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Please note, in this article I intend to relate the sheer pleasures owning a pet greyhound. However I wish to make it absolutely clear I do not encourage adoption to anyone who cannot commit to look after an animal for the rest of it's natural life. I am only offering up an alternative to those already considering a pet dog.
Britain, a nation of dog lovers' right? Well not according to recent news reports suggesting there are more strays and unwanted dogs in this crowded country than ever before. The good news is more and more people turn to adoption when looking for their new best friend. But my best friend, the greyhound, is one so often overlooked.
So what do you know about greyhounds? They chase things, they're fast, they're big, they're skinny, in fact they're very skinny, they're potentially aggressive, they're not housetrained? Doesn't sound like an ideal pet does it? The truth is there are so many misconceptions about greyhound ownership I'm convinced it's a major factor to the amount of homeless hounds in the UK.
So I'm going to put the record straight...
So what should you really know?
- Greyhounds do not need much exercise, two twenty minute walks a day is all they need (although long walks through the woods are always an added bonus of course)
- Greyhounds are quiet, affectionate, gentle and quite possibly the softest dogs you've ever come across. Of course any dog can harbor aggression but it is no more true of a greyhound than any other breed. They can be a perfect companion to children.
- Greyhounds are usually happy to meet other dogs but it pays to muzzle your beast at first until you're sure of his temperament.
- Greyhounds are lazy, very lazy. If you let them they will happily sleep all day, every day, often upside down. I don't know why it is, perhaps to take the strain off their enormous rib cages, but greyhounds often sleep on their backs with their legs in the air. The epitome of laziness! And if it's a male dog, you'll have to cover him up when the vicar comes round.
- Greyhounds do suffer from bald thighs due to years sitting on kennel floors... I said they were lazy... this is quite normal and the dog is in no way injured by this. They can also be prone to arthritis when they get older. So they get old, creaky and bald... don't we all.
- Greyhounds eat most normal doggie foods but do require high levels of protein. You can buy special dry mixer specially designed for greyhounds although make sure you get the stuff for a retired dog (20%) rather than a full blown energetic racer (28% plus).
- Greyhounds chase things... they've been bred to do it for hundreds of years and no matter how hard you try. You can let your greyhound of his lead once you feel secure he'll always come back to you but be warned, a flash of a squirrel and you won't see him for dust. Generally greyhounds are loyal creatures and will soon come bounding back when the squirrel finds a tree. The important factor is to only let your greyhound off the lead in open spaces where if he's not going to go belting into the road if he finds something to chase.
- You may find your greyhound is instinctively house trained when you get him but you may have to treat him like a puppy for a few weeks till he gets the idea.
- Greyhounds have spent his life in kennels so when they come home everything is new to them, the TV, the stairs, the fridge.
- Greyhounds retire from their racing life aged 5 but there are plenty of younger dogs who became lame or just didn't cut it at the track looking for homes.
- Greyhounds have tattoos in their ears so you can trace where your dog came from and indeed how well he did at the track!
Phew! And that's just scratching the surface.
Adopting a greyhound brings you two important things... intense responsibility and intense joy. If you want to get a dog, I cannot recommend greyhound adoption high enough... and your dog will adore you for it.
Written by Michael Copyright 2002
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