Adopting a Greyhound

The wheels are in motion, we took the first step of many in adopting a Greyhound. Three years ago, we went to Petsmart in Ottawa to pick up some things for Bob. On that day, the organization called Adopt-A-Greyhound happen to be there, and they were putting on "Meet a Greyhound" day. We instantly fell in love with these animals, and since then been planning on adopting one when the time was right. After some reading about what they are like and the kind of care they need, we strongly felt that a Greyhound would be a great match for us, and are eager to give one a safe and loving home. At this stage, our application form has been sent off. The organization is in North Gower Ontario, which is not too far from Brockville.

Here are some Facts about Greyhounds:

Fact: Greyhounds are docile, gentle, low-key animals.

On the track they may possess outstanding athletic abilities, but in the home environment, they are regular couch potatoes. Like any family dog, however, they need regular exercise to maintain their good health. A nice long walk on the leash, three or four times a week is recommended.

Fact: Greyhounds are wonderfully outgoing, friendly and non-aggressive.

They wear muzzles while racing to help the racing officials determine the outcome of a photo-finish race and to protect them from injury during their highly-spirited chase.

Fact: Greyhounds are easy to train and are very social.

These wonderfully intelligent animals adapt very quickly to life off the track. Most often, housebreaking a greyhound is simply a matter of showing your greyhound the designated area and then giving him or her a few days to adjust to your schedule. Riding in the car, climbing stairs, playing with toys and other "firsts" may confuse a greyhound who is unaccustomed to these activities, but in no time at all he or she will master these and any other household challenges.

Fact: Greyhounds love children and other pets.

Greyhounds possess one of the best temperaments of all dog breeds. Gentle, patient and sensitive, they make an ideal companion for children and seniors alike. Because they live with other greyhounds their whole lives, they are remarkably compatible with other pet dogs. Cats, however, are unknown to greyhounds and a little extra time and patience is required to ensure household harmony.

Fact: Greyhounds want to sleep indoors.

Greyhounds adore romping and frolicking outdoors, but after play time, they belong indoors. They naturally have very little body fat and a thin coat that does not protect them from weather extremes. They love a nice warm corner of the room to sleep.

History of the Greyhound

Greyhounds enjoy a rich heritage dating back over 4,000 years. Initially bred to be hunting companions exclusively for noblemen, this universally admired breed was also a favorite of Cleopatra and England's Queen Elizabeth 1. Their unmistakable figures grace the walls and tombs of ancient Egypt.

Greyhounds were introduced in America in the 1800's to help farmers control the jackrabbit population. Greyhound racing soon developed as a result of these popular neighborhood competitions. Because of their speed and natural instincts, Greyhounds soon became the focus of popular neighborhood competitions. These informal events were the forerunners of today's Greyhound racing industry.

There is lots of information on the web about these wonderful dogs. I will be adding more posts about how our adoption process is going.