When you have been responsible for any combination of whelping, rearing or racing a greyhound and put your heart and soul into giving them the very best to ensure their health and welfare, it is impossible not to develop a very special and close relationship with these very unique, gentle and loving animals.

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So naturally, when the time comes for your greyhound's retirement, it is important for owners to find them a forever home where they will be loved, adored and treasured as a pet, just as much as they were as a racing dog.

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A lot of work has been done over recent decades, by many people, to change the public perception of the greyhound and it is wonderful to see communities across Australia and the world, embracing this very unique animal for its outstanding, gentle and very loving qualities.

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Living with a pet greyhound in a domestic environment is an easy and wonderful experience and while the greyhound is a 'dog', because of its genetics and its history in many ways it is unlike its counterparts in the canine world. 

 

So, it is important that people wishing to adopt a greyhound are fully aware of the breed's specific needs. 

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The first and most obvious difference between a greyhound and other dogs is its blinding speed, which can see a greyhound go from zero to a top speed of 75 kmh in only four strides. Greyhounds are also opportunistic and once focused their recall is zero and the only thing that matters is what they have their mind set on. So when you combine their high speed, highly focused and an opportunistic nature you have a very different dog to those many potential greyhound owners are used to.

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When a few simple greyhound specific rules are followed, living with a greyhound is an amazing, easy and rewarding experience. So when rehoming a greyhound into a domestic environment it is important to talk to potential owners about the realities of living with a very fast, affectionate and quirky 'cat', that is living in a gangly and sometimes fragile, large dog's body. 

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Obviously this is not an exhaustive list but is a starting point for conversations to make any future adoptions go smoothly and to ensure the right people are match with the most suitable dog:

 

• Do they have any previous dog experience? Or specifically any sighthound experience?

• How long after adopting will you be returning to work?

• How much time do they have to exercise the dog daily?

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• What are the working hours of the potential owners?

• Are there other companion animals, livestock on the property?

• Do they have children (what age?) or elderly adults?

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• Will the dog be allowed inside?

• What arrangements are there outside the house for shelter from wind and rain?

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• Talk about the specific needs of a greyhound - in terms of quality food, shelter, coats, lack of tolerance to heat etc.

• Understanding the grooming needs, nails, teeth, vaccinations and worming?

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• Stress the importance of having a secure property - fences, gates and locks in good repair and the importance of training family members and friends to close gates and doors to keep the dog safe

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• Stress NO OFF LEAD unless on private land, a slipping track or designated reserves according State requirements

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• Will the new owner be keeping in contact with the previous owner and providing updates

• Do they have a safe kennel place for the dog in case of a family or personal emergency situation

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