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Post by oscar468 on Nov 18, 2013 2:12:58 GMT -5
I have a bit of a dilemma. My wife and I have reserved 2 ex-racing greyhounds (boy and girl) as have fallen in love with both of them. They have been kenneled together since their racing days, and continue to be at the RGT
If we decide to just take one of them, will their settling in be that more difficult as they will miss their partner?
Alternatively will taking both make their life (and ours!) more easier?
No other pets or children are in the household
Any advice greatly appreciated
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Post by Lisa on Nov 18, 2013 2:22:55 GMT -5
If they are a bonded pair then taking the two can be easier as they have each other through the settling in. The only downside is that you will need to be willing to deal with two lots of house training, two lots of reactive dogs on walks etc if neither are use to seeing other dogs out and about. We will only home 2 dogs together when they are use to being together and it has plus and minus sides to it. If you have enough time on your hands and no other commitments then it can work really well.
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Post by vickyb on Nov 18, 2013 4:09:44 GMT -5
We met a couple last week who had adopted 2 gorgeous greyhound girls who had always been together from their racing days to rehoming kennels and so needed to be homed together. They said it was the best thing they'd ever done. They said they were just so happy together and had settled really well.
Good luck with whatever you do but I do wonder if you will have problems settling just one in as it may be lonely and both may pine if separated. Some of ours wouldn't cope with being a lone dog despite being adopted individually. I am biased though as I prefer having at least 2, and currently have 4, but being realistic it depends what you feel you are able to cope with as Lisa says.
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Post by oscar468 on Nov 18, 2013 4:40:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. They are both very placid and walk brilliantly together. RGT are also going to introduce them to some smaller dogs this week to see how they get on with them and feed back to us. We are due to pick them up in 2 weeks, so need to make a decision pretty soon.
Lisa- we do have other commitments in terms of work certain days of the week, so wouldn't be able to be around all the time for them
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Post by vickyb on Nov 18, 2013 4:50:08 GMT -5
You may find that a pair would be happier being left alone together while you're at work than individually but if you were really unlucky they could unleash double the trouble but who can say until they're tried in a home.
They sound lovely.
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Post by oscar468 on Nov 18, 2013 4:59:03 GMT -5
Vickyb - They are indeed lovely, hence the dilemma!! Will keep the forum posted of developments. Any other views in the meantime are most welcome!
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Post by lurchernut on Nov 18, 2013 6:11:03 GMT -5
Personally I have never had one dog on their own, even when growing up as a child.
I presently have 5. I do find though that, one dog can be a steadying or calming presence on an other one, but it can also work the other way around too, and one can be a trigger to start unwanted behaviour in the other.
I would suggest trying to be with your prospective hounds while they are being introduced to unfamiliar dogs or experiences and observe how they interact together to unfamiliar stimuli, and then judge if you would be able to cope with their behaviour whatever it might be. You should also keep in mind that everything for a good while is going to possibly have an effect on them as they are coming straight from a racing/kennel environment and you might be expecting behaviour you would associate with a socialised pet dog. Try to remember that a lot of greyhounds, after a period of time will behave very differently than their initial behaviour, and if you are willing to devote the time to settle and help them you will be rewarded with the most fabulous quirky and loving companions.
I personally would worry about splitting up a bonded pair and then expecting one to deal with all the many challenges ahead, and if you feel you could only manage one, then it might be better for them if you see if there is a single grey that you could fall in love with.
Good luck! I do hope you are able to go ahead with your double adoption. It is good to see new houndie parents seeking advice and looking to make the best possible choices.
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Post by julies on Nov 18, 2013 8:13:14 GMT -5
Go with your heart then you'll be more inclined to work thro problems  Pros and cons ... Welcome to greyhounds Julie |
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Post by greybeard on Nov 18, 2013 9:20:36 GMT -5
When we adopted our girls they had to go as a pair - grey and lurcher 1/2 sister.They'd always been together.It was probably easier for us cos Tillie greyhound was not an ex-racer and they were used to being in a home.Plus we used to having 2 dogs.Cath
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Post by ragsysmum on Nov 18, 2013 11:54:01 GMT -5
I think taking both will actually be easier. They'll keep each other company when you are not there and will no doubt settle better into home life gaining confidence from each other. I'd go for it, but then, it's easy for me to say as we have had two or three for several years now.
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Post by loopylou on Nov 18, 2013 17:51:08 GMT -5
If it were me I'd go for it. We had a similar dilemma when we picked up our first Grey Suggs. We fell for his kennel mate and he was bonded with her too. We chickened out though. It ended happily though Dizzy went to a lovely person and we became good friends and five months later we adopted Molly from Gap. We sadly only had Molly for 11 months she had to be PTS but since then we have added another four to keep Suggs company lol I always tease Dizzy's Mum Jen and call Diz my nearly dog. Good luck and pictures please when you get your new addition/s
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