I was thinking about adopting a Gray Hound (rescued from the track) Anyone have any advice?

Answer 1

Hi, I am a greyhound adoption volunteer. My family currently has three of our own adopted dogs and we have one foster dog with us right now. We live in an urban area (we're in a condo) and have a fairly large network of greyt friends in the area. Some of our friends live happily with cats. Some are happy being 'only' dogs. We have a playgroup that meets at a local dog park a couple of times a month, but many/most of the greys in our area get the majority of their excersise through leash walking.

Retired racing greyhounds are very low energy, low maintenance dogs. They have been nicknamed the '45mph couch potato' because they sleep 18-20 hours per day. Greys are sprinters - they have short bursts of energy and then they need to recuperate. The are a single coated short-haired breed who shed minimally(usually only seasonally). This means that they need coats in winter if you are in an area that gets cold. This also means that they cannot live outdoors.Greys are very quiet, they rarely bark.

Racing greyhounds are usually retired between 2-5 years of age. Greys are handled every day of their lives, from farm to training facility to racetrack so they are very docile, submissive dogs. A retired racer will always look to humans for leadership. They are taught leash manners and are easy to walk. They are crate trained, which translates very well into housebreaking. Contrary to popular belief the majority of racing greyhounds are treated very well during their careers (I can send you photos of a recent birthday party held in a racing kennel for one of the pups) and the majority (95-97%) retire to either the breeding shed or as pets. There are many adoption groups across the country who are working hard to make that number 100% in the near future.

Bringing a greyhound into your home can present some challenges. A dog coming straight from a track may never have seen mirrors, hardwood floors or stairs before. They have never had people touch them while they are asleep, and they never had any humans or dogs disturb them while they eat. They also may never have met other breeds of dogs. Most dogs adapt very well to living in a home and do it in a very short period of time.

Greyhounds are sighthounds. They can see a rabbit 1/2 mile away - and they were bred to be fast enough to catch that rabbit. For this reason they cannot be off leash unless they are in a fenced enclosure. When something (squirrel, rabbit, cat, plastic bag blowing in the wind) catches their eye they often react instinctually, even with the best of obedience training. Because they move so fast (45mph) very often a loose greyhound is a dead greyhound. They also do not do well on runs or retractable leashes - greys have broken their neck by trying to take off and being stopped. Their rate of acceleration is really awesome.

For more information about the breed, or to find an adoption group in your area check out http://www.greyhoundpets.org . If you want more specific information please feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 2

I have two Italian Greyhounds...they're the smaller cousins to the Whippet and Greyhound. The only big problem we have is that because they have really long legs, they can get up on counters and pull food down. So be sure to keep all of your edible items against the wall. This will save your carpet from getting all kinds of stains.

Also, they like to run (obviously), so don't let them get outside without a leash. Once they get away from you, they'll keep on running. It's not like they're trying to run away from you. It's just that they ARE running dogs and they will run. And if you chase them, they think you're playing with them. The only way we got ours to come back was to yell "Car ride!" They loved that. Of course, all dogs are different. Yours might come back for treats.

Some people have misconceptions that they are highly energetic dogs. Not the case. They are the ultimate couch potato. They do like to get exercise, but more often than not, you'll find them lounging on the couch. They are not outside dogs since they're fur is so short and they're skin isn't as protected. Therefore, extreme heat and cold is not recommended.

All dogs have a variety of health problems, especially pure breds. The major thing with greyhounds is that some of them have heart murmurs. Usually, this isn't that bad, but you might want to check with your vet when you adopt any pet.

All in all, greyhounds are the best breed ever. I wish you the best with your new addition to the family.

Answer 3

Go for it.
They make wonderful pets. They are sweet loving dogs who make the most fabulous pets.
They are the 45mile per hour couch potato.
When they are racing they are kept crated unless being worked or run on the track. SO they are sort of lazy but need a good run at least once a day.
They really are lovely and have such wonderful tempermants.
I have a friend who is involved with rescue and her dogs all from the track are great with kids and good with her cats. One even lets the cat sleep with him.
There are many tracks and almost all have a rescue program.
Good luck in your search.

Answer 4

Your timing is perfect.

A track just closed in Juarez, Mexico and there 126 plus Greyhounds that need homes. These dogs orginally came from Colorado and Arizona.

www.goldengreyhounds.com

Please do not believe the other people who responded that said these dogs are treated well by track operators. In many states where they race these loving Greyhounds are considered livestock.
Which means they can be abused or killed and there are no laws to stop it.


Please tell your friends!

Answer 5

A friend of ours adopted a greyhound from a track and it's a really sweet dog. But....

*They are tall- so they can get anything you leave on kitchen counters or dining room tables.
*They are nervous- hers peed everytime there was a loud noise she wasn't used too (doorbell, telephone ringing, car backfire) but she got used to those noises after a month.
*They are runners, that's what they're bred for- so you really do need space for them that has a tall fence so they can run.
*They need frequent exercise- she has to walk hers all the time or it gets really anxious and paces alot.
*They are hunters- her greyhound brings in birds (and a squirrel once too) because they are such fast dogs and they like the chase.
*They can have medical issues- my friends dog has arthritis in her back hips from running so often, so she is on medicine for that and also meal supplement pills for vitamins.

It's a noble thing to do, but you really do need to consider quite a few things before signing those adoption papers. Greyhounds are good with kids, and other dogs (NOT good with their cat!)- but there was definitely an adjustment period for my friends family with their new family member. Hope this helps :-)

Answer 6

Hey Ethan, I've had relatives who adopted a retired Greyhound that used to race at the Hollywood Dog Track in FL, He was the most laid back dog and very sweet, trouble was when he got loose, he was off and it usually took a couple of hours to retrieve him. I would say go for it.

http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

Answer 7

OMG that is soooo sweet that u are savin /adoptin a dog !!! my dad has a gray hound and the thing is soo cool it is really smart to and does not eat much 2 cups of dog food a day but some time we feed him scraps so that me be why he eats less but the is not much grooming envolved ether my opion i would tottally go for it !!

Answer 8

There are rescue groups for retired Greyhounds. Try finding them first. They will help find you the best match for your household.
Surprisidly, the majority of greyhounds make great couch potatos and really do not require much exercise, so finding the right one for your activity level is important. Good for you for wanting to rescue instead of buying!!

Answer 9

That's the best dog to adopt considering once they are no longer useful at the race track, nobody cares about them anymore. Good for you!

you can reward me with 10 points now :)

Answer 10

resued gray hounds are the sweetest but run real fast make sure to have a fenced yard before getting one