greyhounds

So you’re thinking you might like a greyhound. You’ve done your research and you think they might be the right dog for you. Just in case you’ve missed something, we thought we’d better put down a few facts, to make sure there are no surprises.

Those elbows

Greyhounds can be very affectionate dogs, they love nothing better than a cuddle. And if you’re on the couch, they’ll snuggle up with you. But that’s where the problem begins – those elbows! They have about a dozen of them, they’re attached to all of those tarantula legs that appear from nowhere and go in every direction. Pretty soon, you’ll be on the floor while you’re greyhound is happily roaching on the couch all by themselves.

That Tongue

In some councils in Queensland it was law to muzzle a greyhound in public (it still is in some areas). Brisbane City Council is now muzzle free; however what they didn’t take into account is those muzzles were there to protect us. Without them that tongue, which definitely seems longer than your usual backyard breed, is able to go everywhere – in your eye, your ear and even up your nose if they get the opportunity. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Thin coats

Greyhounds have thin coats and can often appear with scraps and scratches on their legs for no good reason. So you do need to be conscious of it, but that’s not the biggest problem. In the middle of the night, just as it’s starting to get cold, you will wake up without any doona or blankets. The greyhounds has morphed into a black hole in the middle of your bed and swallowed all the doona and blankets, leaving you to shiver until dawn. And if that wasn’t bad enough – those tarantula legs will appear again!

There is a second challenge posed by their thin coats and bony bodies. You want a dog you can go to your local café with, to hang out on a Saturday drinking pup-o-chinos and reading the paper. That’s fine, you’re greyhound will happily do that with you, on one condition. Don’t forget their bed! You will become one of ‘those’ people who not only dresses your dog in coats and onesies (in a futile effort to keep some doona), but who also has to take almost a full size sofa to your local café. Said hound could not possibly lie on the ground!!

They’re lazy

It’s winter, cold outside, easy to put on a couple kilos after indulging in a few too many hot chocolates. No worries, you’ll start walking. And what better motivation to get you moving than having to exercise your dog. You’ll do an hour a day, that will get you back into shape and the greyhound will love it. Wrong! Half an hour into your walk, they’ve used up all their energy and they want to go home for a nap. That’s if you’ve been able to get them out from under the doona in the first place! And don’t even think of taking them anywhere near wet grass – heaven forbid!

That Scream

You’ve finally managed to get the greyhound off the couch and out for a (shorter) walk. You cross the grass to get onto the footpath and it happens. A shrill so loud and blood curdling that you’re sure the police will arrive at any moment – the greyhound scream of death we call it! The ringing in your ear finally stops and you now have the frame of mind to check what limb has been broken and think through which vet should be open. You check – said greyhound has a prickle in her paw. You remove it and try to get your life back into some sort of order. Finally home, still shaken, you wonder whether 7 am is too early for gin?

That Heart

You thought a new dog would be just what you needed. Someone special to love and adore and make you laugh (constantly). To be with you wherever you go (providing you’ve packed the doona/bed/PJs). To be the most fabulous and fantastic hound ever. OK! You’re fine on that one, the greyhound will work for you. They have a heart as big as Phar Lap’s.

That Addiction

There’s one small additional consideration when getting a greyhound. One greyhound will start you on a slippery slope towards another – soon you will become the crazy greyhound person you’d read about. Your friends will ask: why didn’t you just stop at one? You know why!

https://www.facebook.com/621586837886571/videos/1642535089213484/

Foster Dad David putting babes to bed 🐾💖

Another of our legendary greyhound foster caring families presents, “Animals In Need Brisbane” Greyhound Fostering Video by a 6 year old!