Greyhounds

Greyhounds are delightful, charming and easy to live with. The ex-racer (or failed to make the grade greyhound!!) is the perfect companion…for some people. No breed of dog is perfect (although we think greyhounds are!). The reality is there are differences in every breed that sets it apart from others. Also remember that while the breed is profiled to fit a certain behavioural description every single greyhound is different and will demonstrate traits that are unique to that individual dog.

Physically greyhounds are built for speed – not endurance. They have long legs, and long, flexible spines. When most dogs run, all four paws leave the ground just once in a full cycle of steps. But a greyhound has all four paws off the ground twice in each cycle of steps – called a double suspension gait. This is a very demanding style of running, and while it contributes to a greyhound’s explosive speed; it also contributes to their inability to run over longer distance or for a long period of time.

Other physical differences include:

·         A bigger heart than other dogs;

·         A larger cardiac output – in one minute a greyhound will pump its own bodyweight in blood while racing!;

·         Higher blood pressure than other breeds and more red blood cells;

·         Significantly lower levels of body fat;

·         Greyhounds often have difficulty sitting which can have obedience training implications and

·         Greyhounds use their sight (60%); smell (20%) then hearing (20%) for hunting.

Greyhounds have a short coat that produces very little oil, leaving you with a dog free of doggy odour! If a greyhound is brushed regularly and washed when required you should get very little smell from your hound.

An individual greyhound’s behaviour can change in different situations, more than a dog rehomed from a family situation, as greyhounds don’t have the same social experiences. Therefore it can take some greyhounds longer to adapt to a domestic life. The foster period is aimed at making that transition easier for each greyhound, but every home is a new experience for them.

Life as a racing greyhound

The ex-racing greyhound has never had to be responsible for anything in his life.  His whole existence has been a dog-centered one.  This breed has never been asked to do anything for itself, make any decisions or answer any questions.  It has been waited on, paw and tail.  The only behaviours not allowed in a racing greyhound's life are not to get into any fights or eat certain stuff in the turn out pen!

Once weaned from their mums they hang out with their brothers and sisters - they eat, grow and run around playing. At about 12 months they go away for schooling to learn to run, jump out of boxes and corner at speed – learning to be a race dog. Once this training is complete they’re ready to begin their racing career at about 18 months of age. While in training and as a race dog they get their own "apartment" in a large housing development – their own kennel.  They have their very own space where no one is allowed in their bed but themself, no one can threaten them over food or any other personal belongings and when they are in there, no one can touch them, without plenty of warning.

The greyhounds hear a vehicle drive up, or the kennel door being unlocked.  The light switches are flipped on.  The loud mouth dogs in residence, and there always are some, begin to bark or howl.  Every greyhound is wide awake by the time the human opens the door to turn them out.  A greyhound has never been touched while he was asleep and rarely moves out of its bed.

They eat whenever food is around – because their trainers have placed it in front of them!  They are usually fed on a strict schedule.  No one asks if they are hungry or what they want to eat.  They are never told not to eat any food within their reach.  No one ever touches the bowl while they are eating.  They are not disturbed and as a race dog this is important to ensure that they have the energy for racing and training.

Part of this routine is being placed in a “turning out pen” to go to the toilet. They are not asked if they have to "go outside" it is pre-determined for them and as a result they don’t ever “ask” to go outside. They are placed in a turning out pen and it isn't long before they get the idea of what they are supposed to do while out there.  During this routine they can chase, play rough house and put their feet on everyone and every thing.  The only humans they know are the "waiters" who feed them, and the "restroom attendants" who turn them out to go to the bathroom. 

No one comes into or goes out of their kennel without their knowledge.  In the kennel, the greyhound is all seeing; all knowing.  There are no surprises, day in and day out.  The only thing it is ever hoped asked of them is they will win or place when they race, and that they don't have much control over.  Racing is in a greyhound’s blood, it is in their heart, it is in their fate - or it is not.

When a greyhound is no longer a viable racing dog their life suddenly changes. They are expected to be a civilized “person” in a fur coat doing what pet dogs do.  However, people don't realize greyhounds may not even speak English.  Some greyhounds don't even know their names, because they have needed to!  They were not asked or told to do anything as an individual; they were always part of the "condo association”; the sorority or fraternity and everyone did everything together, as a group or pack.  The only time they did anything as an individual is when they took their turn for training or raced, and even then, they were not alone as they always had the other race dogs around for company.