Here are a few pics of today’s (3/28/2015) ex-racing greyhounds Meet & Greet at Petco in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
It was a small turnout today with just four dogs, but they did their jobs as ambassadors for the breed and for greyhound adoption very well. Kendall & Bethany Rhodes attended with “Jade”, John Hamen with “Ben” and Cindy & I with Vladimir and Vitali.
Greyhound group hug?
Yet another beauty!
If you’re happy & you know it…..
Sorry it’s been so long since the last post, but with my mom being sick and my travels back and forth to Louisiana, I’ve had other things on my mind.
Today was a beautiful day so I took the opportunity to take Vladimir and Vitali, our two rescued greyhound brothers, up the road a few miles to the Murphysboro dog park. We were the only ones there for about an hour, then a couple showed up with their 2 dogs and a short time later more people started to take advantage of the nice weather and get their dogs out for some exercise and socialization. We stayed approximately four hours and the boys were totally exhausted when we arrived home. Four hours of running and playing for a sprinter like a greyhound is a lot!!
The boys met a few old friends and made some new ones, of the 2 and 4 leg variety. As usual, I took some photos and video of the days activities, which I have posted a few below this post and the others will be posted in a day or so to the photo or video links in the menu above.
I will part with these words…please remember greyhounds are unique among dogs, they are bred in huge numbers for only one purpose, to be the fastest greyhound and when that does not happen they are as expendable to their owners as yesterdays newspaper. A racing greyhound is NOT a pet and is not treated like a pet, it is a commodity that if it does not turn a profit, it will be done away with in one way or another. Some of the lucky ones, like Vladimir and Vitali, make it to a rescue group and become available for adoption, others…numbering in the 10’s of thousands meet fates that can range anywhere from “humane” euthanization to hanging and practically anything in between that could be done to cause death and I mean anything, there are documented cases of drownings, electrocutions, being shot (pistols, rifles, bolt guns), beaten…you name it, it’s been done to these gentle creatures.
Greyhound exploitation is still prevalent in a few states and it’s time to pull the plug on those few remaining states that allow this travesty to continue.
You’ve probably heard me say this time and time again if you’re a regular to this blog, but, the next time you are in a position to help out a dog or are ready to add a new member to your household…PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider a greyhound, you will be amazed at the wonderful pet you get and you will almost certainly be saving one from a fate much less kind.
If you have had thoughts lately about pet adoption and possibly bringing a Greyhound into your family, then this post might help you to understand the breed a little more and help you decide if they would be the pet for you. The question often asked is “Do Greyhounds make good pets?” Hopefully you will find the answer to this question in our look at this marvelous animal. Greyhounds have many great qualities as a pet, they are very easygoing, intelligent, sensitive to other dogs and to humans, very loyal to their owners, brave and have an incredible lust and devotion to life in general. This dog learns quickly and has a lot of respect for its owner and other members of the household – being very loving towards children and not over-forceful with them.
Greyhounds are “sight hounds” and are able to see something as small as a squirrel from up to a half mile away. They are also, without question, the fastest dogs on earth, reaching top speeds of over 45 miles per hour in under four seconds. Don’t let this impressive fact fool you though, Greyhounds are generally considered by their owners to be gentle, 45 mile per hour couch potatoes. They thoroughly enjoy being “slackers” and are never high strung or hyper, and they rarely allow any other animals to get their goat. Cool as the other side of the pillow, these sprinters are happy with as little as a 20 minute walk each day as the proper amount of exercise. You can also read through some of the previous posts made here and come to a decision if this wonderful breed is the one you want to share your life with. To me, it’s a no brainer…they are very calm & collected, they are the super models of the dog world and get lots of attention wherever they go, they do not smell like other dogs, do not eat a lot for their size and rarely ever bark.
Greyhounds are bred for speed, health, intelligence, and sociability. This combination makes them excellent house pets. They are, as mentioned above, clean and odor free, indoor dogs that don’t eat a lot nor require extensive exercise. They are very quiet dogs and will spend much of their time sleeping. They are very content to follow you around wherever you go and love to go for car rides.
