Ex-racing rescued greyhounds make greyt pets
There is so much written about the Ex-Racing Rescued Greyhound that really does not ever begin to describe what they are all about. And mostly what has been written is not really helpful for providing practical information on whether or not an ex-racing Greyhound is suitable for a potential adopter’s home and lifestyle.
This website and its Blog are dedicated to the unique beauty of the Ex-racing Greyhound and not the one that is bred and raised for the dog show circuit, coursing or other such activities.
I wanted to provide a different take on who exactly the Rescued Greyhound also known as the Ex-Racer is and how incredible their potential is to become a beloved member of any adopter’s family.
eX-Racing rescued Greyhounds are suitable for most lifestyles
If you are a runner keep in mind that Greyhounds are sprinters and are not designed for endurance running. While I do run with Sabrina it is no more that three or four kilometers a few times a week. She prefers a five km walk. While some Greyhounds enjoy hiking for longer periods of time. No two Greyhounds have the same exercise requirements. Some Ex-racers just want to nap on the couch.
And like any dog, Greyhounds need regular exercise, play and affection. The girls tend to be more independent and the boys are more in need of affection.
Greyhounds need proper structure and may need lots of socialization in the beginning when they are first adopted. But what every ex-racing Greyhound needs is to have a patient guardian who will love them and give them a safe place to lay their head at night.
Remember most of these hounds, like Sabrina, have literally been running for their lives. They don’t know what a soft bed feels like or what a healthy meal tastes like.
Five common Misconceptions about Ex-Racing rescued Greyhounds
All Ex-racing Greyhounds are the same. While they share many common traits these amazing hounds are as unique as any diamond. Some will arrive to your home as diamonds-in-the-rough some will arrive already the shiniest diamond. (Sabrina was the former).
Ex-racing Greyhounds need to run. They love to play, chase, run for fun and do the famous Dance of the Greyhound “The Zoomie”. But they never ever need to run.
Ex-racing Greyhounds don’t shed. Oh yes they do! But a daily brush or vacume during shedding seasons will help.
Ex-racing Greyhounds cannot live with small animals. You only have to go on Instagram and check out some of the Greyhound accounts to see them cuddling with small dogs or kitties. When you are ready to adopt - let your Greyhound Adoption Centre know if you have a kitty as they often have cat tested hounds for homes with kitties. This is not an excuse to purchase a Greyhound puppy from a Greyhound breeder who raises puppies for racing.
Ex-racing Greyhounds must wear muzzles. In North America there is no requirement for muzzle wearing. Your may see some hounds in muzzles due to a habit of ingesting things they found on the road or a training issue. Or both. When Sabrina first came home she wore a muzzle for a few weeks due to her high prey drive but once she learned she would be fed regularly now she was no longer racing, her prey drive (while always there as part of the Greyhound DNA) seemed to have melted away and the muzzle was very happily donated.
The one thing I wish I knew before I adopted Sabrina
I wish I knew that adopting an ex-racing rescued Greyhound as a pet could be so easy.
Honestly, I am not here to sugar coat this. Yes I am sure that some Greyhound adoptions don’t go as planned. Maybe the adopter didn’t do their homework thorough enough or the Greyhound adoption agency wasn’t able to make a good match. But my adoption of Sabrina was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.
The only regret I have is that I wish I’d found Sabrina sooner!
