Thinking of adopting a retired Greyhound. *UPDATE* Adopted Greyhound

[Wifezilla]

I was told by the vet to have low protein.

Most vets get very little nutritional training. The training they do get is sponsored by large pet food companies. Always read your dog food labels carefully. Even if there isn't corn, there could very well be beet pulp, rice bran or some form of soy. Unless your dog has some kind of weird kidney disease, I can't imagine why a vet would recommend low protein for a dog.​

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Now I want a greyhound

 

[herechickchick]

I have been adopting greyhounds for years. I am on the board of directors for Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option and I also work in a racing kennel. Greyhounds make wonderful pets and are excellent at adapting to life outside of the tracks. I have not found gas to be a problem and most of our adopters greys do not have gas problems, if your greyhound has gas simply put a large tablespoon of yogurt on his or her food each day and in a week or so the gas should be gone, it is not a "breed standard" as some one else mentioned. Most greyhounds get along fine with small animals. My sister wanted to adopt a 90lb male that we called a "cat zapper". This boy failed his cat test with flying colors but after a couple of months of working with him at the adoption kennel he now lives with my parents and sister with 2 small dogs and 3 cats and they have never had any problems.

Greyhounds are trained to be independent thinkers from the day they are born. At the track we want the dog to learn how to maneuver around the competition with in a race so that he or she can win the race. That being said is the reason that basic training (sit, stay, come...) can be a real challenge but it is not unachievable. Greyhounds can be picky eaters and at the track they are fed once a day in the morning and our group strongly suggests to our adopters to continue this feeding schedule. We also suggest timing feedings, if the hound does not eat in the allotted time then it is taken away until the following day. After a day or 2 they figure it out. The first couple of days can be a real challenge especially in the evening. If you decide to crate then your work will be much easier. If you decide not to crate I would suggest putting the dog bed beside your bed and putting the dogs leash on with the loop around your wrist. That way if the hound decides to wonder at night you will know and can correct him/her to lay back down. My greyhounds do not get up before me and are trained to wait until I get out of bed to get up. I would also strongly suggest to use the muzzle that will come with your hound if you are not going to crate, it will make getting into things harder while you are gone. As far as keeping them off of furniture that is usually no problem as it is not a habit that needs to be broken since they do not know what furniture is.

I guess my best advice is at the end of the day is that they are DOGS! Each has its own personality and needs and you will just have to take it one day at a time. Your group will be a good support for you. Check out the books by Cynthia Brannigan, she is an authority on Greyhound Adoption.

Like I said I work in racing so if you have any racing questions and want to know the truth about life at the track from someone in the industry I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Oh and my greyhounds do not bother my free ranging chickens, they are actually a little afraid of them, it is really funny.

Best of Luck

 

[EweSheep]

I had friends that owned ex racing greyhounds and they are super sweet!

I love their charm as well. I have owned Borzois and they are not that much different than the greyhounds and the Borzois were well suited for me as I was living by myself and loving their sweet temperments. No, they do not need alot of exercise, just quick RUN in the backyard or my horse pasture. Remember to put some flags so they don't run into it! I nearly lost my Borzoi b*tch that day and she recovered, however after her spaying less than a month after that fence accident, she died suddenly. She had ruptured aorta that it clotted previously when she smashed herself into it, injured the aorta. I dont know how she survived it because it was a really touch and go for awhile, her gums were pale and I thought she got the wind knocked out of her. Alas, it wa snot to be. So make sure you have VISABLE fencing so there will be NO accidents.

My two Borzois did very well with a small lot and they run all day outside on good days and inside during the winter.

And all three Borzois I had were adopted from Oaklara Borzois, south of Chicago and she was a wonderful person to deal with and she helped me finding those dogs.

However Borzois are not good with babies or toddlers or high strung or loud kids. They dont mix well however my two boys were the exception because they LOVE kids. I guess it all depends on how they were raised. And yes they are REAL couch potatoes!

