Greyhounds, AKC vs. NGA

[RD]

I can't speak for Greyhounds, but my Border Collies don't get their brains until they're about 2.

It sucks so hard that the rescue wouldn't adopt to you, but if you can't buy a retiring track dog, perhaps it's worth taking a look at a different breed? If your husband wants a tall, muscular dog, there are a LOT of options still. Another Borzoi might work too. How old is Strider?

 

[PWCorgi]

Do you want to stay with sighthounds?

What about a Scottish Deerhound?

 

[Romy]

We would like to stay with sighthounds so I can lure course, and also because they have a very unique play style which is important for Strider. We like how most of them hit adulthood and become really laid back and easy to live with. We actually were going to get a deerhound, there was a puppy for us and everything, but the sires owner decided they wanted an additional puppy, so none for us. In our search found that t is nearly impossible to find ones with good health, and more importantly good temperaments. That was the first litter the breeder had in 3 years, and she likely won't have another one for just as long.

Robert loves irish wolfhounds the best, but then you have the same problems of finding a good litter, plus we want a couple of extra grand earmarked for vet bills because it's pretty much certain with that breed, something will go wrong at some point.

We like ibizans and pharoahs, but they never quite settle down like other sighthounds, just busy busy busy.

The only other option I can think of might be an afghan, but then the grooming becomes an issue.

Strider just turned 7 months.

 

[RD]

How about a Saluki? A Ridgeback? I agree with you about the Wolfhounds... the health problems in that breed are terrifying.

Afghans can be kept in a shorter coat, if you aren't opposed to clipping their hair a few times a year. I used to groom (well, shave.) an Afghan boy... Lovely dog!

 

[Romy]

I'm not opposed to clipping, and actually prefer afghans in a puppy clip. It will probably be hard convincing Robert that it won't be a lot of work. Personally I would be happy with a second borzoi, but he likes to have variety. Maybe he'll break down and let me get one though. I had thought salukis and ridgebacks were more active as adults, does anybody know?

Anyway, I just discovered a neat dog called a taigan, but can't find any in the united states. Does anybody know anything about these dogs? There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on them.

 

[Q734]

Anyway, I just discovered a neat dog called a taigan, but can't find any in the united states. Does anybody know anything about these dogs? There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on them.

No help here but they are an interesting looking dog for sure!
I did find some serious pics of them tho in action, doing wolf hunts.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/popup?id=3521051&contentIndex=1&page=3

There are some gorgeous ones.
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=taigan&btnG=Search+Images

That said what about silken windhounds?
Or something exotic w/less hair the azawakh?

 

[Xerxes]

Az. eh....hmmm...
Can you not adopt/buy a retired dog directly from a for the track breeder and avoid the middle man as it were?

It's pretty rare, from what I've heard. Also when you do this you get a dog that is unsocialized, has no temperment testing, and could have issues.

IMO, doing this with a child in the household is not safe.

Greyhound rescues do extensive temperment testing as well as fostering these dogs in a home environment with extensive socializations.