4 Reasons to Adopt a Retired Greyhound

Gentle giants, couch potatoes, & loving souls! 4 reasons retired Greyhounds make amazing pets. #AdoptDontShop

Greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world and were thought to exist during Ancient Egyptian times. They were originally bred as hunting dogs to assist with the capture of rabbits, deer, and foxes. Nowadays, they are mainly used as sport dogs and participate in races, chasing a mechanical rabbit while punters place their bets on their favorite to win. When racing greyhounds retire, many of them are in need of a loving home. Here are 4 reasons to adopt a retired greyhound.

1. Nature

Greyhounds are very gentle, intelligent dogs. They are very quiet and rarely bark, and if they do, it is usually because they are bored or fearful. If you work full time, it is probably not a good idea to adopt a greyhound because they are very loving dogs and need constant company. If they are left alone for long periods, they may become depressed and develop antisocial behavior.

If you have children or other pets, greyhounds can fit in and become firm friends with all and sundry without much bother. However, if you are adopting a dog that has not had much interaction with humans or other animals, they may be extremely timid and nervous. They will shiver and shake with fear. This issue can usually be resolved with socialization training.

2. Fur

If you are lazy, a neat freak, or have a severe allergy to pet hair, greyhounds could be the perfect dog for you as they do not shed excessively, and their thin coat requires minimal grooming. However, as greyhounds are lean and have thin coats, they can get very cold in chilly weather and will require a warm jacket to wear in rain and snow.

3. Accommodating

If you live in a small apartment or a home with a small garden, you can adopt a greyhound no bother as they do not need much space to exercise. Contrary to popular belief, these dogs do not require lots of exercise and are happy with around 30 minutes per day – they are built for quick bursts of speed rather than endurance. Although greyhounds are tall and seem pretty large, they will not be under your feet or knocking things over as they are very graceful and light on their feet.

4. Save a Life

Racing greyhounds will retire from the sport anytime from age three upwards. As they can live until they are fifteen, this leaves them with an awful lot more life to live when their career ends, and this is why many of them need to be adopted. Some countries euthanize vast numbers of retired greyhounds every year. Around 35% of professional racing greyhounds will sustain injuries that will make them unable to race. A certain number will be banished from the sport because they do not have a chasing instinct to make them want to follow the mechanical rabbit used in it greyhound racing. These dogs will be forced into retirement and will hopefully be rescued by a loving adoptive parent.

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