Frequent Questions about Greyhounds

What kind of pets do ex-racing greyhounds make?
Affectionate, friendly dogs that thrive on attention and human companionship, Greyhounds make great pets.

What should I expect, if I adopt a greyhound?
Because they’ve lived most of their lives at the track, everything is new to a Greyhound, so expect him/her to be a bit confused and curious. House manners have to be learned, but Greyhounds are intelligent and learn quickly. A firm "no" is usually all that is required to correct undesired behavior in a Greyhound. With a little time and patience, your Greyhound will settle in to become a family member.

Are they good with children?
Most Greyhounds have a quiet, calm disposition and are good with well-mannered children. However, any dog of any breed that has not been raised around children must be watched carefully. All interactions between dogs and children — no matter how trustworthy the dog, the dog breed or the children — should be supervised by adults. Remember — never leave a Greyhound or any dog, alone with a child.

Most Greyhounds have never seen children before leaving the track and because young children can behave unpredictably and in ways that are frightening or threatening to dogs, we generally do not recommend placing Greyhounds in homes with children under the age of six. Exceptions may be made depending on individual circumstances. Additionally, most Greyhounds are not pet-me-hug-me-play-with-me dogs. If you are looking for a dog to romp with your child, a Greyhound may not be the most suitable choice. 

What has the life of a racing Greyhound been like?
Greyhounds spend most of their lives in the company of other Greyhounds. Young Greyhounds get lots of attention and are handled frequently to prepare them for life at the track. As they approach their first birthday, they are taught to chase a lure. If they’re successful they’ll progress to a racing. Track life is regimented — feeding in the morning, turnouts in the exercise yards to relieve themselves and retiring between races in individual crates. Dogs race every three-to-seven days; racing kennels typically have around 60 dogs. Most Greyhounds know little of the everyday world, so houses, stairs, mirrors, windows and glass doors, hardwood and tile floors, dogs that aren’t Greyhounds and cats as well as riding in a car are new to them. The transition to living in a home requires some time and patience but most Greyhounds adapt with ease.

How are they with other pets?
Greyhounds are friendly by nature and most socialize well. However, cats and small dogs are new to a Greyhound, so extra time and care are required to make a happy home for all. GPA/Nashville prescreens all adoptable Greyhounds for compatibility with small dogs and cats. In the beginning, we urge you to keep your Greys muzzled and closely supervise all interaction with other family pets. Never leave a Greyhound unsupervised with small breed dogs or cats until the relationships are established. Even then, never turn a Greyhound out in the yard with a cat and use an abundance of caution with small dogs.

Are ex-racing Greyhounds housebroken?
Racing Greyhounds are kennel-broken, which means they're trained to do their business outside and keep their crates clean. GPA/Nashville volunteers foster all dogs adopted from us prior to placement. So, frequently, an adopted Greyhound is housebroken. Generally speaking, housebreaking requires positive reinforcement, frequent trips outside and routine. Remember though, that keeping a close eye on your new Grey at first and crating him/her when you are away is key to continued good house manners.

Why do greyhounds need to be kept on a leash?
Outside a fenced area or the house, a Greyhound must be leashed for its own safety. Born and bred to run and chase prey, a Greyhound can reach speeds of up to 45 mph in three strides and see up to a mile away! If an unleashed Greyhound spots a squirrel, instinct takes over. Or if it's frightened or startled, a Greyhound will run until exhausted and be too confused and afraid to find its way home. Add these qualities to Greyhounds’ lack of experience with hazards such as traffic, fences, swimming pools and rough terrain and the need to keep Greys on lead or in a fenced area is clear.

Why do they wear muzzles?
At the track, Greyhounds wear muzzles while racing to help determine the outcome of a photo-finish race and to protect the Greyhounds from injury by other Greys during the excitement of the chase. As pets, your hound should wear his muzzle at first if you have small pets and also anytime you allow him/her to run with other greyhounds.

Do Greyhounds need a lot of exercise?
Greyhounds easily adapt to the lifestyle of their adopters, so take your Greyhound walking or jogging with you but be sensible about extremes in temperature. If you don't have a fenced yard, your Greyhound will enjoy regular long walks and a romp once or twice a week in an enclosed ball field or park.

Greyhounds are retired athletes and are accustomed to physically and mentally stimulating lives. You will have a happier, healthier companion animal if you continue this lifestyle into retirement.

Is a dog park a good spot for a greyhound to run?
For Greyhounds which are bred to chase, a dog park can be a risky place. Your greyhound will likely chase other dogs which can lead to fights and injuries. And because of a hound’s thin skin, the resulting injuries can be life-threatening.

Go to top

Do Greyhounds need to be groomed?
Short-haired, indoor dogs like greyhounds rarely need bathing. They do enjoy being brushed regularly. That cuts down on shedding, promotes a healthy, shiney coat and can nurture the bond between you and your greyhound.

I’ve heard that Greyhounds sleep with their eyes open. Is this true?
Yes. It’s best to call your hound by name and be sure he’s awake before you touch or lean over him. Some hounds (and other breeds of dogs, too) have “sleep startle.” Iif awakened suddenly, they may react with growling or snapping. To avoid this reaction, be sure he’s awake before you touch him.

Do Greyhounds have any particular health problems?
Racing Greyhounds are bred for speed, not conformation (appearance), so they are relatively free of the congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia which is common in other large-breed dogs.

THYROID DIEASE
Hypothyroidism, a hormone imbalance, is not uncommon in retired racers. Symptoms can include dry, scaly skin, a dull, brittle coat, hair loss on both sides, cold intolerance and exercise intolerance, weight gain, behavior changes and other symptoms.

