Greyhounds

 i only know people with working hounds (they actually chase down and catch live bunnies) those seem like really hardy dogs. some are rescued from the track and have been put to work and enjoy it immensely.

theres some members here who have them as pets. i would LOVE to have a greyhound some day as well. i know their diet can be tricky considering they have almost no fat and burn calories quickly. their tails can be very delicate, and it seems like they can easily break a toe, not to mention they get cuts really easily due to delicate skin. Its because of that(as i've been told) that the people i know who are hardcore hunters will cross bulldogs with greyhounds to toughen them up and still keep the speed needed to catch game.

A good friend has kept them for years and I have dog-sat them on occasion.One of hers was a retired racer rescue and the others were conformation bred.They were all lovely dogs Very good in her small house and tiny yard.Never harrased her birds,cats,or ferrets.Her males were heavier boned than her females.All required soft cushy beds because their body fat is so low.Here where it's cold they needed winter coats.I am pretty sure that this is a breed for which a fence is a must.

Tena 

 They are pretty low maintenance dogs all-round really...

Exercise:  They do need their daily walks and preferably somewhere safe (enclosed!) that they can have a quick sprint, but they don't need tonnes and tonnes of exercise.

Coat:  A once over with a hound mitt on a weekly basis should be enough.

Feeding:  Hmm, I am no expert on nutrition.... The few people I have known who have had greyahounds have mostly fed them on very basic whatevers-on-offer food at the supermarket and the dogs have done OK on it.  I'd suggest looking into that a bit more....

Temperaments:  Mostly laid back   The ones I have known have been real couch potatoes, they have a short walk in the morning and a run in the evening and they literally sleep and snuggle the rest of the time!

Negatives: 

1. Not a good idea to trust these guys 100% off lead. 

2. If you get an ex-racer you need to take care around cats and other small animals. 

3. They do have very thin skin and coats, so they can't live outdoors and if it's particularly cold where you live, a dog coat might be a good idea for walks. 

4. You also have to be careful where you let them run as they can injure themselves more easily than other dogs.  I have heard of greyhounds that start running after a rabbit or something and it's like they shut down, go into their own little world.... they just RUN and end up injuring themselves on barbed wire or brambles or something.

Special requirements:  A couch and a willingness to share it!

 I only know one greyhound in person (in dog?) but she's a lovely girl.  A sweet fawn brindle rescue who's just a wonderful dog, and her owners have nothing but good things to say about her. 

Having said that, she did leap over a stone wall once to get to a squirrel - these dogs CAN have high prey drives, but she lives with a very small dog and there are no problems between the 2 of them that I know of.  

ETA: If that dog is typical of her breed, don't make the mistake of starting to give a greyhound a neck rub unless you have a lot of time.  LOL.  

I have a friend with a retired racer.  I've always loved these and they are on my list of "if it ever becomes possible" dogs.  But I don't think I'll be adding any more pets in the future, ever (other than toy dogs) so I'll just have to enjoy greys vicariously.

Retired greys are the biggest couch potatoes, ever.  Think about it.  They spend all day in a kennel (a very small one, really what you'd call a large crate).  They get leash exercise and then once a day they are either practice raced or real raced.  Thirty seconds of running.  Cool off walk and back in the kennel.

When they are rescued they are just glad to spend their down time on the couch.

Racer rescue tests the dogs for typical issues - they'll know whether dogs have any issues with cats (some ARE cat safe), medical problems, and temperamental issues.

Life on the track is really survival of the fittest.  They are fragile, but nothing compared to other sighthound breeds that are no longer bred for work.  Such dogs would never tolerate accidents at the gates, jostling around the track, or even the rigors of hard running.

All else being equal, they live quite a long time compared to other dogs their size.

You just haven't lived until you've run your hands over a greyhound - I could seriously just spend a whole day petting one, and I'm not a sedentary person. 

Bad things:  forget teaching one a recall.  And they are agile, so "enclosed" means at least a five foot fence under normal circumstances.  My friends with the retired grey have told many tales of their Jasper leading them a merry chase around their fifteen acres after sailing over the four-foot sheep fencing.  they can have a high prey drive - they can be excited by small fluffy dogs as well as cats and other small pet species.

They are LARGE dogs, no getting around that.  Though they are lightweight, you have to buy everything huge for them to accommodate  their long bodies and legs.  The huge crate I have (about 48" tall) is called a "greyhound crate" for good reason!  I'm almost sure they don't make foldown wire crates big enough for greys and the airline crate big enough for a greyhound is not a standard item at the places you can get good deals on crates (like Walmart).

They are temperature sensitive, and therefore in cold weather need protection.  See above for the implications of dressing a very large dog.  Even their collars can be expensive - they need special collars and though I'd consider it money well spent because I'm a collar hoe and grey collars are typically GORGEOUS - they are super spendy. 

There is no such thing as a minor surgical procedure for a grey.  They are sensitive to some types of anesthesia.  Most vets are hip to this now, but you have to be CERTAIN, and all surgery has to be done quickly to minimize exposure even to the "safe" anesthesia.  That means procedures that are more involved (like fixing a compound break or incising tumors) are better done at a specialist.  $$$ 

Keep reading on the greyhound forum.  Be aware that like the BC, there's a wide difference between the track and the show ring.  So it's best to read and get a feel for the atmosphere and get your head around what's PC, and the issues involved. 