Greyhounds live to be about 12-15 years old, barring any accidents or illness. Racing Greyhounds are bred for health and speed and as such are not predisposed to genetic disorders like blindness, deafness, hip dysplasia, etc.
While not all greyhounds suffer from separation anxiety, a greyhound has been raised in a busy kennel and racing environment that requires extensive handling and they crave human company. Some greyhounds may get nervous and afraid if left alone. A greyhound must learn by experience that you will return, and that being alone in the house is safe. Not every dog suffers when left alone for short periods of time, and your dog may never have any problems, but it does show up with some greyhounds and you should be aware of it so if it does arise you will be prepared.
If you have an interest in adopting a greyhound as a pet, you’ll find that there are a great many devoted fans of the breed who have done an amazing amount of work to save, nurture, and re-acclimate these stunning dogs for the retired life in your home. They are not big chewers, and they will most likely doze peacefully on the sofa while you go about your day away, greeting you drowsily when you return. Your male will be tall, at about 28 to 30 inches at the withers, and usually weigh 70 to 85 pounds. Females, a bit smaller, will measure around 26 to 28 inches and are usually in the 55 to 70 pound range. These size ranges can vary somewhat as there are some instances of “large females and small males” that will occasionally fall outside their normal size range.
In my personal experience, looking into the eyes of a Greyhound is like looking into an “old soul”, there is just something special there that is hard to explain. You need to experience it for yourself!
The Greyhound is an extremely powerful and muscular dog. The breed has a long, slim tail and legs. The chest is narrow and deep, while the waist is extremely slender. The breed also has a long and narrow head, neck and muzzle giving the Greyhound an extremely aerodynamic body. They have large hearts, lungs and muscles required for its famous double suspension gallop and incredible bursts of speed. The ears of a greyhound fold flat against its neck when running, similar to the wings on a departing bird or plane.
Tall and lean, the Greyhound is the worlds fastest breed of dog. As a sight hound, the breed pursues game using its vision and speed. Today, however, the Greyhound primarily serves as a sweet and personable companion. The breed can be any color, including black, fawn and red, often combined with white or brindle markings. The Greyhound has been owned by many prominent figures in history, including President Rutherford B. Hayes and General George A. Custer.
The greyhound has his eyes well positioned at the sides of his head giving him a far wider field of view than other dogs (270 degrees versus 180 degrees.) They can actually see things that are behind them. They are sight hounds and can spot movement up to half a mile away.
Greyhound racing became popular in the 1920’s as the aerodynamic build and size of the breed allows them to be the fastest dogs in the world. The Greyhound can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour in less than 3 seconds! Greyhounds are undoubtedly the best sprinters, not only in the dog world, but in any world, having the fastest acceleration of any land animal on earth, topped only by the Cheetah.
A Look Back
One of the most ancient breeds known to man, evidence of the Greyhound was first discovered in tomb carvings in Egypt dating back to 2900 B.C. Aristocracy and culture has always surrounded the Greyhound, and in early times, only royalty bred them. As hunters in England, they were used on practically all kinds of game from deer, stags and foxes, but the hare is the Greyhound’s natural quarry. In America, Greyhounds arrived with the Spanish explorers in the 1500s and were among the first dogs recorded at American dog shows.
Although the breed is extremely athletic and fast, they are surprisingly mellow. They are not as hyperactive as is commonly believed, nor do they require constant exercise. They are often referred to as 45 mile per hour couch potatoes. Greyhounds are one of the most common rescue breeds in the world, due to the fact that racetracks have in the past euthanized (killed) them in huge numbers after they are too old or slow to race any longer, or have been injured and are no longer profitable. This still happens, however thanks to the determination of many rescue organizations, the tracks and breeders are watched more closely and it has become increasingly tougher for them to get away with such wanton acts of violence toward this gentle breed.
Is A Greyhound Right For You?
