You may be surprised to know that retired racing greyhounds make wonderful pets. You might have thought them to be hyperactive, needing lots of exercise since they run like the wind. You might have thought they would be aggressive, since they spend their early lives in competition. Or perhaps you thought that retired racers were "all used up," with only a year or two left by the time they finished racing. Of course, all of these assumptions are untrue!

Greyhounds require no more exercise than other large dogs. Most greyhounds are perfectly content to spend time with their human companions - whether they are jogging or sitting on the couch watching television - and will adjust their activity levels to match yours. Like all dogs, greyhounds look forward to their daily walk. Retired racers do enjoy an occasional off-leash run in a completely enclosed (i.e., fenced) area.

Greyhounds are extremely companionable and social. They are good-natured dogs who have been bred to get along with other animals. They are used to being handled by humans and have been trained to walk on a leash. Retired racers adapt well to home life. They thrive in a home environment and settle in as if they have waited for it all their lives. Sweet, gentle, loving, clean, quiet, and smart - there aren't enough adjectives to describe these wonderful animals!  It is the policy of Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption to not adopt to families with children under the age of six. 

Due to advances in veterinary medicine and increases in greyhound adoptions, these wonderful animals are living longer than ever before. Many retired racers live to be 15+ years old. You can anticipate many, many happy years ahead with your greyhound.

So why not adopt a greyhound now? Before you pursue adoption, there are two important things to consider: First, greyhounds are big dogs. True, they are small big dogs; graceful and sleek, they often curl up in tight balls when they sleep. They don't have as much physical presence as other large dogs, but they are tall and have long legs! Second, greyhounds can never be allowed off-leash except in a fenced area. As ex-racers, greyhounds have been bred for one purpose: speed. They can reach speeds up to 45 mph, and when their attention is focused on an object ahead, even the best trained greyhounds may not respond to your call. They can be out of earshot before you can even voice a command.

Living with a greyhound means you will always have a friend, a companion who will love you unconditionally. Every time you walk through your door you will be met with happiness and glee. You will have someone always willing to cuddle with you, content just to be by your side. But be prepared to meet many new people when you leave the house together - folks are fascinated by greyhounds and will bombard you with questions and lots of attention!