Aren't I cute? We retired racing Greyhounds make great pets!
If you’re looking to adopt a dog in the near future, consider adopting a former racing greyhound. According to Marci Anderson of Steel City Greyhounds, “Greyhounds are the fastest dogs in the world and the second fastest land mammal (Cheetahs are first).”
In reality, Marci says, greyhounds are really just 45 MPH couch potatoes. Which means they make excellent family pets, once they’ve been rehabilitated from their time on the track.
Greyhounds go back centuries and are recognized as one of the original dog breeds from which all other dogs stem. Images of greyhounds appear in cave drawings, and Egyptians worshipped greyhounds, often depicting them in the tomb murals of kings. Greyhounds are sight hounds, meaning their keen sense of sight, versus smell, helps them identify and chase prey. Intense breeding has virtually eliminated any aggression toward other dogs, because greyhounds are true pack hunters.
Greyhound racing, as it’s known today, started in 1912 with the advent of the mechanized “rabbit,” which allowed for a circular racing course. In the U.S. today, only 16 states still allow greyhound racing, although it’s not conducted in many of these. For example, last year Massachusetts voted to end racing completely in January 2010.
Greyhounds are all-weather dogs!
The life of a greyhound racer is harsh and confining. As racers, these dogs aren’t treated as pets. They must live in small crates usually near the tracks where they race. A typical greyhound will end its racing career between ages four and six and, and until groups like Steel City Greyhounds came along, these noble dogs were euthanized, sold to research labs or sent to foreign racetracks. Of course, the best performers are stlll kept alive for breeding.
Retired greyhounds make excellent pets in part because the breed is just so darn nice. However, adopting a racing greyhound will mean training him to be a family dog, which includes obedience training. While the dog may be familiar with a leash, he won’t know how to sit or climb stairs because these weren’t part of his life as a racer. This is usually not an issue for long because another trait of greyhounds is their superior intelligence.
It’s possible to incorporate greyhounds into your family, even if you have other animals. Adoption organizations typically behavior-test the dogs to accurately label them “other dog-,” “cat-,” and “child-” safe. In fact, greyhounds have even been known to live peacefully with rabbits – the type of animal they used to chase as a racer.
Greyhounds are easy-going, and love to lounge. In fact, many have no any desire to run once their life on the track is over. If you want a jogging buddy, however, you can help a greyhound adapt from a sprinter to a long-distance runner.
Greyhounds are pack dogs that get along well with other pets
If you’re still on the fence about adopting a greyhound, consider these 10 reasons from The Greyhound Project, Inc., an organization devoted to the dissemination of information about greyhounds:
- They truly know the meaning of retirement.
- People will stare at your dog instead of at you.
- They can curl up into the size of a ball if they need to.
- They can expand to the size of a whole bed if they want to.
- They don’t bark, keeping your neighborhood safe for burglars.
- You can play their ribs like an air guitar.
- They are the only dogs that know how to really smile.
- You can dress them up as a reindeer for Christmas.
- They are never confused with poodles.
- A Greyhound in flight is the most amazing sight you’ll ever hope to see in your own back yard.
In the Pittsburgh area, contact Steel City Greyhounds for more information on these gentle speed demons.
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