I'm going to take advantage of my Blog to promote something that is important to me. If you decide to get a family dog, please consider a retired racing Greyhound. If you have any questions, please post to this blog, I'll be happy to help!
I'd like to dispel some myths about the Greyhound.
1. Greyhounds are nervous, high strung and temperamental.
No, As a matter of fact, they are considered as "45 Mile Per Hour Couch Potatoes". They are very calm, enjoy lounging and are totally happy with a nice soft blanket to curl up in.
2. They need to run all the time.
Just the opposite. They are sprinters and are quite happy to just go for a walk or run in an enclosed area.
3. Greyhounds are vicious since they need muzzles.
No, Greyhounds wear muzzles when they race to keep them from accidently hurting each other and to help identify the winner in a photo finish.
4. Greyhounds are fragile.
They just look fragile. They are very strong athletes.
5. They need a special diet and eat a lot.
Although the racing Greyhound is used to a raw meat diet, they are quite happy to eat the same quality dog food (kibble) that any other dog eats.
6. Greyhounds are too large a dog for an apartment or condo.
They are all legs and don't need a large living space. Greyhounds generally don't bark much, some almost not at all.
Some Greyhound facts:
• Greyhounds are gentle, affectionate and pretty laid back.
• They are social dogs that generally get along with everyone, including children, cats and other breeds of dogs.
• Greyhounds are intelligent and learn quickly.
• Greyhounds must always be kept on a leash for their own safety. Born and bread to run and chase prey, a greyhound can reach speeds of up to 45 mph in three strides and can see up to a mile away. If an unleashed Greyhound spots a squirrel, instinct takes over - a hound can run until exhausted and be too confused to find it's way home.
• Greyhounds don't make good watchdogs because they are generally friendly and rarely growl when someone new comes to their home. ... Did I mention they don't bark much?
Tens of Thousands of Greyhounds and Lurchers are slaughtered when their usefulness has ended. Here's an article about it in the UK:
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/v...=7&newsID=8235 and the same thing is going on here in the US.
If you are interested in adopting a retired racing greyhound google your area, I'm sure you'll find a local adoption group.
I have two Greyhounds, Baker and Bogie. Baker is all white with light grey spots, one black ear and one big black spot over the opposite eye. His tail rarely stops waging and he loves to toss around his stuffed kitty. Bogie's a brindle (tiger striped) has one toe missing, a little chunk out of the tip of his ear and a zig zag at the tip of his tail (broken 3 times at the track and not properly set to heal) but it's actually pretty cute. He's very playful and loves to catch tennis balls and frisby's and run with his furry brother, Baker.
Again if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me!