Greyhounds - From Track to Sofa

Posted on 2002/10/24 16:11:40 (October 2002) by tom.

These dogs are vicious, dangerous animals. Well, they are. Aren't they?

We have all seen greyhound racing on television, on film or in photographs. The dogs rocket around the track. They are intent on nothing other than the destruction of the 'hare' that is flying just beyond their reach. And fly it must, with nearly seventy pounds of muscle, claw and teeth bearing down on it at forty miles an hour. Muzzled or not, these dogs are vicious, dangerous animals. Well, they are. Aren't they?

Actually, unless you happen to be a rabbit, greyhounds are among the gentlest, quietest and most peaceful dogs that I've ever met. Our own Irish-born greyhounds, Nellie and Clodagh, are content to spend most of the day sleeping or curled on a sofa watching the world go by. Snarling or mauling is certainly the furthest thing from their minds.

Every year nearly nine thousand greyhounds retire from racing. Where do they go? How many do you see being walked? Talking to a representative of the Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) can be quite revealing. “A large number of owners will adopt their ex-racing dogs as pets, or arrange for them to live out their retirement at a kennel. Sadly though, many otherwise fit and healthy dogs are simply put down, having made their owners richer.” It is even alleged that dogs have been pushed from moving vans, thrown over cliffs or simply abandoned with muzzles still on - unable to hunt or scavenge, these dogs die a slow and terrible death.

For the lucky dogs, however, it may be possible to find a suitable home. Despite what you may think, greyhounds are a fantastic addition to the household. Of course, like any dog, they will need housetraining and a firm set of ground rules. But once these details are sorted out, the greyhound will settle into your routine quite nicely. Surprisingly, walks need only be short – two twenty minute walks per day will be more than enough, although greyhounds will happily, but perhaps tiredly, accompany you through the fields and hills for hours.

And what about children and cats? Greyhounds are actually an ideal dog to live with both in most cases. If a greyhound does take a fancy to your prize Persian, there are easy ways to retrain him, and soon you’ll have harmony again. The only time our tiny kittens were ever growled at was when they mistook Nellie for their mother and tried to suckle!

Perhaps if you are looking for a dog, you should certainly consider helping an ex-racer retire gracefully. For more information about rehoming and greyhounds in general the best website to visit is the Retired Greyhound Trust, (http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk).

That is one of the most well thought out and excellently written plugs I have ever witnessed.

If I was more of a 'pet person', I'd go out right now and get a retired greyhound. Unfortunately, I can barely look after myself, let alone another creature!

It's terrible the things people do to pets. If you can't handle it, don't get one. If you do get one then a retired racer sounds like a nice choice.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2002/10/24 16:31:07.

My Mum is allergic to dogs so it's unlikely I'll ever have them as pets. Plus I'd have an impossible moral quandry about how to feed them. However, all of that aside I do really like the idea of having a pet to do the pet a favour, rather than simply for your own entertainment. I guess that kind of setup ends with a much better relationship between you and the animal. Too many people seem to have pets just for the novelty, which is always really upsetting.

Posted by john at 2002/10/24 17:57:19.

It was a little piece I was just asked to write for a monthly newsletter. I thought I'd try to appeal to you lot too ;-)

Posted by rowanboy at 2002/10/24 18:18:53.

My family did the same thing with our beloved Lab Fiddle.
My family has had memebers who work for Guiding eyes for the blind.
Many of the dog's don't pass their final exam.
Fiddle is one of them.
She's in no way stupid, just very afraid of thunder and lightning.
That's one thing that the blind owners cannot have.
So the dog's go up for adoption.
The lists are huge.
Fiddle or as we like to call her Fiddi is one of the kindest dog's I've ever met.
We also did the same with a Rodesian Ridgeback who didn't have a ridge.
She was going to be destroyed.
The mothers owners just left her at the kennel to face death.
The owner who knows my Mother quite well asked her if she would like to have her.
We took the little shit home with us and she became my Lab Logans best friend.
Adopting animals is such a great thing to do.
You just feel so great when you know that you've saved their little lives.
What they can give back to you is truely amazing.
Hug your puppies for me Tom and Sarah.

Posted by Kitty at 2002/10/25 01:02:31.

there is a place in halifax called (website) tiagreyhounds.gov.uk. my other half went walking the retired and abandoned greyhounds whilst she was unable to work for a short while, and we have just 'adopted' a dog called sam. he is a lot bigger than i expected but fantastic as a pet! he's not used to houses right now, but really placid and quiet. a lot less maintainence than i expected. well worth the effort!!

Posted by mark at 2004/04/21 21:38:59.

there is a place in halifax called (website) tiagreyhounds.gov.uk. my other half went walking the retired and abandoned greyhounds whilst she was unable to work for a short while, and we have just 'adopted' a dog called sam. he is a lot bigger than i expected but fantastic as a pet! he's not used to houses right now, but really placid and quiet. a lot less maintainence than i expected. well worth the effort!!

Posted by mark at 2004/04/21 21:39:17.

Our greyhound has been with us for a week now and he has truely settled in. I have three children ranging from 14months to 7 years and the dog is brilliant with them. As gentle as greyhounds are though, they are thieves and also believe they have more right to the sofa that you do! This one lays on his back with all four paws in the air and his tounge sticking out.

Posted by Nikki at 2004/10/09 19:23:47.

I have a retired greyhound, he is just a big softie, his name is Jasper, and we had him from the greyhound trust, he is well worth it. I love him.

Posted by kay garcia at 2007/07/18 12:49:32.

We have 4 rescue greyhounds all from Tia varying from 1 1/2 years to 7 years. Our friend has 3. I come home every lunch time for the young un who needs the loo after 6 hours but the rest of them are like camels not bothering to go all day. They are wonderful with children and love each others company and the company of humans. They sleep for england, eat for england and love to go out for a walk if its not raining, 2 x 20 minute walks and they are ready to come home for breakfast or dinner. Two are extremely playful and love tug of war with there toys and two are completely laid back not moving much at all. If you love dogs the best thing you can do is adopt a rescue greyhound, you will be smitten and never want another breed again. If your circumstances don't allow you to get a dog then sponser one instead and go visit occasionally.

Posted by Marcia and John at 2007/11/01 18:40:03.

Please tell me how to stop my greyhound trying to drag me after a cat! I know they see it as the racing track when they see one moving along the other side of the road but some info on how to try and deal with this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by Emma at 2007/12/31 21:00:04.

Following up the last comment. My greyhound is a very quiet and gentle animal apart from this problem.

Posted by Emma at 2008/01/01 11:45:12.

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