By Jay, from The Depp Effect
Every year, thousands of greyhounds retire from racing. Luckily for them, more and more people are realizing what great pets they can make.
The most cat-like of all dog breeds, these are easy dogs to care for. They are sprinters with only a short burst of energy at their disposal, so they don’t need hours of walking – twenty minutes twice a day will do, and then they’ll most likely rest quietly for hours on end.
Greyhounds have a short, non-oily coat and are often thought of as ‘low-allergen’ dogs. Their fur is soft and fine, they shed less than most breeds, and need minimal grooming.
Questions?
How old are they when they retire?
Most are between three and five years old when they retire. Some get rejected as pups because they aren’t fast enough or won’t chase, so they retire early. Some go on to be brood mothers or stud dogs and retire later.
What can I expect when I bring a new greyhound home?
It depends whether they come straight from the racing kennel or they’ve been fostered in someone’s home. Dogs who’ve been fostered are more than halfway to becoming a great pet already, whereas dogs coming straight from the kennel will need some help getting used to living in a house. They won’t understand glass doors, stairs, or slippery floors. They may be freaked out by vacuum cleaners, washing machines, televisions, and children, and may never have seen a bus or cycle. However, most of them quickly adapt with gentle handling and patience.
One important thing to remember is that newly retired greyhounds are unlikely to have been left alone, ever. They are born and raised in a kennel and they spend their working lives in the constant company of other dogs, so when they retire, most will need some degree of ‘alone’ training before they are happy to be left on their own for more than a few minutes.
What kind of health problems can I expect?
Greyhounds are pretty healthy dogs but they do have one or two little medical quirks. Thin-skinned, with little or no subcutaneous fat, they can suffer badly from extremes of heat and cold. And that thin skin can tear easily, so they are more vulnerable to cuts and scrapes.
Their blood chemistry is different to other breeds, too, and they are extra sensitive to some anesthetic agents, drugs, and pesticides, but this isn’t a huge problem, your vet should already know about these.
They have very few genetic diseases, though the American lines seem to have a high incidence of osteo-sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Treatments are available, and research is continuing, but it’s something to be aware of.
Since greyhounds are a deep-chested breed, new owners will need to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of bloat, or gastric torsion. It’s rare, but when it happens it is a medical emergency and there is no first aid option. Affected dogs need to see a vet immediately.
Apart from that, you can just expect the usual kind of doggy issues.
What about behavior and training?
Being hounds, ex-racers may need a different approach to training. Greyhounds are independent and can seem stubborn if you’re used to a ‘people-pleaser’ breed like a retriever or collie, but clicker training works really well, and all you need is plenty of patience and understanding.
The biggest issue with greyhounds is that they’ve been bred for thousands of years to hunt small animals. You should bear in mind that this was pretty much their job when racing, too, although at the track they chase an artificial lure. So, most will need careful introduction to small furry creatures, because it’s instinctive for them to chase and kill animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and possibly cats – and some even need to be persuaded that other breeds of dog can be friends.
Having said that, it is possible to socialize greyhounds, and many live happily alongside rabbits, chickens, cats, ferrets and other pets. However, there are those who cannot.
Whether or not they are safe with smaller animals, greyhounds are a very gentle and reliable breed with people. They are well used to being handled at the track, and some go on to become therapy dogs, visiting folk in hospitals and care homes, providing comfort and non-judgemental love.
There are always young, healthy greyhounds needing homes. But don’t adopt a greyhound because you feel sorry for him and want to rescue an ‘abused’ animal. Greyhounds actually love to race. Adopt a greyhound if you truly think he will fit your lifestyle and you believe you can provide for his needs. These are gentle, sensitive dogs, and capable of great devotion. If you do adopt one, you’ll be rewarded with a faithful and very loving companion.
Resources:
http://www.greytalk.com – a forum for the owners of the ex-racing greyhound.
http://dancinggreyhound.com.p11.hostingprod.com/no_fear_no_pain – a lecture by Kathleen Gilley on understanding the ex-racer. Kathleen teaches these dogs to ‘dance’ and runs a dynamic off-lead display team.
‘Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies’ by Lee Livingood
‘Adopting the Racing Greyhound’ by Cynthia Branigan
Most pet owners can easily teach a dog to shake hands. But cats? Believe it or not, it is actually possible to teach your cat to shake.
