Cross Breeds - Can Greyhounds make good pets?

Can Greyhounds make good pets?

My wife and I try to abopt animals when we can. We noticed that in many areas where there are dog tracks there are listings for Greyhound adoptions. We have a large house but a small yard. Are racing dogs trainable and if they are, what do they need to be happy?

Public Comments

Sure they make great pets. you can put them in dog races and shows
Excellent pets. Very loving ,can become a couch potato if you let them. Its either to good homes or in some cases if the have failed to work out on the track ...they are put to sleep.
Greyhounds are wonderful pets. Even though they are really fast, they spend most of their time laying down. They are affectionate and easily house trained. A brisk walk once or twice a day and they are happy. I highly recommend them.
A lot of greyhounds used for racing have been mistreated, so they may need more attention than other dogs. They also need a lot of exercise. So a large yard is good, though you can likely improvise. My aunt works with greyhounds and owns two herself. Her greyhounds are very calm and well-behaved animals.
yes they make good pets. those dogs need lots of tlc and patience at first. you shouldn't have a problem.
Yes, greyhounds do make excellent pets. They are sight hounds, however, and should never be out of either a confined area or on a leash as they will take off at the slightest provocation (a blowing leaf, a squirrel, another dog) and will run and run and run. Many greyhounds have lost their lives because their owners didn't know or believe this. They do not need lots of room despite their larger size. A daily walk or two and a comfortable place to lay, a family who interacts with them, a good diet and fun toys will keep them very happy.
Greyhounds were bred to run fast to keep up with rabbits and run races. The only problem with racing dogs is that sometimes they are given drugs to make them run faster. If you want to walk very far, long, and hard each day, you should consider getting a racing dog and save them from the harsh conditions that they currently live in. Racing dogs are sometimes only important to get money for their owner, so they may be somewhat afraid of you when you first adopt one, but treat it with kindness, and award good behavior instead of punishing bad.
Every dog has the potential to be a great pet or a disaster. Talk to the folks at Greyhound rescue. They'll be happy to teach you all about the breed, and they'll ask you questions that will help them determine whether or not a Greyhound would be a good match for someone like yourself.
that depends on the breed. Italian Greyhounds make great house pets.The key is to have a tall fence with no gaps where they can get out. they are sighthounds, so they will chase anything that moves. they are also very clingy.
http://www.greyhounds2go.org/ ^^ wonderful site. But yes, they are trainable. They will need to have alot of exercise. The only thing I would be concerned about is if you adopt one that use to race, is escaping trying to chase something. Oh! I saw on tv one day about people who owned grey hounds and took them to this course where they chase like a cloth thing on a mechanical line that moves it. The dogs seemed to really enjoy it! So maybe you can look into that in your area. And maybe if you go to the adoption center they can answer some of your questions. http://www.great-greyhound.org/faq.htm ^ this site has alot of questions and answers. Now you made me look into getting a greyhound as my next dog! Good Luck!
Greyhounds are really just big couch potatos. They are very mellow and sweet dogs. I work at a vet clinic, and I have only met nice well mannered greyhounds. You can do more research on them, and talk to the greyhound rescues. A lady that comes into our clinic fosters rescued greyhounds before they go to their forever home. The only problem I hear about is that these dogs have lived most of their lives penned up in a cage. They have never seen the inside of a house. They sometimes get confused about things like stairs, couches, carpet, tiles. Simple things that we don't think twice about sometimes catch them off gaurd. So most greyhounds are fostered in a home so they can learn the ropes before they go home with their new owners. I think it is an excellent idea to rescue a greyhound. If these dogs didn't have rescues, and people adopting them, they would get put down after their racing career was over. This website might help you learn a little more about the breed in general. http://dogbreedinfo.com/greyhound.htm
Yes if you have alot of inergy you could make it your exersise budy!
They make wonderful pets. I live near a greyhound adoption place and therefore we have many in the area. Everyone I ask say they are very happy with them. They really seem to appreciate what you are doing for them.They have had a rough life and seem ready to settle in as a pet. I have been told they are highly trainable and very loving. I also see many that are aged and grey so they must have a long lifespan I would think. Although I think a lot of that would depend on how much they went through on the track. They seem to not loose the want to chase things like rabbits though from what I hear. I have thought abaout getting one myself but am going to stay at 5 dogs for now.
They are wonderful pets. My friend has one and he is the sweetest. He looks scary but he is SOOO sweet. Because of their questionable past, some are timid. My friends, Davis, is very scared of things. He is scared of tile because he didn't grow up on it before. He is usually calm, but every few days he goes on his sprints. He was difficult to train because of his fear. I don't think that this is the case with all greyhounds. When my friend's family got him, they went into the agency and asked which one needed a home the most. The agency they went to also did an inspection of thier yard to be sure that it was safe for a greyhound. You need to be careful with greyhounds because they counter. I mean that they can eat food of counters because of their height. I think that you should get a greyhound. They are so loving. You need to be an active person to have a greyhound because they need a lot of activity. Good Luck!!
