Unless you are a newcomer to this blog, you will know that I’m a big fan of retired racing greyhounds. They are one of the gentlest breeds around, although some can be a little snippy with other breeds when they’re first adopted, until you educate them. You see, they are born into racing, and up to the time they retire, it’s the only world they know. Many of them have never even seen a different breed of dog.
Here in England, greyhounds are normally kept in racing kennels belonging to a trainer. There are exceptions – there’s nothing to stop you racing your own dog from home, but in fact, relatively few people do, so the dogs are born into a environment where they are surrounded by other greyhounds, all day, every day. They don’t leave the kennel very often except to go racing, and if they’re sold it’s usually to another racing owner, so their life continues much as before.
The lady who trained The Princess told me that greyhound pups are kept in family groups until they’re old enough to start work. They’re weaned late, and then they live for a few months with their litter mates, where they learn dog etiquette by playing and rough-housing and testing the boundaries. Incidentally, this is where many of those little scars come from that you see on racing greyhounds – their skin is so thin that a sharp puppy tooth or nail can easily make a hole.
Once they start training, they are separated to be kennelled in pairs, and their life continues in the noisy all-greyhound kennel with their noses constantly full of greyhound smells.
Imagine what a shock it is to be adopted!
Suddenly you’re not one of the gang anymore and you don’t have a job to do.
You no longer live in a huge dog ‘pack’, so there’s no comforting sound from your companions shuffling around in their deep shredded-paper beds, or barking when it’s feeding time, or romping in the paddock with their friends. Instead, there is silence. There are unfamiliar and disturbing smells and there are horrible, hideous, frightening noises. Washing machines, vacuum cleaners, television … Sometimes there are tiny humans that scream and rush about and grab them. Surely it’s no wonder if they sometimes come across as neurotic and difficult!
In fact, with sympathetic handling, they adapt extremely well, even to being an only dog, though I personally like to keep them in pairs. And they very soon come to love their sofas and the new, lazy lifestyle, because – surprisingly – they are fundamentally lazy dogs.
But it’s a wonderful thing for the dogs that the Retired Greyhound Trust now holds a yearly ‘Greyhound Gathering’ where you can take your adopted dog to have a fun day out with hundreds of other greyhounds, and there are hundreds of other owners to chat to. And that’s where we went yesterday.
The Princess, who usually does not choose to consort with other dogs, had a wonderful time sniffing greyhounds and being sniffed. This picture is interesting because both The Princess and Poppy are normally a bit slow to accept a strange dog’s company, yet there they are, happily sharing a water bowl within minutes of meeting, and even resting together on Poppy’s bed.
The fact that many other breeds come along with their greyhound friends is also a bonus. Retirees can see their fellow greyhounds treating terriers, spaniels, mutts and poodles like buddies and that’s a big help in socialising a recently adopted dog.
And of course, there’s the shopping! Stalls full of greyhound coats and boots and collars and tags, stalls full of dog biscuits and treats and supplements and off-prescription remedies. Stalls full of beds and drinking bowls … and fudge and ice cream and hot-dogs and hamburgers.
And clean water bowls everywhere for the dogs, some up on stands because greyhounds are tall dogs and the oldies can’t always quite reach their feet – and a few of us will know that problem!
It was a lovely day, as you can see by the pictures.
And yes, both The Princess and The Pirate had a hot-dog all to themselves. Of course they did!
Without onions, naturally.
As a footnote, if you go here, you will find an excellent article written by Kathleen Gilley who runs a show called The Dancing Greyhounds in America. She knows greyhounds very well indeed and has some great advice about training and behaviour. Non-Americans may not understand all the references, but pretty much all her knowledge is applicable to any greyhound, anywhere in the world.
what a glorious day How I would have loved to be there..sandy
Oh I bet it was a fantastic day – for all of you! Greyhounds are beautiful dogs. Then I don’t need to tell you.
I almost missed your previous post :O)
Babs – beetles last blog post..Don’t listen to Babs!
I usually avoid all dog stories, but I do find this story very interesting.
Oh yeah.
