Advice wanted on adopting a retired racing greyhound as a pet

[Iamateadrinker]

I'm seriously considering adopting a greyhound from a retired racers rescue centre. Please can anyone with experience ( good or bad) offer any advice or tips. What makes them good companions? What difficulties have you encountered? I am compiling a list of items I will need ( and may have spent far too long looking at car hammocks this evening).
Thank you in anticipation

They're lazy buggers and love a sofa but don't ever let them off lead - their prey drive is too instinctive and too strong. But they are lovely and loving pets.

I has two retired greyhounds. They had zero prey drive which is why they came last in every race. They loved my cat and used him as a pillow. They didn't need much, a couple of walks a day, feeding, occasional groom and permission to flop on my lap whenever I sat down. Perfect companions but not brains of Britain 😅

I’m on my second rescue greyhound. They are wonderful pets!
My advice would be to allow 3-4 weeks to settle into your home properly. Most rescue greyhounds don’t know what it is to be a pet. Mine had never played with toys, or gone up some stairs, not heard a TV or hoover.
I do know some who go off lead but personally I wouldn’t risk it. Mine (current and previous) has no prey drive whatsoever, will happily ignore a squirrel/cat/etc. But also both have no recall whatsoever despite knowing their name, so we’ve never gone off lead except in a fenced area occasionally.
My first one would happily sleep all day and had to be encouraged out for a walk. My second sleeps a fair amount too but als loves to play with toys around the house a lot. Both were expert cuddlers!

Thanks all
I'm wondering about setting up a " indoor kennel" / crate as a place of comfort and safety, has anyone else tried this? I know I need martingale collar and a strong lead, muzzle, pyjamas and coats and bowls on a stand... what else am I missing?
Do your dogs play with toys?
I'm considering one dog at the moment but I keep reading that they often enjoy company of another greyhound but I'm not sure about walking two by myself....
Also I'm reading about separation anxiety..I don't work outside the home but will need/ want to go out unaccompanied sometimes... what helps your hound feel secure when left?

Why a muzzle???

I may be wrong but one of the sites I was reading suggested it if the dog was ever off lead even in a " secure" hired field. Happy to be corrected though

I would only muzzle a dog who had a biting history

I've just found it
It was from Greyhound Trust site

Do they always need to be muzzled?
A. Greyhounds do not need to be muzzled at all times, but we do recommend that you keep your greyhound muzzled when out and about, at least until you are confident of their behaviour around other breeds. They are quite used to it and associate it with pleasurable walks. If you feel you need to let your dog off the lead, a confined space and the wearing of a muzzle is recommended. We provide a collar, lead and muzzle with every greyhound that we home.

@AreWeHeadingForAnotherLockdown
Thank you this is just the information I am looking for from owners, obviously different people will have different views and experiences but it's all very useful for me as a novice

Lots of people around me have rescue greyhounds. I often stop for a chat when walking my dog and all say how lovely and easy they are as pets and mention how long they are happy to sleep/chill out on a sofa! I have never seen one unmuzzled though, either at a dog off leash area or on the street where dogs legally have to be kept on a leash (Aus). Someone once told me they are required to be muzzled while out but I don’t know the basis of that and of course that may not apply elsewhere.

Because they have a high prey drive due to training and genetics and can kill cats, wild animals and small dogs when out. There was a BBC report of one killing a small dog while out on a walk recently. I have seen the occasional one out without a muzzle but imo they should always be muzzled when out. It shouldn’t be an option not to do so. Even if they are fine with cats at home their instinct can be triggered when out so a muzzle is wise and as mentioned they are generally used to it. Some individuals are more prey driven than others but a muzzle is still a good idea.

They are wonderful, gentle natured, affectionate dogs who make excellent pets though and I wouldn’t hesitate to have one.

I wouldn't be happy with the prey drive bit the ones I know are good pets.

My mother had one. She was a lovely dog, and was one of four assorted rescue dogs, my parents had. They had an acre plus garden; and as they lived on the coast, they took the dogs for walks on the beach every day. My parents never had a problem with her prey drive or recall - the smallest dog they had though was a Staffie/Labrador cross.

Because greyhounds are exceptionally quick, have very prey drives and can (and will) kill small furries, cats and even small dogs. A woman near us had her little dog torn apart by a greyhound who had run off - it was absolutely horrendous.

Some rescue centres will make you sign a lead and maybe muzzle agreement whilst they're in public because of their high prey drive.

Thank you that's what I thought re muzzle. I do see them out and about ( on lead ) without a muzzle but that's when they are very well known to the owners and if course some of them lack a strong prey drive ( hence failed racers). I would err on the side of caution and follow the rescue centre's guidelines. Any more advice or tips about equipment I will need?

We have a greyhound cross. The greyhound bit is really chill and sleeps a lot but runs REALLY fast. He crossed with some sort of mastiff breed and that bit is barking mad, hyperactive, argumentative (he honestly has tantrums if you tell him “no”)

They take up shit loads of room on the bed and are very snuggly. I don’t know anyone who ever only rescued one greyhound. Once you’ve rescued one, you’re hooked!

