Cross Breeds

Is a Greyhound a great dog to have as a pet? anyone had/have one?

I would like to have a greyhound as a future pet. Anything you can tell me about Greyhounds? Also I want to have it as a puppy first. Maybe I would get a grown one that retired from racing track. I read about the "Save the Greyhound" foundation. I dunno....get a greyhound puppy or grown greyhound like age 5. Where could I find them? If you have one or had one....where did you get it from? hmmm....I would let it execersize a lot. Perhaps I could get a puppy and a grown retired racing greyhound. They could be best buds. Is there a rescue center in the US? I live in the middle of the US w/ all the tornado's

Public Comments

1. My colleague has a rescued one - she;s a wonderful dog. Thoroughly recommend it.
2. My neighbors rescued 4 from the track. They are calm, sweet, and they tend to want to kill my lab, so we don't walk together much ... They're sight hounds with strong prey drive and my lab looks like a little biteable squeaker toy. heheh. They lay around the house all the time. I'd definitely consider rescuing one.
3. I hear greyhounds are great. They are highly trainable and very obedient. That being said however, if you do want one, you need to see if the breed's activity/energy level is compatible with the time you'll be able to set aside to take him out and to exercise him/her. This also would play a great part in whether or not to get a puppy. Puppy's require much more time and attention for training and they also cost a lot more money the first year in vet expenses then in their "in between" years. Adopting one from "Save a greyhound" sounds like a wonderful idea. You'll get a dog that is already trained, probably neutered and the dog in return will be getting a home instead of being put down after he/she cannot race anymore.
4. If you are in the UK, call one of the Greyhound Rescue centres. They are always looking for good homes for their ex-racers. Your choice if you want a puppy of course, but it would be great to give an ex-racer a home. And yes, they make great pets (some are not good around cats) provided they have somewhere to have a brief burst of speed daily, they spend most of the time lounging on a sofa.
5. Type in Retired Greyhound Rehoming into your search bar and you will find plenty of information. I cannot state for certain which one as I obviously do not know where you are. I do not have a dog, nor ever had, but I know that they are wonderfully calm, loyal and gentle pets on the whole. I expect there are bad uns around, like with any species of animal, but that is often down to mistreatment. My mother's neighbour has several retired ones and she loves them. Has had them for many years.
6. http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/ http://www.ngap.org/ http://www.houndsavers.org/ Check 'em out. =)
7. Greyhounds make excellent pets. They are very affectionate &, contrary to popular belief, are quite lazy & do not need an excessive amount of exercise. They are very happy snoozing by the fire.
8. A greyhound is one of the most wonderful, and appreciative dogs you can ever have. I guarantee you will love them the first time you see one. It is so wonderful that you want to adopt a greyhound. Thousands of retired greyhounds are killed each year because they do not have anyone who will adopt them. Greyhounds are a very calm, gentle breed. They like to run around outside for awhile each day. Hopefully you won't mind a torn up yard because when they run, they dig up a bunch of grass and dirt. Greyhounds can reach speeds up to and exceeding 45 mph in three strides. Greyhounds really do need a fenced in yard to run around in. Never chain a greyhound up outside. If the hound decided to run after some prey, such as a rabbit, its starting speed is so fast, it would snap its neck. Never use invisible fencing. Should they decide to take off, greyhounds are so fast, and so focued on what they are after, that they will go right through the barrier and get severly shocked. Also, greyhounds that run away are hard to catch, and often get lost. They also enjoy daily walks. Many greyhounds suffer from spinal injuries that become a problem when they get older, so you may need to get your greyhound a harness to attach the leash to versus on the collar if this happens. Many greyhounds are not cat and small dog friendly. They often see these animals as prey to catch, so be careful when you take it for a walk. Many greyhounds like to play tag outside. Both my female and male greyhounds like to play hide-and-go-seek. Many of them also like to chase a ball with people. They also like to play with toys that resemble prey, such as a stuffed squirrel that squeaks. However, it is very rare that you will be able to teach a greyhound to do tricks, as they never learned any as puppies. Greyhounds are nicknamed the "couch potato" because they love to lie on the couch or a soft dog bed most of the day. So, be sure to get it a comfy dog bed. For this reason, you need not worry about their energy level, as another person suggested. They don't have the longevity as other breeds do. They enjoy daily walks and to play in the yard for a short while, then they are just happy laying around and being cuddled. Greyhounds are a very unique breed of dog, as they have almost human like personalities, each dog is very different. This is why most greyhound adoption organizations do not like to adopt out a dog based on a potential owner's request for a certain color or gender. You don't love your family members because of how they look, or if they are a boy or a girl. You love them for who they are. Also, because these hounds are so sensitive, you should never yell at, or hit one. Most of these dogs have been very abused and neglected during their life on a track, so if you do this, you will damage your relationship with the grey. Just speak with them in a firm voice if it is not listening to you. You will seldom hear a greyhound bark or growl, and will NEVER bite unless it is provoked in some way. The food that I recommend to get is Ultra. It is an all-natural dog foodand gentle on their sensitive tummies. My greyhounds' vet, who used to be a vet at a greyhound race track, recommends this brand. Generally, greyhounds will eat about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of food twice daily. If possible, it helps to put their food on a pet food table, (found at most pet supply