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I *heart* greyhounds.
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Excellent post & photos!
I think it’s great you adopted them, and thanks for a bit more information about their life before being adopted.
I also had no idea they’re lazy dogs by nature, that’s kind of funny considering how fast they are!
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this is really cool jay: yearly ‘Greyhound Gathering’ where you can take your adopted dog to have a fun day out
they are beautiful dogs and their bodies are just powerful. i watch the dog show here in the states whenever i can catch it.
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What a great post about greyhounds and their lives! I’ve always thought of their racing lives as very sad, but I suppose that dogs who are working dogs need to have a job. I suppose they get into cushy retirement after awhile, though
Peace – D
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I’m happy to see these retired greyhounds getting the love and attention they deserve after their busy lives.
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Sandy – You would have loved it! The love these people have for their dogs shines through!
Babs – Thanks! It was a great day! Shame more of the people I know from the internet couldn’t make it, because it’s always nice to see other people’s dogs that you know from online forums.
RMH – More people should know, for sure! Even if you’re not a dog person, you’ll maybe be able to educate someone else who is, one day.
Meleah – Me too!
DM – They’re sprinters, you see. You could compare them to cheetahs. Extremely fast, but they spend their time between sprints conserving their energy for the next one.
Valerie – They are gorgeous, and they make great pets! Especially for those who don’t want the bother of the puppy stage!
River Poet – You know, greyhounds LOVE to run, and those that are kindly treated love the life of a racer. As with all industries involving animals, there is good and bad. There are trainers and kennel hands who are not kind to the dogs, but there are also those who adore the dogs and treat them very well indeed – and in a good kennel, the dogs have a great life. Nothing a dog likes more than to be part of a pack!
Basically, dogs love to be allowed to be dogs. A working collie or retriever or spaniel in a pet home can really suffer, especially with an inexperienced owner. And some pet breeds do too, sadly.
To my mind, the greatest sadness in greyhound racing is the waste. There are far, far too many dogs bred than there are pet homes for them. Things are improving, because of the efforts of the adoption agencies, but there’s a way to go yet.
I have never been a pets person but I have held high respect for people who know their pets well and treat them as a part of their families. You surely are one of those people who love their pets and give them their share of respect.
It was a very refreshing post and you surely along with your pets have had a wonderful day.:)
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How fun! I’m not even a dog person and that looks like a blast.
The dogs are ever so much more interesting than the people….
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I just recently discovered we have a chapter for saving greyhounds here in town that rescues greyhounds. And I’m embarrassed to admit, it was the first time I had seen an actual greyhound in person. The one I met was the sweetest little thing, standing there patiently while everyone stopped to pet her and speak babytalk
. I was pretty surprised by how tall she actually was, I always pictured them being a bit shorter then that!
Scratch – Thank you! Yes, my dogs are very much members of the family, and I think respect is a very important part of dog-ownership. It is with all animals but particularly with dogs. because it’s a give-and-take relationship. And you’re dealing with an animal which has teeth big and strong enough to take your hand off, if they’ve a mind to. It’s a tribute to their adaptable nature that they don’t do it more often, with some people.
Don’t get me started about people who shouldn’t own dogs…
Bob – I tend to agree! LOL!
JT – Well, if you don’t know anyone with a greyhound and have never been to watch the races, how would you see one?
Yes, they’re patient, sweet and gentle, almost without exception! I love them… And they vary a lot in size. At this event, there were some about four inches taller than mine, one or two shorter. Some are quite chunky, and some are tall and slender. See, the only important things in racing are that they should be fast, and preferably easy to handle.
My brother had shares in a greyhound which sadly was euthanased last year because it was injured and couldn’t race. I was FURIOUS because I’d asked the trainer to let me know if the dog hadn’t worked out. I would have easily adopted him but they were adamant that he’d been blooded and wouldn’t make a suitable pet! If only he’d seen your pictures! I’m still mad about it and now the idiot brother is talking about buying another dog. If that one doesn’t work out, I’m going to dognap it!