Although a loving companion, the Greyhound possesses the typical independent spirit of the hound, so patient training is necessary. They enjoy the company of their families as well as other dogs. The breed’s short, smooth coat is easy to maintain. Due to the Greyhound’s athleticism, they need daily exercise, although a short walk a couple times a day will suffice. They should be kept on leash or in a fenced area due to their tendency to run and with their acceleration they would be a football field away before you could get a word out of your mouth. Many greyhounds have a definite prey instinct and some will chase anything that moves quickly. Due to this, some are not suitable to live with cats or other small animals. The breed, however, is a pack animal and is happiest when there are people or other large animals around for companionship. Greyhounds can vary in degrees of their ability to get along with smaller pets. Our two boys, Vladimir & Vitali have no problem at all with any of our cats, either the inside ones or the outside ones, nor have they ever caused an issue with our little parrot (sun conure) when it is out exploring in the house.
When thinking about adopting one of these magnificent creatures, you can pretty much put your order in for one that suits your lifestyle. Want an older one, you got it, want one that’s cat friendly, you got it, want a certain color, you can get it. There are so many that need loving homes, you can just about “special order” your grey just the way you want him/her.
Contact your local greyhound rescue organization and find out what they can do for you!
Greyhound owners and adoption groups generally consider greyhounds to be wonderful pets. They are pack-oriented dogs, which means that they will quickly adopt humans into their pack as alpha. They can get along well with children, dogs and other family pets. Rescued racing Greyhounds occasionally develop separation anxiety when re-housed or when their new owners have to leave them alone for a period of time (the addition of a second greyhound often solves this problem).
Greyhounds bark very little, which helps in suburban environments, and are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own family. The most common misconception concerning greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. In retired racing greyhounds it is usually the opposite. Young greyhounds that have never been taught how to utilize the energy they are bred with, can be hyperactive and destructive if not given an outlet, and require more experienced handlers.
Greyhound Adoption groups generally require owners to keep their greyhounds on-leash at all times, except in fully enclosed areas. This is due to their prey-drive, their speed, and the assertion that Greyhounds have no road sense. Due to their strength, adoption groups recommend that fences be at least 4 high, to prevent them being able to jump the fence and escape.
Greyhounds do shed but do not have undercoats and therefore are less likely to trigger people’s dog allergies (Greyhounds are sometimes incorrectly referred to as “hypoallergenic”). The lack of an undercoat, coupled with a general lack of body fat, also makes Greyhounds more susceptible to extreme temperatures, and most sources recommend that Greyhounds be housed inside.
Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides. Many vets do not recommend the use of flea collars or flea spray on greyhounds unless it is a pyrethrin-based product. Products like Advantage, Frontline, Lufenuron, and Amitraz are safe for use on Greyhounds and are very effective in controlling fleas and ticks.
It is often believed that Greyhounds need a large living space, however, they can thrive in small spaces. Due to their temperament, Greyhounds can make better “apartment dogs” than many, if not most, of the smaller hyperactive breeds .
In the late 20th century several Greyhound adoption groups were formed. The early groups were formed in large part out of a sense of concern about the treatment of the dogs while living on the track. These groups began taking greyhounds from the racetracks when they could no longer compete and placing them in adoptive homes. Prior to the formation of these groups, in the United States over 20,000 retired greyhounds a year were euthanized due to track injuries or simply because they were no longer of use; recent estimates still number in the thousands, with about 90% (highly questionable) of National Greyhound Association-registered animals either being adopted, or returned for breeding purposes (according to the industry numbers upwards of 2000 dogs are still killed annually in the US while anti-racing groups and other advocates estimate the figure at closer to 12,000).
The Greyhound is arguably the purest breed on Earth, appearing to have changed little from dogs depicted on the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs.
