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Post by vickyb on Nov 12, 2008 4:44:04 GMT -5
I would say mine would chase each other or anyone elses dog whether indoors or out ! ? It's all about assessing the risks, there is a potential for accidents to happen anywhere but there is much less risk of anything happening in an enclosed area. We need to be aware & accept the risks of our dogs if they are running freely off lead, especially if they are greyhounds. At the end of the day they are our dogs and our decisions but ultimately it's the dog that faces the consequences if anything goes amiss. A greyhound chasing & playing with another dog isn't without risk, as mine have been injured doing it. But in my experience a greyhound chasing a dog in play is totally different from one that is chasing prey. Why don't we just wrap them in bubble wrap and never let them out? As owners it is up to us to decide what we believe to be an acceptable level of risk v quality of life. I know both Gracie and River wouldn't be the calm happy dogs they are without the chance to run off lead. They need to kick up their heels daily. I accept that the other side of that is whether they pose a risk to other animals too. There is a risk to walking them across the road on leads. I think that we all have to do what is right for each individual dog and the environment in which they live and are walked in. I'm not saying that anyone is wrong for never letting their dogs off, I fully accept it's not always possible but I do resent being told that greyhounds should never be let off. My dog, my responsibility, my risk assessment, my pain and guilt if it goes wrong. Their safety and quality of life. MTA Sorry Bev, this wasn't a dig at you as I'd not read your post until I'd done mine as we were obviously posting at the same time so ref to roads was purely coincidental. |
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Post by Bev on Nov 12, 2008 5:13:28 GMT -5
Vicky - we all take risks with our dogs, every day (unless, as you say, we wrap them in bubble wrap and never let them leave the settee).
But ultimately, they are greyhounds and more often than not, a greyhound needs to only be let off the lead in a very secure and suitable area. That's why I won't ever just have greyhounds! I love to see my dogs running around free on the fields, playing chase with other dogs they meet, running after tennis balls etc etc. But the greyhounds are not often the dog to do this with and I know that and accepted it when I started adopting them.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2008 5:30:43 GMT -5
The tragic accident your talking about could have happened in an in closed area just as much as in the open while running. Val. x Of course a freak accident can happen anywhere. But in a safely enclosed area you lose the risk of spending days worrying and searching for a dog that has been able to run off. And the OP has said that her dog has selective hearing. As in everything in life, there has to be an acceptable risk - and imho the risk of losing my dog is not acceptable. |
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Post by Lisa on Nov 12, 2008 6:09:52 GMT -5
The tragic accident your talking about could have happened in an in closed area just as much as in the open while running. Val. x Im sorry but I dont agree. There are differences between tragic accidents caused by fluke situations ie there is one tree in an area and the greyhound hit it, or there is a fence that the greyhound slipped and hit at break neck speed in an area otherwise safe to run. Then there are areas that are accidents waiting to happen and everytime that a sighthound is let off in that area the risk of it happening is waiting. Heavily wooded, thick areas of density with lots of prey to be chased in my minds eye im sorry is not a safe area. Its not an area that sighthounds should be allowed to run. There is a difference to wrapping them up in cotton wool and risk management. To me even a greyhound with a suitable element of recall should only be run on open, clear ground where they can be kept a close eye on and you can see them for a good distance. If you cant its not safe. There is no way of assessing the situation to the best of your knowledge ie other prey animals, fencing, trees or other off lead dogs that the pose a risk to or pose a risk to you off lead dog. |
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Post by dominique on Nov 12, 2008 6:14:07 GMT -5
The tragic accident your talking about could have happened in an in closed area just as much as in the open while running. Val. x This is sadly very true, but with an important difference. We all would have known instantly what had happened to her, but as it was the majority (all) of the members of this forum and many others as well where besides themselves with worry, scared that she was cold, lonely, possibly injured or had fallen into the wrong hands. I was merely using it as an illustration of how heart braking it is to lose a hound and not know whether it is safe. How it's torture to think that it may be injured, cold, hungry and lonely. It is the worst possible nightmare that any dog owner can experience. No offense was intended and I sincerely hope that none was taken  |
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Post by Lisa on Nov 12, 2008 6:32:58 GMT -5
You are quite right Dominique I only feel gutted to say that she was lucky she was killed outright how can that be lucky? She paid the ultimate price. She could however have lain injured and suffering for days till she had been found. Val are you saying you still feel there is no more risk involved and you would still be willing to let the others off in an area like this? |
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Post by Magpie on Nov 12, 2008 6:37:27 GMT -5
"Val are you saying you still feel there is no more risk involved and you would still be willing to let the others off in an area like this?"
this is my worry i cant bear the thought of it happening again
judy
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Post by goon on Nov 12, 2008 8:48:59 GMT -5
Hi,
Are you the lady I met on the common in Stone yesterday? I had the ginger loony Ted with me and yours was a black and white greyhound called (I think) Charlie. If so, welcome to Gap! (Or even if not, welcome to Gap!)
