Reddit reviews Adopting the Racing Greyhound

Good call, completely forgot about the greys whining every night when we first got them (not sure how I could with the lack of sleep).

For anyone actually considering adopting, I highly recommend this book or take a stroll over to /r/Greyhounds.

> Make sure you have a veterinarian who is aware of the unique care requirements of this type of dog.

100% agree.

> I think I'm going to buy a book to familiarize myself with them so that I can be prepared.

There are two I recommend based on how you like to get your information:

• Cynthia Branigan's Adopting the Racing Greyhound: Kind of dry, serious and clinical, but a great reference to own.
  
  
  
• Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies: A more enjoyable read that is a bit less serious but informative.
  

Yeah, a lot of rescues have odd personalities due to being raised, basically, like livestock.

They're certainly not rough-and-tumble rasslin' dogs like a lab or retriever. They wanna run for about 5 minutes once or twice a week, and lounge/sleep the rest of the week. They have terrible recall. Most of them, if they see a squirrel or a cat or something off in the distance, they're going to zero in and take off (35 mph in 3 steps). And then get hit by a car or get lost. So anytime they're out of the house, they need to be in a fenced-in area (yard/dog park) or on-leash. Those are the down sides.

For me, I picked a greyhound because they are the absolute chillest dogs ever. They love to see you come home and they'll greet you for a couple minutes, then just hang out near you. They don't chew up furniture, they don't demand hours of play/exercise every day, they're not yappy. (It was about four months from when I adopted my 6-y/o until I heard her bark for the first time.) All the rescues are house-trained. They can be mostly command-trained if you put in some time. I taught mine "sit", "stay", and "down", but "come" never worked outside the house. Also, they're raised for health and good genetics, so there aren't chronic medical issues like bad hips and stuff that you'll find in other purebreeds.

If you do start seriously considering it, I highly recommend "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" and "Adopting the Racing Greyhound". After those you should be pretty set on what to expect. Also, the rescue agency should work with you to find a dog that fits with your situations and what you want. (Some are not cat-safe, some are more high-energy, some are more comfortable with new situations, etc)

I'm really glad I adopted (and fostered). But rescue greyhounds are really unlike any other pet dog out there.

...Wow I just typed a lot, haha. Let me know if you have any questions!

I wouldn't say they require more work or special care than most other dogs. There are a few things to take into account:

• 1. They don't have that second coat of fur (that causes dander) for insulation, so they will get too cold or overheat outside depending on the weather.
     
• 2. They have thin skin that will tear easily when injured (even after a small scuffle with another dog).
     
• 3. A retired race dog that has never been in a home before will need time to learn things like stairs, TV, ceiling fans, and not to potty in the house. Puppies grow up with all this stuff, but a 2 year old dog has only known the kennel. They learn pretty quickly, though.
     
     There are some great books out there if you're serious about it. This one and this one.
     
     Oh, and, if you do adopt 1 or more, be ready to become greyhound obsessed! Don't fight it! :)