I was wondering what the likelyhood is of getting a greyhound that can do /be taught good recall without running off at the first sign of something small and furry. I live next to Holyrood park and the hills there, and there are a lot of rabbits etc. I would like to adopt a greyhound, but I also really need a dog to be able to come when I call it, even if there is something small and furry there.

Are there many that would be able to do that? Or is it a general given that all greyhounds will chase instinctively and not listen to being called?

may be a non ex racer but it will take a lot of work to train an ex racer, not to chase it took us about a year to do it with our big guy and we have another two who get off in quiet places always with a muzzle. The queens park will be full of little furrys so care would be needed big time.
good luck
bbb

With our 2 auld age will probably kick in before training

I have had greyhounds for many years and would never trust any of them to come back on call once their chase blood is up. They are too interested to hear you. Better be safe than sorry.

Never, ever let a greyhound off the lead; there is no need to, except for your own ego gratification, they are quite happy walking at your side on a lead. See here.

Hi guys

I think Jimmy's right. We never trust ours off the lead unless they're enclosed in the garden. It's absolutely lovely to see them running about at top speed and generally they come when we call them.

But, when out walking with our three I'm always on the lookout for "fluffies". I find that if I spot them early enough I can pull the dogs' leads up a bit and tell them to behave and they're not so bad. We've managed to walk past flocks of sheep and other walkers with small dogs without much trouble.

However, if our greys spot "fluffies" before we do it's like the red mist has descended and it's much more difficult to calm them down. Shandy and Missie aren't so bad, but Nell (who has raced) is always on the lookout for things to chase and usually spots them first. As a belt-and-braces precaution we muzzle our greys when out walking, especially in some of our local spots where there's a lot of sheep around.

The other issue is similar to when you're driving - no matter how careful you are, there's always idiots out there who are less so. A couple of times we've had to tell other dog-walkers to call off their dogs when they've just let their yappy, uncontrollable little things snap at our greys' ankles.

Though I would not trust a greyhound off the lead, I wouldn't let that put anyone off adopting one - our three are brilliant on the lead. After a few minutes' excitement at walkies time, they do settle down and are happy to trot beside you at whatever pace you dictate.

Hi Darren, I adopted a wee girl called Isla just before xmas, we have a dog called toby(a lab) who is excellent off lead and was a great teacher to our greyhound! Isla is now off the lead everywhere she goes. Me and my Mum do a lot of hill walking also, where there are a lot of rabbits. At the end of the day these dogs are trained sighthounds and there natural instinct is to chase, I however don't mind if Isla does catch a rabbit, my only concern is that in her bid to catch, she will tear through anything to reach it. therefor, i always make sure that there are never any sharp fences, styles etc where she could hurt herself. It is all about bonding with your dog and taking precautions. We also live with a cat who
Isla is terrified of! Although this is pretty rare!
I think the area you are talking about sounds perfect for her off lead and if you make sure her muzzel is always on when off lead then you should have very few problems as she may chase, but never kill. I think a lot of greyhounds are stereotyped and it very much depends on the dog. As a matter of fact i am just back in from walking the hounds and it was our lab, Toby, that has been chasing deer, Isla stood next to me and watched! I think she was way too puffed out! I would strongly suggest for any dog however that they are kept away from livestock or are on the lead as farmers will not hesitate in fetching his shotgun for any dog that fancies his chance at herding! Hope this helps.

I can't believe what I am reading!!!!!
I feel I must draw your attention to the fact that you have adopted one of our beloved dogs and you have completely disregarded article 8 which states ( I am aware of the responsibilities of owning a sighthound that has been trained to chase and will not allow this dog to injure small animals. I understand that I am liable for any damage caused by my negligence!!!).

Article 9 (He will be walked on a lead unless he is being walked in a safe secure area under my supervision).

Article 12 ( If the conditions under which the dog is being kept are deemed to be unsatifactory I will allow the dog to be REPOSSESSED). I consider your method of exercising Isla to be VERY unsatisfactory !!!

How can you be so irresponsible as to write this when other dog owners have posted so sensibly??

Quote -( Isla is off the lead everywhere she goes ??) I sincerely hope not!!!

Quote -( I don't mind if Isla catches a rabbit??).
Of course we do !!! Isla can't be responsible for not seeing a sheep in the same light !!
She is going to end up being shot if you are not careful and the farmer will NOT care if she is wearing a muzzle or not!!!

