So I'm Ready to Adopt

                                            

                                                                                                   The greyhound of my dreams awaits,

                                                                                       I anticipate the day,

                                                                                       After I have chosen wisely,

                                                                                       Lay bare my heart to a grey.

 

OK, so you’ve made the decision to adopt a greyhound.  You might think that there are no more questions to ask.  However, it’s just the opposite.  What is your lifestyle?  Is it fast paced or do you work out of your home and can spend more time with an animal?  Do you think a younger dog with more energy is for you, or are you leaning toward adopting an older one that might be a bit more lay back?  Do you want a smaller greyhound or are you into large dogs?  Do you have a preference for a male or female?  What type of temperament are you looking for in your dog?  Maybe overwhelming questions, but it is good to know how your life and the dog’s life will coalesce.

I didn’t know anything about the greyhound breed when I read that first article in the newspaper.  After I met some greyhounds in person, I was totally hooked by their sweet demeanor and sleek beauty.  I foIlowed my heart, but still didn’t know too much when I made that first call to a greyhound rescue.  Luckily today, many of the people I meet interested in greyhounds know something about the breed.  The levels of knowledge may differ, but many of them have educated themselves to make sure a greyhound would be a good fit for their family.  Smart!  That is something every family interested in adoption should do.

When I adopted my first dog almost 25 years ago, I didn't have the luxury of searching a greyhound adoption website.  My experience was much simpler.  I contacted the rescue, asked questions, and decided if I wanted a male or female.  The rescue person picked one out for me.  When the dog came in, they notified me.  That was the extent of it.  Today, the greyhound rescue websites are sophisticated.  Many of them show pictures and temperament write-ups about available dogs.  Some greyhounds have been in foster care, and that affords more insight into the animal.  This gives the adopter much more information to work with when choosing a pet.  

One of the big questions asked during a Meet & Greet is if I prefer a male or female greyhound.  I believe that each has its own positives.  When I was asked what gender I wanted for my very first dog, I did ask for a female.  My thought being that she would be smaller than a male.  She was, but that is not always true.  I have seen some large girls over the years.  Usually the females are smaller than the males, but bigger dogs can be as graceful if not more so than the smaller ones.  Each creature brings forth its own personality no matter what the size.  Teaching my boys to heel in many cases has been easier than my girls.  Although the boys are larger, the girls still have extraordinary strength and minds of their own.

I read an article recently in Celebrating Greyhounds that addressed the issue of differences between males and females.  In this article, called Battle of the Sexes, the author, Deb Levasseur, certainly hit the nail on the head for me with my present girl, “The dainty, pretty, tiny girls are usually the higher-energy types.  They are very smart little spitfires, extremely cute, and fun to train.  They are perfect hiking and exercise companions……and can be bossy little divas.  Girls are usually guilty of taking beds, toys, food, or treats from the boys.  They often bump their adoptive brothers out of the way to bolt through the door to pee first or nudge their way in for petting and attention.”   Oh yeah, that’s my Emma exactly!  Was the author looking through our window?

Although she nailed Emma, I have had three other females that were not like this at all.  Two were extremely shy and had to be coaxed out of their shells over time, and the other was a happy-go-lucky girl that was not very pushy at all.  So again, we can only generalize as to these differences. 

I have found that greyhound males are very often lovers, wanting lots of rubs and pets.  Deb Levasseur also agrees.  She goes on to address the concern that male dogs lift their legs when they pee.  Some adopters may be hesitant about getting a male for that reason.  I have had 4 males, two have squatted and two have lifted their leg.  Ms. Levasseur says, “The vast majority of Greyhounds are easily trained within a few days and reliable after about 30 days.”, and I definitely agree with that.  My boys were trained within a short time.  As long as you are consistent, the dog will learn quickly.   

Intelligence of the male or female vary from dog to dog, although I do think the girls assimilate information easier.  Many of the girls, though, understand what you want but have their own agenda.  I have found that most of my boys were lay back and basically followed orders.  I add the caveat that these observations were developed by watching my own animals.  Every dog is different, and again these could be viewed as generalizations.  

Occasionally, a greyhound comes along with a few issues.  Remember, these dogs have never been in home situations before and have been crated most of their lives.  Thrust into this new environment, some take longer to acclimate and fit into a home than others.  With love and patience, most work it through and realize improvement.  Understand that all adopted greyhounds need time to really feel at home.  Don’t give up on them as they will blossom into the animal they were meant to be. 

Greyhounds tip the scales at being over the top fantastic.  Whether you choose a boy or a girl, you cannot go wrong.  Do your homework though, assess your family needs, and then adopt a greyhound.  There are so many that will fit into your life and make it wonderful.  Each of my dogs has given me different gifts, and each gift reveals a little magic about who they are.  Your greyhound will surprise you with the same.  

Resources:

Deb Levasseur, Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Therapist, Ask the Expert: Battle of the Sexes, Celebrating Greyhounds, Summer 2015,