My husband and I are newly weds and are settling into a VERY happy life together--but I am going crazy without a dog! I've been researching greyhounds for months now (I have always loved the beautiful, sweet breed!) and I am more than positive that a greyhound will be perfect for us! Unfortunately, my husband and I are moving into a new apartment at the end of July, so it only makes sense to wait to adopt until we are settled into our new place. The wait is killing me though! I'm going to all the greyhound functions and meet and greets in the Raleigh area that I can find in my desperation to be around these wonderful dogs! However, the waiting time does give me even more of a chance to think things through, and this is the only problem I've become snagged on--My husband and I both work eight-hour shifts, five days a week (we have Thursday and Friday off together, yay!) and I am trying to figure out a way we could either leave our dog alone the entire time we are at work, or find a place to live that is so close, we could go home on our break to let him out. Hiring someone to let him out everyday isn't a good option (I just don't have the money for that...) and finding a place to live close enough to work that's in our price range is really difficult! My husband and I could stagger our shifts (one with a morning shift, one with an evening shift) so that one of us could be home and our dog wouldn't be left alone more than four hours, but how miserable for us to have such different shifts and to be away from each other almost all day! I'm probably over-thinking this issue, but if anyone has some advice I haven't considered yet (or some reassurance?) I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks,
Nyssa

First - Congrats on being Newlywed and then again on choosing a greyhound.



I am a single mom who lives in an apartment with 2 greys, a cat and a part time teenager.

I do not have the option of a dog walker, nor the option to go home to let them out. I know many people do not crate and do not leave their greys for more than a couple of hours.

I leave home at about 830 each morning and my son comes home about 4 when he is with me. When he isnt my boys are up until 6 when I get home. I do crate and the boys are great. I rarely have any potty problems. Once I get home we go out for a short walk and potty, eat, relax/snuggle for a couple of hours and then go for a long walk before bed.

I have had no issues with them and my schedule. They adapt.

I have two girls and our schedule is similar to yours. I have never had a problem except if they get an upset belly,which is very rare. I do not crate my girls but all situations are different. I agree that they do adapt. Good luck to you. They are wonderful dogs!

One of the wonderful things about Greys is they have very large bladders. They can naturally wait much longer than other breeds. Our guys are crated 8-6 weekdays. When I let them out of their crates they don't head immediately for the door. They have to do their happy dancing, stuffy tossing and living room zoomies first!! (I keep hoping to win the lottery so I don't have to work so long!!) Greys are used to being let out three times a day at the track and usually have no problems adjusting to our schedules.
Congratulations, newlyweds!
July will be here before you know it!
Jean

When you get closer to adopting, consider one of the a little bit older dogs, one that's been returned through no fault of it's own. More will be know about it's personality and habits.
My first grey was the youngest and gave us the most trouble. While she's a happy dog now, back then oy vey!
Since then we've adopted 3 older males at ages 12.5, 10.5, and 8. Each one walked in like they'd lived here forever. No potty accidents, no problems. All were perfect for us but had been thrown away by previous owners for assorted reasons: too old/new baby/divorce.
Until then, keep coming to Meet & Greets and playgroups.

sometimes it helps to have two and some are happy bythemselves, my two alex and dash also known as the boys, do very well with my less than ordinary schdule. actually they do better with it than i do. somedays i work 12 hours and some i work 6 but they do fine they are happier together i think, i had dash first and then alex and they are good together. most adapt to there surroundings and schdules. mine do anyway. as long as the boys have each other i think they are fine. dont be to stressed though cause they seem to apat well were ever they go. give them love and affection and they will certainly do the same. i agree with macoduck about the older ones being a bit more calm and adapted already. the boys were both 6 when i got them last year, and they were very different coming home. alex was very easily acclimated and dash, we'll just say dash was a challange, and i wouldnt trade him for anything. theres a few people id let go, but i would never let my boys go. but no matter how much work it takes there is no reward better than that wet nose and those long skinny legs bouncing accross the room to great you.

We adopted Mr. Boogieman first, we had him almost 6 months before adopting Bonnie. They both seem to realize that they are brother and sister. They keep each other company while we are gone during the day. We've never had a problem with them. They stay in their crate during the day, we let them out when we get off of work. So they are crated about 9 hours without any accidents. I am glad we have more than one so that they are together, even if they are in their own crates, they are still right beside each other. Best of luck to you!!

Leann Allen

Hey Nyssa
Now that you have Buck, let us know how he is doing.