Do any of you know anything about greyhounds?

THere are a few greyhound adoption groups around here and I was thinking about looking into maybe adopting one in a few months. I don't really know anything about the breed. THey are retired racing greyhounds.

JUst wondering if anyone knew anything about the breed and whether they make good housedogs.

 

i personally dont know much about greyhounds but ive visited the greyhound adoption tent at an expo and we asked what they were like. apparently they are calm gentle and shy. we patted a few, they were so cute and they had that 'wow someone actually likes me' look on their face.

 

My uncle rescued 2 greyhounds from the track. They were great dogs, very quiet. The only thing that you might need to be aware of is they are often not treated very well at the track. My uncle's dogs didn't know how to use staircases or even lie down. They were used to sleeping standing up in their cages. They needed a lot of coaxing and patience during the training process, but after a couple of months they settled right in.

They were both beautiful dogs. Here's a painting of them done by my sister:

 

I have heard basically the same sort of things, they are alot more calm than people would think (you know the wow they are so fast rep, isn't true) But I have heard that they do alot of times (not always) have problems, but I think that is the same with almost any rescue.

 

I've heard that they make good housepets and couch potatoes. A lot of the time you may have to get them used to being in a home environment because they are so used to being kenneled on the track.

 

As everyone else said, a rescue usually doesn't know about things like stairs and sliding glass doors, so you have to be patient with them at first and teach them about things and be careful so they don't hurt themselves. I've only ever heard great things about them as house pets and I'd actually like to get one myself someday after my Shepard is gone.

 

Don't forget too...they chase a bunny for their living so they are prey motivate and I heard many a story from a rescuer that they Greyhound they got while being GREAT in the house as a pet after learning about stairs, screen and sliding doors etc... They always veiw the little dogs (chi's for example) a something to chase...bred to hunt by sight and then trained to chase for their past time can create problems if you don't have a handle on that etc...

ALSO while they make good house pets they do NEED a daily run to stretch their legs...especially in the beginning transition time...racing was an outlet for the natural ability and desire to run and chase so you'd want to keep that in mind that to do best by your greyhound you'd want some place for him/her to run and chase something. LOTS of greyhound folks use a Flirt pole for that...a long one...pole with a toy dangled at the end for the dog to chase around...

I think it's a GREAT idea but as with any rescue it's an undertaking...I was really looking into it not so long ago...almost contacted a couple rescues but decided I wanted a better facility for them...LOL

 

Wtpooh and her sis has 2 greyhounds. I bet you can PM her with questions!

Here's some interesting info:

http://www.b-g-a.org/

http://www.b-g-a.org/special.html#return

http://www.b-g-a.org/faq.html

 

From what I've heard from greyhound owners is that they are indeed very quiet and clean, and they curl up on the couch much like a cat and love to sleep about as much as a cat too! However. . I've also heard you should never, ever let them off the leash unless they are in a safe, enclosed, fenced area, since they love to run, and they run so fast that there's no way you'd ever catch them! Apparently, they aren't great about not taking off, and if they see something moving, they'll chase it, no matter what it is, and you may never get them back.