I walk rescued greyhounds every Saturday morning and they are all walked with a muzzle on for precisely the reasons above. They don’t seem to mind them at all though as they are so used to them.
They are the most affectionate and loving dogs - good luck! Wonderful thing for you to do by giving them a home!

@Bridgertonisbest
Hahaha, yes I'm already anticipating the second before I have the first. I live by myself and want a companion as much as anything else and I did wonder if they could offer an ( albeit bony) cuddle and be pleased to see me.. sounds like they can be very affectionate and also a bit of a diva.
Re the short walks, I tend to go an hour at a time, are they up for longer walks?

Following up my earlier post to answer some of your questions.

Muzzle - I used a muzzle only when first adopted to gauge how they were on a walk. With both of mine, the muzzle was off after a week. If your dog is snapping when out, training is a better approach than continuing with a muzzle. If prey drives worries you, ask the rescue centre how they are - a good rescue will have already assessed this. Neither of mine had any prey drives at all, both were rescued racers.

Collar - I use a collar when out which has my name and phone number on. But I use a chest harness for attaching the lead to. It feels more secure, and I don’t like having the lead pulling on their neck.

Toys - both of mine love small furry toys with a little squeaker or crinkle in. No interest in balls or other toys! All dogs different though. For a rescue greyhound, I would introduce toys slowly, give one, let them enjoy it for a while before getting another.

Pyjamas and coats are needed for the colder months of the year. Greyhounds have short hair and feel the cold. We love Bracken and Paws, and Blas and Co.

An indoor cosy space is a lovely idea, I wouldn’t use a crate. You’ll find though that they greyhound will want to be near you! On the sofa, snuggled up to you.

Separation anxiety - my first greyhound had terrible separation anxiety. No amount of training or behaviour specialists could get past this so I just accepted it. It is what it is. If I went out, I got a babysitter! My second/current is better, I can leave her for a few hours at a time. I walk her, feed her, then she’s happy to snooze on the sofa or bed while I’m out for a while. I have a camera set up in a couple of rooms so I can keep watch.

Length of walks - again, depends on the dog. My first was not interested, would go for 20 minutes max then pull me to a cafe, he loved a cafe snack! Wasn’t bothered about walking really. But when we went to the beach he always got the zoomies. My current loves a walk and I struggle to get her home, she’ll happily go on for a couple of hours.

Final note for now - “rescued, not retired”. And “failed racer” isn’t a thing. Greyhound racing is an incredibly cruel industry. The sooner it’s banned the better.

Aw they are so lovely. We had one, he was the loveliest dog out. Adored kids. It was part of the agreement that he was muzzled while out but they are so used to them it’s no bother. Absolutely sod all recall and a complete food thief. He had limited tolerance for everyone being in the garden - after about an hour he wanted everyone to come in with him and would stand and bark at Everyone 😂. Hopeless with patio doors - always ran into them - and occupied the entire sofa.

@ArtemisNutella thanks for all of that information it's very useful. I certainly have a lot to think about.

My sister (not in UK) fosters retired greyhounds and does homechecks for the charity. She has had about 40 greyhounds over the years and most have been lovely chilled out dogs.

There was one that developed severe separation anxiety and was returned, it was an absolute nightmare and another one wasn't muzzled by new owner and it lunged at a cat and unfortunately broke its collar and killed the cat. A few others were also returned due to problems managing their prey drive. So whilst on the whole they can make good pets, they can also be problematic (like all dogs I suppose!).

My friend has had several and they do seem do be a bit diva like! One refused to go out in rain and would stop dead in a shower, as in had to be carried home.

Another had a lot of problem with its feet, it seemed to have problems with little stones catching in its toes and causing issues with its claws and skin which apparently is paper thin, It was quite quiet unless you bumped into it which elicited an unnecessary howl of agony.

One refused to get into the back of a car unless it was lifted in. The others managed.

They didn’t play with dog toys like balls or tugger toys, but all loved ripping squeaky fluffy toys to shreds.

And yes, they are FAST!

My DB and Sister in law have had 2 rescue greyhounds, following a rescue lurcher and some pedigree spaniels (they have been married decades; the dogs had long lives).

The first rescue had raced (badly; it was tattooed so they looked him up). I seem to remember he was about 2 when they took him on. He was very affectionate BUT never really got the hang of playing (he’d look at you as if you were an idiot!). Their current bitch is far more of a madam and up for playing.

These dogs are pretty lazy; they like to sprint and “drop”. Don’t take one too far for a first walk. They’ve had some fairly hefty vet bills after running through brambles etc, so be careful when/if you walk them off the lead. Whilst they look skinny, that muscle is really quite heavy. A lurcher might be a better option if you need to be able to lift a dog into the back of a car.

I wouldn’t say that they are cuddly, but they certainly all seemed to like to lean against you/lay across your feet.

They will need coats in winter and preferably a waterproof coat for rainy days (even down south) and raised food bowls are better for them to eat from.

Watch out for what food you leave on tables/kitchen worksurfaces; they move fast and are at the right height.