Choosing the Greyhound to Adopt

Thank you for considering adopting a greyhound. There are a couple of things you should think about when choosing a greyhound:

1. Try not to be swept off your feet by particular colors. There are some very appealing colors, but I promise, you will be much happier if you choose one that fits your lifestyle rather than one chosen by looks alone.
2. Each greyhound is an individual. Some pull hard on the leash while others walk very gently. Some are very active while others are just lazy couch potatoes. Some are easier to housetrain that others. The one thing that I can guarantee is that size and gender have nothing to do with it. Specify the activity level, personality, and trainability you are looking for rather than size and gender.
3. Consider your activity level. Do you have a fenced yard? Do you enjoy taking walks? Do you jog? Do you want to take your greyhound places? Some greyhounds can be active all day long while others don’t want to walk further than your mailbox. Which type would suit you?
4. Do you have children or plan to have children? If so, choose a dog that you feel would be good with kids. Avoid shy ones and at the other extreme, overly confident ones. You want a greyhound who is tolerant and is a middle-of-the-road type.
5. If you work full time and have no desire to adopt a second greyhound, try to avoid very needy, affectionate types. It is very easy to fall in love with this type because they are so loving. However, this type tends to not do well alone all day. You would be better off choosing a greyhound who is confident and that comes across a bit independent or aloof at first. Once home, they do bond and can be very affectionate. They just are not the type to drape themselves over every person they meet.
6. Regardless of what you choose, I promise that at some point in your dog's life (not just greyhounds), he or she is going to vomit on your rug, get diarrhea, probably eat something he or she should not have, and shed in the house. No dog is going to be perfect everyday of his or her life. Can you handle this? Can you see yourself with a dog for the next 10-15 years? In that time, kids may be born, a new house could be bought, a cross country move may occur, and so on. Does this include having a dog?