"Yes, you can pet him" "No, he won't bite you." "Yes, he is my dog." "No, this dog is not for adoption, but adopting one is easy." "Yes, he loves to run." "No, he doesn't need a huge space in which to run." "Yes, he is good with children." For the past seven years, in my role as a Arizona Adopt A Greyhound (AAGI) volunteer, I have spent 6-10 hours each month at various PetsMarts, city/sporting events and greyhound park activities trying to persuade people like you, who are simply curious about greyhounds, to adopt them. Once your curiosity has turned to thoughts of adoption, I explain that adopting a greyhound is easiest and most rewarding if you understand the lifestyle of your racing greyhound, adopt through a greyhound adoption agency, and have knowledge of how your greyhound will act during his first few days at home.

Unlike most dogs, that are raised to be companions, greyhounds are raised to win races. Until about one year of age, your greyhound most likely lived in a large pen with his littermates. During this time, his breeding staff and their families handled him frequently to prepare him for eventual contact with a large number of people. He spent a lot of time running in his pen to exercise his legs and playing with his mates to get him used to having other greyhounds surround him as he would while racing. At six months to one year, he was probably moved from his pen to an individual crate that he was only taken out of for training and to relieve himself. He was most likely not mistreated during training, but his handling and training were extremely regimented. At about 18 months of age, he was placed in the racing circuit. He raced as long as he was a winner and made money for his owner. Once he no longer did, he was turned over to Arizona Adopt A Greyhound (AAGI).

Although there are greyhound adoption agencies throughout the world from which you can adopt, Arizona Adopt A Greyhound is local and provides excellent assistance. When you contact AAGI about adoption, a volunteer will work with you to find the greyhound that best fits your lifestyle by interviewing you and your family. For example, if you have a toddler, your AAGI volunteer will advise you to adopt a greyhound of about five or six. A younger greyhound will still act like a puppy and may, while playing and running, knock your child over fairly frequently. After the interview, your volunteer will provide a tour of Phoenix Greyhound Park. He or she will discuss the personalities of different greyhounds that are available at the time of your visit to determine if there is one that is appropriate for you. After you adopt, your volunteer will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance. If for some reason, after a reasonable try, your adopted dog is not right for your family, Arizona Adopt A Greyhound will take the dog back and work with you to obtain a more appropriate match. The AAGI adoption fees of $150 covers veterinary care consisting of spay or neuter, vaccinations, dental, cleaning, parasite check and identification microchip insertion.

Since your greyhound has spent a lifetime focused on racing, your home will most likely be the first he has ever been in. Because of this, you should keep the following behavioral factors in mind during his homecoming. He might wander from room to room as if he is lost, or he may just star ahead and seem unresponsive. Once he becomes comfortable with his surroundings or exhausted, he will finally lie down. He will be unfamiliar with items that reflect like mirrors, but he will be absolutely intrigued when he sees his own reflection, which he will think is another dog. He will walk into glass doors instead of being stopped by them because he sees through the glass rather that seeing it as an obstruction. Although your greyhound is used to being outdoors, the outside of your home may also confuse him. For example, if you have a pool in your yard that your greyhound can get to, he will most likely walk directly into it thinking it is the cooling pool that he used after racing at the track. Don't worry about his future safety because after his first fall and your rescue, fear will keep him from making the same mistake again. To make his adjustment to your home easier for you and more comfortable for him, you may want to have him live in a large crate with padding, at least for the first few months.

Here are some additional tips that will be useful to consider as your greyhound is adjusting to his new lifestyle. Understand that your greyhound sleeps deeply and is used to sleeping alone in a crate. If you have another animal, make sure he does not sleep near your new greyhound because and innocent bump may end up in a fight. Unlike dogs that are family pets, racing greyhounds live in crates and are let out a few times a day generally to relive themselves. Your dog will relive himself outside if you place him outside regularly, but he will not know how to "ask you to go out" because he has never had to do this. Most importantly, be careful while walking your greyhound. Unless he is in an enclosed area, never let him off a leash. Greyhounds are sigh hounds and natural runners. If you greyhound gets loose, he will continue to run to objects he sees, and because he runs so fast, you will probably not be able to catch him.

Clearly, by obtaining an understanding of your racing greyhound's life, working with a greyhound adoption agency and by gaining a knowledge of how your greyhound will act during his first few days in your home, you will be prepared to adopt a retired racing greyhound. I have no doubt shortly that you will say your greyhound is the best breed of dog you ever owned. You should be careful, however, because greyhound adoption becomes addictive. I can happily say I have a greyhound addiction. I have four.