However, some dogs show no symptoms at all. Because of Greyhounds' unique physiology and chemistry, to get an accurate thyroid level, testing must be done by a laboratory experienced at evaluating Greyhound thyroid levels. A T-4 level test run in a local veterinary clinic is not sufficient. Greyhounds correctly diagnosed as hypothyroid will require daily supplementation for the rest of their lives. 

TICKS
Racing Greyhounds are kenneled with many other dogs in a population that is always changing. They often come from southern states where ticks are a year-around problem. As a result, they have higher incidence of tick-borne infections than non-Greyhounds. The most common of these are Babesia canis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia canis and Lyme disease. GPA/N tests all Greyhounds entering our program for these infections. If the test results are positive, the dog is treated before adoption.

While tick-borne infections are on the rise in dogs generally, many veterinarians have never diagnosed a dog with Ehrlichiosis or Babesiosis, and the laboratories they use for their routine work may be unfamiliar with the endemic nature (how common) these infections are in retired racers. It is estimated that 40-65% of racing Greyhounds are exposed to tick-borne diseases.

Exposure to tick-borne pathogens creates two problems to the Greyhound adoption community. First, tick-borne infections present with a wide variety of symptoms that are vague and are frequently misdiagnosed. Symptoms and findings common to both Erlichiosis and Babesiosis include, but are not limited to, weakness, red eyes, depression, anorexia, muscle wasting, seizures, intermittent fever, bruising and protein in the urine. Second, exposure and the presence of antibodies in the blood doesn't always mean a Greyhound has an active infection. Due to testing limitations, antibodies which indicate prior exposure and antigens which indicate active infection cannot be easily or economically distinguished.

Go to top

Do greyhounds make good watchdogs?
Greyhounds do not usually make good watchdogs. They are generally friendly and rarely growl when someone new comes into their home. Also they're not big barkers.

Do Greyhounds have special food requirements?
At the track, racers are typically fed a diet of mainly raw meat plus pasta and vegetables. As athletes, even retired Greyhounds need food high in protein. GPA/Nashville recommends commercial foods such as Timberwolf Organics, Eagle Pack, California Natural, BilJack, Innova, Wellness, Flint River, Azmira and Solid Gold. You also may want to explore feeding your Grey a raw diet. To learn more about this method, visit the Links section of our Website or read one of the many books on the topic.

What kind of collars work best with a Greyhound?
Greyhounds should wear both a martingale-style collar and a separate tag collar. The martingale is used when the Grey is on lead. It accommodates the fact that a Greyhound's neck typically is larger than his head. If a buckle-style collar is used with a leash, the Grey will slip the collar. One-inch nylon martingales can be found at pet stores; designer styles are available from many Internet sites. GPA/Nashville has both Premier nylon collars and Silk Road Collars (www.silkroadcollars.com).

Your Grey's ID tags — both the one supplied by GPA/Nashville and the one with your personal contact information on it — should be placed on the tag collar. This is usually a rolled leather buckle collar or a velvet collar and should be worn at all times.

Are all Greyhounds gray?
Not at all — they are many colors — brindle, black, white, red, fawn or a combination of these colors. Gray Greyhounds are actually referred to as "blue."

At what age are they retired?
Retired racers are usually between two and five. Occasionally, we have younger adoptable Greys who "failed" racing school or were unsuitable for another reason. In addition, senior dogs (eight years and up) who have been used for breeding or are returned from adopted homes are available.

How long do they live?
With proper care, Greyhounds have a life expectancy of 12 years or more.

How big are they?
Greyhound males on average stand 27-31 inches at the shoulder and weigh 65-90 pounds. Females on average stand 24-28 inches at the shoulder and weigh 50-75 pounds.

What should I do when I have to leave my Greyhound home alone?
Until your Greyhound is completely comfortable in your home and you're confident of his housebreaking and other behavior, his crate is the best place for him while you're away. To some people, the crate seems cruel but remember, at the kennel, except when racing or being turned out, Greyhounds live in their crates. It's a place of comfort and security for them.When you go out, turn on a light or two and switch on the radio or television for background noise. Leave him with a safe chew toy to help occupy him until your return.Before you place your Greyhound in his crate, be sure to remove his martingale collar. Greyhounds have been injured and even choked to death when their collars have become entangled in their crates.

Where should my Greyhound sleep?
Provide your Greyhound with a warm, soft bed that includes an old comforter or blanket for him to "nest" in. Since Greyhounds are used to living in a kennel with 60+ other dogs, isolating them from his/her new "pack" - that's you and your family - can be stressful. A corner of your bedroom is a good choice for his bed and/or crate. Whether you allow your Greyhound on the bed - or any other furniture - is up to you.

Is there a cost associated with adopting a retired Greyhound?
Yes, there is a modest adoption fee. One-hundred percent of hounds adopted through GPA/N are spayed or neutered and the adoption fee helps to cover that cost as well as:

• Dental cleaning
  
• Nail trimming
  
• Needed vaccinations
  
• Deworming, as needed
  
• Heartworm testing and treatment, if needed, as well as preventative medication
  
• Testing for four common tick-borne diseases and treatment, if needed
  
• Flea treatment
  
• Microchipping for identification
  
• A collar, leash and a muzzle
  
• A six-months supply of heartworm preventative
  
• A starter bag of high quality food

What if I have questions after I adopt my Greyhound?
The GPA/N members who did your home visit are always available. You can learn from the experiences of other adopters by regularly visiting our member Yahoo lis, attending Meet and Greets and other GPA/N events.

You also can call 615.269.4088. That’s our 24-hour telephone answering service. Just leave a message and a GPA/N member will get back to you promptly.

Back to top