My huby has finally agreed to let me have a dog!!!!!!! I am soo happy. my dream dog is a greyhound and I have started looking already. I am not going to rush into to it because it is important that the dog fits our lifestyle and is happy.... I am just feeling so happy!!!!!

I will make sure I post when I get my forever friend!!!

My huby has finally agreed to let me have a dog!!!!!!! I am soo happy. my dream dog is a greyhound and I have started looking already. I am not going to rush into to it because it is important that the dog fits our lifestyle and is happy.... I am just feeling so happy!!!!!

I will make sure I post when I get my forever friend!!!

:o Ooh a greyhound :clap: *eyes light up* :D
Have you looked in Gosling moor farm? some beauties there, and try Greyhound gap or Lurcher link on here.
Good luck and lots of updates please :)

thanks moonbird!!! it's going to have to be a very special hound because I have 2 kids and 2 cats!!!! not a sighthounds perfect housemate I know however i sure it can work!!!!! my long term plan is to have him/her assesed and used as a PAT dog (pets as therapy) as well as a very loved and spoiled family pet.... seen a beauty on Kerry greyhound rescue but he is in Norfolk!!!

thanks moonbird!!! it's going to have to be a very special hound because I have 2 kids and 2 cats!!!! not a sighthounds perfect housemate I know however i sure it can work!!!!! my long term plan is to have him/her assesed and used as a PAT dog (pets as therapy) as well as a very loved and spoiled family pet.... seen a beauty on Kerry greyhound rescue but he is in Norfolk!!!

I'm sure that I saw a cat safe on the website of Gosling moor farm, and there are quite a few on Lurcher link but obviously usually lurchers, you can get them I managed it 3 times over, if you need any help or ideas please ask, I'm forever on the sighthound rescue sites :hihi:

Thank you. If you do come across a calm, cat friendly hound please let me know!!! you ought to see Finley the big greyhound on dogsblog, he is an stunner.

Thank you. If you do come across a calm, cat friendly hound please let me know!!! you ought to see Finley the big greyhound on dogsblog, he is an stunner.

Ooh don't encourage me I'm already bad enough :hihi: I'm all excited now as well and its nothing to do with me :rolleyes:
I will be keeping a look out for you, of that you can be sure lol!

TIA are a great greyhound/lurcher rescue centre:

http://www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/ :)

Contact Anna293 on here. She does a lot of work for Greyhound Gap and may be able to help with your search :)

Ooh how exiting. :D

Greyhounds and lurchers are wonderful. I dogsit my sister's saluki x and she's the most cat like dog I've ever met! If she doesn't get 22 hours sleep a day she's fit for nothing! :hihi:

Moonbird's right btw there appears to be a cat friendly housetrained grey at Gosling Farm.

http://www.sheffieldretiredgreyhounds.co.uk/adopt.php

Good luck

there is a dog there, I am going to look at him in the morning!!!!!!! he is 9 though???? do you think a 9 year old dog wants to be around kids!!!! he may want a quiet retirement!!!!!...my word, all this has happened very fast today!!

there is a dog there, I am going to look at him in the morning!!!!!!! he is 9 though???? do you think a 9 year old dog wants to be around kids!!!! he may want a quiet retirement!!!!!...my word, all this has happened very fast today!!

Make sure that the kids go too so that you can judge his reaction to them, I think it all depends on the dog and on the kids really no hard and fast rules, but if he has never lived with kids before then hmm 9 might be a bit old to adjust unless they are very good kids...good luck.

I have spoke to the lady at the kennel and she says he is fine with kids as long as they are over 5. mine are 13 and 8. I have not told the kids anything yet about having a dog. I am going with my sister to look at him and if all goes well will arrange to take the kids after that. another prob is that I have arranged to go to London for 2 nights to see my nephew early feb. not sure if they would keep him untill after that???? will talk to them tomorrow. not getting to excited yet...only a look!!!!!!

I have spoke to the lady at the kennel and she says he is fine with kids as long as they are over 5. mine are 13 and 8. I have not told the kids anything yet about having a dog. I am going with my sister to look at him and if all goes well will arrange to take the kids after that. another prob is that I have arranged to go to London for 2 nights to see my nephew early feb. not sure if they would keep him untill after that???? will talk to them tomorrow. not getting to excited yet...only a look!!!!!!