Thanks guys! I understand them breaking bones a lot easier. I'd never trust ***any*** hound offleash without a fence anyway(I can't even trust my Lab!). I've basicly decided that ***if*** I foster one, it'd have to be a girl, 'cuz I fall in love with the boys! On the web site (www.getagrey.com) they've got tones of Grey's. Some fostered, some needing adoption, some are good with cats, some are not.

I hate that the surgury would be so pricey - but it'd be well worth it. And, I have no issue dressing doggies - as long as its no degrading to them!

Becca - I know what you mean about collars! I always look at the Greyhound collars if I'm shopping around!! So pretty!

ETA - IF I **could** get a Grey right now....I'd pick Tank(Think Tank) http://www.getagrey.com/The%20Boyz.htm he's a white and red with the most ADORABLE ears!!!

Aren't greyhounds prone to bloat because of their deep chest?

I always wanted to meet one in person they look like super cool dogs.

Yes, all large breeds are. I just read on a FAQ website for Greys that they shouldn't be fed within an hour of exersize, and should not exersize until 1 hour or later after eating.

I want to meet one too!

 meeting one might be fairly easy. the times i've been to the dog park there has always been a grey or two running about. failing that try a local dog show, OR (and this may be too tempting) ask to meet some of the dogs up for adoption. tell them you are interested in the breed and would like see what they're like in person. The problem is they are up for adoption. you could very well end up taking one home if you're not careful!

  I have quite a bit of Grey experience and raised a Grey puppy. They are a fairly easy breed because they are so laid back in the house. The puppy could be trusted out of her crate at about 4 months old - she slept with me and in the cold weather wouldn't get off the bed until the heated blanket was off and no longer heated. They are very much creatures of comfort and like soft cushy places to lay. However, outdoors they LOVE to run and I wouldn't suggest one if you don't have a fenced yard for them to be off leash in. While they can get by on walks (they won't become hyper or destructive without exercise) they love to run so much that IMO it is part of keeping them happy.

 They are fairly easy to get along with dogs. While they aren't looked at as the most trainable breed, even when they aren't doing what you want they usually aren't doing anything bad either. They are pretty quiet, usually get along well with other dogs and are cuddly but not overly exuberant in their affection. Most are a fairly standoffish, aloof dog although you can find some which are more outgoing.

 I would probably not suggest them for homes with small children. I have known multiple both show and track bred Greyhounds who were intolerant of any roughness on the part of children especially when they are resting. Since they are such boney creatures I think being squeezed or fallen on probably hurts more than the average dog, which makes them prone to being overly defensive around children.

  Both show and track bred Greys should be expected to have moderate to high prey drive. Not all will of course but even "cat safe" ones shouldn't be trusted not to show prey drive, even if they seem fine for years. I have known many who could live with cats, toy dogs and other small pets in the home but outside was a different story - strange small animals outside are viewed as prey and treated accordingly.

 I'd say they are a bit more injury prone than the average dog - breaks, fractures and sprains seem to happen more easily with them when the play gets rough. They don't have hair to protect their skin and seem to have a bit thinner of skin so are prone to punctures are tears. And some have such problems with their tails getting broken open that they end up with docked tails as adults. health wise they are prone to bloating (very prone to bloating), bone cancer, heart problems and dental problems.

 They are a neat dog, it really just depends on what your looking for :)

DumDog - I couldn't go see one without taking it home! There is one I reallllyy like,, actually - 2 I like. Bird and Tank. Bird is a girl. Tank is a boy.

AgileGSD - Thanks for all the info! I have no issue sharing a bed with a hound! We've got the dog park, but I'm kind of leary of that place right now.

What about feeding them? 2 meals a day, semi-high calories, ect, ect?

And - how would they do on hiking trails and biking?

We have three who come to our kennel on a regular basis, Sobe, Dancer and Tino.  They are just the best dogs.  I do hope to own one some day but it'll have to wait for quite some time.  I've heard many rescues won't adopt out to couples planning on having kids..they usually want children to be at least 10 (at least that is what I've heard).  The three greys who come to day camp are not interested in playing, but they love attention from us.  Tino sleeps all day after a quick sprint around the room and Dancer and Sobe stand next to us and wait to be petted.  They really are great to be around.  I really do hope I can own one someday.

misstrouble

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AgileGSD - Thanks for all the info! I have no issue sharing a bed with a hound! We've got the dog park, but I'm kind of leary of that place right now.

What about feeding them? 2 meals a day, semi-high calories, ect, ect?

And - how would they do on hiking trails and biking?

 I would be careful with them at a dog park loose with other dogs, especially if there are small dogs (up to mini schnauzer size would still be "small";) interacting with bug dogs. Maybe you could go during slow hours?

 I have known several that are biked regularly and seem to enjoy it and like most dogs they'd enjoy a nice hike int he woods.

 For food I can only suggest a raw diet for them - greatly reduces their risk of bloating and helps prevent dental problems. Many Greys, both show and track bred need to be put under for dentals 1 - 2x a year (scarey for a breed with the sensitives Greys have!) but IME raw fed Greys rarely ever need dentals.

Could I do homecooked instead? I'm sure by the time I an able to get a Grey - I will be in college.

I know how Sam is - an I might wait until he is much older to adopt too.