How to Adopt a Greyhound

Greyhounds are sight hounds and one of the most ancient breeds of dogs to be domesticated. In the United States, they are most widely known as a racing dog, but thousands are rescued from race tracks each year and need good homes. These loving dogs are starved for attention and need human interaction, but they are also happy to just curl up on a pillow to sleep. Often, they are compared to oversized cats. Because of their low body fat, greyhounds have to be indoor dogs. They cannot acclimate to huge temperature swings.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Research the breed. Greyhounds are sight hounds meaning that if they see a prey animal they are likely to chase it. They can also go from zero to 45 miles per hour in three strides. That means it is important to have a fenced yard and to always have a greyhound on a leash. Greyhounds also have very little body fat, so they must be kept primarily indoors. As they are bred for racing, the selective breeding programs have also helped to eliminate most genetic disorders in the breed. If a sight hound gets lost chasing its prey, it may be unable to find its way home again the way a scent hound can,

2. Check on the rescue agency. Find out what they do to track the animal's history, to get it ready to move from the track to a home and what kind of support they offer. The Greyhound Pets of American rescued 3,500 greyhounds in 2007. The organization makes sure the pets are completely vetted and inspects the homes of potential owners for hazards to the dog. The GPA also takes the dogs into foster families before adoption, to get them used to unfamiliar concepts like linoleum, stairs and mirrors.

3. Prepare a dog bed or large pillow for the greyhound. While at the track, greyhounds spend 30 seconds racing and then get four days of rest. In your home, a greyhound will be a big lapdog, preferring his pillow to more ambitious pursuits.

4. Consider the exercise needs of the breed. Many people assume that as racing dogs greyhounds need lots of exercise and lots of room. While a backyard is nice, greyhounds really only need two or three walks per week to get the exercise they need. It is the dogs fast metabolism, not their activity, that keeps the breed lean. In addition, since most of these dogs come from the race track, they are accustomed to regimented bathroom breaks. Often, a greyhound will need to go outside only three or four times in a 24-hour period.

5. See if a greyhound is right for you. Most rescue organizations will allow overnight visits to see if a particular dog meshes well with your family before the adoption is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Greyhounds are generally extremely well-trained when they are rescued. While walking on a lead, they allow the human guide to set the pace.
• Greyhounds are extremely docile and good with both young children and the elderly because they generally do not exhibit the "excitable" behavior of other dogs.
• As a sight hound, some greyhounds will pursue smaller pets in the house. Before bringing a greyhound into a home with a cat, check to see if the dog has been cat-tested. Many greyhounds consider themselves big cats and are happy to curl up with your cat.
• Make sure your veterinarian has experience with greyhounds. Their rapid metabolism effects the way they are anesthetized as does their lack of body fat. An inexperienced vet may not know this.

Resources

• Greyhound Pets of America