Greyhounds make perfect pets
While you may think owning a greyhound is like living with a bundle of energy that runs like the wind, you’re more likely to find it asleep than anywhere else.
And that’s exactly what makes the dog an ideal pet for any family, says Sarah Davis, an area coordinator for the pet adoption agency Greyhounds as Pets New Zealand.
Davis was one of 30 Manawatu¯ greyhound owners to take part in an annual dog-walk on Sunday that brought together retired race greyhounds, lurchers, other sight hounds and their owners to promote ownership of the breed.
Catherine Robertson went along with her former race dog, Guss, who was hit by a car last year and lost a leg. Despite the setback, Guss curiously tailed behind his owner as they took a leisurely stroll around Palmerston North’s Victoria Esplanade, sniffing other dogs along the way.
There was a misconception that greyhounds were aggressive and full of life, Davis said, but they sleep up to 20 hours a day and only need about 15 to 20 minutes of exercise.
They’re low maintenance, affectionate, calm and fun-loving, don’t shed much and only need a brush once a week.
Davis said there had been a resurgence of people wanting to adopt greyhounds, with more people beginning to express interest.
Davis adopted two dogs, Jed and Stanley, because the idea of getting a puppy was unrealistic with her family’s work and school commitments. She said that above all they wanted a dog who would be part of the family.
She initially laughed at the idea of rehoming her first greyhound. ‘‘I said, ‘no, what would we want one of those funny looking things for’.’’
But Stanley grew on them. It’s rare for greyhounds to bark, Davis said, which would suit many families.
‘‘They do like to run, but they have to have a reason to run and most of them are lazy.
‘‘If something fast shoots out in front of them like a rabbit then they get the urge to chase it, but other than that they’re pretty calm, pretty tame.’’
Their quiet nature also made greyhounds perfect therapy dogs, and Davis said they were often invited into rest homes to sit with the elderly.