Have you ever wondered how the life of a retired racing greyhound differs from other breeds?  We’ve taken a few excerpts from a seminar given by Kathleen Gilley entitled “What is your new adoptive greyhound thinking?” to try to give you an understanding of what adjusting to pet life really means for your greyhound.

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“Of all breeds of dogs, the ex-racing greyhound has never had to be responsible for anything in his life.  His whole existence has been a dog-centered one.  This breed has never been asked to do anything for itself, make any decisions, or answer any questions.  It has been waited on, paw and tail.  The only prohibition in a racing greyhound’s life is not to get into a fight—or eat certain stuff in the turn out pen.

Let us review a little.  From weaning until you go away for schooling, at probably a year and a half, you eat, grow, and run around with your siblings.  When you do go away to begin your racing career, you get your own “apartment”, in a large housing development.  No one is allowed in your bed but you, and when you are in there, no one can touch you without plenty of warning.

Someone hears a vehicle drive up, or the kennel door being unlocked.  The light switches are flipped on.  The loud mouths in residence, (and there always are some), begin to bark or howl.  You are wide awake by the time the human opens your door to turn you out.  A greyhound has never been touched while he was asleep.

You eat when you are fed, usually on a strict schedule.  No one asks if you are hungry, or what you want to eat.  You are never told not to eat any food within your reach.  No one ever touches your bowl while you are eating.  You are not to be disturbed because it is important you clean your plate.

You are not asked if you have to “go outside”.  You are placed in a turn out pen and it isn’t long before you get the idea of what you are supposed to do while you are out there.  Unless you really get out of hand, you may chase, rough house, and put your feet on everyone and everything else.  The only humans you know are the “waiters” who feed you, and the “restroom attendants” who turn you out to go to the bathroom.  Respect people?   Surely you jest.

No one comes into or goes out of your kennel without your knowledge. You are all seeing; all knowing.  There are no surprises, day in and day out.  The only thing it is every hoped you will do is win, place, or show, and that you don’t have much control over. It is in your blood.  It is in your heart.  It is in your fate—or it is not.”

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This is a racing greyhound’s life while they are in training. They live in a kennel environment, are waited on by their owners and know what to do within their environment, on their schedule. A greyhound has always been surrounded by the company of other greyhounds so of course, it is going to take them some time to adjust to a new environment where they are constantly surrounded by temptation and a new sense of independence. In addition, some greyhounds may struggle to adjust to life as only dog, especially after being with their greyhound friends for their whole existence.

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“Suddenly, the greyhound is expected to behave himself in places he has never been taught how to act.  He is expected to take responsibility for saying when he needs to go outside, to come when he is called, not to get on the furniture, and to not eat food off counters and tables.  He is dropped in a world that is not his, and totally without warning, at that.

Almost everything he does is wrong.  Suddenly he is a minority.  Now he is just a pet.  He is unemployed, in a place where people expect him to know the rules and the schedule, even when there aren’t any.  How many times have you heard someone say, “He won’t tell me when he has to go out.”  What kind of schedule is that?  Have you heard the joke about the dog who says, “My name is No-No Bad Dog.  What’s yours?” To me that is not even funny.  All the protective barriers are gone. There is no more warning before something happens. There is no more strength in numbers.  He wakes up with a monster human face two inches from his.  Why should he not believe that this someone who has crept up on him isn’t going to eat him for lunch?

Now he is left alone, for the first time in his life, in a strange place, with no idea of what will happen or how long it will be before someone comes to him again.  Often, the first contact with his new family is punishment, something he has never had before, something he does not understand now, especially in the middle of the rest of the chaos. Worst of all, what are the most common human reactions to misbehaviour?  We live in a violent society, where the answer to any irritation is a slap, punch, kick, whip, or rub your nose in it.  Under these circumstances, sometimes I think any successful adoption is a miracle.

He is, in effect, expected to have all the manners of at least a six-year old child.  But, how many of you would leave an unfamiliar six-year old human alone and loose in your home for hours at a time and not expect to find who knows what when you got back?  Consider that if you did, you could be brought up on charges or child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.  Yet, people do this to dogs all the time, and this is often the reason for the greyhound being returned.

How many dogs have been returned because they did not know how to tell the adopter when they had to go out?  How many for jumping at people, getting on furniture, counter surfing, separation anxiety, or defensive actions due to being startled or hurt (a/k/a growling or biting)?   So, let’s understand:  Sometimes it is not the dog’s “fault” he cannot fit in.  He is not equipped with the social skills of a six-year old human.  But with your love and help, you can make it happen.”

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We encourage all greyhound trainers to provide their greyhounds with as much socialisation as much as possible prior to sending them for their GAP assessment to enter the program. This assists the greyhound in transitioning into a pet environment. Some greyhounds will have experience in a home but for some, new floor coverings and even glass doors are a new thing to learn how to navigate. Some people take this to mean that they have been neglected but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. While they may not sleep inside on their owner’s bed, racing greyhounds are generally better fed, exercised and given more time and attention than a lot of people provide their pets.

It is important for anyone adopting a greyhound to understand that their greyhound is still learning, even, if they have been through a 1-2 month foster period. Like any pet, with a little love, attention and care you can help them adjust to their new life and environment as a member of your family. Plus our Foster and Adoption Officers are always here to help you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to welcome your new greyhound family member of your own visit the Foster and Adopt pages to find out more!

EXCERPT SOURCE: https://bayareagreyhounds.org/what-your-greyhound-is-thinking/