Greyhounds: "45-mph Couch Potatoes"
Who would think that the Fastest dogs on Earth can be calm and loving family pets, once they retire from racing?
When I adopted a retired racing greyhound, over 4 years ago, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Although he was raised as "livestock" at the track, he soon learned to love another, gentler, slower way of life...
Retired Greyhounds Still Like to Run Together Sometimes
Quick Links
- Retired Greyhounds Still Like to Run Together Sometimes
- Greyhounds as Companion Dogs
- About the Greyhound
- Shadow Puppet Greyhound
- Greyhound Craft Projects
- All the Colours of Grey
- Dogs in Boots
- Sew Your Own Greyhound Coat, Martingale Collar, and Dog Boots
- Want to Adopt an Ex-Racer?
- Greyhound Health & Fitness
- Gear for Greyhound Lovers
- Dogs on the Blogs
- Greyhound Guestbook
- Best Books on Adopting a Greyhound
Greyhounds as Companion Dogs
45-mph Couch Potatoes
Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, capable of reaching up to 45 miles per hour in just three strides! They can sustain speeds of 30 mph for as much as a mile, but greyhounds are sprinters -- not long-distance runners. They are not "hyper" or extremely active dogs -- just the opposite!Although they do love to stretch their long legs from time to time, greyhounds often actually need less exercise than most large dog breeds. Greyhounds are sprinters, not long-distance runners, and just a 20-minute walk each day will usually do them fine.
In fact, many greyhound owners will tell you that their retired racers become quite lazy, once their racing days are done! They truly enjoy snoozing on a soft bed or mat for most of the day, and many retired greyhounds now live happily in city apartments and suburbs as well as in country homes.
About the Greyhound
Greyhound Breed Information
As members of the Sighthound family of dog breeds, greyhounds are characterized by their lean and muscular build, deep chests, and powerful hindquarters.The neck is long and muscular, carrying a long-nosed elegant head. The rosette ears are normally carried flat against the head but they can stand at attention to indicate interest or alarm. Long tails are carried low and slightly curved.
The American Kennel Club breed standard gives the size range for AKC "show dog" greyhounds as 65 - 70 pounds for dogs (males) and 60 - 65 pounds for bitches (females).
Racers are judged on their speed and spirit, not their appearance, so there is a greater range of sizes among racers registered with the National Greyhound Association (NGA) racing industry organization. A dog with a lean racing weight of 80 pounds is not uncommmon, for example. Similarly, a greyhound's height at the shoulder can range from 25 to 30 inches or so.
Greyhounds are lean by nature, with very low body fat, and at first may seem undernourished to people who are not accustomed to seeing these athletic dogs in a home setting.
Shadow Puppet Greyhound
Shape your hands to make a fun greyhound dog shadow on the wall!
This shadow puppet greyhound idea came from an old old out-of-print book that I found on the Internet a couple of years ago. Had forgotten all about it until we had a power outage during the winter, when the neighbour's grandkids were over visiting, and we were trying to find fun things for all the generations to do together with only the light of a couple of candles and camping lamps!
Greyhound Craft Projects
DIY Greyhound Crafts
Free or very inexpensive craft patterns are here to help you celebrate the beautiful greyhound in your life!
- Life-Sized Stuffed Hound Dog Pattern
- Free sewing pattern to make a life-sized stuffed hound dog... in case your greyhound needs a furry friend!
- Greyhound Crochet Door Wreath
- Crochet a greyhound welcome wreath for your front door, home or office. The Greyhound Welcome Door Wreath Crochet Pattern comes as a PDF file of instructions - $4.99.
- Free Greyhound Santa Craft Pattern
- Santa Greyhound is an adorable holiday table decoration, made of polymer clay (like Sculpey or Fimo) and bits of leftover fabric and craft materials. The free instructions are courtesy of Greyhound Manor Crafts, a nonprofit group that promotes greyhound adoption by providing free craft patterns related to greyhounds.
All the Colours of Grey
Greyhound ancestors living in the wild did not need to rely on colouring for camouflage, as their great speed let them catch prey and escape from predators. As a result, the greyhound's short-haired coat may be almost any colour or combination of colours.Eighteen "official colours" are recognized by the American Greyhound Track Operators (AGTO), but more than three times that number are listed by Greyhound-Data, an international database site for greyhound pedigree and race records information. Oddly enough, grey (called "blue") is the colour that is most rare -- only one in about 500,000 greyhounds are actually grey!
Dogs in Boots
How to Teach a Greyhound to Wear Boots
Lots of people say that their dogs "don't like" wearing paw protectors -- they kick them off, or simply refuse to let the boots get put on their feet in the first place. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be the case. With a bit of patience -- and some good dog treats! -- you can train a greyhound to wear winter boots quite easily. Sew Your Own Greyhound Coat, Martingale Collar, and Dog Boots
Free DIY Sewing Patterns and Instructions
Skinny dogs need protection from the weather, but regular dog clothing doesn't quite fit a greyhound... Hound owners who know some basic sewing skills often really enjoy the chance to pamper their greyhounds by making custom dog coats and other apparel to keep the dogs warm in winter!
