If you’re reading this page, you probably already know that greyhounds make wonderful pets. However, an understanding of their racing background and their transition to becoming a family pet are important factors to consider before committing to care for a greyhound for the rest of its life.
We highly recommend reading Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies by Lee Livingwood, or Adopting a Racing Greyhound by Cynthia Branigan. Then please visit our hounds at one of our meet-and-greets before making the decision to adopt your first greyhound. When you’re ready fill out our adoption application and we’ll be in contact with you soon!
What kind of temperament do greyhounds have?
Contrary to popular belief, greyhounds are not high strung, but are generally very calm and quiet dogs. They are most content in the company of their human companions.
Do they require a lot of exercise?
Even though they are racing athletes, they do not require large amounts of daily exercise. A daily run in the yard or moderate walk are important for their overall health and happiness though.
Are they easy to house train?
As greyhounds are let out for potty breaks on a schedule at the track, they typically have not learned to “tell” their handlers when they need to go outside. A consistent let out /walk schedule, praise and attentiveness to your greyhound’s behavior will make house training a successful endeavor.
Is it OK to keep my greyhound outdoors?
Greyhounds have very little body fat and short fine hair. They must be kept indoors and never tied out.
Are greyhounds good with children?
As with many other breeds, this depends on the individual dog. Many will do well living with children, but they should always be supervised when interacting with each other. In the interest of safety, we do not adopt greyhounds to families with very young children.
Can greyhounds live with cats or other types of pets?
Again, this depends on the individual greyhound and his/her prey drive. We “cat test” all of our hounds and many are in foster homes with other types of dogs and pets. Care should be taken when introducing your new greyhound to other pets and they should never be left alone together until you are certain there are no personality issues.
Do greyhounds make good guard dogs?
Although many greyhounds learn to alert you when you have a visitor, they are usually more interested in being petted than guarding the fort.
How old are most retired greyhounds?
Most racers coming off the track are between 2 and 5 years old. The average lifespan of a greyhound is between 10 and 14 years old.
How big are male and female greyhounds?
Males are usually 28 to 30 inches at the shoulder and can weigh between 65 and 85 pounds. Females are usually 24-28 inches tall and can weigh between 55 and 70 pounds
I have allergies, are greyhounds hypoallergenic?
Although dog breeds that shed less can potentially cause less allergic reactions, there is no scientific data that supports specific "hypoallergenic breeds."