real traffic, and dog parks too. I actually read the Cesar Milan book, and I know all about using calm assertive energy.

As an added bonus, our building is VERY dog friendly. It seems that everyone here has a dog. They allow up to 50lbs too, which is great.

So this brings me to my potential choice- I am seriously considering a Greyhound Rescue Dog. The benefits are as follows:

- plenty of socialization from day 1 with people and dogs
- contrary to my initial thoughts, they are not abused. An abused dog would not run very fast.
- they have been well fed, and given proper medical care during their 'career'
- they are 100% crate trained already, having spent their time in one daily.
- as a breed, they are very healthy
- All of the sighthound benefits (virtually no barking, low energy indoors, an hour walk daily plus playtime sufficient, not stinky or very sheddy)
- The rescue organizations that get them are very well organized, the dogs are often kept in a foster home and are always up to date on shots and spayed/neutered

Drawbacks-
- not housebroken. Luckily, they are crate-trained, so half the battle is done. Plus, as its not a puppy 4 hours is not too long for the guy to wait for outside
- The size puts it right on the threshold for what is allowed at our building. The smallest females are right at 50lbs. I have to say I've seen some pretty fatassed dogs in by building, but I will go tonight and ask management rather than try to be sneaky. Plus, the rescue people would call them anyhow. They actually screen adopters and everything. Probably for the best.
- Sighthounds cannot be off-leash. Ever. If a squirrel is running around a quarter mile away, and they focus on it, they are gone. The only exception is an enclosed area with 5 foot fences all around.

Assuming my discussion with management goes well, we will go to an adoption open house on Saturday and check it out.

[Rikao4]

good for you, good research, they can be housebroken.
When the world around you is going to scheisse, folks are treating you like merde,
these 4 legged folks are just so happy to see you..all goes away..BP goes down,you smile more & the walks are good for all.
Good luck.
Rika

[MisterB]

My brother in law has rescued two greyhounds from the Florida tracks, wonderful animals. it took awhile to train them to the house such as steps and screen doors. They do need a fenced in yard.

Ed

[sammyg2]

Here's what I do, I head on down to the animal shelter and get a dog that's one one or two years old, preferably a mutt. Probably already potty trained, not much money, plus you end up saving a life.

[nostatic]

maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think that apartments and dogs mix very well.

But if you do, I agree with Sam (*gasp*) about the local animal shelter. All my cats have been pound rescues.

[MysticLlama]

Interesting timing for a thread on this.

I may have just adopted a stray today.

He's all white, wolfish looking, blue eyes, looks somewhat like a Husky, but doesn't have the curly tail.

He's trained, knows how to sit, collar but no tag. He's been wandering for quite a while based on being dirty and skinny, and seems a little hurt (slight limp)

Went to the store and got him food and some treats, and a 15' leash so he doesn't wander away.

Going to spend a bit looking for his owner, but if I can't find them I may just keep him. Wasn't quite ready to commit to a puppy and all that it entails, but if a good dog needs a home, I can provide that.

Boss likes him, so maybe he'll just come to work a lot. (If I can figure out how to fit him in the Boxster)

As far as the original topic, I've heard that Greyhounds are great dogs. A lot like big cats, lazier than you'd think for something that goes fast. One friend's even used to hide sometimes when it was time for a walk because it would have rather slept.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

He's been wandering for quite a while based on being dirty and skinny, and seems a little hurt (slight limp)

Don't be to sure he's been wandering. That description resembles one of my rescues who lived 24/7 out doors confined to a wooden deck with no shelter at all while wallowing in his own feces.

Some people just suck.

[pwd72s]

If you train him to "go" on paper? Be sure it's newspapaper with a photo of Michael Vick. (With thanks to the "Mallard Fillmore" strip...)

[GDSOB]

My ex was big into greyhound rescue. They're good for about 5 minutes of activity a day and sleep the rest of the time. We had a female that was a basket case, very nervous-must have been abused and a large male that was friendly, better adjusted and liked to walk. He died of cancer at 5 yo.

I grew up with labs that were definitely "mans best friend". The greyhounds laid around the house and took up alot of room. OK, but not my cup of tea.

We have a cairn terrier and a havanese. Both small dogs but good pets without being yippy. The cairn is pretty darn smart.

[lisa_spyder]

Have a couple of friends who have gone the rescue course with both whippets and greyhounds (yes they get along really well ). They haven't looked back and their dogs are simply wonderful.

I think you'd be really happy with a greyhound rescue pooch - and I think it's marvellous you want to go this course.

