Dog on a train

You're right about the racing greyhounds - so many of them looking for adoption. One of the reasons I considered a retired greyhound was because of this article...

www.therockfollies.co.uk/Out%20of%20the%20race.htm

I took my three year old to the dogs home to road test a suitable dog. the child survived, the dog came home and lived happily with us for thirteen years. This is, on reflection, the kind of anecdote that confirms in the minds of some that dog lovers are indeed, quite bonkers.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201706/medium-562981-fullsizerender.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201706/medium-145862-img-0221.jpg

So tempting, but so are racing greyhounds and there are so many needing a home.
Whatever I do I have to wait until I come back from visiting DD in Sweden and also for them to come back with DGS and granddog, because if and when I get another dog, he/she must be tested and reliable with Basil and with little ones. (Subject to common sense!)

That's exactly what Dunc likes doing. He never catches them of course. Dunc actually is generally a bit of a stick in the mud and just ignores dogs asking him to play. But whippets!!!

ww my young dog is middle size and barks at bigger dogs who run at him. The whippets are the exception, he loves playing chase with them. Maybe, as my first Manager told me, every home needs a whippet or two.

My terrier is in love with whippets!

Yes indeed. My neighbour has two, beautiful in temperament as well as pleasing on the eye. They're unbeatable when a group of us meet up and the dogs play chase.

Like a mini greyhound?

Maw, would a rescue whippet be something to consider? Small, sight hound, fabulous gentle dogs ?

Visit the vet to make sure dog is fine before going for a trip.

PS - I bought a collapsible ramp to allow Greg easy access to the car. No lifting required. ?

I totally get your 'Greynocular' (what a great word) dilemma. They are beautiful dogs. I've never owned one but was quite smitten with one I saw in a shelter during our 'elderly dog hunt'.

The application for Greg grew legs just as we were about to make a decision. If Greg hadn't come along when he did, we'd definitely have opted for the greyhound we saw. There seems to be quite a number available for adoption.

Oh dear - what to do. Over to you Mawbroon.

Once you have had sighthounds they do spoil you for other " normal dogs" They don't fetch (why would you want to do that?) they rarely bark (intruders? No just friends I haven't met before) and know their place (sofa usually) but you do feel a certain affinity with other hound owners. I hope this illustration of "Greynoculars" explains what I mean.
However Greg is such a handsome boy and sounds so impeccably behaved....

And to think of all the times I swore that I would never again have a pet too big for me to lift into the car!

A friend recently adopted a sigh hound who was found roaming, neglected and alone. He went to a foster home for assessment. He is gentle with their grandchildren quiet around the house but his breeding will out on the chase front. They love hime

Oh I am tempted.....but still have a huge soft spot for retired racing greyhounds...... oh dear ??

as a side note, we never bathe our dogs. We use a dry shampoo. I can't remember what it is called but can look at home later for anyone who is interested. You have to rub it in well - we have double coated dogs - then towel it off. No lifting in to bath, no wet doggy smell,and nice smelling dogs afterwards also no bad backs. As they both qualified for Crufts it must work.

Mawbroon - this our first time re-homing a guide dog. It wasn't something we specifically set out to do. We were looking to re-home an older dog and Guide Dogs came up in Google search so I filled in the application. I should say though that I didn't just fill in the form. I gave far more information than the form had room for, on a separate sheet. Apparently that was what made our application stand out as they receive many requests for re-homing.

The main criteria is shown in the link that Gagagran posted. A home visit will take place in order to get to know you (ours took two hours). Showing that you have previous dog experience goes a long way (photos help). It became very clear during interview that the more time you can spend with the dog, the more likely you are to be accepted. We are retired and Greg is always with us. That's what prompted this post in the first place. Having said that, he does sleep downstairs quite happily at night. It's perhaps worth mentioning that we live in a smallish, two bedroom semi so they're not looking for doggy mansions ha ha.

The pitfalls are few and far between. However, indicating willingness to insure your dog is a big plus. It isn't cheap to insure an older dog. Greg's insurance is £50 a month (my car insurance doesn't cost that). Greg himself cost £100 then there's vet bills. Up until they retire guide dogs are totally funded by the organisation. That includes food and all vet bills. I believe it costs £50,000 by the time a guide dog reaches retirement. That stops at retirement and the re-homer becomes responsible for everything.