 

[floridamama]

I have own a total of 4 retired racers. 1 was on the track for a year. 1 was on the track for almost 3 yrs. 1 was on the track and got so hyper to run he jumped out when the door open and injuryed his back. The final grey hound was an retired breeder who once was a high winning stakes dog. We owned 2 at a time. But, They lived in our house on their own beds. Terrific with my children who at the time were infants. Ladybug was the one who helped my oldest child to let go of holding on to the couch and walk. My daughter grabbed her collar and a tiny fist of skin and ladybug stood up and stepped together across the living room to me in the kitchen. They do need an outet to run about 15 mins of flat out running and playing but they are just great couch potatoes.

 

[verity]

one of the best dogs we EVER had was 'Amy-Grey' -- she came to us as a 2 year old and we had her for 12 wonderful years -- there never, ever was a sweeter dog --
she didn't even really want ANY exercise other than a walk occasionally -- she was totally contented to lounge out on the sofa and supervise the activities of the household --- some racing greys are trained on 'live lure'

and may have a hard time adjusting to cats but our Amy lay around with cats lying with/on her -- she loved children and our smaller dogs -- we miss her every single day ---

If you have a chance to give one of these special dogs a home you will never be sorry --

 

[gaited horse]

I love greyhounds. I have always wanted one.

 

[fldiver97]

I currently have a retired racer. He is the third greyhound I have adopted over the years. I mostly had two of them at a time but I now have a rescued Malamute with my grey, my female grey died a few years back. I have several cats too. Generally they are very docile and sweet. Not high strung or overly active. A few have a very high prey drive and can not be homed with small dogs or cats etc. The majority is fine with them. I used to foster greys and also temperament tested them as to their compability with cats....I'd say about 90% of them were good with cats from the beginning or adjusted farly quickly. The rest was not suitable to live with smaller pets due to high prey drive or other issues. The industry is not supposed to use live rabbits or kittens for training anymore but some of the trainers may not follow the rules. I do not leave my dogs out with the chickens, the grey usully does not care about them, ignores them (interested in the feed though) but once in a while he gets the bug to run in the group of chickens and watch them scaatter..I swear he laughs. He does not pick them up or run after them but it is scary for the chickens and don't want to risk that he grabs a chicken. So we have either a barrier up or the chickens are already in the coop when he races n the yard.Anyway, greyhounds should never be allowed off leash unless fenced in. When they take off after something you may not be able to get them back. So they are 40 mile per hour couch potatoes.....mostly lounging around with a few minutes a couple of times a day outbursts of energy. They need less exercise than many other breeds, have to be 'build up' for longer walks as they are bred to sprint short distances and are mostly confined in cages on the track. Most health problems are old injuries (fractures, tendon, joint problems and their teeth are often not in good shape. Anyway, most greys do well in a home with walks and occasional playtime/run in a fenced yard or dog park. They are however not suited for extreme temperatures and should be pretty much house dogs. They overheat easily in summer heat and have little hair and bodyfat to insulate when it's cold. Cynthia Branigan wrote acouple of very good books about keeping ex racers. She is a wonderful lady, I only had the pleasure to meet her once but I would read her books. If you have any questions, please PM or e-mail me...... Greyhound people can go on and on - just like chicken people.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

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We applied to adopt one when the rescue was doing an adoption day at the Stateville TSC. We were denied because we live on a farm, basically.

 

[fldiver97]

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Greys are definitely stinky.

Well, in my experience they can be 'stinky' and have gas problems but I never had one that did not get over the digestive tract/gas issue after making adjustment to their diets.....I've had greys for 17 years and the biggest problem was my first rescue that already had been homed for a while before he ended up in rescue again. His 'favorite' food was expensive but not very good and gave him terrible gas. After I switched him to a good quality low grain high meat content food and occasionally fed raw he was no problem. Never had a big issue with my others once they were switched to a good diet either. Now dragon breath....that was in issue in many rescues. All of mine have cleanings done and one had major dental problems that eventually required multiple extractions. And as far as gas goes...I've seen (smelled....) that in other breeds as well often related to their diet... Others may think differently or have different experiences but that's what I've experienced...