Pets Adopt a greyhound
Thinking of adopting a greyhound? Dr Chrish Brown reveals all you need to know about caring for these surprisingly gentle dogs
They’ve been hogging the headlines lately, after the NSW government banned greyhound racing from July next year. So with many hounds soon to be retired and looking for new lives beyond the track, here’s everything you need to know before you open your home and heart to these slim softies of the dog world.
WHAT SORT OF PET DO THEY MAKE?
Forget everything you thought about greyhounds – those nights racing under lights are a far cry from the lifestyle these dogs are really suited to.
You don’t need to be walking them for miles multiple times a day. On the contrary, they are adaptable creatures and the amount of exercise they get is dictated by you rather than them.
A run or walk of any distance at any speed is in their capabilities. But remember, in the racing world they’re sprinters rather than stayers. A walk that lasts in the minutes is more appealing than the marathon some other dogs desire.
Once a dog is assessed by an adoption group, they’ll be able to tell whether he or she can be rehomed with other pets. Due to the type of training they receive when young, some greyhounds may not be suitable with cats.
ARE THEY HEALTHY?
Medically speaking, greyhounds are a vet’s nightmare: we’d go out of business if everyone had one! They’re fast, efficient medical marvels, every cog in the machine is well well-oiledo and in full working order. They’re bred to be athletes, after all. While most dog breeds have one or two genetic diseases to be looking out for, greyhounds aren’t particularly prone to a anything. Even for a l large dog, hip dysplasia i isn’t a real danger either.
AND THE MUZZLE?
First impressions count. When we see a greyhound muzzled on the street, many people wrongly assume it’s for our protection. In reality, it’s just an outdated law – only in Australia and Northern Ireland is it compulsory for greyhounds to wear muzzles.
The law will change eventually, but for now NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA and the ACT allow dogs that have passed a behavioural test to wear a green collar and go muzzle free.
Ultimately, greyhounds are placid dogs who shouldn’t pose any more threat than a poodle!