Wonderful photos of a very fun outing. Looks like a fantastic turnout and gorgeous weather as well. Wish we could have hopped across the pond to join you!!!
Jody
Baino – That’s just tragic.
I don’t know what he meant by ‘blooded’ – do they still train greyhounds with live game in Australia? Yikes … But even if they do, it doesn’t mean you can’t rehome the dogs. I know of plenty of people here in the UK who keep working lurchers and whippets as pets in their own homes, and my own gorgeous (but sadly now deceased) Jim was an ex-travellers’ dog, and almost certainly used for rabbitting. He caught goodness knows how many rabbits, birds, mice, etc in his life, and yet he was 100% safe with people and other dogs, and was actually frightened of cats! He was the perfect pet.
Dognapping sounds good!
Jody – Hello there!! I wish you could have come over to join us, too! It would have been great! You know you’d be welcome next time if you can make it!
Jenn – I’m sorry, I missed your comment up there! You must have posted it while I was answering the others!
Yes, I think they all deserve a comfortable retirement after working so hard to make money for others. That’s why I try to spread the word on what great pets they make, and perhaps dispel some of the myths.
What a great post Jay – really interesting and informative, thanks. My sis has two rescue greyhounds who suffered bitterly at the hands of some nasty, irresponsible humans, and are still learning to adapt to a new life.. I’ll drop her a link to your post
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‘blooding’ isn’t legal here but they all do it. Usually with chickens, they’re easier for the pups to catch. Clare recently au pair’d in a house with a Lurcher and she was the softest silliest dog ever. She fell in love with the dog more than the ponies which is quite a feat for her.
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Somnambulist – Thank you!
It’s sad that we do still come across cruelty cases and those involving greyhounds are (to me) more tragic than most, because they really are the gentlest, most trusting of creatures. Thank goodness those two are in a good home now!
Baino – Ah, well, yes. They still do it in some parts of Ireland, too, according to what I’m told. Not surprised that Clare fell for the lurcher – they’re just as adorable as greyhounds. Sometimes they’re more trouble, like little furry delinquents! Gotta love them though. LOL!
Great post Jay (not that I am biased with 2 of my own couch potatoes fast asleep on their beds as I type!)
I went to my local racetrack open day for retired greyhounds over the summer and it was great to meet and greet fellow adopters of these graceful creatures!
PS the boys enjoyed it too
Hey Jay! I’m glad you have a large greyhound event to attend there now!! Don’t forget about Dewey though… we’ll MISS you this year!!
And I’m envious you got to meet Poppy & Ned!! Can’t believe you hadn’t met Bev & Marc before though!
Taffy’s Mum – Thanks! Yeah, not biased at all, are you? LOL!
I don’t think our local track does an open day for ex-racers. I’ll have to ask them! The dogs do enjoy it, don’t they?
Jeannine – Well, it’s nothing like the scale of Dewey! Basically just one field full of stalls, plus a little dog show in the paddock (where they normally parade the racehorses, I guess).
I will miss coming over to Dewey this year, but The Pirate is over thirteen now and I really don’t want to leave him in kennels for three weeks.
Say hi to everyone for me! And have fun!
WOW!! He’s 13??
I’ll say HI to everyone…
Hi,excellent write up and photo’s.I was there with my two lurchers and im also a volunteer for the retired greyhound trust.the couple with the seven dogs in your second photo are friends of mine and some of their dogs are from the kennels i volunteer at.
Jeannine – Yes, indeed. The Pirate was thirteen in August! He still doesn’t believe it though. He thinks he’s a pup and can’t understand why he can’t run so fast anymore! LOL!
Trace – Hi there! Thanks for visiting!
Lovely to hear from someone who knows some of the dogs I snapped! If you’d like the larger file for your friends, please do email and I’ll send you a copy.
the dogs are lovely, I have sevral dogs when I was young, but all of they were dead, it’s a pity to me , and after that I did’t have a dog, but I never the dogs I had ago.
We went all the way from Co. Durham for the GGG it was a long drive but we enjoyed it. Socks went in the PAT parade, and both the boys entered their show classes. They didn’t win but I still think they’re the best.