We’ve wanted greyhounds for quite a while, having seen how kind-natured and easygoing they were. I’ve never had a dog before, although I have wanted one for many years, and I have had to wait for a time when our lifestyle could accommodate the needs of a lanky couch potato.
I volunteered to walk greyhounds last year to fill the time until I could be in a position to adopt and to learn as much about the breed as I could. My family have spent our weekends walking many different hounds, and I’ve joked that I can never think of anything negative about any of the dogs we’ve had the pleasure to meet.
Greyhounds are a magnificent breed – good-natured and easygoing – and they just want a sofa, food, and lots of love!
We planned to wait longer for a greyhound, but then we met Sunny… We first fell in love with him when we saw a picture of him enjoying fish with his foster mum. His cross-eyed look of pure delight melted my heart, and I secretly hoped we might meet him. It didn’t take long before we took him out, and he was perfect. He walked well on the lead, didn’t react to other dogs, and took treats kindly. My report was glowing, and I was sure he’d be snapped up very soon!
We took him out again a few weeks later, and our feelings grew even more. My children were besotted, as were we – we started imagining our lives with him and decided to put in our application – I filled in the form with as much detail as I could, thinking about our lifestyle, my work-from-home job, our other pets, and the space we had at home.
I sent my video of our home and garden off, and within days I had a call booked with the rehoming team. This call was full of information and advice, an in-depth discussion with someone with full and first-hand knowledge of the breed, and a chance for me to realistically plan how Sunny would fit in and whether he would be suitable for my family and our lifestyle.
All my questions were answered, and I was given all the advice I needed to prepare for our new boy.
Home checks were followed, and again, the KGR representative was terrific – knowledgeable and sensible, advising us about the guinea pigs in our garden and ensuring all was safe and secure for Sunny’s arrival.
In the meantime, I received information about settling him in via email, allowing me to prepare his safe space and understand how he might feel in his new home. I organised the equipment we would need, all through the KGR website, and started to research training classes, insurance (for after the 4 weeks free Petplan given at adoption ran out) and vets.
Two weeks after our initial application, my family and I went to collect our beautiful boy. We collected him in the evening and immediately took him for a walk before settling down. He took his time to explore his new home – the slippery kitchen floor was a bit of an obstacle, and he took a dislike to it straight away, skating around like Bambi. We quickly moved some rugs around and he now tackles it like a pro!
He tried out his new beds, sniffed the sofa, ate well and explored the garden. He was clearly worried, with his ears flat back like a seal, but we were encouraged that he had found everything he needed and was exploring his new home.
We had been told about the 3:3:3 rule, so we knew it would take a while. We learned to allow him to take his time, which worked beautifully.
The first night, I was expecting not to get much sleep, thinking he wouldn’t settle, and I was planning based on the advice I had already been given by KGR on how I would handle this. I need not worry, though – he found the sofa and crashed out for the entire night!
The following morning, we made a proper start on our routine, as we’d been told this would allow him to feel comfortable and safe in his new home.
Based on our schedule, we’d already planned when he would be walked and fed, and we soon got into the habit, although sometimes Sunny would rather just lounge on the sofa. He has a walk in the morning, and in the evening, both for about 40 minutes, and the rest of the time he spends sleeping in various positions, stirring only occasionally if he thinks food is on offer.
I work from home, and he is the perfect companion – he loves a head rub and a lean when he knows I’m free, but he seems to have learnt that when my headset goes on, it’s time to nap. I love watching him roach. Have a good stretch! He really is more like a massive cat than a dog.
We’ve now had Sunny for 6 weeks, and more of his goofy and loving personality shines through each day. It’s not all been sunshine and roses – we’ve had moments where he’s startled and froze on walks, especially when we first met the neighbourhood foxes.
He has tried his luck by attempting to steal tasty food, too. It’s all new to him – he’s been used to a life of other hounds and kennels, so of course, we’ll encounter situations where he’s unsure how to react and whether it’s safe. It’s our job to take the lead and show him all is okay. The advice we got before we had him about establishing rules and ensuring consistency was spot on and has helped a great deal.
I know KGR are only a phone call away should we need it, and we’ve been matched so well with our ideal companion – he is perfect.
We started training classes 3 weeks ago, and he is gaining confidence at each visit. He already walks well on the lead and settles well, but it’s been great for him to experience other dogs and people, and we’ve definitely learnt how to develop his play. He particularly enjoys the game at the end, which usually involves food and a snuffle mat or a puzzle.
We’re introducing it into his home routine as well, and we’ve nearly mastered level 1 of the puzzle we’ve bought him. He’s playing increasingly daily and loves to collect bits to take back to his sofa den, his favourite being shoes and cuddly toys. He loves his caterpillar and octopus and enjoys a good tussle with them. His tail wags more each day, and he now lies next to us rather than the other end. It’s taken time and patience, but seeing him come out of his shell is lovely!
Adopting Sunny has been amazing – he is absolutely fantastic, and we love him dearly. He’s perfectly slotted into our family life and is our ideal first dog. He’s easy to walk, good with other dogs, allows me to work from home without being disturbed, promises to leave when I do the school run and loves to cuddle. What more could we ask for?!
KGR matched us perfectly and gave us brilliant advice, but the most reassuring information was the 3:3:3 rule. I felt the same way – I was so nervous about getting it right for him. Volunteering with the greyhounds meant that I had seen times when the hounds had been returned – this was not going to happen with Sunny, and I wanted to make sure I got everything right for him. I’ve gone through similar emotions as he has – 3 days of feeling overwhelmed and unsure, 3 weeks of settling into a new routine, and now we feel connected and bonded, excited about our future together.
So, if you’re thinking about a greyhound as your first dog or are looking for your next companion, KGR will support you every step of the way. I can’t see why you’d consider any other breed, and if you’re honest about your needs and follow their advice, you’ll get to lose your favourite spot on your sofa to a cheese-hoovering, sleep-loving love bug, too.
If you’re ready to take the next step and welcome a greyhound into your home, explore our latest available dogs by clicking here.
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