Tisha Bakke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Konur and I have been thinking and
talking quite a bit about getting another family member. We are hoping for
another rescued dog - I want a bigger dog this time. One of the breeds we are
looking at are greyhounds. Gizmo is a
whippet/spaniel and looks just like a greyhound, but short.
There are a number of options available to you, both in and out of 'rescue' A
great deal depends on your specific needs, the makeup of your household (dogs,
cats, children), the amount of land you have available, and the amount of time
you want to spend in socialization, training, etc.
If you want to course in the SCA, or in amateur competition, I STRONGLY suggest
that you work with a group or individuals familiar with the sport. This is
especially true with retired racers, as many factors are involved in their
retirement. In our part of the world, retirement reasons vary from speed to
injury to temperament issues. Plus, you have the 'coyote dog' breeders who are
breeding for a much more intense temperament, which is not necessarily suitable
for all households.
If you're interested in the other sighthound breeds, Mel is a great resource,
and I can cover borzoi and many of the rest. There are a number of very good
rescue groups here in Texas, which is relatively close to you, who cover the
various sighthound breeds. There are also lurchers to chose from - various
sighthound crosses bred intentionally (or not) to specific work - I can refer
you to some of those groups (especially two ladies in California who do a GREAT
job with the cross-breds).
Then there are the breeders. If we're good at what we do, we breed for
specific purposes. A pup brings its own challenges and rewards. When working
with ANY sighthound breed, don't assume the pup will be willing to chase
plastic - talk to the breeder about bloodlines and training. In the greyhound
racing world, trainers do a good job raising coursers for us <g> In real life,
raising a courser requires some thought and training. Other sighthound breeds
are NOT 'rag-racers' - they are not bred to chase plastic, but often will;
however, they will run in their own breed style.
The 'other breeds' are generally much less fragile than greyhounds. Even with
a healthy grey, you can expect to deal with various running injuries. They are
not easy 'weekend warriors' - your interference and careful maintenance is
necessary - or your couch potato turned athlete for a weekend WILL pay for it.
We have bred them to chase at any cost, and it is our job to ensure that cost
is not too high.
If I can be of service, let me know,
Aria, Countess Chatillon, OL
www.AriaBorzoi.com
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