- Free Easy Sewing Pattern for Dog Boots
- Jen's all-weather dog boot pattern was designed for a greyhound but also can be sized up or down to fit other breeds of dogs. Easy to sew in fleece fabric with vinyl soles for paw pad protection. The combination of velcro and elastic on the fasteners mean they can be quickly and easily adjusted to stay on a greyhound's skinny legs when he walks in snow.
- Hooded Hound Coat Sewing Instructions
- This hooded hound coat pattern from Greyhound Manor was inspired by a drawing in a magazine from 1910 and updated with a bit of velcro, very elegant on a long lean greyhound - and practical for winter storm wear!
- Greyhound Applique Coat Decorations
- Add a sporty accent to your hound's coat with a running greyhound applique - free pattern!
- Directions to Sew a Dog Collar Cover
- Fabric scraps are all you need to make a simple-to-sew dog bandana that slips over the dog's collar for special occasions or to dress him up for "meet and greet" events with your greyhound rescue / adoption group.
- Greyhound Martingale Collar Sewing Instructions
- These instructions for how to make a martingale collar (slip collar or loop collar) for your greyhound are long, but not as complicated as you might think at first - especially if you already know what a martingale collar is supposed to look like - and there are a lot of step-by-step photographs to help you cut and sew your own custom collar.
Want to Adopt an Ex-Racer?
Adoptions are most often arranged through a local non-profit adoption group that works directly with tracks and racing kennels to match up newly retired greyhounds with their new homes and families.These adoption agencies also serve as a great social circle and network of experience, advice, and support to new adopters in helping a greyhound make the transition from life at the track.
International List of Greyhound Adoption Groups
The Adoption Agency Directory from The Greyhound Project, Inc. lists a huge number of greyhound adoption groups in every corner of the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe including groups in Belgium, England, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, and Wales.
Greyhound Health & Fitness
- Greyhound Health Research & Information Network
- The Greyhound Health and Information Network is a resource dedicated to the interest and welfare of greyhounds in the American dog racing industry. In addition to on-track health information, the network provides links to reputable sites on greyhound health, including current veterinary research.
Gear for Greyhound Lovers
Greyhound Black T-Shirt
Got Greyhound?
"Lose A Couch" Women's T-Shirt
Greyhound owners will know exactly what this means:
Adopt a Greyhound... Lose a Couch!
I Want You for Greyhound Rescue Women's Cap Sleeve
A clever variation on the classic Uncle Sam recruitment poster.
20% goes to support GPA (Greyhound Pets of America).
Dogs on the Blogs
What bloggers are saying about their ex-racing greyhounds:
- Dog Blog » Blog Archive » Greyhounds going up for adoption
- The former plumber finds greyhound adoption to be a full-time effort. Midwest Greyhound is one of the few organizations nationally that accept dogs who have suffered traumatic injuries. During the races, the dogs chase mechanical prey, ...
- Greyhound Racing: The Industrialization of Man's Best Friend ...
- The first time I saw a retired racing greyhound up close and personal was in 1993 in South Florida. I fell completely in love, but it was a full ten years before I realized my dream of adopting one. In 2003, I adopted my first greyhound ...
- Caramel ~ HUGE Gorgeous Greyhound Lad (KGC) - Pet Forums Community
- CARAMEL Caramel is a very handsome 4 year old fawn Greyhound boy. Dont let the girly name fool you, Caramel is very much a big greyhound lad! He's.
- HAWS BECOMES GREYHOUND HAVEN « Fetch Magazine's Weblog
- Female greyhounds Toy, Chic and Devi, along with male greyhound Bill, joined Lexi ? a greyhound already in residence at HAWS due to the ongoing HAWS-GPA agreement ? on the 5th. By Saturday, December 12th, Lexi and Chic had been adopted ...
Greyhound Guestbook
Want to Throw Us a Bone?
Got a greyhound? Want a greyhound? Got a good greyhound link you'd like to share? Please leave a comment here and let us know what other information you'd like to see!
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- bloomingrose bloomingrose Oct 28, 2009 @ 11:02 am
- Lovely lens, of course I am partial since it is about animals. :) One important point is that people can easily adopt purebred dogs without going to dog stores or online sites, and thus avoid the chance of supporting puppy mills.
I have thought about a greyhound but I am a little afraid that they might chase out in traffic or run away, because I have heard that sight hound instinct is hard to breed out. Still, they are undoubtedly one of the sweetest dogs breeds around, and that might be worth going around.
However, I might have a harder time dealing with someone who so easily keeps that svelte figure. :) Jealous you know. But that's a runner for you.
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- gb gb Oct 11, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
- We are proud owners of two GREYTS for the last 4 years. I'd have six of them if I had the room for them. I've never been an "animal person" but that's ok because I'm sure Sophie & Max are more person than animal...at least they think they are!