Oh well he should be ok with 8 and 13 year olds I would have thought, unless they are particularly noisy and lively as sight hounds can sometimes be a bit highly strung and jumpy but not all are.
About the weekend away if you don't ask you won't know ;)

the rare cat friendly ex racing greyhound walked in and out of my life in 10 mins....lol the lucky lad had a que of potential owners,,I was too late!!!! Good news, there is a 3 year old bitch due in to kennels in 2 weeks with my name on her!!!! OHHH. I can't wait to meet her. they describe her as being cat friendly, I really hope so I don't want to get up to savaged cats!!!

whhhooooo how exciting LadyB, please let us know how you get on?

you bet I will. I am tellin everyone!! the trolley man in morrisons today looked sooo uninterested!!!!! however the man at the burger van, where I got a hot dog today, appeared to humour me more...lol.. I am just worried about the cat thing! I so want them to be able to live together because I do love my cats dearly

Ooh you're so lucky, I love greyhounds but I also have two adored cats! Keep us posted :D

I am hopeful. at the kennels today I met 2 owners, one had SIX hounds and the other had 3, they all live with cats. Also we have a greyhound who is a PAT dog which visits the Hospital ward I work on. she has 3 hounds and 2 cats !!! so I know it can work I just hope I can pull it off!!! by the way all the dogs I have spoke off are ex racers!!!!

Have your cats met dogs at all LadyB? The reason I ask is that most dogs can get used to cats and live in harmony (I have three rescue dogs and two cats here). Once the cats learn not to scarper, then the dogs show no interest.

Even a cat friendly sighthound will probably chase a cat if it runs, so its your cats you need to persuade and not the dog.

Have you tested your cats with a dog in the household? It might be an idea to do that before taking your new dog home. I would also invest in some baby gates so that the cats can get out of harms way should introductions go pear shaped.

I am very jealous as I love Greyhounds, Good luck.:love:

Good luck with it ladyb :)

I second Gemima's post though, do get babygates to allow the cats to get out of the way and it is ultimately down to the cats. My first pup learned to chase purely because my cats ran (she wasn't interested until they ran), my old rescue boy isn't interested in the slightest by cats but if they run... he'll notice and start to chase (except he's 15 and after one pace can't really be bothered!) thankfully, my cat has learned to just stand still now (in time for the new pup!) but it took her about 4 years to master that!

Have your cats met dogs at all LadyB? The reason I ask is that most dogs can get used to cats and live in harmony (I have three rescue dogs and two cats here). Once the cats learn not to scarper, then the dogs show no interest.

Even a cat friendly sighthound will probably chase a cat if it runs, so its your cats you need to persuade and not the dog.

Have you tested your cats with a dog in the household? It might be an idea to do that before taking your new dog home. I would also invest in some baby gates so that the cats can get out of harms way should introductions go pear shaped.

I am very jealous as I love Greyhounds, Good luck.:love:

very good point..my cats have never been around dogs at all. so it's as much about them than the dog!!! I have 3 weeks before potentially I bring a dog into my home..I think I am going to borrow a dog to get them used to another dog!!!!

gosh!!! not sure if I am cut out for all this!!!!! talking myself out of it today!!! LOL

just get yourself a babygate so the cats can escape the dog until they get used to each other :)

I was really worried about my cat when I first got my dog. I put all the correct provisions in place, baby gate on stairs so the cat could run away if she wanted to, crate for the dog for when we went out and night time. Before I brought Evie home for the first time I took her on a mammoth walk so she was really tired. Myself and my hubby were prepared for a night with one of us upstairs with the cat and one of us sat downstairs with the new dog. That first night I have a pic of them sitting almost together. Our cat decided that there was no way she was taking her eyes off the dog and just sat and stared at her all night. And Evie well she didn't bother with the cat so they both just settled. It was fantastic.

Another good thing to do before you bring home your new dog is to swap some of the bedding. So take some cat bedding, a blanket or something she's been sat on to where the dog is and bring back some of the dogs bedding. They can then get used to each others smells before you introduce them.

Good luck with it all, I think as long as you are prepared it will all work out for you.

just get yourself a babygate so the cats can escape the dog until they get used to each other :)

We've had stairgates in place since we got Ailsa 8 years ago - she's absolutely fine with the cats but gets excited when we have visitors. Being a doberman, her attention can be misconstrued as BIG SCARY MANEATING DOG! so stairgates help keep her in one room without locking her out entirely - she hates to be seperated from her human family, dobes are typical 'velcro' dogs.

