The greyhound is described by the American Kennel Club as being, “Loyal, Gentle, Independent, and Oh, So Sweet…” While the retired racing greyhound is in fact registered with the National Greyhound Association versus the American Kennel Club, these descriptions are no less relevant.
All greyhounds are a variety of sighthound. The racing greyhound is from similar stock as the AKC registered greyhound but with its selective breeding focused on performance. Despite the canine’s undisputed reputation as the fastest dog breed in the world, clocking at peak speeds exceeding 43 miles per hour, it is gentle, kind, and is considered to be of “medium energy” by experts and registries making it a fine family pet.
Greyhound Pros:
- Very clean with minimal grooming requirements
- Has few health issues and requires only basic canine health care measures
- Generally quiet
- Being sprinters, they do not require above average levels of exercise
- They frequently get along with other pets indoors
- Greyhounds live up to 12-15 years and can be adopted at any age. Most are adopted between 2-4 years of age.
Greyhound Cons:
- They MUST be on a leash or fenced in with a physical barrier
- The predominant health issue is bone cancer which when occurs is almost always of poor prognosis
- Is not an ideal watch dog
- Prey drive is high outdoors and the greyhound will chase small animals, even those it lives with peacefully indoors
- They will require a winter “wardrobe”
A greyhound will generally chase any small creature running loose, even in a fenced in area. Greyhounds are sighthounds and therefore posses a strong instinct to chase other animals in motion in open spaces.
As part of the transitioning of your new greyhound to your home, there may need to be a time of separation and slow introduction through the use of baby gates or cat doors. We will send you home accompanied with a track muzzle to assist with this and as a future safety precaution. A substantial number of greyhounds become close, peaceful companions to cats or other dogs.
Greyhounds as Companions
Greyhounds with Children
While many greyhounds are safe with children, we do not adopt to families with children under 10 years of age. Greyhounds are not as “durable” as other medium to large breeds and cannot be climbed on, fallen on, nor are they particularly tolerant of ear pulling, poking in the eyes or even mild slapping from small children and over time this can cause significant stress to the dog. While fosters are young, the majority of their formative experiences did not include children and may not bond or will try to avoid young children.
Greyhounds with Cats and Small Animals
Some greyhounds are what we call “cat tolerant” and some are not. We determine whether a greyhound is cat safe or not through cat testing them by comfortably muzzling the dog and introduce the cat in a controlled, safe manner so we can evaluate the dog’s reaction. Under no circumstances should a greyhound be considered cat tolerant outdoors off of a leash.
Some dogs are considered “cat tolerant with supervision”. The foster homes work with these dogs before we decide whether or not to place them in homes with cats or small animals. Note: It is equally important that the cat or small dog is greyhound safe and not show aggression or harassment towards the dog.
Some greyhounds are “not cat tolerant” and will pursue and potentially seriously harm a cat or other small animal with minimal if any provocation and these dogs are to be placed as an only pet. These dogs typically have a high instinctual prey drive which will not reduce with time and should never be trusted with small animals.
Greyhounds with Other Greyhounds
The majority of greyhounds will welcome companionship from another greyhound, but there are exceptions. We will know this in advance of adoption.
Greyhounds with Other Large Breeds
Most greyhounds will befriend other large breed dogs. Be aware that often greyhounds can be overwhelmed or hurt by a large breed companion that plays rough. Greyhounds are naturally engineered for speed not strength or durability.
Recommended Reads – Additional Information:
Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies Thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound? Or maybe you’re already sharing your life with one of these charming animals. With plenty of good humor and straight-talk, Lee Livingood drawing on her forty-years of experience training adult rescue dogs to cover all the pros and cons of being a retired racing Greyhound owner, and she fills you in on:
- The amazing 8000-year history of the Greyhound
- Deciding whether an ex-racer is the right do for you and your family
- Physical and behavioral characteristics
- How to get a retired racer used to living in a home and be a companion
- Dealing with common behavioral and health problems
- Feeding, grooming, and exercising a Greyhound
- Fun things to do with your hound
Bursting with expert advice on all aspects of living with an ex-racer, Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies is must reading for anyone considering adoption or who has already taken the leap.
You can get the book from, Amazon.com.
Adopting The Racing Greyhound by Cynthia A. Branigan
The first edition of this book was responsible for inspiring tens of thousands of people to adopt ex-racers. This fully updated edition features groundbreaking veterinary information not available anywhere else. Greyhound authority Cynthia Branigan, who has placed over 4,000 Greyhounds through her organization, offers updated statistics on the costs involved with adopting as well as new health information, such as warnings about tick-borne diseases and suggestions on buying veterinary insurance. Branigan carefully explains how to care for a Greyhound, everything from feeding and grooming to training, and how to extend the dog’s life span. Readers will also find a wealth of updated information on medical conditions in Greyhounds and the latest in tests and treatment.
The book is available at Amazon.com
The Ultimate Greyhound by Mark Sullivan
The Ultimate series takes the serious animal lover on a journey into the finer points of dog breeds and dog care, horses, birds and fish. Each book is written by a panel of experts who specialize in distinct areas of interest to pet lovers, including history, breeding, showing, training, and health and veterinary care. Fully illustrated and coffee-table sized, these books also make great gifts for the committed pet enthusiast.
The book is available at Amazon.com