Greyhound Adoption 101

Scotty was the third largest of the litter at an average race weight of 80 pounds, with a pecan and black brindle that was heavy on his back but light on the face accenting his deep chestnut eyes. Like all racers he had a crate in the kennel that he called home. At the same time every morning a buzzer went off and the kennel doors opened letting him out for the day. At the same time every afternoon someone took him to run and at the same time every evening he was fed.

When you adopt a retired racer you are getting a dog that has never walked on a polished floor so slippery linoleum in the kitchen is an obstacle. He's gangly and unsure how to interact with his new world and it's precious... for about five minutes until you hear the splitter splatter as he relieves himself on the rug. Wall-to-wall carpet reminds him of grass. Three weeks after adopting Scotty there were no rugs in our house, he had learned to walk on linoleum and was well on his way to being house broken most likely due to our implementing a schedule. Conversely a flight of stairs remained a problem for many years. We didn't opt to crate Scotty but many people have found it helpful, as it is what the dog is used to.

A general misconception is that greyhounds need hours of play a day. In their racing life they spend only a few minutes at a time exercising so half hour intervals a couple of times a day work for them. They will gain weight and you will not be able to count their ribs once they are living the luxurious life of a pet. Scotty learned to regulate his eating once food was always available and maintained a weight of 90 pounds. A properly fitted collar is a must! As their head and neck are so similar in size greyhounds can pull out of anything not adequately adjusted. If you have allergies expect to have them with this breed even though it is short furred. Due to constant cleaning and the regulated temperatures they shed year round and dander can build up without regular bathing.

Because they eat raw meat in many kennels you are likely to be bowled over by a devastating case of halitosis if he breathes on you. Professional teeth cleaning will help a bit but the breed is notorious for breath that can curdle milk. Luckily vets now offer some treatment options. Because anesthesia settles in muscle tissue, which they have lots of, greyhounds sometimes take longer to wake and remain groggy for a while. No matter how much you love them and want to trust them you should never let them off leash unless they are in an enclosed space. They will chase anything and their sense of smell fuels a voracious and blind curiosity to explore, which they tend to do at greyhound speed.

Owning this animal was an amazing experience. He was gentle, trainable, lovable, and calm no matter how many kids hung off him or laid on him. If you are willing to work in the beginning you will have a wonderful and grateful family pet.