I must point out that if Isla is allowed to kill rabbits she will certainly kill yorkies and poodles, etc. When she left us she was even cat friendly.

We spend hours warning about this very foolishness!!
Why weren't you listening??

The position of GRF regarding this matter was quite clear when you signed our rehoming form. You are only courting bad press with this outlook.

hi celia, I think you have misunderstood some of the things i was saying and i did not mean to cause upset. Isla is in a safe environment, and by "everywhere" she goes i mean that everytime she is walked (which is in a very secure environment) it is out our backdoor upon fields and fields of grass away from any roads etc and is always under supervision so i cant understand why this is violating article 9. I obviously wrote the livestock thing wrongly and what i meant was that although i walk her where there is the very occasional rabbit, she is NEVER near livestock, EVER. And she frequntly plays with Jack russells etc when out walking and is also now excellent with the cat. I am not arguing with you because i truly respect your knowledge and dedication you have with the hounds, but if one stereotype has been banished with Isla (living with the cat) then why should we not give her a chance? I know there are dogs that i seen at union farm that i would NEVER in a million years allow of a lead i any environment but Isla has shown no reason for me to have her on the lead, especially in this environment which is totally safe an secluded. I dont know if this has slighty altered your opinion?

Greys like every other breed of dog are not robots and just because you have trained them to come back does not mean they will do it every time. Please don't be put off by the fact you have to walk them on a lead. It's far better to be safe than sorry. After all small furries have a right to life too.

Leigh

We have to reiterate Greyhound Rescue Fife rehoming policy but please, please read the post by John on February 16 and click "here" before it is too late.

...oh and also, if i do see a rabbit, Isla is put on the lead straight away, as is our lab. She is not allowed to catch rabbits and never has caught one i was just saying, if Isla did happen to catch one, i would be more worried for the dogs sake than the rabbits as i have heard that they will tear through anything to get a hold off one. I think Isla has got a great life and she is like any other breed of dog now. I dont think the should be known as 'ex-racers' their whole life because afterall that is in there past and it is a matter of untraining them rather than training them. If Isla is being walked away from the fields at the back of our house e.g. round the streets or in public woodland, then it goes without saying that she is on the lead, but she is rarely street walked or walked in public woods etc. If the dogs can be trained to race then they can be untrained into a family dog if you just spend the time. I am also, not saying to darren that he will be fine as every dog is different and it might turn out to be a totally different situation to what Isla is in.

I have read it but it is in a place that if your went out so many miles then the whole place is secured by a deer fence which is 8ft high so she could only run as far as the fenced perimeter. I am under no illusion that isla would remain to be our wee black, cuddly girl if a rabbit came into view. I cant help but think of this theory, I am happy to have 6 hours sleep in a night, like Isla would be getting a 20 minute walk around the streets, but i would be a million times happier having 8 hours sleep and a long lie! like Isla being walked off lead down the private fields for an hour. I mind the first time we let her off i was a nervous wreck! and if it wasn't for Toby then Isla wouldnt be off lead at all, but what i cant bear is when Toby is off lead and isla is on lead (The rare time we go for a street walk)and Isla runs with Toby until her flexi lead stops and she ends up being jurked about all because she wants to run with Toby. I would never take Isla anywhere off lead that my mum and me didnt discuss prior to the walk and without trial periods on lead. My mum is friends with local rangers and estate owners up in blair atholl where we go hillwalking and they inform us if there is any livestock on site or any shooting, deer stocking etc on. If there is we avoid them at all costs. My mum also knows the hills up there like the back of her hand and knows routes which are safe.

forgive me Laura but you seem quite naive - however well meaning you are you are putting Isla at risk - I have only limited experience of greyhounds having had labradors for many years but in order to protect my dogs I would never fully trust them - who can tell what will trigger them off - I also know the area Darren speaks off and that would be the last place I would allow any freedom - I value my animals too much to allow them off lead unless very restricted with high fencing - open fields are not in this category - if they were to get involved with anything I could never forgive myself for not taking care of them - all animals follow their instincts and are unable to discern right from wrong - please reconsider your handling of Isla .