We used to have proper dog gates (the Lindam ones) but as our moggies got older, it wasnt fair to expect them to have to leap over a tall gate so we freecycled them and switched to baby gates- the ones that open, not the ones you step over. Fixed about 10-12inches above floor level gives plenty of room for cats to walk under but the dobermutt can't follow. We had to experiment at first though - she worked out how to limbo under to get to their food dishes!

All but one of our old moggies hated Ailsa when she arrived as a pup - they'd never been near a dog and have all gone to the bridge now, save for Minty, who still stays upstairs and refuses to come downstairs - but shes always had issues. Our newbies on the other hand, theyve no fear of the dobermutt and weve got 3 rescue moggies (fosters that never went away, the most recent moved in over Xmas when her water dish froze solid outside - she took one look at the dog and went over to say hello - considering she'd been a stray living in someone's garden for nearly the first year of her life and having to fend for herself and her kittens...)

I love greyhounds and would consider adopting one were it not for dramaqueen Ailsa.

thank you all for you encouraging support taking the time out to post me your advice!!!

just borrowed my friends whippet x. they looked at each other and the cat was not a happy bunny!! he did a bit of howling, as if to say you dare!!! good thing is, knuckles (the cat) first instinct was so fluff up his tail stare..didn't run straight away hense no chase ensued, he crefully made his way to the hall then bolted upstairs!! the dog looked at him as if he was some freak!!! bless him I think the dog was more scared of the cat!!!

she says I can borrow him everyday for a bit if I want to!!! he is much smaller than a greyhound though!!!

Right, next step. anyone got a couple of babygates they don't need!!!!

I wouldn't bother with torturing your cat with a dog who isn't staying. Your cat will see your new dog very differently to the one you borrow, as each dog is different

do you not think it may prepare them a bit??? or would it really stress them out????? god I am stressed now!!!! not a good energy to share with the animals!!!! and relax!!!!! things will all be well.......

We've had stairgates in place since we got Ailsa 8 years ago - she's absolutely fine with the cats but gets excited when we have visitors. Being a doberman, her attention can be misconstrued as BIG SCARY MANEATING DOG! so stairgates help keep her in one room without locking her out entirely - she hates to be seperated from her human family, dobes are typical 'velcro' dogs.

We used to have proper dog gates (the Lindam ones) but as our moggies got older, it wasnt fair to expect them to have to leap over a tall gate so we freecycled them and switched to baby gates- the ones that open, not the ones you step over. Fixed about 10-12inches above floor level gives plenty of room for cats to walk under but the dobermutt can't follow. We had to experiment at first though - she worked out how to limbo under to get to their food dishes!

All but one of our old moggies hated Ailsa when she arrived as a pup - they'd never been near a dog and have all gone to the bridge now, save for Minty, who still stays upstairs and refuses to come downstairs - but shes always had issues. Our newbies on the other hand, theyve no fear of the dobermutt and weve got 3 rescue moggies (fosters that never went away, the most recent moved in over Xmas when her water dish froze solid outside - she took one look at the dog and went over to say hello - considering she'd been a stray living in someone's garden for nearly the first year of her life and having to fend for herself and her kittens...)

I love greyhounds and would consider adopting one were it not for dramaqueen Ailsa. My bold

Good grief, but that made me giggle - it's amazing how much low cunning even the dumbest dogs can demonstrate when there's the prospect of food! :hihi:

do you not think it may prepare them a bit??? or would it really stress them out????? god I am stressed now!!!! not a good energy to share with the animals!!!! and relax!!!!! things will all be well.......Probably not. When I take Brude to visit friends with dog + cat homes, the cats may be happy to curl up together with the dogs who live in the house, but they still don't trust a strange dog, and retreat to a high spot to assess the new dog in the house

Different dogs smell differently too. We tend to forget how important smell is to animals. I agree with the post suggesting introducing the smell of the new dog by bringing a blanket or suchlike into the house before the day you're bringing the dog home :)

there has been a greyhound revolt in the house!!!! argh..my children want a dog that they can take out, let of lead and play ball with etc, my hubby thinks a greyhound is now too big and wants a smaller dog!!!!

Am I being selfish by deciciding what dog I want?? it is as much for the kids as it is for me???? Greyhounds are fab with kids though!!!! Also my hubby says it's not fair to have a docile dog around busy noisy kids. espc since my youngest has adhd!!! I have mentioned the high energy kids at the kennel and they didn't appear overly concerned..as far as my youngest son goes he does have lots of energy but he is very kind and gentle and I think a dog wil help him asses risks outside the house...ie traffic other dogs etc dogs are good for kids with learning disabilities!!!

