Renewed Life for Greyhounds

Tips for New Adopters

The Greyhound is an intelligent, adaptable dog, each with his own distinct personality and able to adjust well to his new life as a companion. Raised with litter mates and kennel companions, where they competed for attention, the greyhound is now the center of attention and loves it!

This dramatic change in routine places a strain on the greyhound just as it would anyone, and time must be allowed to adjust to his new surroundings. A quiet greyhound may become fretful. A good eater may become reluctant to eat. A perfectly housebroken one may have an accident. Give him time to get settled and do not press the panic button at any odd behavior during the first few days.

Your greyhound MUST be kept inside as that is how they were raised and most will rebel at being kept outside for very long periods of time unless you are with them.

You will be surprised how quickly the greyhound becomes attached to you, and what a difference your presence makes to him. Greyhounds are routine-oriented and like to go out in the morning, after eating, in the afternoon, and before bedtime at night. They are kennel-broken and will normally let you know when they want to go outside. You can start by taking them out every 2 - 4 hours. They normally can go 4 - 6 hours without a turn-out if you are not at home. Let your pet out frequently during this initial period either on a leash or in a fenced area only.

Take notice where your pet likes to lie down and provide him with an old blanket to lie down on. He can curl up in a small space and prefers to sleep in his owner's room. A stern tone of voice should be all that is needed to keep him off the sofa or bed if you do not want him there.

For the first few weeks, if you have to leave your greyhound alone for hours at a time, you should use a crate to confine your greyhound in the beginning. People who have to leave their dog during working hours may feel more secure than leaving the dog unattended in the home. This is not cruel. They have been crate-trained and find it very comforting. When you are home, just leave the door open and he will go in and out at will.

NEVER CHAIN OR TIE A GREYHOUND UP. They are not used to it, it is cruel, and they will freak out and try to chew the bond off, or in lunging could break their neck. They must be kept inside the house or in a fenced in yard. NEVER TRUST THEM OFF THE LEASH OUTSIDE A FENCED AREA. Because they can see for more than half a mile and are a hunting sight hound, they will chase anything that moves! They are NOT "street-wise" and will dart into the road and be killed before a motorist has time to react. Remember, even a world class sprinter can't catch these dogs who were bred to run 40 miles per hour!

Care should be taken in the beginning not to overdo extended jogging or walking on concrete until your greyhound's muscles and his pads toughen up. Remember, the greyhound is a sprinter not an endurance runner and, in both cases, the muscle involvement is different. Their turn-out and sprint pens are lined with fine sugar sand and the track surface consists of fine wet sand approximately 3 feet deep. The dogs' feet are flushed after each race and are often times sprayed with beta dine to prevent infection and soreness. Moving to an asphalt or concrete surface (especially if it is hot) can be very painful. We know you will like to show off your greyhound, but go slowly. Once the pads toughen and their muscle structure has acclimated to your pace, concrete walking is an excellent way to trim down the nails in a natural fashion.