Greyhound Versatility

[Macha]

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In Julia Barnes book about greyhounds, she mentions greyhounds being used as guide dogs for the blind

I have to admit I doubt whether greyhounds would be suitable dogs for this job though I can imagine some might be good at other types of service work such as hearing ear dogs

1) can anybody here find actual case histories of greyhounds as guide dogs for the blind?

2) what other examples can you find of greyhounds as "service dogs"?

 

[fallenangel]

I have had a copel of ex racer that wouldn have made exacalt gulied dogs infact they would have made god asictance dogs awell its not the majority of gryhounds though.

I remeber seeing a pic of a greyhound gulid dog from the usa but carnt fined it now it was a big brindle non chaser so whent in traning quiet young as i recall. he was due to retire as a gulid as he was getting on a bit but one of the rssons the man had him was he had allergys to a lot of breads of dog but was fine with greyhounds

 

[Evie]

I've seen working Labs, Retrievers, crosses those breeds, Labradoodles, German Shepherds; but never a greyhound working as a Guide dog for the blind here in the UK.

The majority that I get staying with me are Lab/Retriever crosses. Including this guy here at the moment - though I think he's just a walking teddy bear. :wub:

 

[clairej810]

Tiny used to alert me when my cat was about to have a seizure and then would stay with her until she was better. :thumbsup:

 

[natty]

I have never heard of a greyhound being used as a guide dog hovere there are some being used as service dogs , not sure how many tho i dont think its particularly common on account of having to select a dog with low prey drive . i would love to have a greyhound as a SD but neither of my greys have been easy to train and the current one would most definatly not be suitable.

bb natty

 

[galty]

Greyhounds are used more as PAT dogs than anything else.

Never ever heard that they are used as guide dogs

 

[The Ferret]

I used to work as an instructor for GDBA. I have absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of a Grey being used as a guide.

The very nature of the breed (sighthound [chases things!], timid character), would deem them completely unsuitable as a guide dog.

It may be possible that some grey-cross something may have been trained at some point, but I would seriously question it's length of service!

Ferret

 

[Alba]

what is a PAT dog?

is that a dog who goes to hospitals and residential homes to be petted by the patients?

 

[galty]

Alba

Yes thats what a PAT does.

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/news/...ATontheback.htm