I'm not sure a greyhound would be my first choice given your family conditions, but I know most of the sighthound fans will disagree with me ;)

Would a lurcher of some description not suit you a bit better?

i personally agree with strix, i would seriously reconsider the adoption of a greyhound or even sighthound, they are very idle creatures and love to sleep and lounge around, they are not the best of dogs to be fussed and played with in the house, my get very mardy if we try to move them around once they are in their beds and resting. even my liveliest of lurchers love their beds and dont want bothering once exercised. As for off leaders, greyhounds are very difficult to get off lead safely, they have a massive chase instinct and once triggered they wont stop unless you break it, either by catching them--no chance-- or they loose the chase or somethng gets in their way, sadly like cars. out of 8 greyhounds and lurchers here i have only 2 that can go off and they are the ones ive had since pups. Personally i believe theres nothing better than a mongrel as a family dog, i grew up with them and never once did we have one that wasnt fabulous, it was only as i left home that i got the sighthound bug be we are a couple, no kids and a very quiet home which ours love. annax

If you have noisy, lively kids I agree with Strix and Anna..sorry :sad:
Greyhounds may be to highly strung to be happy in a busy home, they do just like a quiet life and you may never be able to let him/her off lead and probably will never play with kids or chase a ball, they just don't know how and most are just too dignified anyway.
You might get a lurcher puppy to do those things if you go for a whippetxterrier I have had 2 and both very playful and love to chase a ball, also good recall etc but still with that sight hound friendliness and gentle sensitive nature, they also do come up in rescue every now and then, the bigger greyhound crosses are probably still a bit to quiet for what you want.

It's ok Moonbird. don't say sorry..I appreciate the advice from strix and Anna and yourself.(thank you guys) I am a novice at this dog ownership so any input is really a good thing for us as a family and (hopefully) a potential pet!!!! when you first realise you are gonna have a pet it's dead exciting but you soon realise it needs to be right, hence the research and feedback from other owners. I have wanted a dog for AGES and i will get one that suits our family and most importantly suits the dog, I want it to be happy!!!!! I do really really love Greyhounds though!!!

It's ok Moonbird. don't say sorry..I appreciate the advice from strix and Anna and yourself.(thank you guys) I am a novice at this dog ownership so any input is really a good thing for us as a family and (hopefully) a potential pet!!!! when you first realise you are gonna have a pet it's dead exciting but you soon realise it needs to be right, hence the research and feedback from other owners. I have wanted a dog for AGES and i will get one that suits our family and most importantly suits the dog, I want it to be happy!!!!! I do really really love Greyhounds though!!!

Greyhounds are addictive, maybe get a more robust dog this time and when the kids are older get a greyhound to keep it company :) you could still do the pat dog thing with a different type of dog, I am sure what ever you get you will make it happy.

I'm not sure a greyhound would be my first choice given your family conditions, but I know most of the sighthound fans will disagree with me ;)

Would a lurcher of some description not suit you a bit better?

I have pm you.. on rain site there is a whippet type x. maye a sbt. is she still with you?????

I am kinnda realising that what I want maybe not what the family wants or would really benifit from. Maybe Anna is right a good old heinz 57 would suit better!!!!

aww lady b i wish you love and luck,i had a whippet and she was sooooooo sweet my husband and myself also sponsor greyhounds as we have cats! and work full time its a lovely way to do it we can go and take him out ect and know the money goes to a good cause we even have pics on the office wll lol of our adoptees.they are fab at gosling farm and they also go to the dog track to raise money,its a lovely thing to do and i adore greyhounds

I have pm you.. on rain site there is a whippet type x. maye a sbt. is she still with you?????

I am kinnda realising that what I want maybe not what the family wants or would really benifit from. Maybe Anna is right a good old heinz 57 would suit better!!!!

It would be better to either pm rainrescue on here or ring on the number that is on the website, Strix may not know about the dog.

Ooh look at Alfie :love: http://www.rotherham-dog-rescue.co.uk/inf_03a.htm

OHHH MY WORD.....WHAT HAVE I DONE?????? lol

I contacted animal haven at woodhouse re a 2 year old collie which was good with kids, cats etc. I arranged to view her however when I got there she showed me a 8 week old LURCHER x pup....oh my word I fell hook line and sinker...she is currently laid on her new bed next to me!!!!

