About Greyhounds
Do Greyhounds make good pets?
Greyhounds make wonderful pets. They are loving, devoted dogs who thrive on human attention and affection. Their former life at the track required them to be handled by many different people. As a result, they are usually friendly to strangers and do not make good watch dogs. They will quickly become attached to their new owners and are sensitive and eager to please.
How much exercise do greyhounds need?
Greyhounds are sprinters but they do not have a lot of endurance. They will spend a large part of their day sleeping. You need to provide them with daily walks or the chance to play in a fenced area.
How long do greyhounds live?
Greyhounds have a life expectancy of 10 – 14 years.
How old are greyhounds when they are retired?
Most of our greyhounds come to us when they are two to four years old. We occasionally get some that are as young as 18 months or as old as five years old.
Are Greyhounds housebroken?
Well, that depends upon how long they’ve been in a foster home. They will, at the very least, be kennel trained. This means that they know to go outside and to keep their kennel clean. If you take them out frequently at first, they quickly learn that your house is their kennel.
Do greyhounds shed?
Yes, but not as much as other breeds and not as much as cats. They do not have an undercoat so they do not get the typically "doggy" smell.
Are greyhounds good with children?
As a breed, greyhounds have a gentle, tolerant disposition. They will usually ignore a child or walk away rather than growl or snap. Like any breed though, greyhounds have their limits and children need to be taught not to be overbearing and to respect the greyhound’s personal space when sleeping.
Are greyhounds good with other pets?
Greyhounds have always been in the company of a number of other greyhounds, but most of them have not seen cats or other breeds of dogs before. After a short adjustment period, most of them will get along fine with other dogs.
Each ex-racer is cat-tested. This method is not fool-proof, but should be a reliable indicator of the dog’s reaction to your cat. As with any dog, all introductions should be closely monitored and your cats should never be left alone with the greyhound until you are sure there are no problems. That being said, most greyhounds can learn to accept indoor cats. A large percentage of our greyhounds are successfully placed into homes with cats.
How much does it cost to adopt a greyhound?
Our adoption fee effective immeditely is $750.00 for American greyhounds and $1000 for Irish greyhounds. This includes spaying or neutering, teeth cleaning, basic shots, heartworm testing, transportation, a martingale collar, a leash, and a book on greyhounds.
Can greyhounds be kept outside?
NO. Greyhounds need to be kept indoors. They don’t have much body fat or an undercoat of fur so they are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. They cannot be kept in the garage all day either. To adopt a greyhound, you must commit to adopting an indoor companion.
Why do greyhounds need to be kept on a leash?
Greyhounds are sighthounds, which means they have been bred for thousands of years to chase. At the track, that instinct is further reinforced. They can reach speeds of up to 45 mph in a few strides. When you put all of this together, it means that greyhounds that are left off-lead in an unenclosed area will most likely chase a rabbit, squirrel, bird, leaf, or plastic bag, and they will run fast enough to be out of voice range in a few seconds. They cover a lot of ground very quickly and get lost. Ex-racers do not have street-smarts and are often hit by cars when they get loose.
You cannot let a greyhound run on an overhead lead or tie them with a chain or rope. They run so fast that they can break their neck when they get to the end of the lead.