Hi again. The Area we are letting Isla off is in a fenced area, It has 8ft deer fences all the way around the edge of the feilds. This is what i mentioned above in another message. This is obviously causing major upset so from now on Isla will be walked on a lead although i cannot see why the area Isla is being walked in is unsafe. It is fenced in, is private land and she is always muzzeled off lead and under constant supervision. I am not violating article 8 because Isla is certainly NOT allowed to catch rabbits and my messgage was severly misunderstood. article 9 is being met, like i mentioned above. As for article 12 about the dog being repossessed if the conditions the dog is kept in is unsatisfactory, that i cannot get through my head. Isla is sleeping on our leather couch now as i am writing this and is just in from a 4 mile walk from down at the fields, this is the part that upsets me most because we have had dogs all our life, and i have worked with dogs and i would NEVER allow Isla to be kept or excersised in a way that i had not approved of. Isla is the happiest wee girl alive and is in love with our lab Toby! Isla is like a child to me and all i was trying to do was make her life the happiest and most enjoyable it could be after her past. The fact that i have been accused of being unresponsible, foolish and negligent towards the adoption arcticals has deeply upset me.

Two of the saddest words in the English language is "if only". Need I say more?

Hi Laura,
Regarding article 12, could I stress that there is no doubt in our mind that your home is lovely and that you treat Isla very well indeed and that she is loved. We know this and this is fine. Article 12 however, can be considered as "are you keeping in mind the safety of the dog?". This was our worry, since safety is paramount. Hope that this explains what was meant by our comments.

As with text messages, this way of communication is very difficult to understand the manner and general meaning of what people are saying and things can often be interpreted wrongly. thanks.

I was worried when I read that you use one of those flexi extending leads, Laura.

"and isla is on lead (The rare time we go for a street walk)and Isla runs with Toby until her flexi lead stops and she ends up being jurked about all because she wants to run with Toby."

I have seen a vet recommend NOT to use them on greyhounds because of the speed they can quickly build up and the shock their neck has to endure when they are forced to stop suddenly.

I appreciate your concern but she is more trotting than running. She wouldn't be doing any damage with the speed she is going at.

I think it was about this time last year we had a lady on the forum telling us about her friend's greyhound whom she walked off the lead in the countryside with a labrador in west fife and the said greyhound chased and killed a young Roe deer. I also seem to recall a story (perhaps it was the article called 'Trust') but basically the story went along the lines of a lady had a greyhound which she walked in Holyrood Park on a daily basis off the lead and it always came back when called. It did this for something like seven years then one day it gave chase to a deer and was never seen again. THE BOTTOM LINE IS DO NOT LET THE DOGS OFF THE LEAD IN AN OPEN SPACE! and you will then have done your best to keep them safe.

P.S. Have to agree with Michele extending leads are not a good idea for Greyhounds their necks are too delicate.

Laura, you seem to dig yourself a hole each time you post!

The dog may trot 99.99% of the time however on that rare occassion it sees a rabbit, hare, dear, bit of paper blowing in the wind, it'll be off like a bullet. I also agree that extendable leads are unsuitable, think of the poor dogs neck.

I am cringing at this young girls true belief in her knowledge of dogs, hounds in particular. I only hope she takes on board all the advice she has been given, if not for her sake, for the sake of the safety of her dogs.

Well, it had to happen !!! An outside party phoned me to say that one of our rehomed dogs is dead.
A sweet tiny little lurcher has been put to sleep because of this arrogant, irresponsible, gum bumping family. I spoke to Laura's mother on the phone tonight to be told that little Lily ( aka Precious ) had to be put to sleep because she had downed a deer in Ladybank woods. She said that the deer hobbled off. She had the audacity to say that Lily had never looked happy at Union Farm kennels and so she had her put to sleep. I could vaguely understand the accident but simply cannot accept this crass statement. The dog should have been returned to where she came from and that way she would have been rehomed to a safety conscious family. She also said that Lily had caught rabbits before this. Was that not warning enough !!
I had to listen to bleating about her not being a grey and therefore she did not think she needed to lead her. All dogs can chase rabbits and deer , does this warrant putting her to sleep ? Then she asked if I would like to speak to Laura as if her opinion counted. We all have read her arrogant rantings.
However, this family have a beautiful female grey called Isla. Mother tells me on the phone that she only lets her off the lead when she is up Munroes ! Excuse me but are there no deer up in the hills?? We are worried sick that something befalls Isla who we rehomed to them. We will have a word with the dog warden.
How did we trust a dog to Laura and her family? Well on the face of it they were doggie people. Laura used to work at Union Farm and left over differences. She met Nanette Jackson in the car park at our dog show. She was in tears and begged her job back. She had already posted all her guff on the forum as you can see above but everyone agreed to let bygones be bygones. When she went back to Union Farm she clapped eyes on Lily and mummy and her adopted our wee lurcher. We thought they had seen the arrogance light didn't we?
Laura does not work at Union Farm anymore and we are glad about that.
Oh, blue eyed Lily, we let you down, care was not taken by this family as there are many small dogs in the Ladybank wood. It could easily have been one of them as they knew you caught rabbits. You did not deserve the hard life you had and we are in sorrow for your whole life experience. Moved from pillar to post, you would have expected to be alright when you came to us, but we let you down.
Tonight I am shaking, I am angry and so very sad and I won't sleep tonight.
R.I.P. darling Lily, I am so sorry. You'll meet better people over Rainbow Bridge.
Celia.

