Post by houndlover33 on Dec 2, 2012 17:43:59 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have a full-time job and live alone although I have a partner who lives in Manchester which I visit during the weekends. We alternate our visits and we respect each other's need for work during the weekdays.
I've seriously wanted a Greyhound, a retired racer to adopt. I feel that I am ready and have been reading up for some time now. Like all anxious first timers, I have a few questions. I have helped kept a family dog before (we actually had 3 different dogs, cross breeds and a siberian husky who still lives with us). But as I now live alone, I'd like a dog to spend my life with.
Here are the questions and hope you can advice:
1. I live in a one-bedroom flat. It's not large by any means but decent and the living room would be "spacious" enough for the Greyhound. Am I wrong? would a one-bedroom apartment be suitable?
2. I live on the second floor and have been told that stairs might be a problem for some Greyhounds. Can they be trained or as a rule of a thumb, stairs should be avoided?
3. Toileting - I don't have the luxury of a fenced garden or a garden but the parks and waterways are all within walking distance. But for toileting, has anyone used the bathtub or the toilet for dogs? It might sound gross, but I'm exploring options. My flooring is a parquet veneer (wood board) flooring in the living room and toilet; while carpeted in the bedroom.
4. Taking for walks - I plan to do this in the morning and when I get home by 5 in the evening. And as I live close to where I work, I will be able to drop home for lunch and do a quick walk. What would you think of this arrangement? I've also made plans with a friend who's a retiree and does the odd pet sitting to take care of the Greyhound when I am away (which i think will be very rarely).
5. Apart from walks, getting a good petplan pet insurance and the occasional visit to the vet, what other things do I need to be aware of? Possibly a multitude of things that could happen, but say what are the common things to be really aware of?
6. Apart from the standard kitchen drawers and the tables, I have a plush sofa. Do I need to put the sofa away just in case the Greyhound ravages it? Or will this no happen?
Thanks, and I appreciate your time.
Houndlover33
I have a full-time job and live alone although I have a partner who lives in Manchester which I visit during the weekends. We alternate our visits and we respect each other's need for work during the weekdays.
I've seriously wanted a Greyhound, a retired racer to adopt. I feel that I am ready and have been reading up for some time now. Like all anxious first timers, I have a few questions. I have helped kept a family dog before (we actually had 3 different dogs, cross breeds and a siberian husky who still lives with us). But as I now live alone, I'd like a dog to spend my life with.
Here are the questions and hope you can advice:
1. I live in a one-bedroom flat. It's not large by any means but decent and the living room would be "spacious" enough for the Greyhound. Am I wrong? would a one-bedroom apartment be suitable?
2. I live on the second floor and have been told that stairs might be a problem for some Greyhounds. Can they be trained or as a rule of a thumb, stairs should be avoided?
3. Toileting - I don't have the luxury of a fenced garden or a garden but the parks and waterways are all within walking distance. But for toileting, has anyone used the bathtub or the toilet for dogs? It might sound gross, but I'm exploring options. My flooring is a parquet veneer (wood board) flooring in the living room and toilet; while carpeted in the bedroom.
4. Taking for walks - I plan to do this in the morning and when I get home by 5 in the evening. And as I live close to where I work, I will be able to drop home for lunch and do a quick walk. What would you think of this arrangement? I've also made plans with a friend who's a retiree and does the odd pet sitting to take care of the Greyhound when I am away (which i think will be very rarely).
5. Apart from walks, getting a good petplan pet insurance and the occasional visit to the vet, what other things do I need to be aware of? Possibly a multitude of things that could happen, but say what are the common things to be really aware of?
6. Apart from the standard kitchen drawers and the tables, I have a plush sofa. Do I need to put the sofa away just in case the Greyhound ravages it? Or will this no happen?
Thanks, and I appreciate your time.
Houndlover33