If you are thinking about getting a dog, can I suggest a grey hound? There are hundreds that need homes and contrary to popular belief, they are easy to train, can be let off the lead and do not need masses of exercise.  Having Ella has been such a pleasure that I wanted to share the experience with you and encourage you to consider giving one of these wonderful dogs a home.

When we moved from London one of the bonuses was that we could finally have a dog. I had a few conditions though, that we got a dog that really needed a home. I had mentioned greyhounds to the children but it wasn’t until we went to a country show that they met them for the first time. These elegant gentle creatures who rested their head in the palm of our hands and were so happy to have their ears rubbed totally won them over so we started the process of adoption.

Our Ella was found wandering the streets somewhere in the North East of England. She was about to be put down but the dog warden gave her another chance by ringing a greyhound rescue centre and soon a van was hurtling up the motorway. After a couple of months she was ready to be found a new home.

There were around 15 dogs needing a home but we could only take one.  We all agreed that she chose us, straightaway coming up and very gently nudging our hands with her nose. Black all over with a white throat and a white tip to her tail, toes and nose we looked at each other and knew she was the one. We passed the house and garden test and signed that we would never race her again and then we could take her home.

The first few days were full of little accidents but she soon learnt.  She loved collecting the dustpans and brushes and dishcloths and laying them on her bed.  I waited to see if she would start doing the housework, no such luck. She ate the TV remote, she brought a hedgehog into the house to play with her, she jumped in the Wye and realised she could swim.  She clambered onto the sofa, rolled over and fell off.  She is a gentle dog who just like a child is keen to explore and discover what is going on in the world.  

When we first got her, I though her tail lived permanently between her legs so when after a few weeks it started wagging it was a happy revelation. From a dog that shivered  and hid behind me she now almost flies across the fields  in figures of eights,  stopping without any apparent effort right beside me. She leaps up from the banks of the river appearing  gazelle like in mid air, sometimes she just  spins round and round in circles which makes everyone laugh. When she is hot she lies down in the river, when she is cold she snuggles up to one of us red blanket tucked over her in her favourite spot, the sofa.

She loves company. She is very quiet, like most greyhounds after a bit of running and breakfast the preferred option is to lie on the sofa, not for nothing are they know as the teenagers of the dog world

They rarely bark, they have short hair so there’s not much moulting, they are very gentle and sweet natured and love to be stroked or have their tummy tickled.  Perhaps because so many of them have never had a real home, they are very appreciative, loving and loyal. If you have rescued a greyhound or have a favourite story about your dog you would like to share, please leave a comment below.