UNBELIEVABLE

How many warnings did that family require. Absolutley outraged. Personally I think the human should have been put down not the grey.

A disgusted greyhound owner

R.I.P. Lily

I am absolutely shocked having read back through all these previous posts.

Celia and Jimmy, please do not feel bad for Lily. As always, you did what seemed best for her at the time in finding her a new home, as you do with all your beautiful dogs. The decision of this family to have Lily put to sleep instead of returning her to you should be on their conscience not yours.

There are just some people in this world who are unable to accept sensible and logical advice from others who have more experience of sighthounds, and these people will always think they know better than anyone else.

I just hope this family realise the mistakes they have made and finally listen to the advice previously given and keep Isla on a lead (not flexi lead) at all times.

All we can do is live in hope

Karen

How dare she end the life of the sweet girl i knew as Precious! She knew very little of life along with my boy lurcher Fly, both being kept in a caravan as a kennel with little socialisation and no love.

I am appalled that a so called hound lover could be so uncaring as to put her to sleep without consideration, if only i had known i would have taken her in ...she deserved so much more!

I thank Celia and Jimmy for stepping in and taking her in at a time when i just couldn't keep her but right now i wish with all my heart that i had kept her and then she would not be at rainbow bridge but enjoying life as i had hoped for her.

How callous can some people be!!!! The mistake was on the part of her so called owner but this little lass has lost her life and her only chance at life.

May she never own a dog again!!!!

I am absolutely gobsmacked. Why on earth was Precious/Lily put to sleep?! She was only doing what was natural . . . the clue is in the name "SIGHT HOUNDS". If her owners hadn't been so irresponsible to have let her off her lead in the first place she would never had had the opportunity to injure the deer. Having re read all the posts re Greyhounds Off The Lead it beggars belief that they still thought that they knew best. As for the "trotting" off lead & not running does she not know that greys can reach 40mph in 4 strides?! . . . Also a very good reason for not using a Flexi Lead.
I'm at a loss for words & very sad for poor wee Precious/Lily
Run free at the rainbow bridge Precious

Celia & Jimmy,
I feel for you on reading your post regarding Precious as she was known at G.R.F. her name before she was re-homed.
This once again has not helped G.R.F or any other hound rescue in their quest to find loving homes where they will be ALWAYS LOOKED AFTER. Even if it means keeping them on the lead at least you have the control to help alleviate any situations that might occur quickly.

Why oh why do some people not listen or take advice? Is it because they think they know it all having had dogs before, They think it will never happen to me. But hounds are different with the hunting instinct. and great speed to chase they WILL catch their prey. The recall goes and the basic survival instinct takes over, It only takes one time and BANG its too late. And then maybe that's when you wished you had not let the advice given to you be second to your ego.
Please look after Isla and make sure this can not happen again.

R.I.P. little girl you deserved better!!!



Precious Rest in peace!

Run free wee girl, no-one can ever abuse you again

hi Celia And Jimmy,
i cant believe that gorgous little girl was put to sleep!
i would never let Thor or Lady off the lead they both listen to me and Scott when out but if Thor spots a small furrie he will not listen and takes a while to settle him down and i still wont take him out for a walk for a muzzle as i couldnt forgive myself if he did catch something.
poor lily
xxx