She has had a wee and a poo outside already..she appears very timid and appears to cower at every noise. A week or two with us will bring her out of her shell!!!!

not named her yet though!!!!!

Up to now i'v just been watchin an readin seein how thing's turn out. Now it's time for me to say " show us some pic's". Please.

as soon as I worh out how I wil put on loads!!!!!! of pics!!!!!!

:o Well I turn my back for a while and look what happens in my absence, congratulations :clap:
Rosie is a nice name for a lurchery girl :D
Do you know what cross she is? and yes bring on the pics aww bless.

pics will prob be on tomorrow. my hubby was shocked but fell for her straight away!!! I will be spending the rest of the eve getting her used to us and taking pics!!!!! she is curled up on my hubby, not having a dog!! knee sleeping at mo... she has had loads 0f wee's and 2 poo's outside already!!!!

names. eldest son wants maddy, youngest wants Dora but thats the name of our cat!!! doesn't seem to bother him him that we already have a pet with that name!!! hubby wants Madge and I want either Fran or MJ (mj from spiderman)

I am sure she will tell us what to name her!!!!!

now need to sort out classes!!!!

oh and as for the cats..they are not happy with the new smell and are keeping a low profile however they walked passed and she did not bat an eyelid. she lifted her head had a look, yawned then wen back to sleep!!!!

Named!!!!! Molly...

I have no idea how to put pics on!!!! soo wanted to share them with you. especafter you have bin v v v v helpfull. and because I will need loads more of advice!!

LadyB, do you have a photobucket account? If not, create one (really easy) and follow the instructions to upload photos. Then under the photo there will be 4 links (I think) and I believe the one you want is called 'url' (trying to remember without looking!) copy and paste that link to here and we can see :D

Congratulations LadyB! I'm so glad you've found the perfect family friend :)

Congratulations! She sounds adorable. Good luck with her. Your piccies don't work though!

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/helen271/molly/100_3430.jpg

try this!!!

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/helen271/molly/100_3459.jpg

do you like my hubby's T shirt...lol of course he did!!!

Awwwww - she is just so cute - no wonder you couldn't resist her!! :love:

What a little star! Hope it all goes well.

Aww LadyB she is gorgeous her little pointy face is so sweet, I love Molly as a name too.
How is she settling in now? and how is she with the kids and cats?
I'm so jealous now she's a little smasher :love: more and more pics please...and don't tell me if they have more :hihi:

sorry moonbird none left, she was the last of the litter, and the runt too. v skinny when she came here..loves her grub though and is fattening up nicely. the kids love her but she is a bit mouthy at the mo so need to work on that. I just tell the kids to stand and turn away from her if she gets too rough. hope thats the right thing. cats!!!! a work in progress me thinks...lol. they are being braver by being in the same room as her however she is very inerested in them..the sighthound in her possibly, but knuckles gave her a big hiss and howl this morning and that put her in her place!!! I am trying to keep her crated and feed the cats before I feed her in the mornings. want her too see that they are not to be messed with cause they get fed first!!!! hope it works!!

how's the sickness going???

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/helen271/100_3424.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/helen271/100_3460.jpg
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/helen271/100_3456.jpg

considering it took a while..nearly a year. for my hubby to let me have a dog he appears to be coping with it quite well. still refusing to pick up the poo though.

she has ended up with the name molly moonshine!!! she sounds like a right old lush..my grandmother, who had whippets, was called molly and my granfather used to make moonshine (irish drink also known as pochine. I think??) in the cellar. he also used to train greyhounds. so I think the name fits her!!

congratulations. I missed all this. You are so brave.....a lurcher pup lol i remember the days when mine were young.... :0 Shes gorgeous. annax

She is lovely :) I like her colouring and the little white chest. Looks like she will be a small lurcher too more whippet sized :)

She is lovely :) I like her colouring and the little white chest. Looks like she will be a small lurcher too more whippet sized :)

hopefully!!!! she has got really long legs though..bit like bambi at mo. she isn't sure what to do with them!!!!lol

Wow she is gorgeous!!!

hopefully!!!! she has got really long legs though..bit like bambi at mo. she isn't sure what to do with them!!!! lol

My Zeb's like that - and he's 16! I swear he'll manage to actually tie them in a knot one of these days! :hihi: