The following are two fabulous articles.
They are invaluable resources for ANY breed of dog.
"Nothing in Life is Free" and "Who's in charge here?"
F.A.Q.'s
What kind of pets do greyhounds make?
They are affectionate and make terrific pets. Most greyhounds are quiet, low maintenance dogs and prefer to stay clean. Their skin doesn’t produce as much oil as most dogs and as a result, they don’t have the bad “doggie odor” that most dogs get.
How are they with other pets?
Greyhounds are friendly by nature and most socialize well because of the kennel environment. They are sighthounds and have the instinct to chase built in, so caution should be taken during introductions to small dogs and cats.
Are they good with children?
Most greyhounds do very well with children especially if the children are calm and gentle with them and respectful of them.
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Are greyhounds already housebroken?
They are crate trained, not housebroken, and that makes housetraining very easy. The majority of greyhounds that are adopted have no issues with housebreaking.
Why do greyhounds need to be kept on a leash?
Under no circumstances should greyhounds be let off leash if they are not behind a fence.
This cannot be stressed enough. Greyhounds are sighthounds and have been bred for thousands of years for speed. They have a strong instinct to chase and can run as fast as 45 miles per hour, which is comparable to a racehorse.
Do greyhounds need a lot of exercise?
Contrary to popular opinion, Most greyhounds aren’t hyper and don’t require a lot of exercise. They are sprinters and only have short bursts of energy. After a walk around the block or a nice romp in the yard, most are content to sleep for the next several hours.
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Will they adjust quickly in a home?
Not always. Greyhounds that are right off the track have never even seen many of the things we take for granted like stairs, ceiling fans, TVs, and mirrors. The time frame can vary, but sometimes it will take a month or more for the new grey to understand that he’s now a pet.
How much do Greyhounds eat?
Males eat 4-5 cups a day, and females eat 3-4 cups a day. They can be fed once or twice daily.
Are they inside dogs only?
Yes! Greyhounds can’t tolerate heat or cold well. They have thin skin, a short coat, and very little body fat. They may be tall, but they take up very little room in a home and cause little commotion. They are more than content with a soft bed to call their own, and will sleep there much of the day.
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Life Before Retirement
Learning about what your greyhound's life was like during his career is extremely important because it will help you immensely when attempting to understand his behavior.
Greyhound puppies are born on a farm where they begin the early stages of training. They are raised with their littermates and sometimes stay with them through training and on into their racing career. Greyhounds are constantly handled by people, and as a result, greyhound puppies become very well socialized from a very early age. This is one of the reasons retired racing greyhounds make such wonderful pets.
At about 18 months old the greyhound puppies have had all of their necessary training and are ready to go to the track and become a race dog. While they are racing they are kept on a tight routine which is why they prefer to live in a scheduled home environment. Racing greyhounds generally retire at about two to four years old from various things. The most common reasons include injury, loss of interest, and age.
The longer your greyhound's career, the better racer he was. Keep in mind, though, the length of a dog's racing career is not linked in any way to his or her ability to make a fabulous pet!
We at Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option encourage you to attend the races at Southland Park: Gaming and Racing so you can see first hand what your greyhound's life was like before he gets his forever home.
For more information on the life of a racing greyhound, check out Born to Run.
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Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option
1550 North Ingram Blvd.
West Memphis, AR 72301
(870) 735-7317
