Adopting a retired racing Greyhound

There are many of you thinking about which breed of dog to have next. Well, there is a breed of dog that you probably haven’t given a moment’s thought.

How about a dog with a history so diverse that it is associated with Greek, Roman and Egyptian culture and is even mentioned in the bible.

A Greyhound; not just any Greyhound but in this case a retired racing Greyhound. They generally are retired between 2-5 years of age and have a life expectancy of between 12-15 years Now I know what you are thinking, they need lots of exercise. No; you couldn’t be more wrong. Take a few moments, read on, and you might be surprised.

First of all, let’s get rid of the fallacy that the Greyhound needs hours of exercise every day. This is one of the laziest dogs that you will ever meet. They are happy with one or two short walks a day but can adapt to joggers, walkers and ramblers. If there was a class reserved at Crufts each year for sleeping, it would be won every year by Greyhounds. The Greyhound is by nature quiet and is happy to sleep the clock round.

They are generally affectionate, playful, child friendly and have a quiet demeanour. They are tolerant of high temperatures and can even live in an apartment or a property with very little outside space. They are considered to be a healthy breed and they do not have a reputation for excessive barking, merely a gentle “woof” accompanied by a twitch of their ears to warn you of an impending visitor.

Important things to consider

Having waxed lyrical about how wonderful they are I will in fairness point out the downside.

These dogs are probably not suitable for the first time owner or those with very limited experience They have a fairly thin coat and as such, they don’t like the cold. The acquisition of a Greyhound means the acquisition of a jacket preferably the waterproof version. This is an essential item and is as important as feeding and water bowls. Whilst we are on the subject of bowls it is a good idea to have their bowls raised off the ground. This is advisable for Greyhounds and tall dogs generally as it aids digestion. Most pet suppliers offer a set of two bowls on a stand.

They don’t like being alone for long periods. If you are the sort of family who spends 8-10 hours away from the house daily maybe this is not the dog for you. They are people dogs and if they are not sleeping then their next favourite activity is being with their people. They adore being stroked and particularly like a tummy tickle.

They are sensitive and do not respond well to being shouted at or any form of harsh handling.

Until you are sure that they can be trusted with small animals like cats and toy dogs it is unwise to let them run free. It is better if they are let loose in a fenced area.

Plus of course, they may still need to be muzzled when out and about depending on how strong their “prey drive” remains. In some, it will remain for their lifetime but in others, it can fade remarkably quickly.

Finally, these dogs rarely have any experience with stairs. They will probably need to be encouraged up the stairs with food and down the stairs with gentle restraint on the collar. Due to the shape of the greyhound’s neck, an extra-wide collar is necessary but the adoption agency will assist and advise.

Seeking further advice

For those who are seriously considering adopting a retired racing greyhound then I suggest contacting the appropriate rescue agency and asking if you can talk to someone who has done it. Most folks who have had one would never have anything else and are happy to share their knowledge

They are not for everyone but if you fit the bill and can accept the restrictions that can come with a Greyhound then maybe, just maybe you might be the right person.

In most cases, we tend to work on the principle of. “What sort of dog will fit in with our lifestyle?” With the ex-racing Greyhound, the principle is reversed. As a prospective owner, the question is. “Are you suitable to offer a home to one of these dogs?”