Greyhounds have great tolerance for children, but they do have their limits. A child should not be allowed to push them to that limit. Children should be taught to treat the greyhound with respect and kindness. Young children should always be supervised during contact with the greyhound. The adult will be able to monitor the behavior of child and greyhound alike, as the greyhound must also be taught to treat the child properly. A dog is not a baby sitter or a play mate for a small child.
One of the most common incidents concerning children and greys takes place when the greyhound is startled awake. Greyhounds often sleep with their eyes open. If the child has not been taught about this, they may wake the dog up suddenly. This can actually turn into a very dangerous situation. The safest way to wake a greyhound is to call him/her by name. They are very deep sleepers and startle easily. Remember, they cannot yell at someone for waking them up. So they express themselves by barking, growling, or even biting.
One reason most adoption organizations recommend new adopters read Cynthia Branigan's book "Adopting the Racing Greyhound" is to educate them about the greyhounds life prior to becoming a family pet. While living in the kennel atmosphere, the greyhound had their own crate - it was theirs alone, and they never had to share it. This was their "special" place, and it is very important that they have a place like this in their new home. Many families continue to use the crate with their greys. If the crate is not used, then a spot should be found for the dog in a corner or a quiet room. The child should be taught that this is the greyhounds "special" place, and they are not to be disturbed when in this place. Never allow a child to get into the dogs crate either with
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