Greg's play skills are quite limited. Obviously, during training, they'rek taught to have no distractions. This includes our two cats - Greg didn't flinch when he saw them. However, this includes something as simple as a ball. He actively avoids them and has a slightly guilty look if I try to tempt him to play with one. He has 'cuddle toys' and that's fine but he avoids 'moving' toys at all times. I'm trying to persuade him otherwise. The up side is that we live in Bournemouth and he's on the beach almost daily. He loves the water and enjoys playing with other dogs.

He goes to a local groomer every six weeks and they love when he comes in. If you'd seen the palaver not long after we got him with my OH at one end and me at the other, trying to lift 34 kg of dog into the bath, you'd know why he goes to the groomer!

If I've missed anything or if you'd like to know more, feel free to pm. I've never had one of them on GN so that would be quite a novelty ?.

NanaandGrampy - indeed lol. Hopefully his aforementioned card will arrive any day now ?

Thanks all for your good wishes re the appointment. I have unexplained CKD and I was asked to see a specialist. It all went well I think.

Thanks for the update Juney64 amazing to hear how he slipped back into working mode and makes you realise how much he deserves his retirement. Pleased the day went well and hope there is a successful outcome for all of you.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/rehoming-a-guide-dog#.WUeEJ2jys2w

Does this help Maw?

Thanks for the update. Its good to read that your planning worked. Hope the appointment itself also went well.
MawBroon, I have friends who foster guide dog puppies until they're ready for more formal training. Thre friends who worked for guide dogs for fifteen years, are now independent dog trainers, We have a huge black lab who failed to qualify as a guide dog in our group and another friend recently adopted a retired guide dog, another big gentle lab. What a good idea of yours .

Oh I see where this is going Maw

Well done, good dog!
I am hoping the appointment was positive and helpful too.

I would love to know more about rehoming a guide dog. Is this your first? How did you start? Clearly you would recommend it, but are there other hidden pitfalls and what sort of person would be best suited to taking one into their home please? ?

Sounds like all your planning paid off !! Glad AL worked out for you . The world is now officially Greg's oyster

Well, here's the promised update on Greg's day out for anyone who's interested. I've been reluctant to post given the terrible event in London on the evening of our visit. I did promise an update though.

Mawbroon - as you said, thank goodness we didn't have to pay for excess baggage. His 'luggage' did turn out to be quite heavy.

trisher - he did have a lovely day and he was as good as gold. You were absolutely right too about this bringing back memories for him. He was so well behaved in a way I've never seen in him before.

NannaandGrampy - thanks for Addison Lee recommendation. We used them twice on the day and they treated him really well. I see what you mean about their cars being bigger than black cabs. They were really quite luxurious - Greg says thanks... he liked travelling in style!

rubylady - fortunately, as it turns out our DIL took Greg for a walk along the Thames while we were at the appointment (my son came to the appointment too).

Iam64 - I'd be delighted to lead the country if I get TM's shoe allowance! Actually, strike that... I couldn't really care less about fancy shoes and bags. The trend whooshes right over my old head ha ha.

Luckygirl - I'm pleased to say that he didn't 'crap' anywhere inappropriate- a good walk before hand took care of that. He has more 'staying power' than me in that department.

He was great on the train. We managed to find a space between the first class carriage and the next one with only two seats and lots of legroom. We had the same seats on the way there and on the way back. As soon as we sat down, Greg lay down. He definitely went back into 'working' mode and it was fascinating to watch.

When we left the train, he took up his position on my left, walked slightly in front of me, turned his head around to check if I was ready and the second I started to walk - he did too! I got a wee bit teary as I'd never seen this side of him before. He continued like that all day... always walking slowly, always checking.

We did go for lunch - nothing fancy, just fish and chips and a round of drinks for all four of us. Greg lay on his blanket under the table after a feed and a good drink of water. Lunch was my treat as my son had taken a half day off work for this. I somehow managed to retain my composure when I got the bill - £72! I knew London was expensive - but! I wished I'd taken NanaandGrampy's advice and had packed a lunch.

All-in-all, the day went really well. We were all exhausted by the end of it and Greg flopped into bed at home but I was really glad that I'd taken him.

Greg's harness is now put away and it's back to collar, lead and playtime for him. Having seen first hand how hard he works, it's back to retirement for this elderly gentleman.

Thanks again everyone for coming on our day out with us.