Bred and prized for their keen eye sight, greyhound dogs are classified as sight hounds, and their build solidly indicates the intentions of the breeders for speed in this breed. They are the fastest dogs on earth, reaching top speeds of over 45 miles per hour in little under three seconds, but don’t let that impressive fact fool you. Greyhound dogs are vastly considered by their owners to be gentle, 45 mile per hour couch potatoes. They thoroughly enjoy slacking and loafing and are never high strung or hyper, and they rarely allow any other animals to “get their goat”. Cool as cucumbers, these sprinters are happy with a 20 minute walk each day as the proper amount of exercise. They are graceful dogs that are frequently compared to cats due to their calm and reserved behavior. They are not aggressive, which make them perfect companions for children and the elderly.
Greyhound dogs were the target of a horrible respiratory disease epidemic which found hoards of them dead and 1200 more of them quarantined during the year 2006. This greyhound flu also occurred in other breeds, however, it was so much more ferocious because of the spread of it around the tracks and kennels due to the close living proximity of greyhound dogs. The most prominent causes of death in greyhound dogs are track injuries and respiratory illnesses, but they tend to live long lives when enjoyed as pets or rescued from the racing industry. Unfortunately, in years past, there were huge numbers of these gorgeous creatures killed by track personnel just because they were too slow, had lost too many races, were injured beyond their capability to any longer race or any other reason they decided the dogs were no longer needed. The huge number of the dogs that were killed dwarfed in comparison the number that died from any type of natural death. Thankfully, with the rise of many rescue groups this number has dropped dramatically, however the issue still exists.
If you are interested in adopting or acquiring a greyhound as a pet, you will find that there are a great many fans of the breed who have done an outstanding amount of work to save, nurture, and readjust these beautiful dogs for family home life. They are great with kids and they need very little extracurricular games or projects to keep them busy. They are not big chewers, and they will most likely doze peacefully on the sofa while you go about your day, greeting you drowsily when you return. Your male will be tall, at about 30 inches at the wither, and weigh from 70 – 85 pounds. Females, a bit smaller, will measure around 28 inches and from 60 – 75 pounds.
If you just happen to be in the Southeast Missouri or Southern Illinois area, there is a banner link for Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) at the bottom of the page you can click on to get an application to start the process.
Caution – greyhounds can be highly addictive. In most instances, once a greyhound owner, always a greyhound owner. Many times one greyhound pet expands to several at the same time!
The greyhound has a larger heart and set of lungs than any other dog. This allows it to circulate more blood and oxygen through its system when running. The stride is often referred to as a double suspension gallop when running “full out”. This is because the dog’s paws hit the ground twice for every cycle of steps it takes. The spine is very flexible, allowing the dog to lurch and jump quite high too.
About 25,000 race dogs are retired every year. The dogs can live (on average) 12 to 14 years (one ex racer lived to 20) and are one of the most long-lived big dogs around. Their racing careers span approximately two to four years of before they are retired, so you can see there are many years of companionship left in this wonderful breed.
The dog is very aerodynamic due to the thin fur coat it has. It is a short haired dog with a very thin skin that can be easily ruptured. This is the reason the dog is often muzzled in races, and not due to any aggression as most people think. The dogs are actually one of the most non-aggressive breeds around and most prefer to avoid any confrontations.
The dog’s thin skin means that it is highly susceptible to environmental poisons and medications. They can be toxic to the dog, even when the medication is a dog flea medication. The paws also can absorb lawn chemicals, which can kill it, so it should be kept off of any grass that has been treated.
The dog is more like a cat than a ferocious guard dog. Despite its size, it will sleep upside down on your couch (roaching) and likes to be close to its owners at all times. It can suffer from separation anxiety, particularly if it is a former race dog. They are not used to being without people or other greyhounds around. Some will also collect small items to keep for itself and these can include your children’s toys, the remote control, or any food left out on the counter. The dog is so quiet and graceful, you may not even notice when it takes off with these things.
A retired greyhound can make an ideal house dog. The bark has been (for the most part) bred out of the dog, so it is usually very quiet. It loves to hang around the couch and be a part of a family. It easily adapts to its new life of leisure and needs no more than a couple of good walks a day and a nice place to run, full out, at least every couple of weeks or so…especially if they are still young.
