Fostering as a first-time dog owner? - Update and Thanks

[2tuxedos]

We get that with family too Alfiemoon they organise stuff without consulting us first and then wonder why we either turn it down or leave early because the travel eats into time we can spend there. They do effect work decisions too, but thankfully now i'm home all day so not an issue. Although usually people accept that you have to bring your kid along where dogs aren't welcome.

It was a change in lifestyle when we became dog owners but where one door shuts socially another opens, so we don't go into the city much these days for shopping/cinema/gigs but instead we do plenty of walks in different places, go to dog training &events etc instead and have met friends via the dogs. While a similar commitment to kids i don't find them as tiring, i think greyhounds are much easier than many dog breeds anyway as mine will sleep for the majority of the day and quite content with a walk & meals inbetween the snoozes, even when my lad was 2yrs he wasn't hugely more active tbh but at 9 he's not wanting as long walks most days.

I think main advice i'd give to someone thinking of adopting a greyhound/lurcher (or any dog really) is to research & pick a decent rescue as not all assess the dogs (or adopters) as well as Gap do to ensure the best match. This will probably also help with the anxiety if you are confident that you know in the main what to expect with the dog. I adopted a pair of 2yr old greyhounds as a newbie dog owner & it all worked out fine but the rescue didn't really know what the dogs were like away from the kennels on walks etc.

[vickyb]

I don't think it's like having a 5 yr old because they do have an off switch unlike kids! they don't constantly hassle you for attention and you can go out and leave them without arranging a babysitter (for a reasonable length of time!)

Give me a dog any day! As long as they are fed, walked, played with in 30 second bouts (greyhounds don't do much longer in one go lol) loved and cuddled life is good. I was going to say they don't answer back but some do!

As regards them being a tie I guess that as we've had dogs for 35 yrs we're just so used to it. People who know us know that they come first and as we don't have back up if anything is longer than I am comfortable leaving them and they can't come with us then we don't go. They go on holiday with us so we don't go abroad.

And just to make you all gasp and think I'm awful it looks like we won't be able to go to our sons wedding as they've arranged it 90mins away so it's a no no - but the dogs come first, I won't kennel them and I can no more leave them alone all day than I could a child but it's their choice to do that. That is our reality of dog ownership.

[nit]

alfiemoon, your lifestyle sounds pretty much exactly like ours! The social life disappeared when the kids came along and I would rather go camping in the UK than trudge off abroad for holidays. If I can put it in the car and go then that suits me just fine. My daughter has already planned where a dog would sleep on a camping holiday!

We have had a number of offers of friends who are dog walkers, holiday care by friends, and recommendations of good kennels for boarding, so at least there are options available.

We have also just received the quote for rebuilding the fence and putting gates on - let's just say, if we get a dog, it'd better be worth it!!!!! :-)

Thanks for all the great posts on here, it certainly gives a good insight into things we need to consider.

[alfiemoon]

It's certainly not cheap owning a dog either. I dare not tot up how much we spend on them!

We went through a lot of anxiety when we first got Alfie - couldn't eat, stressed, thinking 'have we done the right thing'. That lasted several weeks, but we wouldn't go back to where we were before him, despite him not always being the easiest of dogs. According to the rescue fosterers who had him for 13 months, he was the easiest dog they've ever had - hmmmmm.

Our forthcoming wedding 'issue' is a cousin in Manchester....so 4+ hours drive away. Kennels are a no-no for us too - when we collected Greta from the pound kennels, Alfie was terrified by the walk through them. I also wouldn't trust anyone else to walk Alfie due to his reactivity to cats, and he's quite strong with it.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!!

[russd]

I have to agree with sam burns, but as for hounds being like kids ? no, hounds are easier, and if you think dog insurance is expensive try insuring a 17 year old lad who has just passed his car test .....!

I would say that it's been the best thing that happened to me when my wife (jodav) told me we were having a rescue greyhound !(well it's two now).
Definitely some ups & downs but I would not be without a hound now.

russ

[nit]

Thanks russd,

I dread to think about when my two kids want to start driving (my son is already into karting).

With the weather as it is today (cold, foggy, rainy...!) the cat option is far more appealing!

[sassbu]

You'd be surprised at how quickly you get used to walking in murky weather and how you don't mind it much if you have appropriate clothing! I cant tell you how much healthier I am for having a dog, I used to suffer terribly with awful colds that lasted three weeks, for years and years. I've had two colds in five years now and mainly I get barely a sniffle dogs rock!!

[nit]

True. I'm counting on the health benefits! I have to confess that I'm pretty lazy and reluctant to go outside, but when I do I always enjoy it and vow to do it more often! When I told my husband that I was worried about the cost of dog insurance he pointed out that he had just cancelled his gym membership (he gets his exercise by fell-running) and so the pet insurance would count as my 'gym membership' instead!

[kamkay]

It's amazing how in touch with nature you become when you go out every single day:you notice the change of the seasons and explore places that you'd never go to without a hound. And you meet loads of lovely people (and a few nutters).

[vickyb]

Yes, even when the weathers bad it's good to get out in the fresh air. It can be even better than when the weather is good as you don't get the annoying fair weather idiots with out of control dogs! You just get the regular hard core people out there although these days our lot refuse to go if it's really bad!!!

[nit]

Just a note about what we decided to do: We are very close to being ready to commit to getting a greyhound, but I am a bit of a doubter and tend to err on the side of caution so wanted to wait just a little bit longer, as well as having to get a substantial new fence built. However, I couldn't bear the house being so empty without a four-legged friend and I just wanted to do something to help another animal.

The result is that we are now the proud long-term foster carers for an elderly cat from our independent local cat shelter. He is 15 years old, has only a couple of teeth and is on meds for renal failure, and having lost his first owner (who died) then being adopted but returned by another family, he was all forlorn for three months back in the shelter, being repeatedly overlooked (he's not a 'pretty' cat). But despite it all he is very friendly and now enjoying playing chase with the squirrels in the garden! It is lovely to have the presence of another creature in the house again and I feel he has helped me to come to terms with losing our first beloved cat last Easter.

And I really wanted to thank everyone for their extremely helpful comments and advice. I regularly follow the Gap forum and will continue to do so as it is a great way to learn about all the pros and cons of greyhound life. Maybe soon I will be back here as a new owner, but until then, keep up the great work as this is such a friendly, informative and supportive forum.

Thanks again,

Nit

[alexandsteve]

Rescuing an animal no matter what it is, is another life saved. They all deserve a chance.
Congratulations on your new addition and good on you for giving an oldie a happy home xxx

[kamkay]

Lucky cat. We have adopted another black male greyhound, Guinness-let me know if you fancy a walk anytime. K

[Carol 47]

What a lovely lovely thing to have done, and, what a difference you have now made to this precious little mans life . I too have a real oldie from a rescue too that i have now had for 10 years ,( he is nearly 21) he has no teeth now, and, has been on fortikor for years now as he is in kidney failure , plus, he has royal canin renal dried diet (which he eats, and, loves even with no teeth )as this has been proven to extend their lives , and he has done really well with a good quality of life , so, I really pray that your little man has quite a few good years ahead to now look forward too , living life to the full .

Carol x

[George]

What a fantastic update, sounds like he's really landed on his paws. So,pleased for you all, whats his name?