We wouldn't ever be able to manage without our local MidSouth Adoption Option kennel! Vicki is a storehouse of greyt information & we can board them at very reasonable rates whenever we need to.
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- aj2008 aj2008 Oct 5, 2009 @ 4:31 am
- Every so often in the UK publicity is given to what happens to a lot of greyhounds when they retire and it does not make for pleasant reading. Thank you for highlighting Greyhound adoption and SquidAngel Blessings for you.
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- Sherrelle Sherrelle Sep 30, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
- My 12 yr old Greyhound, Big Dave, was recently diagnosed w/ bone cancer in his left front. We were fortunate enough to opt for treatment, no small matter. the entire leg was amputated up to, but not including the shoulder balde, then 6 rounds of chemo. It's been a L O N G Summer for sure. Last chemo was 3.5 weeks ago and ol' Dave is living a vigorous dog's life...even chasing birds and wild rabbits again:)
Anyway, now colder weather moving in to Nebraska and his winter coats from a year ago no longer fit properly. The chest strap is too big and no longer holds the coat in place. The coat slides down around off his left shoulder. I have tried making it a bit tighter, but the sliding off the shoulder STILL happens. Doesn't seem like THAT big of a deal until I realized his potential for slipping/falling because his other GOOD legs could become entangled. Long story short: Any suggestions for a greyhound coat pattern?
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- Cindy Cindy Sep 9, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
- This is the first time I've seen this sight, and I've owned a senior grey for only 3 months now. She is my best friend and boy I sure needed one. Didn't know that until I got her. I am disabled and she keeps me going. I was searching for a good pattern for a coat for winter. Not only is she a skinny little girl, but alot of her hair is gone. I wish I had known what a great breed this was years ago. I am now looking to adopt another senior girl soon. Just can't get enough.
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- Phantom's Mom Phantom's Mom Jun 19, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
- When we decided to adopt a greyhound, we started with a BIG boy & he's practically the love of my life. One month later, my husband said he needed his own dog since Phantom wouldn't show him much attention, so now we have Sugar. How in the world did we go this long without them as part of our family? We have 4 kids who range in age from 2 to 14, and our greys adore all of them. Instead of staying late at work now I "have to get home to my dogs!"
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- Amuy Amuy Feb 14, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
- Just adopted a 5 year old grey named Moe. He is the love of my life! I've had golden retrievers forever and never thought I would get anything else. Met a grey at a party and knew it was meant to be. I've never been to a race track but can't imagine what it would be like to not have a family that just loves you for you. Moe is a big sweetheart who just wants to chill out. My heart breaks when I think of what his life was like before being adopted.
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- Jan 8, 2009 @ 5:49 pm | in reply to Mandy
- Mandy, where do you get your information from? The trainer cut part of her ear off to teach her a lesson? I have a retired greyhound at home with part of it's ear gone. Know how it happened? His brother did it when they were 2 months old. How do I know this? Because I owned the entire litter. Have you ever been to a track and actually gone behind the scenes to know how they're really taken care of? I have. I can guarantee you they live better at the track than most pets do at home.
Do yourself a favor and visit your nearest track if you have one close by. Ask if you can take a tour of a kennel. They will let you. That's what I did. I own active racers now. I do make sure they find good homes. I absolutely hate the word rescue group? Rescued from what? I call who I work with adoption groups. I can tell you every greyhound I've had run was treated like royalty in the kennel. Those that aren't suited for the track find good homes. Most owners do the same.
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- carolB carolB Dec 6, 2008 @ 6:48 am | in reply to chuck
- Chuck, it may SEEM like 300, since you have fostered most of them, but in actuality, it is just over 200. Didn't want anyone to think we were miracle workers down here (even though we try to be!).
carolB
Pres.
www.godsgreyts.com
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- chuck chuck Dec 6, 2008 @ 5:33 am
- Hi, Wife and I are part of an adopton group. However long before that, 1990 in fact, got my frist grey "Frannie". Love of my life till I had to send her to the Rainbow Bridge. We currently have 6 of our own, plus the alpha spaniel Lucky. Several have been sent to the bridge to play with one another for eternity. Currently fostering Buiscuit, and ornery little black gal, but a sweetheart. The group I'm with "God's Greyt Adoption Group" have rescued over 300 hounds in past year from our Florida track. Many are still local, while several are up in Northern States, probably freezing their tails off, and wishing they were here in Sunny Florida. A super special breed, and only wish we had more space for a few more. Bless all you adopters and rescue groups.
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Best Books on Adopting a Greyhound
1
Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies
by Lee Livingood -- If you only get one book to help your adopted greyhound make the transition from track to home, this is a good one. A challenge that many greyhound owners face is trying to teach their dog to "Sit" -- because it's not a comfortable or natural position for a dog built like these athletes. Lee Livingwood's "couch potato" training method works like a charm! The book is also a good reference for medical and first aid issues.1 point
2
Living with a Greyhound
by Cynthia Branigan -- in fact, any book by Cynthia Branigan would be a good (close second) alternate choice. Readable and reliable.0 points
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