Frequently asked Questions   Greyhounds are classified as sighthounds. They come in all the usual hound colours, black, brindle, white, fawn and blue or any of these colours broken with white. They vary in size from a small bitch only weighing around 54lbs, to an exceptionally large dog topping the scales in excess of 90lbs.   They are mild mannered, sensitive, affectionate and comfort loving and respond well to kind consistent handling and training.

How old are retired Greyhounds?   A Greyhound usually finishes his racing career between 2 and 5 years old.  They are retired due to injury, lack of speed, because they aren’t keen enough, or they just get too old to race.   There will be young Greyhounds that require homes, as well as older ones. Older bitches may have been used as brood bitches.   Greyhounds are a long lived breed many living to between 12 and 15 years old. Do Greyhounds Have Special Requirements In The House?   Greyhounds require a soft comfy bed to sleep on and often like a place where they can see what is going on, but that is out of the direct hustle and bustle of the household.   As for any dog, the garden should be securely fenced.

How Much Exercise Do Greyhounds Need?   One of the most common misconceptions about Greyhounds is that they require vast amounts of exercise – they don’t.   Greyhounds are versatile and are happy with a couple of twenty minute walks a day.  Most enjoy a longer walk, particularly if there are plenty of interesting things to see to provide mental stimulation.   Greyhounds as a general rule are well mannered on the lead which makes them ideal exercise partners for any age group.   Greyhounds love to run and a Greyhound running free for pleasure is beautiful to watch.  It is advisable not to let a Greyhound off the lead unless you are in an enclosed space.  Know your dog and know the area that you are walking in!   The training Greyhounds receive combined with thousands of generations of careful breeding focusing on nurturing speed and the chasing instinct often results in Greyhounds remaining “keen” long after they have retired from the track.  Are Greyhounds Good With Children?  Greyhounds tend to be very good with children. They are gentle and patient and go out of their way to avoid conflict. Any dog has its limits though and no dog should be left alone with small children without supervision.   During the adoption process, care would be taken to select the dog most suitable for the prospective family. This might mean there will be a wait for the perfect dog to come along.   Greyhounds and children can grow to be great friends and growing up with any dog teaches a child compassion and caretaking.

Two Friends in the Garden

Can Greyhounds Live With Other Pets?   Yes, but the right Greyhound would need to be selected if the household already contained cats, birds, rabbits etc.   Most Greyhounds are cat-tested before they are homed. It does not necessarily follow that a Greyhound that ignores a cat inside the house will not chase it when they see it outside.   During their time racing, Greyhounds may not encounter any breed of dog other than Greyhounds. Most however settle well to large and small dogs after some initial non-aggressive interest. What Can Be Expected When A Greyhound Is First Adopted?   Many DCGR dogs are taken into foster care before they are homed.  This allows them to be vaccinated, neutered, housetrained and their temperaments carefully assessed.   Every effort is made by the skilled team of home-checkers and foster carers to ensure that a Greyhound goes to the right home for him. This minimizes the risk of the home falling through, causing distress to both the Greyhound and the adopting family.   When the Greyhound first arrives he may be stressed at being in a new situation, and may pant and find it hard to settle.  If he has come straight from kennels, the chances are he hasn’t been in a house before and everything is new and unexpected, the vacuum cleaner, TV, stairs etc would be new to him.

Max