The Greyhound is a unique animal. They draw crowds and are the center of attention wherever you take them.
Greyhounds generally are not barkers, (which is beneficial in suburban and apartment environments,) and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own family.
The key to the speed of a Greyhound can be found in its light but muscular build, largest heart, and highest percentage of fast-twitch muscle of any breed, the double suspension gallop and the extreme flexibility of the spine. “Double suspension rotary gallop” describes the fastest running gait of the Greyhound in which all four feet are free from the ground in two phases, contracted and extended, during each full stride.
A running greyhound at full extension
In ancient times, to be presented with a Greyhound was considered the most prized gift one could receive. Persians believed that the Greyhound was permitted in the next world to give information and evidence about mankind. It was the Egyptians who first raced Greyhounds for sport in open fields with the wild hare as quarry and no rules of the game except speed. In the Early Kingdom, Greyhounds were considered to possess divine powers.
A very common misconception regarding Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. In retired racing Greyhounds, this is usually not the case Greyhounds can live comfortably as apartment dogs, as they do not require much space and sleep close to 18 hours per day. In fact, due to their calm temperament and the amount of time they spend sleeping, Greyhounds actually make better “apartment dogs” than smaller, more active breeds.
The Greyhound is an ancient as the desert from which it sprung. For thousands of years they were the dog of choice by kings, queens, pharaohs, sheiks, and people of distinction. In early Arabian culture, the birth of a Greyhound was cause of great celebrations and second only in importance to the birth of a son. They were the only dogs permitted to share an Arab’s tent or ride atop his camel. They were also the only dog mentioned by name in the King James Version of the Bible.
Even though Greyhounds are large dogs, they can curl up in a remarkable small space. Some famous Greyhound fanciers were Cleopatra (the first lady of the Greyhound), Queen Elizabeth I, George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and General George Custer.
Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long-lived breed, and hereditary illness is rare. Some Greyhounds have been known to develop esophageal achalasia, bloat (gastric torsion), and osteosarcoma. Because the Greyhound’s lean physique makes it ill-suited to sleeping on hard surfaces, owners of companion Greyhounds generally provide soft bedding; without bedding, Greyhounds are prone to develop painful skin sores.
Due to the unique physiology and anatomy of Greyhounds, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly when anaesthesia is required. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate-based anesthesia as other breeds can because they have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes in their livers. Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry, which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed; this can result in an incorrect diagnosis.
Greyhounds have higher levels of red blood cells than other breeds. Since red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, this higher level allows the hound to move larger quantities of oxygen faster from the lungs to the muscles. Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds. Veterinary blood services often use Greyhounds as universal blood donors.
Greyhounds do not have undercoats and thus are less likely to trigger people’s dog allergies (they are sometimes incorrectly referred to as “hypoallergenic”). The lack of an undercoat, coupled with a general lack of body fat, also makes Greyhounds more susceptible to extreme temperatures; because of this, they must be housed inside.
These fleet-footed dogs are sight hounds. They can spot a moving object up to half a mile away. Their sprinting ability enables them to expend an enormous amount of energy in a short amount of time. They run at their fastest between 40 and 45 mph, making them the second fastest accelerating land animal on Earth, only behind the Cheetah. They can achieve that speed within their first three strides. Their ability to blend speed, coordination and strategy has made them great hunters. Like a forest of trees, Greyhounds are one of the earth’s valued treasures.
WHY ADOPT A GREYHOUND?
Because-
The day is drawing nearer that we will have to turn our foster greyhound girl Sunset over the the young man who will be giving her a forever home. This will be bittersweet as she has adapted well to our family and is a darling girl, and it’s impossible not to form an attachment to these wonderful “babies”. The whole idea though in taking on this task, was to prepare her for her forever home and also for her to have some time to recover from her medical procedures. We will miss her very much, but we are so happy she will be going to someone who wants her and will no doubt fall in love with her as we have.
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