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Post by jackie on Nov 12, 2008 9:34:32 GMT -5
Please only allow your greyhound offlead in an enclosed area. Be aware of risks, other dogs, trees, holes, barbed wire, even brambles can tear them badly. They are so much faster than other dogs they are far more likely to take a serious tumble or have an accident. At my GAP homecheck it was made perfectly clear to me that if I rehomed a greyhound it was not a suitable breed to be allowed offlead in an area which is not enclosed. I sometimes think that it should be part of the adoption agreement of all greyhound rescues that all adopters sign to say that they have understood this.  |
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Post by vickyb on Nov 12, 2008 9:41:46 GMT -5
I don't understand, there are endless pictures on here of off lead hounds, clearly not in an enclosed area. Are we all bad owners then who shouldn't have our hounds?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2008 9:48:00 GMT -5
I don't understand, there are endless pictures on here of off lead hounds, clearly not in an enclosed area. Are we all bad owners then who shouldn't have our hounds? Sorry but I don't see any mention of bad owners who shouldn't have hounds because they let them off lead anywhere. I see people giving their opinions, advice and experiences to a new greyhound owner, who has stated that their dog has selective hearing, about a potentially life endangering action. Some people have hounds that can & are let off lead others don't, it's their choice. I think it's very important that people realise that they have a greyhound not 'just a dog'. ETA: Not all people appreciate what can happen in an off lead situation & giving a worst case scenario even if it makes grim reading isn't a bad thing. If I wanted dogs that can run around off lead I'd have sent these 3 back to Lisa a long time ago. I've had scares & learnt from these & if I can help others to avoid the same mistakes or to think about & be prepared for what can happen then I will. |
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Post by dominique on Nov 12, 2008 10:15:24 GMT -5
I don't understand, there are endless pictures on here of off lead hounds, clearly not in an enclosed area. Are we all bad owners then who shouldn't have our hounds? Sorry but I don't see any mention of bad owners who shouldn't have hounds because they let them off lead anywhere. I see people giving their opinions, advice and experiences to a new greyhound owner, who has stated that their dog has selective hearing, about a potentially life endangering action. Some people have hounds that can & are let off lead others don't, it's their choice. I think it's very important that people realise that they have a greyhound not 'just a dog'. ETA: Not all people appreciate what can happen in an off lead situation & giving a worst case scenario even if it makes grim reading isn't a bad thing. If I wanted dogs that can run around off lead I'd have sent these 3 back to Lisa a long time ago. I've had scares & learnt from these & if I can help others to avoid the same mistakes or to think about & be prepared for what can happen then I will. I couldn't agree more. |
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Post by goon on Nov 12, 2008 10:17:37 GMT -5
Hmmm, lots of views here. For my part, I'm not sure what you'd call an enclosed area. Ted has the run of four fields and a strip of woodland, and he'd have to try very hard to get out in to danger. However, there are rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, crows, trees, brambles, holes and lots of other dogs.
He had two slight encounters with the wire initially (no worse than cuts I picked up as a kid playing out). He knows exactly what it is and does now. Occasionally he'll come home with a cut from a bramble thorn, but I used to do that EVERY time I rode my mountain bike.
I certainly don't think I'm letting him take undue risk. He LIVES for his offlead time, and is exposed to much less risk than the vast majority of working lurchers (although a worker he is not).
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Post by vickyb on Nov 12, 2008 10:30:28 GMT -5
Please only allow your greyhound offlead in an enclosed area. Be aware of risks, other dogs, trees, holes, barbed wire, even brambles can tear them badly. They are so much faster than other dogs they are far more likely to take a serious tumble or have an accident. At my GAP homecheck it was made perfectly clear to me that if I rehomed a greyhound it was not a suitable breed to be allowed offlead in an area which is not enclosed. I sometimes think that it should be part of the adoption agreement of all greyhound rescues that all adopters sign to say that they have understood this. This is the comment that prompted my query, I think it's quite clear. |
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Post by Nettie on Nov 12, 2008 10:32:08 GMT -5
Hmmm, lots of views here. For my part, I'm not sure what you'd call an enclosed area. Ted has the run of four fields and a strip of woodland, and he'd have to try very hard to get out in to danger. However, there are rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, crows, trees, brambles, holes and lots of other dogs. He had two slight encounters with the wire initially (no worse than cuts I picked up as a kid playing out). He knows exactly what it is and does now. Occasionally he'll come home with a cut from a bramble thorn, but I used to do that EVERY time I rode my mountain bike. I certainly don't think I'm letting him take undue risk. He LIVES for his offlead time, and is exposed to much less risk than the vast majority of working lurchers (although a worker he is not). Yes but you're talking about a lurcher, they seem to have just slightly more brain cells that greyhounds, and then I think it depends what mix of lurcher. Indy for instance greyhound x saluki definitely needs an enclosed area, lurchers who are collie crosses tend to be much more biddable and reliable on recall providing training has been put in. Although caution is needed for all these hounds because they can run so damn fast. |
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