So you want to know a little more about adopting an ex-racing greyhound? What should you expect from the shelters and what do they expect from you? Well lets start with the latter, if you can forfill these requirements and you are still interested than thats a good start. Most shelters will be looking for similar requirements, they want the dogs to spent the rest of their lives in their new homes. Greyhounds can retire as early as 18months old and live for 12-14 years, so as with any dog it's a firm commitment.

What the shelters want from you

• You need to have a fenced garden. This is very important, greyhounds can see for upto half a mile and will chase through instinct. Some shelters will adopt to people in flats or apartments but you will need to be taking them out on walk 4 - 5 times aday. The higher the fence the better, these dogs can jump upto 6ft.
• Greyhounds have a low body fat content and thin skin, they will have to be kept as indoor dogs. Greyhounds also love human attention.
• The greyhounds racing life is over, and that they will be kept only as pets.
• Don't have a specific idea as to what you want your greyhound to look like. The shelter will help you choose a dog that will best fit into your home after talking to you at lengh.
• If you fail to get on with the dog that you return it to the shelter that you adopted it from.

What should you expect from the shelter?

Obviously this depends heavily on where you are adopting your dog from and which country you are in. When you first have your dog in the home he/she may not be house trained, although they will be kennel trained. Some shelters will lend you muzzles for when you first socialise your dog and indoor crates for when you have to leave the dog alone.