Cross Breeds

greyhounds?

We have adopted 3 and they are wonderful! We have one that will snap in her sleep if you touch her too fast, but still a sweetie. She was very abused (I believe they all were :( ) What are your experiences with these beautiful dogs and do you believe yours were abused while on the track? They always say they are not, but their physique and mannerisms when meeting new people tell a different story. I love these dogs and wish I could rescue all of them! We have rescued "Big Dog", 2 year old baby sister named him, "Buddy" and "Bella" these are the names we gave them, not the Racing names.

Public Comments

1. Greyhounds are wonderful. But they weren't house dogs at the track. They were working dogs. I don't call that abuse, but I don't call it being a housepet either. You'd have some of the same mannerisms with working sheep and cattle dogs who aren't just trained to herd, but herd as part of their life.
2. Ok, I don't know anything about greyhounds, but the way to treat abused animals are the same. You need to be kind to them, and let them know that you won't hurt them. It will take a while, but it will eventually work if they are as sweet as you say. Just remember, never ever hit them or curse at them. If they do something wrong, let them know with the tone of your voice, not your hand. If they are as abused and traumatised as you think, it will take a while and they will be afraid. Don't worry, just be kind to them and they should respond in kind.
3. I'd need to see your greyhounds in person to get a better idea but I don't think they were abused. The breed (especially adults) tends to be quiet and even a bit timid at times. They're usually shy when meeting new people or strangers. And I'm glad that you're sharing the word about Greyhounds--they're wonderful pets. And kudos to you for doing track rescues--that is so good of you. I personally think that Greys are the secret for apartment owners seeking a dog. They don't bark a lot, aren't hyper, aren't alert/alarm dogs, give 'em a 30 minute walk and they spend the rest of they day lounging at your feet or looking for a sunny space to nap in. They have less of a "footprint" than most toy dogs. But people just assume that they like to go out and run for 3 hours nonstop because they look so athletic. Every greyhound I've ever met (other than 2 puppies) was shy and standoffish with new comers. Also, keep in mind that dog protocol says that the polite way to approach a new dog is in a circle (a threat approaches directly). Humans violate that--we just stride right up to a dog and go "what's his name?" and most dogs cringe at this.
4. careful!!!!! assumptions can get you in trouble! sleep agression is common in racing greys BECAUSE they are always left alone to sleep & don't get used to being woken up... While trainers & kennels vary just as pet home vary active abuse is probaly rarer than in a pet home ..... But they are not pets and do not learn the thing pets do....
5. I agree that abuse is probably minimal at the track and kennels. It's matter-of-fact handling for them by their handlers rather than loving and kind handling. Of course, I'm sure the handlers have their favorites. I belong to a greyhound rescue group and when we get them from the track, most have never had a bath. They are rescued between 1-5 years old, depending on their racing abilities. The better they race, the longer they're kept. These dogs love to run and this is what they were born to do. My problem with it is being in a kennel 20 some hours a day and the 4-D meat they're served for dinner. Read about it on-line and you'll understand what I'm saying.
6. I have two retired greys...The pair of them are both lazy, both bonkers and both the most wonderful dogs I've ever owned. I'm an experienced dog handler having bred Collies for 10 years. I don't know what it is they just make me laugh. My wife is a carer in a residential home for the elderly and takes the two of them down from time to time. They will quite happily stand there and get fussed to bits, but after twenty minutes they need a sleep...lol.
7. That snapping you mention is "sleep aggression" and I think that is a misnomer because it really is more of a reaction than aggression. Greys are NOT aggressive dogs. It probably stems from their lifestyle of living in kennels.. not being disturbed and having their own space to sleep. It can occur in any breed though. http://www.munlochyanimalaid.co.uk/faq/Sleep.pdf http://www.gcnm.org/behav2.html Most people will agree that these sensitive dogs would not perform well as racers if they were abused. It simply wouldn't make sense to mistreat a dog that is your "bread and butter". That said, there is good and bad in any industry.. so yes some owners will mistreat their dogs. And as far as what happens to the retirees who aren't lucky enough to land in adoption groups, their fate is questionable, at best. I have volunteered with these dogs for years.. fostering, volunteering at the kennels, and serving on the board of dir. of my local adoption group so I have encountered hundreds of these wonderful dogs. The vast majority have been wonderfully well adjusted. But there are the exceptions. I prefer the more timid dogs to foster.. it is so rewarding to watch them blossom. One of my fosters I ended up adopting b/c she was such a fearful mess she was pretty much unadaptable. It took two days before my husband could come near her. And it took over a year for her to tolerate strangers, which she is still cautious about. There have been a few come through the rescue that I think were not treated well based on injuries and behavior, but who knows for sure? What I do know is that it is a despicable way to earn money or entertain ones self. The dogs live in small cages, only out to race, practice, and potty. And once they don't make money, they are treated like trash. The best thing we can do is focus on the dogs, and educating people about how greyt they are. Even if we can't end racing today, we can work to ensure that each dog owner is held accountable and these dogs end up in loving homes.