Top Ten Reasons To Adopt A Greyhound
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| 10. They don't slobber. 9. They hardly shed. 8. They like to hang with well-behaved kids. 7. They're the fastest dogs on the block, but don't brag about it. 6. They're bigger couch potatoes than you are. 5. They could qualify for Mensa (most of them...). 4. They're always unfailingly sweet and polite. 3. They don't smell like dogs. 2. They look you in the eye when you talk to them. 1. They're forever thankful to you for saving their lives! |
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How large are Greyhounds?
Greyhound males stand 26 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 65-85 lbs. Females stand 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 50 to 65 lbs. They come in many colors: black, white, several shades of brindle, fawn, red, blue or a combination of these colors.
How old are the retired racers, and what is their life expectancy?
Greyhounds placed through the adoption program are usually two to five years old. The younger dogs may not have qualified for racing. Most of the older dogs were retired from racing because they were no longer competitive. Rescue also places dogs from local animal shelters, or from families who can no longer keep their dog. Retired greyhounds enjoy many years of good health. With proper care, they have a life expectancy of twelve years or more.
How much exercise do Greyhounds need?
Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog. But they are sprinters without a lot of endurance. A retired racer is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. Greyhounds can never be trusted off leash out of a fenced area. Raised in such a sheltered life at the track, a greyhound has no street smarts. greyhounds can run at speeds of up to 45 mph and will chase moving objects. Because greyhounds are sighthounds (not scenthounds), a loose one would run so fast and so far that it would quickly get lost, if not hit by a car. Exercising your greyhound with walks and occasional chances to run around in a fenced area is all that's required. At the track, greyhounds are used to running every three to four days, so you may see a pattern to your dog's energy peaks. You are the best playmate your greyhound could have and it will follow your lead regarding how much exercise it gets. Most greyhounds will enjoy an occasional sprint in an enclosed, grassy area. Some of them love to run; others are simply not interested after they retire. Greyhounds also make great jogging and hiking companions once they become accustomed to longer distances and the new pace. Since they have been trained as sprinters, their endurance must be built up.
Are Greyhounds active, noisy dogs?
The most common misconception concerning Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. It is actually the opposite. Greyhounds are an inquisitive, gentle, mild, quiet animal by nature. The greyhound is basically a quiet dog and will spend much of its time sleeping in the corner of the room--unless you allow it a spot on the sofa. They are not barkers by nature, but will bark if excited or if they are trying to tell you something. They can exhibit a quiet but surprising independence. Their spirit has not been broken by their training or racing experiences.
Are Greyhounds good with children?
More so than most breeds. They are not as playful as puppies, since they are mature dogs, but they are very tolerant of children and will usually walk away rather than growl or snap at an overbearing child. But, like any dog, they have their limits, and children must be taught to respect those limits. To allow greyhounds to hunt and race together, and to make greyhounds tolerate constant handling by a number of people, aggressiveness towards other dogs and people has been nearly eliminated from the breed. Having said this, it must be noted that greyhounds are really adult's pets. They will get along with children, at least ones over age 4 or 5, but will most likely bond to the adults in the home. |
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A Dog With A Past -- History of the Breed
Greyhounds have had a special place in history for a long time. And until modern times, were treasured by their owners, usually royalty or noblemen, and treated as one of the family.
Ancient Times
The greyhound, as we know it today, was worshipped in ancient Egypt. The death of a favorite greyhound was treated the same as the death of a human. Families shaved heads, stopped eating, wailed, and mummified and buried their pets with their owners. Greyhounds traveled from ancient Egypt to ancient Greece and were treated with the same reverence. The same is true for ancient Rome. Gods in all three cultures were portrayed with greyhounds -- Anubis in Egypt is sometimes interpreted as part man, part hound. The Greek Gods Hecate, Pollux, and Artemis all had greyhounds as companions. In Rome, Diana was just one of the many gods who were portrayed with greyhounds. It was in ancient Rome that it appears that greyhound racing after hares started as a sport.
Medieval Times
Greyhounds almost became extinct during the Middle Ages as famine and pestilence spread across the land. Men of the cloth saved them, and the nobility claimed them as an exclusive right of theirs. It is during the Renaissance that greyhounds were painted and immortalized. Both Chaucer and Shakespeare mentioned greyhounds in their literature.
In the 1700's greyhound coursing became popular and spread across Britain and Europe. During the same time, bulldogs were bred with greyhounds by an English nobleman named Lord Orford and these crosses continued for 7 generations, and were very popular.
Getting To America
As the Britons emigrated to America, they brought their greyhounds with them. And found them ideally suited to chase down rabbits that were interfering with their crops. This led to bets and wagers among the farmers as to who had the faster dog. And in the 1900's, an artificial lure and an oval track led to the first formal greyhound wagering, the forerunner of our greyhound racetracks.
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