Frequently Asked Questions
The following list of questions may help you decide if adopting a retired racing greyhound will be right for you and your family.
What type of pets do greyhounds make? Greyhounds make great pets. After their life at the racetrack, they enjoy receiving love and attention from their new families. Greyhounds are usually tolerant of children and good with other pets.
How old will my greyhound be when I adopt it? Most greyhounds are between the ages of two and five years “young” when they are retired. All retired racing greyhounds make great pets, no matter their age. We have found that 2 to 3 year olds are more active and may require a bit more exercise and supervision than a 4 to 5 year old who is more mature and ready to slow down. And another age bracket that you might want to think about is a senior greyhound (8+ years old). Senior greyhounds have usually been in a home for several years and have been returned to their adoption agency for a wide variety of reasons. They make truly wonderful additions to most households and even though they may not be with you as long, the love they give during their time with you makes it all worthwhile.
How long can I expect my retired racer to live? A retired racing greyhound’s life expectancy is 12 to 14 years. Although thousands of these majestic dogs are born yearly, they are also bred for quality allowing them to escape many of the more common health problems purebred dogs have. There have been two greyhounds in the last few years who have made it to 19+ years old!!!! Suzie, a beautiful fawn girl, was almost 20 years old when she passed away a few years ago and Genie, a spunky brindle babe, turned 20 years old on May 8th, 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!! Genie is an amazing girl who raced, became a brood mom and didn't find her forever home until she was 11 years old... 9 years ago!!!!
Will my cat be safe with a greyhound in the house? Most greyhounds are “cat-tested” before placement and with proper introductions and supervision, greyhounds with lower "prey drives" can live peacefully with cats, small dogs and other small animals. Introducing your greyhound to smaller animals (and children) should always be supervised and you should communicate any concerns with your adoption group.
Will I need to keep my greyhound on a leash? YES!! A greyhound is a sight hound and has been bred and trained to run. They can hit full-speed (35 to 45 mph) in three strides and can see up to one mile away. If your off-leash greyhound should decide to bolt, you would have no chance to catch it. Allowing your greyhound off-lead in an unfenced area is asking for a possible tragic ending. These dogs have been bred for thousands of years to chase and run. No amount of training can take that out of them. If you want a dog that you can leave off-leash, consider another breed of dog.
Why does my greyhound need to be kept as an indoor pet? Greyhounds have very little body fat and a thin coat; neither of which offer the needed protection from the elements. Your greyhound needs to be kept in a climate-controlled indoor environment with soft bedding available. We recommend a dog coat in colder weather.
Will my greyhound be housebroken? Although greyhounds are crate-trained, they are not used to life in a house, esp. your house. Most of our greyhounds have spent some time in a foster home but you should not expect your new greyhound to be used to your home and schedule for several weeks. We require that you crate your newly retired racer for several weeks (or longer) until you feel safe and confident that your greyhound is ready to leave his/her crate. This time varies between greyhounds and you will need to be patient while your new family member adjusts to life off of the track.
How big will my greyhound be? Greyhounds are tall dogs but they don’t really weight as much as they seem and they tend to “live” very small. Male greyhounds weigh between 65 and 85 pounds and stand between 26 and 30 inches at the shoulder. Female greyhounds generally weigh between 55 and 65 pounds and stand 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but you can expect your greyhound to fit in these numbers. If you ever get the chance to meet our greyhound, Elphie, you'll see that she is a very tall exception... she stands about 31 inches tall and makes most boys look short! Here's a shameless plug for my baby girl and her endless legs. This photo also shows that greyhounds can live peacefully with cats... that's Elphie's boyfriend, Willis, in the photo with her.
What other things will my greyhound need to learn about life in our home? A newly retired racing should be treated much like a toddler just learning to walk. He/she will not know anything about glass doors/windows or stairs and will need to be taught many other things around the house. Don’t worry, though, they are intelligent dogs that can learn quickly. You will enjoy showing your new greyhound what he/she has missed for so many years.
I’m ready to adopt… What do I do now? Although, we are not an adoption agency for retired racing greyhounds, we are here to help point you in the right direction. There are several adoption agencies in Central Virginia who will be able to help you in your quest for a retired racer. Two groups whom we have worked closely with are Colonial Greyhound Adoption and Blue Ridge Greyhound Adoption. Other adoption groups in Central Virginia are GPA-Richmond, Virginia Greyhound Adoption, Greyt Expectations & Star City Greyhound Adoptions. You can visit any of their websites to find out more information about their organization and to also submit an adoption application. At that time, your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted by an adoption counselor. A home visit may be scheduled at a time that is convenient to all. Once your application has been approved, there can be a two to six week wait until your new greyhound arrives.
What is a home visit and why is it important? When a home visit takes place, the adoption counselors bring a greyhound or two to visit so that you and your family have the chance to interact with a greyhound in your own home. These visits are necessary so that you can see what a greyhound would be like in your home, allows you to ask questions and it gives us the opportunity to talk with you one-on-one about the joys of adopting a retired racing greyhound.
How much is the adoption fee and what does it include? Each group is different but you should expect to pay an adoption fee of $200-300 for your retired racer. Your greyhound will be spayed/neutered and had a dental cleaning, heartworm test, vaccinations and deworming. You will also receive an adoption packet that includes a leash, collar and group ID tag and lots of useful information. Another added bonus to adopting from most greyhound adoption groups is the support you will receive from the adoption groups.