stores). This is because their necks are so long, that when they get older, they sometimes have a hard time swallowing and choke. The table will help with this. Be sure you choose a vet for your greyhound that is well educated about greyhounds. This breed needs to be cared for very differently than other dogs. The average life of a greyhound is about 12 years. Most greyhounds have bad teeth because they are malnourised from their life on a track. So, in order to keep up with their dental care, brush their teeth daily with a soft brissle brush and toothpaste made for dogs. Don't worry, it won't bite you! It will probably just stand there and let you brush.These dogs do shed, so to help, they should be brushed daily with a soft, knobbed brush. Greyhounds LOVE this! Greyhounds' skin is very sensitive, so when you bathe it, be sure to use a hypo-allergenic shampoo made for dogs. You will also notice that most greyhounds do not have a lot of fur on their rear end. This is because on the race track, they are kept in kennels so small, that their rear end constantly rubs against the cage. Now, when you adopt a greyhound, you may need to teach it to walk up steps. You will also need to teach it about windows, (if a grey sees something it wants to catch outside a window, it will try to go right though it). This is because on the track, they only walk on dirt and otherwise, are kept in a kennel. They do not know what stairs or windows are when they first come off the track. My male greyhound, smashed into our deck door. Luckily, it was just the screen that was closed and not the actual glass door. Because of this, and for their own safety, you will need to put them in a kennel when you leave until they become adjusted to their new home, (then you can leave them out). You will NOT need to take it to obedinece classes. They are very well-mannered dogs. However, when going potty, the greyhound will have to learn which door to use, and how to let you know that it has to go potty. They learn quickly, just watch for signals that might mean it has to go and let it out at least 5 times a day. The process of adopting a greyhound can be a little lengthy. First, you will have to speak with a greyhound adoption councelor. This person will require you to fill out an adoption application, with references. Then, s/he will come by your house to make sure it is greyhound safe, and to suggest any changes that should be made, (the changes, if any, are usually very easy to make). The adoption councelor will also speak with you about your and your family's personalities and lifestyles. This person will then introduce you to some greyhounds that s/he thinks will fit in well with your family. I recommend reading "Adopting the Racing Greyhound" by Cynthia Branigan. It has a lot of good intoductory info. It is what I read when I first adopted one. Additionally, most greyhound adoption organizations will require you to read this book or one like it. Check it out from your library if you don't want to buy it. I also recommend going to a greyhound meet-and-greet. These are usually held at your local pet supply store. Check with your local store, (usually at PetSmart and Petco, if you have those stores near you), or a local greyhound rescue organization to find out when one would be held. Go to the link: http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org This site provides a listing of many different greyhound adoption agencies in the U.S. I went through Twin City REGAP. Theresa Stead is the head of this and is WONDERFUL. She is very knowledgeable and dedicated to the greys! However, you go through which ever agency is most convenient for you. As far as adopting a greyhound puppy goes, unfortunately, it will be almost impossible to get your hands on a greyhound puppy, unless you want to spend big bucks. The reason for this is because only 1 in a thousand greyhound puppies ever make it to the track. The rest of them are very sadly, killed when they do not have the characteristics to be a winning racing greyhound. These greyhound breeders do not sell the puppies to be killed because they still have the potential of making money, should you decide to ever race it on the tracks. I know, it doesn't make sense - they would rather kill these poor things. It's just pure greed. However, many retired racing greyhounds are available for adoption as young as 2 years. If you are really set on getting a greyhound puppy, you can contact a greyhound breeder, but like I said, it will be spendy because of the possibility to make money from it. I strongly encourage you to adopt an ex-racer. As I said earlier, they are in DESPRATE need of homes - their lives depend on it. These dogs are also very appreciative of the attention you give them, as they are abused on the tracks. I once had my heart set on getting a puppy at one time, until I met a retired racing greyhound. I immediately changed my mind. You will also be doing something good, because you will be saving the life of a greyhound, who would be inhumanely killed if not adopted. If you want two dogs for playmates and companions, consider adopting 2 retired racers at the same time. All greyhound adoption agencies are very appreciative of this. Any other questions? Please feel free to add any additional comments to your question, and I will be happy to help. Good luck, and thanks again for saving the life of a greyhound! p.s. Don't worry about the tornados and bad weather. I live in the twin Cities and my greys do get nervous, but if you remain calm, they usually tend to react according to your reactions. Some of them do tend to still remain nervous though, but they are always o.k. Just try to keep them in the same room with you as reassurance for them. These dogs are not outside dogs anyway, so be sure you get them in the house when bad weather strikes - I'm sure you know this though.
9. Greyhounds are lovely dogs and they make wonderful pets, but never forget that you will have to be very careful as they have only known to chase small furry things!!!! but they can soon be bought round with a bit of training. Although they have always been used to running they are really quite laid back rather lazy they do not need miles a day they are quite happy to chill out on the sofa !!! here in the uk a lot of elderly people take them on as they are so kind and gentle walk well on the lead and just enjoy a stroll, I do hope you get one as they are lovely ENJOY