Cheers,

Lisa

[Seahawk]

A woman who works for me volunteers for a Greyhound rescue outfit here in the mid-atlantic. PM me and I will put her in touch with you if you like.
She can provide you with all angles of this type of adoption.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by rammstein

....After a long internal debate, I've decided against getting a puppy. We cannot be there every 2 hours to let the little guy out, and its wrong to expect it to go longer.....

My 14 yr old yellow lab is nearing the end of her road, and I remember well holding her when she was just 5 weeks old. I would not let the above reason deter you from getting a puppy, but I'm not necessarily trying to talk you into one either. A puppy going in her "crate" during the first few months is much like a baby going in their diapers... it's no big deal. I've always "crate trained" my dogs (puppies), and within 3-4 months, they've got enough bladder control so they avoid going in their crate completely, and I've always had them totally housebroken (and trained), and out of their crate by the time they are 6 months old. Yep, it's a few months of effort, but you don't have to "unlearn" behaviors that some older dogs have already acquired. Just another perspective, but adopting is great advice too !

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by nostatic

maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think that apartments and dogs mix very well.

But if you do, I agree with Sam (*gasp*) about the local animal shelter. All my cats have been pound rescues.

When my wife and I lived in a condo with no yard, she hounded me for years to get a dog but I was against it because I felt a dog deserved a yard. We have two stray dogs, one my mom found and one my brother. Greyhound might be a bit big for an apartment.

[Jeff]

As Nostatic said apartments and dogs are not always a good fit and I agree with that, but if there is a will you will find a way to make it work.

As far as not getting a puppy because he needs to get out of his crate every 2 hours shouldn't be a concern. I received my puppy at 8 weeks and he would sleep through the night (7-8) hours with no accidents, so 4 hr stretches won't be a problem, just make sure he is walked regularly and let him free run once in a while. The key to crate training is don't get a crate that is too big or section off a larger crate. Give him enough room to stand up and turn around but not much more (until he is fully train, and that won't take long) or he will use the extra room as a bathroom.

I would not pass up the puppy experience. Very rewarding and the best time to train the dog . No need to un-train pre-existing learned behavior either.

[pookie]

My parents rescued a German wired hair pointer. Beautiful dog, and as said just loves to be loved. My sister rescued a German short haired pointer and a mutt. They are both on crack. And my in-laws rescued a Boxer female and she too just wants to be loved. I've had my lab coming up on 9 years this month. 2 years of that I was in college in and out of apts. And only about the last 4 has he really had a house and stuff to call his. I used to go home and walk him everyday at lunch and made sure he got to the park everyday because I didn't feel it was right for him to be cooped up all day.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by pookie

....I used to go home and walk him everyday at lunch and made sure he got to the park everyday because I didn't feel it was right for him to be cooped up all day.

Oh yeah, that's an excellent point...even though I have no problem with crate training (while I'm at work) during the first few months, they've GOT to get their exercise and burn off energy (especially pups), or they're going to be a handful. I personally would be very hesitant about getting a greyhound if I lived in an apartment. They, like a lot of dogs, need a place to exercise "off lease" imo, as I doubt you can keep up...and if you can, I'll be rooting for you in the Olympics !

[rammstein]

As for the concerns here, this is what I have discovered reading about the breed.

Apartment Living- when indoors, Greyhounds are low energy (to the point of laziness as one article states). They also are not barkers, which is important to both neighbors and myself

Exercise- having watched Cesar Milan on tv and read his book (wow, I read a book!), this has been beaten into my head. Greyhounds, due to their racing, are perceived as very high energy and needing big runs and whatnot. According the rescue sites, they need a 20-30 min walk. I would make this more like an hour, as this helps to enhance the calm submissive energy in the dog (thank you Cesar). A few times a week, there are some dog parks around here, and so long as there is proper fencing, this will work.

Tomorrow is the day that I go to the open house where there will supposedly be like 50 greyhounds and a bunch of staff. The idea is to tell them about our situation honestly, and see if they think there would be success here. I want to see if my apartment is a good idea or not in their eyes. From their applications, they seem pretty critical of where these dogs go, so hopefully they will give me the straight cheese. I am not supposed to take home a dog tomorrow. Hopefully my wife can control me, because I have a tendency to fall in love with critters.

[KFC911]

I don't know anything specifically about greyhounds, but it sure sounds like you've done your homework. I remember when my current lab was young, she'd easily run several miles a day in my backyard chasing tennis balls while I just stood there and threw .

[rammstein]

As much as I would like to say the research was voluntary, the wife made me all but write a report on this. That's probably next after tomorrow

[tabs]

Then they old and die, and you cry.