Housetraining
Try to choose a dog out of a foster home if possible. Then he will be either house trained or nearly there.
Barking
We have no idea how your dog will settle until he arrives at your home – it often depends on how laid you are and how much consistent routine you offer him. But if you have neighbours above, below and to either side of you – this is more of an issue than if you live in a house. You have more people to worry about.
Walking in all weathers
You cannot be a fair-weather dog owner, as come rain, shine or snow you still have to do that toilet trip – think about those cold dark winter mornings. Is it safe to walk locally in the dark later at night? Can you be bothered to get ready and go out late at night when you just want to go to bed?
What about stairs
If you don’t have a lift and you dog become injured – can you get him to your flat – you may need to carry him upstairs. Greyhounds don’t know how to walk up and down stairs so you will have to teach them. It’s easier to do this outside on a walk, it will be more natural for them – they can then transfer this skill into your home. We rehomed a greyhound to a couple living in a flat and he accidentally broke his leg running in a field – because of the extra difficulties they faced (living in the flat) they choose to return him to us rather than do the aftercare. If you adopt a dog, you have to take the rough with the smooth and look after him for life.
The greyhound freeze
We talk about this in another blog, but if you dog freezes in the early days and really doesn’t want to walk (because he has greyhound brain freeze) it is so much harder to get him out of your own front door, down a corridor, into a lift and out the main door – than just out of a house. Have you got the patience to deal with this – we have had a dog returned recently because the owners didn’t, so after a few days he was back. That said, most dogs living in apartments are in London and are all happily settled.
We do rehome to potential adopters who don’t have a garden but we do ask that you think VERY seriously about your level of commitment to making it work before you apply. It can take 3 months for a dog to settle into a new home – you need to be up for that 3 month challenge.