Why you need a big house for a greyhound...

Anyanka · Master

Why you need a big house for a greyhound...

Anyanka · Master

I'm getting slightly worried by the complete absence of comment or response - have I said something wrong?

I assumed you'd join in with photos and stories of your hounds & their need of space (or rather absence of need of space, or even need of absence of space)...

FAJ · Enlightened One

Photos, you say? Just you wait till I get some more loaded to my work computer.........

Gail · Big Cheese

I tried to post a pic of Neo and Sassy showing how it should be done....ignore the dog beds and take over the lounge floor

It's so cute, they look like little and large

but for some reason i can't re-size the image to post it so i'll have to leave it to your imagination..

Amanda · Master

When we had decided on a greyhound the only bad point I could think of is their size. Phil said "dont worry they can curl up quite small.....Well yes they can as Blue proves

But greys do like their comforts and Blue now has a bed that is larger than our arm chair which we thought was only fair since he is not aloud on the furniture.

Now I am pleased Blue is so big. When I was pregnant and couldn't see my feet I could still see Blue. Last time looking after my parents Spanial I oftern triped over her as I couldnt see her under my huge bump!

p.s Sorry didn't reply sooner. Had so many posts to catch up on since being back

Teresa · Enlightened One

of course greyhounds need a huge mansion to live in - that's why they make the best of a bad job in our house - its a small terraced house.

this means they have to be near us all the time - lack of space dictates that they HAVE to sleep on our bed, lay on our sofa and generally get under our feet. funny tho, i have noticed that if they have a whole room to themselves, they still choose to be near us

i would worry about having a small dog now.....i'm sure i'd trip over it!!

Anyanka · Master

Wow, Amanda - that is one space-saving hound! Piper can't do that, she usually lies stretched out, preferably across 2 or 3 laps. She can't sit properly either.

neeroz · Master

Florence, Abbey and Dexter curl up like Blue when they're cold, usually accompanied by Dexter 'squeaking' cos he want the heating on or covered with their blankets.........molly coddled or what

Amanda · Master

Blue curls up when we come down stairs during the night and turn the lights on. Sometimes he stands up turns his back on you and huffs before covering his eyes with his paws. He really is a grumpy old man.

Knowing what aromas can escape from a grey I think Bonnie is being very brave getting that close to piper!!

FAJ · Enlightened One

There's room for at least 3 other greys on this cushion, with Pearly curled up so small.

Harry, on the other hand, likes to spread out.....

Dave · Enlightened One

don'tcha just love piccies of Greyhounds sleeping?...You know one of the most common things I get asked from potential adopters is ''Is my house too small'' it always brings a smile to my face, especially when I'm sat here surrounded by a wall to wall Greyhound carpet.

I live in a big house in the 'sticks' which has more bedrooms than I care to mention, in fact there's some rooms I've not been in for years, anyways I digress, our current band of 6 hounds are restricted to 1 room in my house, the study. This is where most of my time is spent, the room contains 6 dog beds, 2 desks, 2 PC's, some bookshelves and very little floor space, to be honest add a sink and I could be in a bedsit on the 14th floor of a high rise. Are my dogs unhappy? not on your life, do they crave more space, not a chance, they are a well mannered bunch who like each others company.

What would my gang do if I opened the door to the rest of the house? They'd probably have a sniff and go back to their bed in the study!

Back the the original question ''Is my house too small'' - NOT A CHANCE!

Sunny girl · Master

I agree Dave my hounds have the run of our home, they are allowed on all the furniture which we cover with throws, and all the doors are always left open, but you are hard pushed to get my Sunny to move off the couch in the sitting room or Zoe to move from her dog bed under the window. If I had an extra 10 rooms i think they would still be the same.

So from a greyhound and Lurcher owner who lives in a flat I agree SPACE is not the important factor, the love and care they recieve is.

Calatria · Master

Anyanka wrote:

Right now, as I'm typing, Piper is inches away from my heels. If we lived in Buckingham Palace, she would still be under my feet!

Maybe it's a greyhound thing. Our lurcher is quite independent, he'll happily go off elsewhere in the house to sleep. Belle, on the other hand, needs company. If I'm here on my own, she'll follow me from room to room, even lying outside the bathroom door when I'm in there. So like Anyanka with Piper, even if we lived in Buckingham Palace, we'd still be falling over Belle every time we turned around.

JanW · Master

have you seen this video:

Sleeping hounds

The audio explains whats happened.

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Many greys have issues with having too much space, because they have spent the majority of their early years in kennels they don't feel very secure when they are given masses of living area. This is could also be the reason why these beautiful large dogs can curl up into balls.

Jennifer · Big Cheese

Siouxsie wrote:

Many greys have issues with having too much space, because they have spent the majority of their early years in kennels they don't feel very secure when they are given masses of living area.

This is so true as ive said to you before Siouxsie. Millie is fine during the day she sleeps on my bed but at night she wont settle unless she is shut in the livingroom with Toby. Its like she feels secure coz she is confined to one room. If i leave the door open at night she paces back and forward not knowing where to settle.

Anyanka · Master

Calatria, it must be a lurcher thing then - Bonnie is quite independent, too. When we watch tv, she likes to go upstairs and lie on our bed, while Piper usually lies across our laps. Bonnie also doesn't like to be hugged or held, she has to be in control of cuddle sessions.

As for the need for a big garden: Piper likes to throw the toys around for 60 seconds twice a day, and follows me around when I'm gardening, but it would never be a substitute for a walk. Bonnie actually prefers to be indoors, watching through the patio doors! She only stays outside after dusk, sitting just outside the back door, watching for foxes.