1. Are Greyhounds Hyper?
No, not usually. The greyhound is a quiet and docile animal. They are very affectionate and loving toward the ones they know and trust. Often owners use the term "couch potato" to describe their greyhound. It certainly applies to my Whitney! They do like activities! If you want to play, they are more than happy to cooperate; they love walks, jogging with you, and they love riding in a car. In reality, though, they need no more exercise than any other dog.
2. Are They Good with Small Children and other Pets?
Greyhounds respond very well to children. Most greys have a very calm disposition, but even the most gentle one has its limits and should not be subjected to continuos harassment. It is recommended that young children and dogs of any breed never be left unattended. No matter how trustworthy both are, dogs will be dogs and, children will be children!
Most greyhounds are safe with other pets--cats, rabbits, small dogs, etc.--but a small number of ex-racers see these as moving prey and therefore would not be suitable for homes with smaller animals. When adopting a greyhound, it is important to tell the adoption agency about your household. Most agencies check each hound when it comes in to help determine the appropriate environment for each dog. When placing a greyhound in a home with other animals, it is recommended that the muzzle be used for several days, or until the new family feels comfortable with removing it. In my case, I have 5 cats, and another dog. Whitney is good with all of them.
3. Okay--What about the Muzzle?
Many people are under the impression that greyhounds are fighters because they wear muzzles while racing. This is absolutely not true. In greyhound racing, the winner is the hound whose nose crosses the finish line first. The muzzle helps make the nose more prominent, and helps the judges determine which hound won.
The muzzles our organization [GPA/OK] uses are made from lightweight plastic. Its design is an open, basket type and is safe for fairly long periods of time. Its design allows the dog to breath and to drink easily; also, if the dog were to become ill while wearing the plastic basket muzzle, he would be able to vomit without choking, something other type muzzles do not allow. Muzzles are important to use when introducing your new grey to your other pets, and can also be used if your dog has an injury or "hot spot" that you don't want him licking. Personally, I have never used a muzzle with Whitney, but with each foster dog I always have one on hand.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Judy A Tomlinson's Greyhounds topic, please visit the Discussions page.