Do You Think These Puppies Would Be Suitable?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Im thirteen and im looking for a dog at the pound. there are about 5 greyhound puppies there. what do you think? they are four months old and it says they are really friendly. we already have a poodle that i groom, train and exercise who is a great dog. i would do all that with my dog. what would you think about a greyhound puppy? i would take very good care of it and am very responsible with my poodle who is going to turn 3. what do you think?
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What kind of poodle? If the poodle is a small dog, then you’ll have to be very careful as Greyhounds have a serious serious prey drive. Even doing the ridiculous myth of “raising them from a puppy to get them used to the other dog” doesn’t always work.
Sighthounds are wonderful creatures, but you really really have to be prepared for one.
They must ALWAYS be on a sighthound leash/martingale collar.
You MUST have a 6′ minimum fenced yard if you plan on letting the dog off-leash
You must have a vet that’s famililar with sighthounds as they require special care
You must know how to train a sighthound. Hit a greyhound and I guarantee the dog will NEVER trust you again. Heck, raise your voice excessively at a Greyhound and he’ll never fully trust you again.
Added:
While retired racers are mellow, Greys that have never raced tend to be super high strung or super active.
Greys need someone in the house the majority of the day. You are 13. Who is going to look after the dog in 5 years? Will they be home enough to deal with this dog?
I’m a bit concerned, with respect, that at 13, this decision is being left up to you? Somebody has asked, where will you be in 5 years’ time – it’s worth considering.
There are issues too with taking on an ex-racer (although they don’t all have a high prey drive – some are retired because they won’t race!!). It is worth thinking about however, re your current dog – especially if he’s small. It could spell trouble. For that reason, I think I’d be more inclined to go with the puppy. But rescuing an ex-racer is always a good thing because there are so many out there looking for a sofa to snooze on. The Rescue people are usually very good however, and will consider your current dog/home set up before they allow their Rescues to be rehomed.
But I do feel you have to have your parents onboard with this decision.
I think you seem responsible and it seems like a great idea! Greyhounds are such cute and fun dogs. Remember though, they may be fast but they tire quickly and are VERY lazy dogs haha! People assume they are full of energy and crazy 24/7 because they race. They arent! They can be hyper alot but not always and they do not need tons of excersice! They love to go on walks and go out and play but when they are done, they are done! In the house they are the most loving sweet lap dogs (They dont know there to big to be a lap dog haha!) They are SUPER sensitive so you have to be careful with that, they need to be loved and have attention and since you have another dog that would be great! Make sure to do research if you need to learn about the breed! Have fun!
They are good dogs and Shelter dogs need homes.
Greyhounds are big though, Maybe you should try to find a Miniature greyhound from a shelter.
But if your up for a bigger dog then go ahead.
Also, This greyhound will need alot more exercise than your poodle. And some have bad skin problems. Go to some greyhound websites and Do a little more research just to be sure. Google, Facts about greyhounds…
I did SOOOO much research before I got my husky and WOW…It’s a lot different then you think. Reading isnt just all you need to do. Volunteer at that shelter…. Ask if you can walk a few of the dogs and Play with them, that way you get to know the dog before letting it into your home, And you could choose the right one from experience instead of Love at first sight.
Most shelters would prefer you do that, So just ask and Good luck!
i also have a poodle, and i think she’s great for me. good job with your poodle, but i think you need to think twice about a greyhound puppy. sure, it does look cute now. but it will grow and be a lot bigger than your poodle. also think, are you ready to take full responsibility of two dogs? and do you think both of them would get along? anyway, i hope you don’t rush in this decision. try and weigh all the advantages and disadvantages and work from that. good luck!
Well, is the poodle a standard or miniature?Read this on “Temperament” I don’t know much about you so I wouldn’t know but this might help.: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greyhound.ht… (“…they do not usually make good playmatesfor young children…”
If you’ve done your research on the breed, and you feel that is a suitable breed for your lifestyle..
also do consider how much work puppies are.. yes, they are cute.. but they chew, they whine, they pee.. I personally would prefer to adopt an adult.
Greyhounds are great! They are really fast too! As a groomer, keep in mind that they are very different from poodles. Different diets, training, etc are necessary for the greyhounds
Good luck!
sounds like you take great care of your poodle but just keep in mind a greyhound is atleast triple the size of a poodle! can you handle a large do?
