Many greyhounds die every year when they stop making money for their owners. These dogs are generally between the ages of two and five. On their fifth birthday, racing greyhounds are legally required to retire. Most stop racing well before their fifth birthday.
These dogs are gentle and graceful. Watching them run is an amazing sight. In reality, they are known as couch potatoes in the dog world. They do not require a lot of exercise, but do enjoy a walk. They like to run, always in a fenced area, a couple times a week. They are sprinters, so greyhounds only run for a few minutes before they are exhausted.
If you like to jog, you can gradually build up your dog’s endurance and train them to jog with you. But in the beginning, they need to go short distances.
Retired racing greyhounds have no knowledge of living in a home even though they are adults. They do not understand steps and patience is required in teaching them. Greyhounds are not house broken, but because they are adults, they learn quickly
Basic Greyhound Facts
Greyhound can live to about 12 years. They seem to have a high rate of cancer as compared to other breeds. But, because of the way they are built, greyhounds are one of the only purebred dog breeds that do not get hip dysplacia.
Some people are surprised to find out that greyhounds come in a variety of colors and not just gray, which is called blue. They are available in black, fawn, red, brindle and white. The white greyhounds usually have spots that can be any of the other colors.
Greyhound Life at the Track
Racing greyhounds are taught to chase a lure, they use a white plastic garbage bag. They are sight hounds and have excellent eyesight. They hunt by vision, not by smell, like some other hound breeds. Because they are taught to chase anything that moves, some greyhounds do not do well with cats. Most greyhound rescue organizations will “cat test” the dogs to see how they react with a cat. The cat testing is done when they are fresh off the track and sometimes the results are not accurate. Careful introduction must be done if you have cats or small dogs.
Most racing greyhounds live their lives in a metal kennel that is barely larger than they are. They are let out of their kennels three times a day for about 15 minutes at a time. They quickly learn to appreciate having run of their house.
After Adoption
As with any dog, obedience training is recommended. Dogs love to please their owners. The learning experience gives the animal enrichment and positive reinforcement that builds confidence.
Give your greyhound a soft place to sleep and a lot of love, and he will be a wonderful companion for the whole family.
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