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SHOW ME GREYHOUNDS Before You Adopt |
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very rare sight to see a Greyhound and a live rabbit side by side Before you apply to adopt a Greyhound, there are a few things to consider. They are not meant to scare you away from adopting a Greyhound or any pet but to help you make that all important decision of adopting a pet. Impulse and on the spot adoptions sometimes result in the wrong adoption because no one thought about what it takes (besides love) to care for a pet. We would like to prevent that from happening to our Greyhounds we adopt out. Think about your personal circumstances: In the event they change in future years, will you still be able to commit to the dog you want to adopt? What happens if you lose your job, your home or your spouse? Will you still be able to care for your adopted companion or will there be a chance you will have to return the dog back to the adoption group? Whether some people think this or not, adopting a greyhound is a very serious, life long commitment and should be taken as such. Greyhounds are sensitive dogs and some might not be suitable for certain households. If your household is normally loud, have small children constantly underfoot or if you are away from home a lot, a Greyhound might not be the dog for you. Most Greyhounds are sensitive to loud noises, will not hesitate to bolt out an open door being left open and they seek companionship from the humans they love and have bonded with. If you have other breeds of pets, you might want to consider how they will feel if you adopt a Greyhound, too. Check if the Greyhound you are interested in adopting is suitable to be around other breeds of pets such as small dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, etc. Some are and some aren't. Make sure the group you are adopting from does substantial small animal testing first before you decide on adopting a particular Greyhound. |
Your financial ability to care for a Greyhound is another thing you will need to consider, too. Some Greyhounds normally need vet check ups 2 to 3 times a year with one of those checkups including all vaccinations. Depending on how relatively healthy your Greyhound is will depend on how much you will spend per year on vet visits, tests, dentals, vaccinations, health products, etc.
Do you have time? Decide on how much energy you have to put forth for daily walks, exercise and overall care of your Greyhound. Some Greyhounds are content with a short walk daily when weather allows it and then frequent breaks throughout the rest of the day for bathroom breaks. Some are content to rest on your couch for hours. Others, such as young Greyhound puppies under 2 years of age can require a lot of energy from you to keep them busy and out of trouble.
Don't choose a Greyhound by it's color, sex or age. While most people have a favorite color, sex, or age of a Greyhound in mind to adopt, the best advice we can give you is to let the dog choose you. Don't choose the dog. You will be surprised who picks you and it probably won't be the color, sex or age you thought it would be either! Males are typically better with children than females are. Surprised by that statement? Of course, you are. Males tend to view human children as playmates or siblings because the male is hardly ever involved in the rearing of the puppies. It's the females who are the ones responsible for rearing, disciplining and nurturing. Therefore, don't be surprised if a female Greyhound disciplines the human children of the *family pack* if she thinks they are getting out of hand.
Aging and Special Needs dogs sometimes need more care and attention than others. They may require mobility accessories such as a sling, ramp, doggy wheelchair, bed, doggy diapers or taking them to physical therapy or acupuncture treatments several times a week or month. They might need a special diet or special medication, too. They remind us so much of an elderly human in a dog suit especially when doggy dementia sets in. However, the love they still have to give is incredible and makes caring for them a joy instead of a burden. Even when their age takes a toll on them, they still aim to please you in every way they can. |
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