I’d be VERY concerned with any greyhound, esp a retired racer seeing a small fluffy poodle as a bunny! Greyhounds kill bunnies!
Hmmm…Greyhounds. for an athletic adult who can spend hours a day on exercising and pampering it? for a thirteen year old who already has a dog? mabye not. Greyhounds are bred to run. Stray or not, its an instinct to them. i think you should go for something smaller and easier to handle. Mabye a Golden Retriever. Here are some reasons not to get a greyhound…
1. They shed.
Yes, they have a short light coat. Yes, they are easy to groom and maintain. But they are dogs and like every other breed that has fur they do shed. They shed lightly, but they do shed. Get used to it or get a stuffed toy. If you don’t think you can become accustomed to thinking of dog hair as a condiment, don’t get a greyhound.
2. No matter how gentle Greyhounds look, they are still large to very large dogs.
An overly excited, untrained 45-95 pound Greyhound may knock down smaller children or a a frail person. And Greyhounds tend to hold their ears back and their tails tucked and balk when they are stressed. Folks that don’t know the breed might mistake this for aggression and find it too frightening to live with –especially in a dog this large.
3. Dogs and lawns are not a great combo.
Unless you have a very large yard that you can section off so your dog has his own area, it isn’t likely that you can have a great lawn and a greyt dog. Get used to it or get a cat so you can use a litterbox. Greyhounds love to run and while they don’t need a lot of exercise, when they run they will destroy your landscaping. If gardening is your passion, a dog who loves to run may not be your best choice.
4. Dogs make messes.
Even the best mannered, best trained dog gets sick. and if he gets sick, he isn’t going to rush to the kitchen or the bathroom or some other easy to clean surface. The rugs are where the traction is–that’s where he’ll barf. Even elegant-looking dogs like Greyhounds get gas, barf, and/or get diarrhea at some time in their lives. Dogs track in dirt. Dogs and fancy furnishings, expensive rugs, and elegant decor aren’t a good mix. If you can’t stand a little dirt and fur, if fancy things are really important to you, or if your life’s dream is replacing Martha Stewart, don’t get a dog–even a quiet, clean dog like a Greyhound.
5. Greyhounds love (and need) soft, warm places.
If you want a dog that you can house outdoors or if you can’t stand the idea of a dog on your bed or furniture, this is not the breed for you. Greyhounds are not suited to living outdoors and those bony joints need padding and a soft warm place to rest.
6. If you are under 20, chances are you don’t have time for another dog.
If you attend high school and all your time is spent at soccer games and school activities, unless your Greyhound can be part of the activities, you don’t have time for a dog. Dogs are social animals that need physical and mental stimulation. And just because they are quiet, gentle dogs, doesn’t mean they don’t need to be trained. Training isn’t about obedience as much as it’s about forming a trusting relationship and establishing a way to communicate.
7. Dogs and children are not as compatible as Hollywood would have you believe.
Greyhounds have little padding and they have skin that tears easily.They have little protection from falling toddlers or rowdy children. They have a quiet nature and do best in a tranquil environment. If one of your siblings are under school age or your siblings are particularly active, don’t get a Greyhound.
I’d even go a step farther and tell you don’t get any adult dog if you have young siblings. Dog bites are one of the leading causes of death in children. And I can assure you, biting a child is a leading cause of death in dogs. If you insist on combining children and dogs, research breeds very carefully and commit yourself to learning and taking all the steps necessary to make the combination work. See the Resource Review section for more information.
8. Just because your lifestyle and interests change doesn’t mean you can abandon a dog like a used toy.
Divorces, job changes, relocations, and new babies happen. If you can’t be as close to certain as humanly possible that your retired racer will be part of your life for all of his life, don’t adopt.
9. Greyhounds are easy live with but they do have special needs.
Their lack of body fat, long thin bones, fragile skin, and sensitive souls means they need to be protected from extremes of temperature, rough environments, and inappropriate handling. Thousands of years of breeding to build quick reaction times, create blazing speed, and to foster work away from and independent of human direction means they must be kept safely in fenced areas or on leash at all times.