With their gentle dispositions and good natured temperament, retired racing greyhounds make excellent pets. Whether you are a family looking for a playful friend, or an individual looking for a devoted companion, a well mannered greyhound could be just the pet for you.
How old are retired racers?
Greyhounds placed through the Royal Hounds program are usually 2 to 7 years old. The younger dogs may not have qualified for racing. Most of the older dogs are recently retired from racing because they are no longer competitive, used for breeding, or they have been returned to Royal Hounds due to changes in a family's living conditions; preventing them from keeping the dog any longer.
Do Greyhounds require a lot of exercise?
Greyhounds always enjoy walks, but they only actually need it 3 to 4 times a week, or twice a week they can be taken to a safe fenced grassy area where they can sprint. Daily access to a spacious, fenced back yard also helps. Some greyhounds can make excellent jogging companions once they are trained and conditioned for longer distances and the new pace.
Do Greyhounds need a special diet?
During their racing careers, greyhounds are fed a high energy diet to help them perform at their peak. However retired racers only need a high quality dry dog food to provide nutrition and prevent weight gain. These foods are widely available from local pet stores.
Do Greyhounds have special medical needs?
Many people think of the greyhound as an exotic breed that requires extra care and special attention. Due to the low level of body fat, greyhounds require a special type of anesthesia for surgery and are sensitive to some chemical products such as items used for flea control (more information here). Due to the soft diet they are fed at the track, some may require dental care for their teeth. These things are easily addressed by the Greyhound savvy Vet and support from the Royal Hounds staff of volunteers.
Coming Home
We prefer that the dogs' first day in your home be late in the week, so that you can spend the weekend getting to know each other and allowing the greyhound to adjust to it's new lifestyle, which is much different than what it has become accustomed to thus far.
One of the first things you need to teach an adopted greyhound are the house rules. Most greyhounds will naturally keep their kennels clean, so house breaking is relatively simple. Frequent walks with timely praise teaches them that their new home is the place they keep clean, and outside is the place where they go. It also helps to limit how much of the house the dog has access to at first, gradually increasing their territory as they gain confidence.
Greyhounds crave affection, and are very responsive to your behavior. Being used to sharing one human with a dozen or more dogs in the kennel, adopted greyhounds are eager to please you, and will soak up all the love you can give. They are very sensitive dogs, and can sense your moods quite easily by both your tone of voice and demeanor. You will find that when they aren't curled up for naps, they like to follow you around the house and keep track of where you are. Greyhounds will become part of the family very quickly. Most are tolerant of children, and will walk away when they have had enough. Children must be taught to respect their space. As for other pets, having spent their entire lives with other dogs in the kennel, most greyhounds will be very social animals and get along well with other animal companions; cats included.
Read more about greyhounds on our medical considerations page, and come visit one of our Meet & Greet events.
One of the first things you need to teach an adopted greyhound are the house rules. Most greyhounds will naturally keep their kennels clean, so house breaking is relatively simple. Frequent walks with timely praise teaches them that their new home is the place they keep clean, and outside is the place where they go. It also helps to limit how much of the house the dog has access to at first, gradually increasing their territory as they gain confidence.
Greyhounds crave affection, and are very responsive to your behavior. Being used to sharing one human with a dozen or more dogs in the kennel, adopted greyhounds are eager to please you, and will soak up all the love you can give. They are very sensitive dogs, and can sense your moods quite easily by both your tone of voice and demeanor. You will find that when they aren't curled up for naps, they like to follow you around the house and keep track of where you are. Greyhounds will become part of the family very quickly. Most are tolerant of children, and will walk away when they have had enough. Children must be taught to respect their space. As for other pets, having spent their entire lives with other dogs in the kennel, most greyhounds will be very social animals and get along well with other animal companions; cats included.
Read more about greyhounds on our medical considerations page, and come visit one of our Meet & Greet events.
