Cross Breeds

Does anyone own a greyhound?

Anyone own a greyhound former racing dog? If so, any suggestions to someone considering getting one?

Public Comments

1. ya...and its killin me on gas
2. I used to work at a greyhound (buses), but I don't know anything about the dogs.
3. They are very sweet, gentle dogs, and great with kids. My suggestion is to make sure your dog can have plenty of exercise. They love running and need lots of opportunity to move. They make really fantastic pets.
4. I do not own one, but I worked for a greyhound farm/kennel for over two years, and I can tell you that they make wonderful pets. they are great with kids, and you can contact the Florida (or whatever state you live in) Greyhound Association to adopt a retired racing dog. You'll never regret it.
5. well lol there nice dogs but be prepared to spend an arm and a lef on dog food lmao mine eats alot and he is pretty big too never raced though
6. Yes, The best suggestion I can give you is don't get one if you have a cat. We used to rescue dogs and they would eat the heads off the cats. Traumatizing let me tell ya. Otherwise they are wonderful dogs. They are hilarious when they smile. Looks like they are going to take a bite out of you.
7. i don't own one but i know something about them.they are very gentle,they love to please their owner but they need a little exercise,especially if it is a retired dog.i don't think they eat so much but sure they need all your love and attention.good luck
8. Hello, my name is Danilov, I'm a vet from Romania. I've worked in the U.K. for 6 years at a Grey hound breeding farm. Go to the tracks. After a race the dogs that lose are sold, or their owner kills them in a brutal way. That is how they do business. The owner of the farm where I worked was a pretty good man, he sold each dog, never killed one. For them Grey hounds are a source of profit, so go to the tracks after a race and participate at the auction. You could buy a dog for about 100$, or less. Better you get the poor animal than someone kill him. Cheers!
9. Very sweet,laid back at home,minimal grooming.... DO NOT FORGET that they are bred to be sighthounds(spot & run down quarry)! Read about a FOOL who was terribly surprised when her 2 killed the neighbors cat. DUH,how stupid of her! PS: DON'T try to "fatten"it up! They're SUPPOSED be that weight!
10. Definitely try to adopt one that is going to be euthanized bcuz it is no longer profitable as a racer - lots of rescues out there. From what I know they are sweet animals, but not overtly affectionate - would you be if you lived the beginning of your life in a cage and then were forced to race???? I bet you'll be pleased with your new addition.
11. 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. As to greys eating a lot, they should not be allowed to get fat. There is a saying that for every pound overweight they are it takes 6 months off their lifespan. The amount of food (and the amount of money) depends on the quality of food you feed. Generally a high quality, high protein food will cost more money per bag but is more efficient at meeting your dog's nutritional needs so you use less. With my four dogs I spend $35/month on food by buying a high quality food in bulk. I'm also not sure about greys not being affectionate - quite the contrary I can't recall ever meeting a greyt who was not affectionate. Greys, especially recently retired dogs may be shy but they are most certainly loving dogs. 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.