pdubois64

I'm thinking of adopting a retired racing greyhound and was wondering if anyone here has ever adopted one? I have just started to research the breed and what to expect from a retired racer.

For various reasons I will not be ready to get another Dobermann pup until Spring 2014, so I have been thinking of adopting in the mean time. I am really missing the outdoor time I used to get with Dillon before he passed away 2 months ago. I think a Greyhound would also be a good playmate for my new Dobermann when the time comes.

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Dillon:b.2/19/09 d.9/28/12 "The best walks in life are always the briefest"

GingerGunlock

I don't have one (people would know) but my cousin does. I haven't yet met said dog, unfortunately. His name is Ebb.

Also, the blog Tales and Tails involves two rescue greyhounds at the moment. There were more previously.

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ZeldaRules

Love love love the greys. One thing I would take note of is that greyhound owners will usually muzzle their dogs when they are playing together because the greyhound skin is so thin and tears easily...dobes play very rough so it could be a bad combo without muzzles. When I see the local greyhound rescue owner people host playdates they require that all the dogs be muzzled.


Here are some links I found for you about the muzzle:

http://www.gcnm.org/muzzlenews.html

http://greyhoundscansit.com/greyhoun...zles-and-more/

http://www.virginiagreyhounds.org/artmuzzle.htm

http://www.greyhoundsupport.org/FAQ.htm

Tayl

I have so far loved everyone I have met! Such sweethearts and some are just so tolerant when my brother was really little a friend had 2 and Moon would just let him poke and prod him just loving the attention. Huge couch potatoes and hate the cold but when they get running especially in a group so fun to watch though yes they do typically run with muzzles


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EmilyB

I had a retired racer. His name was Nitro King (aka Simon Son Doggie).

He was retired at 4 and we had him almost 8 years. We lost him to cancer (OSA), it is a problem in the racing greyhound, just so you are aware.

He had to have eight teeth removed but other than that was pretty dang healthy until the end.

They are true couch potatoes. Soft and gentle.

If you have any questions let me know.

eta: He got along very well with my first dobie girl. They had many adventures together. You cannot let them run free except in a totally fenced area. Ever. The adoption group will make sure you are aware of this.

pdubois64

Yes I've just been reading about this. I do have a large fenced yard but it looks like the off leash area I took Dillon to would be out of the question.

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Dillon:b.2/19/09 d.9/28/12 "The best walks in life are always the briefest"

EmilyB

You might have to join the CADF for the private park, if it is still around next year. That was why we originally joined up, for our greyhound.

pdubois64

Yes the thin skin with a Dobe pup would be an issue....maybe this isn't such a good plan.

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Dillon:b.2/19/09 d.9/28/12 "The best walks in life are always the briefest"

ZeldaRules

What about a Borzoi? They are pretty much a long-haired Greyhound..just much bigger. Also, the Whippet?


edit...found some Borzoi & Dobie videos

dog

dog2

dog3

dog4

Rallypup87

I have a 1 year old greyhound who gets along famously with my dobe. She is not a retired racer and I have had her since she was 11 weeks. but personality wise I find they get along great with dobermans.

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Rallypup87

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the_discowhore

I know a few retired racing greys, love ALL of them! Very, very sweet dogs, get on great with other dogs and all people, very gentle, quiet, no mess in the house, sleep most of the day, well behaved, walk beautifully on lead...

From my experience they like chasing games and don't tend to wrestle - seems to work ok with Dobes as the Dobes can't catch them Some seem to be pretty injury prone, I know a lady that has two... One has never been hurt and is rough as anything, but the other almost cut her foot off jumping a fence at speed and tore her side open running through bushes. They feel the cold, but you can just put lots of layers on them (lots of good greyhound coat makers out there). They respond well to training as long as you are not harsh and use corrections, I know some competing in obedience and rally that were mostly clicker trained - they are very good and enthusiastic! Recall can be a challenge, when they run they go far and fast, out of ear shot very quickly, my experience has been that they have good recalls as long as they aren't chasing prey! Had one in my obedience class who had a great off lead recall in dog parks etc, as she wasn't interested in chasing other dogs, but always stayed on a long line in the forest.

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the_discowhore

From my obedience class, showing off one of her many tricks

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Fitzmar Dobermans

We had one - Uncle Marlo was his racing name - we called him Marlowe He had just turned 4 when we got him and we had a 1 year old Dobe girl. They were best friends for the next 8 years till Marlowe died of kidney failure. He walked like a dream on a leash and would do one big run around the perimeter of the yard... then he was done - LOL! Very big couch potato - he was also my first therapy dog. Was not very tolerant of my kids when they were toddlers - but he was 6 years old when my oldest was born.... so it was a pretty big shock for him.

Not the brightest of breeds when you are used to how smart Dobermans are, but very sweet dogs. Very thin skin and the rough Dobe play can be a bit rough on it.

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CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
AKC GRCH/UKC CH Fitzmar's Command A Minute CGC "Harvard"
Fitzmar's Victory Hop Devil "Jezebel"

ZeldaRules

Love it! Do they generally have trouble sitting?

EmilyB

Since it is a greyhound thread, I'll just throw in some things I learned on my visit to OSU in Columbus, OH.

They have a Greyhound Wellness program there, they are studying the greyhound connection to OSA in other breeds.

Since the show grey split from the racing grey around 100 years ago, OSA practically vanished from the show dog. They are studying how that happened. Very interesting stuff, that I mostly didn't understand.. They treat all greyhounds free there (for OSA).

They also had this huge blood donor clinic where greyhounds come to give blood, as they are a universal donor.

EmilyB

Mine did. It just wasn't something he did!

workingk9s

I used to do some work with the Greyhound people in Denver.

Medical issues to watch out for:
Thin skin - yep they tear easily.
Terrible teeth - expect to have to do teeth cleaning often.
Thyroid problems
Bone cancer

They are such cool dogs though and people tend to really get on with them. Sweet natured and easy to handle.

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pdubois64

Thanks for all the replies and pictures everyone. The rescue association has a meet and greet tomorrow. I think I'll head down there and meet a few dogs and talk to them about it.

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Dillon:b.2/19/09 d.9/28/12 "The best walks in life are always the briefest"

ZeldaRules

Pics of the retired racer that I used to dog sit, Mingus

the_discowhore

I have heard that they can, but I have not encountered it myself yet. I imagine they could be a little precious about getting their bottoms cold in wet grass though hehe

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Fitzmar Dobermans

Sitting is normally not a comfortable position for them - and they don't swim either - mine sunk big time and had to wear a life vest when we went out in our boat (when we lived in Florida we had a boat).

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CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
AKC GRCH/UKC CH Fitzmar's Command A Minute CGC "Harvard"
Fitzmar's Victory Hop Devil "Jezebel"

Q734

LOL just had to say Zelda you found the zoi vid I referenced the other day, #3.(schutzhund sighthound thread?)
That dog looks like it's saying "you DO realize I could kill you if I felt like it."
/that's it...zoi is my bucket list dog.


Greyhounds are breathtaking tho, for sure.

eta: THoSE ears on Mingus!!! LOL whatta doll!

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Rallypup87

It is usually the retired racers that have a problem learning to sit. to a racer it is either run, or lay down. sitting is hard to comprehend. My greyhound has no problems sitting but I raised her from a pup and she's never seen a racetrack.

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Rallypup87

We took our greyhound to the pool on its last day open to let all the neighborhood dogs swim...She sunk like a stone, I had no clue that not every dog knew how to swim automatically. She would paddle with her front but didnt use her back legs at all so she would just flip over backwards and almost drowned, poor girl.

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