ABSOLUTELY!!! I have a greyhoung myself and they are the greatest. They are loyal very friendly and very lovable. I recommend you to get one. They are also gret with small children and babies.
Greyhounds can be great pets---but they are not for everyone. If you want a couch potato dog, a grey is greyt :) On the plus side, they do not need tons of exercise. Greys are sprinters--not distance runners. You won't need to take up jogging and in fact walking a just-off-the-track grey for a long distance on pavement could actually be uncomfortable as his feet will not be used to pavement. Greys tend to be quiet, clean and easy to handle. Unlike many rescue dogs, a grey is accustomed to be handled/touched by many people. Giving your grey a bath, etc is usually not an issue. When I volunteered with a greyhound rescue group one of my jobs was to wash the dogs when they came right from the kennel. They weren't anxious or nervous being touched and handled and hosed down at all. They were very calm through the whole thing. I don't know if I would consider them "trainable" the way I would a border collie, but there are some things (like holding still for a bath, getting into a kennel, going in and out a door) that they are so used to, they are already trained. Greys do not need a lot of space. Get them a comfy cushion and they will be happy to lounge around most of the day. Take them for a couple of walks and let them run off-leash in a secure area and you have a happy dog. They do shed---but they have short coats so a shedding grey is not as bad as a shedding lab. They can be very sweet, gentle and mild. MOST are not good with cats or other small animals which would look like prey to them.---even a small white dog could look like something to chase. Talk to the rescue group about this if you have cats. Greys MUST be on a leash with a very specific kind of collar at all times unless in a solidly enclosed yard. A grey can see something at 1/4 mile away that you cannot make out. If he gives chase he can reach speeds of well over 30 miles an hour before you can call him name. An electric/invisible fence will not contain them. A loose grey can quickly turn into a dead grey or a lost grey. A running greyhound can quickly get so far from home it is hard to find his way back. Greys are not suited to spending a lot of time outside in the extreme cold or heat and need to be protected from both. A grey cannot be on a trolley-style run which is a leash fashioned to a line between two posts of trees. The grey could hit maximum speed and then the end of the leash and be seriously hurt or killed. A really good book on adopting an ex-racer is: Adopting the Racing Greyhound by Cynthia Branigan. This book was the first "bible" of greyhound rescue groups. Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies by Lee Livingood is another good rescource. Good luck.
No one ever sees the ugly side of dog racing once they are no longer winners they are killed left to die in cages with other Greyhounds, buried alive, left to starve........that is why we have rescue havens for Greyhounds They do make great pets for cretin people. Most places that have Greyhounds for adoption will check to see if you are the right match for the pet. They only want the best for the animal, as you do. I have a friend that has adopted many Greyhounds and has been so happy with their pets (kids) good luck hope you find the right dog they are really your best friend.....always glad to see you and never bi*ch at you for something you forgot and always have a kiss for you **NOTE..... for the thumbs down do some research on abused Greyhounds see the facts and read on adopting
I love the breed they are great. I would love to have one, however, I love cats as well and I know that I could not be without at least one cat and most greyhounds do not do well with small animals such as cats.
They are wonderful pets. Graceful and elegant and very sweet, they really don't need to run all that much and can get exercise in your yard. In fact if you had to much yard you might have to worry that one could leap a 6 foot fence. To be happy they love to bask in the sun and keep warm, and watch that they don't go running off after a cat or a squirrel, other than needing to watch they don't run after something and get hit, they make great companions.
They make wonderful pets. My friend adopted one and he is just great. Very well mannered and gentle and loyal. So I would sah yes you won't be disappointed.
First, you do not need to be extremely active to have a greyhound! They're very happy with a good walk every day and are the quiestest house dogs I've ever had. Also, with all the greys I've fostered, plus my own 3, I've only met 1 timid greyhound. These dogs have fantastic temperaments - all of them love people, including kids. Given that these dogs are hunters, a lot of them aren't good with cats or small dogs. But my 2 males get along with anything and everything. The rescue group you deal with temperament tests these dogs to match the right dog to the right home. They're extremely smart dogs, easy to train and quick to learn, but like all sight hounds, easily bored once they've learned something. If you're the type of person who likes Cesar Milan, this is not the breed for you because his tactics would turn a greyhound into a cringing heap on the floor. Voice corrections are all that's needed for a greyhound. They're a healthy breed, except that a fairly high percentage of them have got bad teeth, so be prepared for regular cleanings. The only downfall to the breed, in my mind anyway, is that you can't let them off leash in an unfenced area. Greyhounds are a great choice for anyone who wants a companion.