Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2008 10:36:44 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. Jackie is pointing out the dangers of letting a greyhound off lead, this is directed at a new greyhound owner who may not be aware. When I first had a greyhound I wasn't aware of some of these things, for example how easily their skin can be torn by the most innocuos of things, just how damm fast & determined they can be when they chase. She then goes on to tell of her homecheck experience & her opinion on how a rescue could reinforce the dangers of letting a greyhound off lead, no mention of bad ownership? |
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Post by Lisa on Nov 12, 2008 10:56:45 GMT -5
The thing is though Gareth sorry the thread has moved on  *good* well trained working dogs will be trained to behave in a certain way when they enounter things like barbed wire or wire ie jump them, to leap brambles or to go round them. I think we all discovered why Ted was erm disgarded the first time he encountered brambles in our relatively safe open spaced field and went head first through the only set I think there was in about a 500m square area Thankfully for Ted though he has the coat to sustain a bit more argy bargy than most hounds especially the greyhounds who can cut themselves on a piece of grass let alone a piece of glass  A good well trained working dog will sit at your feet in a field full of rabbit and not run out until put on a send out. A good working owner can have 6 lurchers working at once and the only hound that runs the rabbit will be the ones the owner sends out on that particular run out, the other dogs will remain in a down and wont move an inch. They arnt given free reign to chase its done in a controlled way. Well trained working dogs are in close control al ALL TIMES when out in the field that is what makes a good field dog, nothing to do with its catching prowess but its ability to learn and understand commands. That way the dogs are run safely. They are only sent out in safe areas and if the area becomes unsafe and they miss on that send out it ends they arnt run back out again. Good working owners I can testify wont allow their dogs off in areas of high density such as this I can vouch for that as that is why they declined to join us. I have dogs I can let off in almost all situations. Tzar & Scarlett mainly both have been here from pups but they would never be allowed free running in an area so dense with brambles that humans cant wade through or highly populated with deer. Deer are built to pass through and leap areas of density. Sighthounds arnt. |
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Post by krissibaby on Nov 12, 2008 10:59:20 GMT -5
I had Louie on a long line for a while.............took him to greyhound class, and found an enclosed area (where other people let their dogs off), where not only could we practice recall safely, but his socialisation skills were being worked on too. Once he bonded and took notice of me, and he became familiar with where i took him (not the enclosed area), i let him go, and he's been great ever since. His recall is brilliant, he always watches where i am.....and if he doesn't hear me, but can see me, i run the other way and he soon follows!
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Post by goon on Nov 12, 2008 11:09:52 GMT -5
Granted he's a lurcher, but I wouldn't put him in the high IQ bracket. He's still a gangly, fast, thin-skinned sight hound with a pretty high propensity to chase things, not that different to a greyhound. Not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that people need to assess risk on an individual basis, not just blanket ban dogs from running around. Ted isn't PERFECTLY safe running off lead, but let's face it, he never could be. No dog could. We let him off after a scan around to make sure the cows are out of sight and there are no dogs we are unfamiliar with (and none we know don't get on with other dogs) and he does his thing, with a level of risk attached that we feel is an acceptable trade-off for the obvious joy he gets out of it. Denying him this fun because of what MIGHT happen, no matter how unlikely, would be very wrong of us. (Again, I'm not saying it would be right or wrong for any other dog or owner.) |
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Post by annar on Nov 12, 2008 11:28:04 GMT -5
well i have 4 greyhounds here, 3 are mine and i can say not one goes off lead unless its secure, Arthur needs 4 walls and a ceiling, hes such a danger to himself and others that thats the only way he can run, hence we do the offleads. Chloe and suzie are much slower due to age and they go off in a friends fields which are enclosed with dry stone walling, both girls wouldnt be able to jump it. Chloe used to go off on the common but although i can catch her she has a habit of turning an running for fun not chase and with 3 dogs on lead its just not doable.
