Life with an 18 month old dog

People stop and watch when we run ours on the beach ( only when there are no other dogs around). It’s a sight to behold! She’s from a more sporting line than my previous whippets and is lightning fast.

I use a sighthound collar along with a normal thin one. Obviously don’t put any pressure on the thin one but it’s there for emergencies eg if she panics about something or if another dog is aggressive towards her (seems to happen a lot with sighthounds: not sure why).

MayBee70. Yes a saluki is a sight hound and your right, she would run and run and run for something in the distance I think. Though, when trying different harnesses, she got out of two, quite some months and months ago , so altho I thought 'complete panic' , I ran the other way and held my hand out with a treat in it. Luckily she decided to run to me.
She loves a near by freedom field you can hire sometimes, as it's enclosed and leash of time, so she gets her speed up and does zoomies, it's exhilarating to watch.

We knew anyway but our breeder said to make sure a sighthound can never bolt out of the front door because if they see something in the distance they’ll run straight under a car. You have to change your whole mindset when you have a hound.

She's lovely Neen and the gate is a great idea.

Lovely photo Neen thank you for posting it.

She looks lovely. Yes a gate to keep her back, especially from the door when little ones come in. My Australian shepherd is wonderful with the grandkids, but gets a bit jumpy at the door when they come in. I'm afraid she will knock down the youngest who is 5. I usually hold her collar until the kids are in and the shoes and jackets are off; by then the dog just wiggles ferociously.

Training will take a bit of time, and of course it depends on the dog. A gate should do the trick.

The advice from Smileless is just about perfect. Poor Rana!

Gwyneth thank you. She's a poppet. Here she is mid yawn on holiday.

Thank you everyone

You obviously do an awful lot for your grand children and see then regularly * Neen*. I would definitely wait until your granddaughter is older and understands how to behave around a dog. I agree it is your home and your dog lives with you so you need to consider your dog’s needs too. Dogs are still very lively at 18 months but good training will ensure that dog and grand children can be compatible. Rana looks gorgeous by the way.

Just thought about something. Our dog has a halti lead and, pre covid when we had people coming and going from the house and we were worried eg about our dog running outside we would attach the halti to the table leg or something safe in whichever room she is in. Obviously with a cosy bed nearby.

Smileless2012 and several others. Thank you . It helped just reading the replies and decide on outings only for the little one for now.
I will introduce a stair gate in case there is an emergency one day but I'll do it with just roo and I now and again for now so it feels normal for her and she can still see me etc

apologies, your dog is 18 months old but still young enough to be trained.

At 15 months old your dog is not too old to be trained Neen.

It looks from your OP that your D's only concern with the arrangements you currently have for your GD, is that your bond with her may be affected.

Your home is your home and Rana gives you love and company when you're there alone. I don't agree that this is a matter of you prioritising your dog's needs over your GD's; you're doing what's best for both of them.

IMO you're approach is the correct one. You are spending quality time with your GD whilst ensuring her safety while ensuring that Rana is able to enjoy the freedom she has in her home with you, and I agree that that is her right.

It's OK to say no to having this GD stay overnight if this is something you're not happy to do for whatever reason.

Do look into training though especially one to one in your own home. I know from personal experience that it works wonders and have Iam to thank forgiving me her advice a couple of years ago.

Neen: I do not have overnight stays with the grand-children as they are somewhat nervous of dogs. My eldest dog is almost twelve now and the other one is 10 and they have lived in my home from small puppies and now in old age they will stay with me until whatever time permits.
Daughters children came along and she had two in quick succession when she came I had a crate in kitchen where one dog went and the eldest one went for a lie down on the bed upstairs one of her favourite places and still is. It all worked out okay but then daughter moved about half an hour away and she does not drive and she also had another baby and it was easier for me to drive to her and see the grand-children.
My eldest daughter lived near the grand-children and she does not have children so the two girls had the sleepovers with her. Eldest daughter had a house cat and the GC were terrified of it at first but now they are okay with it.
I have now got my sons GC who is two and half months old and him and his partner call in to see me and so the dogs are put away. I occasionally look after him when they ask me but I pop around to their place to do it much easier and the dogs left at home relax as they wish.

Rana is just beautiful! And she is 18 months old. Still puppy-ish age. She will calm down. But you're perfectly right in saying no overnight stays for now.

Not a fan of sleepovers either. I love my grandchildren but prefer them to sleep in their own homes!

When first GS was born D was very nervous about my greyhound so I used to put her in kennels if they were staying over. D has thawed since then and 2 greyhounds later I know Rosie is bombproof BUT a babygate across the doorway is by far the safest thing to have. It also means the dog is in it's safe space- those little humans can.be very annoying!

Blondiescot noooo I'd never get rid of Rana roo, she's my friend and funny, pretty, cuddly and my dog.
I'm sure as youngest granddaughter gets bigger and roo calms, with extra training thrown in for good measure, all in time will be fine. For now I think, carry on with outings with youngest granddaughter and not at home while I introduce a stair gate to roo lovingly.

Don't get rid of your beautiful dog! A dog is a lifetime commitment and a member of the family like any other one. With a bit of training, you can all learn to co-exist happily!

tanith - indeed.

Children first, dog second. Stick dog in another room or behind a gate if she can't behave around your GC.

Or lose out on enjoying your GC. Choice is yours.

Either is a valid choice, but the child's well-being comes 100% first.

I know the pandemic stopped it anyway but I’d reached the point where having my granddaughter overnight was exhausting me, especially as she’s a 6o’clock riser. Plus the fact that my previous dog was quite happy in the kitchen as I was still working part time when I had her but this one is my constant companion. Sighthounds are great companions for children on the autistic spectrum especially as they love cuddling up to people and aren’t barky. I have a dog gate across the kitchen because my eldest grandson was afraid of dogs and when my younger grandchildren start visiting again I’ll probably get a few baby gates. Salukis are adorable but they’re probably the most difficult sighthounds to train. And like most sighthounds they’re either fast asleep or doing everything at 100 miles an hour. I think, if you get the balance right your dog and granddaughter will become the best of friends. And your dog will start to calm down a bit now she’s older.

Get a dog gate (or a couple of gates). Walk and feed Rana before child arrives, shut her behind a dog gate with her bed, and attend to your grandchild.

The Salukis I have known have all been aloof, and not that bothered about people once past the puppy stage.

My sister was an excellent dog trainer and used to say, ‘no look, no touch, no eye contact’ from folks arriving/ coming into the home. Her dogs realised that people had not come to see them and we’re quiet when later called to greet guests.

Neen I think you are very wise. The 3 year old gd is very young for a big boisterous dog to be around. It could put her off dogs for life. As gd gets a little older and Rana calms down as she gets older and perhaps a little more training then you could consider it.

" LauraNorder'" this made me smile thank you

NannaandGrampy thank you. I am in the process of doing that. The training classes were not open when I first got her. The older ones are very good and stand still so Rana knows no jumping if your standing still, she's just very eager when you first walk in , whether you've been to post box or an hour , the eager still there. I will try the room thing when she visits with her mum next.
I have lymphadema so find it all too much on my own with the worry of the 3 year old but she still comes with her mum it's just when she's on the rota for her turn as all 5 are 1 at a time.