Another What Breed For Me...

[greytdog]

I have so much to think about, I have been researching greyhounds and have found alot of things about them that I no idea, for one that they are lazy

This seems like a pretty common misconception about the breed!

:D My girl spends 90% of her day snoozing, and the rest begging Mum for a cuddle and/or a bikkie. She has a 1/4 acre block to run around in, and never does. I take her for a walk every day that is really no longer than 10 minutes, but she loves it. She reminds me when I "forget". She is so gentle with my rather fragile mother (a person who didn't like the idea of greys, but a couple of days after I got Bianca, said, "Who'd get rid of a nice dog like that?").

I adopted her from GAP, who were well aware of my rather rigid requirements - cat safe, gentle, QUIET (as far as not jumping or rushing around etc so as not to knock Mum over). They found me the perfect dog. I am blessed to have her, and I hope to have her for many more years to come. There will always be a grey in my house.

Bianca is considered cat safe, but would chase a strange cat. She grew to recognise that our cats were part of our pack and were to be respected. Some greys would never be cat safe, but the adoption agency wouldn't send you such a dog as long as they know you have cats (they should ask).

I second the suggestion of fostering first if you were considering one. A reputable adoption service will try to find you the dog to suit your family/lifestyle, and you can foster with a view to adopt, or give the dog back if you find you aren't suited.

[~*Shell*~]

A question I do have to people with large dogs, how do you secure a dog in a car? I imagine a dane would take up the entire back seat of a sedan once grown Might have to get a different car too...

Zero has a ruffwear harness that looks like this:

Then we have a leash thing that attaches to the ring on the harness and clips into the normal seatbelt - it looks like this:

Very quick and very easy to put him in the car.

also you dont need to wash them as they are a clean dog and have a special oil in their coat that acts like a scotch guard effect which is why they say you shouldnt wash them more than a couple times a year as it depletes their natural oil.

Beg to differ nothing worse than a mal that hasnt been bathed .they stink something chronic.

I remember in the show ring many moons ago a few select mal exhibitors who didnt bath & the dogs where sent out & those unlucky to be set up next to them having to put up with ahorrid smell.

We boarded a Mal that hadnt been bathed & smelt like undried dirty washing ,awful smell.

Show mals are bathed weekly so the oils part has nothing to do with it BUT often there is alot of dog & people dont wish to dry them especially in winter so they get wet & stay damp stinkies

Have to agree, the worst smelling dogs I have ever come across have been mals that are not washed enough. A different smell to just dirty dog, a rotting smell.

I occasionally notice a smell on Zero when he hasn't had a bath for a really long time but even my friends tell me he never smells - my house doesn't smell like dog either apparently (and I have friends who aren't dog people and who would tell me if it did). When I notice the smell on him, it's off for a bath right away! He can go months without a bath though. That being said, he's not the type to run off and roll in something disgusting and he when he gets a bath or is out in the rain, i make sure he's properly dried off with the forced air dryer. I'm sure if you didn't dry them properly, they would smell!

[badboyz]

I would suggest you research shar pei. I believe they would fit all your requirements to a tee.

Whatever dog you choose, whether toy or giant, it is vitally important that you socialize it and learn to train it correctly. Good on you for learning from your mistakes and taking the time to research.

[ems999]

HI i just wanted to say that i can understand you want a dog with less energy!! I have a gorgeous male purebred cattle dog and his early years sound a lot like what you experienced with your first dog. I thought all dogs were like this!! Then i got a purebred staffy and couldnt believe a dog could be so lazy!! Maybe you should think about one of these dogs. Very people oriented, sometimes too much, but a smoochy loveable companion. By the way the cattle dog is now 7yrs and has turned out to be the most loyal, gentle boy, although he still has energy to burn! Good Luck with your choice