my lurchers all 3 can go off and have good recall, they will chase but never kill and stay within a close distance from me. I must say though ive had all my lurchers from a few months old and its only this last year or so (they are all about 6-8yr old) that they go off lead, its took years of work and bonding to trust them, they go off on our local common and woods but they arnt dense and we can walk through easily. they have rabbits and squirrels to chase but nothing else. annax
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Post by vickyb on Nov 12, 2008 11:36:55 GMT -5
. Not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that people need to assess risk on an individual basis, not just blanket ban dogs from running around. Ted isn't PERFECTLY safe running off lead, but let's face it, he never could be. No dog could. We let him off after a scan around to make sure the cows are out of sight and there are no dogs we are unfamiliar with (and none we know don't get on with other dogs) and he does his thing, with a level of risk attached that we feel is an acceptable trade-off for the obvious joy he gets out of it. Denying him this fun because of what MIGHT happen, no matter how unlikely, would be very wrong of us. (Again, I'm not saying it would be right or wrong for any other dog or owner.) My thoughts too, thanks  |
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Post by goon on Nov 12, 2008 12:05:39 GMT -5
Anyway! I feel guilty now, because I met the OP and put her on to Gap as a great place for her to get advice on how to assess and prepare Charlie (if I remember his name correctly), and we've all gone off on one! So, any more strategies to help her out, any of the organised indoor runs locally (Staffordshire) coming up soon? |
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trish
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Post by trish on Nov 12, 2008 12:06:35 GMT -5
In reply to the original question
I don't think 3 months is long enough to bond with a greyhound especially an ex-racer who won't have had much contact with humans and whose prey drive will still be very high
I would need to be 100% sure of the recall to let them off in an open space and know that they would come back from any distraction
Lurchers are a very different kettle of fish and anyone who has got both will know this
I only have a back yard and would love to see Twirl run but even after having her for over a year there is NO chance
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Post by Flaperoo on Nov 12, 2008 12:40:02 GMT -5
After two years of having my Peggy; and one to one training I was conned by her into thinking it was safe to let her off lead. On the very first occasion I let her off on a beautiful wide deserted (or so I thought) North norfolk beach..no cats, no rabbits, no squirrels, no deer, hardly any other dogs, then a horse appeared from behind us and she took off Flash followed suit, but stopped quickly and returned when called. For about 60 seconds (but to me it seemed like an hour) she out ran this horse, with the horse bucking and kicking. I WAS TERRIFIED FOR THE RIDERI thank god that day the woman on that horse was such a competent rider because I'm not sure I could have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her. Peggy has NEVER been allowed offlead since, we live in london with no totally enclosed areas near by, but she is actually very happy just walking by my side. Unless you are 100% sure your dog cannot harm anything else or himself and will come back to you on 100% of occasions when asked. The answer is NO unless you are certain the area is fully enclosed. Mx |
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Post by kirstyandstuart on Nov 12, 2008 13:45:42 GMT -5
Have just read this from the start and there are a lot of very valid points here. At the the end of the day we all love our dogs and only want what is right for them.
I have had Royal for 6 and a half years and it is only in the past 12 months that I have had confidence to let her off lead and then only somewhere she has walked and walked and walked with us first on lead. Also where I can see for miles so can see potential hazards. However, at 11 she still goes if she wants! Kay can attest to that! Royal saw her getting out the car and was off before I knew it!! ;D
Domino is a totally different dog and as I have more confidence in my ability to be a good handler, she is allowed off lead too as she trusts me to protect her. She follows Royal everywhere but has much better recall but this is for me and not my OH!!! ;D
Thus why there are pictures of them running free. ;D
Sadly our first Greyhound badly hurt himself in a freak accident, he turn while playing with two other dogs (one Royal) and snapped his leg, this was in a safe environment it was just one of those things that sadly happens. We lost him three months later after complications. Again we had had him 4 and a bit years and his recall was fantastic but only after a lot of hard work and confidence building between us.
I love seeing my girls run, and think the socialisation days are so good for this.
I am not saying we need to wrap them in cotton wool but just be sensible and assess possible dangers not only to your hounds but to yourself should they get into trouble!
Suggestion from me would be to find somewhere safe and enclosed to learn both your abilities! Am sure this has been said earlier!!!!!
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trouble
Ironing Piling Up
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Post by trouble on Nov 12, 2008 15:47:57 GMT -5
After two years of having my Peggy; and one to one training I was conned by her into thinking it was safe to let her off lead. Unless you are 100% sure your dog cannot harm anything else or himself and will come back to you on 100% of occasions when asked. The answer is NO unless you are certain the area is fully enclosed. Same thing happend to me...conned after 9months to believe it would be safe to let my girl off (ex racer). She took off, not to chase anthing but she ran and ran. I called, whistled,waved cheese - nothing. She went out through a small gap and was on the road. Luckily a woman was getting her shopping out of the car and caught hold of her. Needless to say now she is only let off in a 100% secure area. |
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Post by bluegreyhound on Nov 13, 2008 8:45:27 GMT -5
Can I just also beg that people consider the safety of other animals if they are letting their dogs off lead unmuzzled?
I wouldn't trust our two not to grab a cat or small dog if they had the chance, and that would be horrendous, both for the small animal concerned and its owners, and for the reputation of greyhounds generally (cf that huge fuss after the inflammatory article in Dogs Today some months ago).
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Post by Killotteran King<3 on Nov 13, 2008 13:17:50 GMT -5
hi thanks for all responses, he i s responding well to re call at the moment and the obedience training let me use her enclosed yard as a test, he was really good and came back instantly. but i am going to try this a few more times i think before letting him on the field.
im confident he will get there i guess i just need to wait a lil longer.
;D
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Amber
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Post by Amber on Nov 25, 2008 12:05:03 GMT -5
It's a tough call - and depends very much on the dog in question and the amount of training put in (plus the general environment).
Having said that, both mine go off lead- and did so from early on. Petra in particular would be a miserable dog if only ever lead walked - she lives for free running and playing with toys etc.
If you dont happen to have a large garden or your own secure field, I feel it is wrong (in most cases) to keep a dog that is bred to run, and never allow it to run anywhere. If the dog is a total liability off the lead in open areas, then a safe, enclosed area needs to be found where s/he can let off steam at least once a week.
I'm sure that there are greyhounds in pet homes that are never, ever allowed off lead to run anywhere that seem to be happy enough with lead only exercise, but it's just my personal opinion that for them to have a very good quality of life, provisions should be made to allow them off lead time - the amount of provision made (very large back garden; totally enclosed riding school; fenced farmers field; beach at low tide; much training for open areas) depends upon the responsiveness of the hound to training and the safety of the particular walks or areas.
Pays to be cautious too though and to get to know the dog really well first & to practice a lot in fenced areas, before open areas. JMHO.
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