April is "Adopt a Greyhound Month." And I'm glad to say we have two greyhounds--Ace and Dottie! I had wanted a greyhound for years before we adopted Ace in 2008. So when we lost our 13-year-old, little, mixed-breed, dalmatian on Christmas Eve of 2007, I began to revisit that plan. We found our hounds at Greyhound Pets of America Springfield, Missouri (GPAMO)--online at
http://www.s387960324.onlinehome.us/
I had been told previously by a "friend," with a so called high IQ, that I should never adopt a greyhound because they were too large, required a lot of activity and needed to be exercised often, and "I just didn't have time for that." Fortunately, that is so far from the truth!! Greyhounds are known for being 45-mile-per-hour couch potatoes. They are sprinters not long distant runners. Their running endurance lasts for about 30 seconds during races. They are not hyper, snow-mushing dogs who can run indefinitely. Their favorite thing to do, is to curl up in a nice soft doggy bed while snuggling with their comfy blankets and myriad stuffed toys.
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| Dottie Mae, snuggled in her blanket. |
I like to tell people that greyhounds fold up nicely! I've found greyhounds are remarkable. They are very mannerly, don't often run in the house, they love to be with you and will follow you and lay down beside you. And when they do lay down, often they curl up and don't take up much space. Also, they aren't very vocal and don't shed much and make wonderful companions. They are very obedient. Greyhounds also have a universal blood type and are often used as blood donors for other dogs. They have large physical as well as figurative speaking hearts. Their large hearts help pump all that blood for those 45-mile per-hour sprints. Their large figurative hearts learn by kindness not harsh words and reprimands--they learn best by using positive enforcement. They love treats!
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| Ace and Dottie celebrating their birthdays with the Grandkids. |
Ace is the exception to the rule about being vocal.. He loves to sing/howl or as we call it "Roo." This is his signal of ultimate happiness, and he expects us to sing with him too! Because of their mild dispositions, greyhounds aren't usually thought of as guard dogs, but Ace breaks this rule too.
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Ace loves to "Roo."
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Ace will bark and alert us if someone comes to our door or yard. With his loud bass voice, 75-pound frame and dark almost doberman-like stature he makes me feel safe!!
Greyhounds like schedules. Ours are fed twice a day, and you'd think that they could tell time. If I'm a little late getting up on the morning or a little late with the evening feeding Ace lets me know.
Most greyhounds love to go for a walk. And, once you begin the walking on a schedule, they will know exactly when it's time to go. Dottie runs to the laundry room and stands beside the leashes hanging on a hook.
I've found that Ace loves kids. When we adopted him, I was told by Alane Shultz of Greyhound Pets Of America Springfield, Missouri that males usually consider little children their siblings. Females on the other hand, think of children as their puppies and will try to discipline them. We've found that to be true when we adopted Dottie in December 2011. But, overtime she's warmed up to the grandchildren and considers them now part of our pack. She runs to the door with Ace to greet them when they come to our house.
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| Ace has a friend with my little granddaughter. |
Greyhounds love stuffed toys and love to collect them. Beside Ace's and Dottie's beds are a collection of stuffed alligators, ducks, footballs, gongs and Ace's most favorite--a de-stuffed (thanks to Dottie) octopus missing most of its legs!
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| Ace and his de-stuffed octopus--wearing it like a wig! |
Other neat facts about greyhounds are: they are the only dog type mentioned in the Bible, and being a very old breed, their history also traces back to 12,000 B.C. were they are painted on cave walls. To learn more interesting facts, like these, read this imformative book, "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies," by Lee Livingood. If you'd like to adopt a retired racer, contact your nearest adoption agency--in Missouri that would be GPAMO at
http://www.s387960324.onlinehome.us/ or visit them on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greyhound-Pets-of-America-Springfield-MOOzarks/203652152993644?fref=ts
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| Dottie our sleeping "yoga" girl! |
