What kind of vet bills should I expect adopting a retired Greyhound?

[Tamerlane]

@romansperson

Racing greyhounds and AKC greyhounds are almost like different breeds. AKC greyhounds are actually rare - only about 200 of them are bred every year. That’s where traditionally puppies would come from, but there aren’t many of them.

Racing greyhounds are registered by a different registry (the NGA, National Greyhound Association) and I’m not sure how many are being bred every year now - probably around 10,000 or so. As their purpose is to race, they don’t come available for adoption as pups very often. Every once in awhile it will happen - an accidental litter (where you can’t ensure who the daddy is, which means you can’t register them) may happen, or there may be a pup who isn’t healthy enough to race, etc. but it’s not common at all.

This is very interesting. But it triggers a new question - what happens when and if dog racing goes away? I mean it is very definitely a dieing sport in North America. 40 states ban it. Another 5 just don’t have it. Looks like it is down to just 18 active tracks, most of them in Florida.

So no more rescue greyhounds in United States would mean…what? A rise in “AKC Greyhound” breeding? Or perhaps just a generalized collapse of the breed into relative obscurity as a rare and expensive breed- a new Otterhound or Novia Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever?

[Phoebestar]

@DSeid

We had a rabbit (who just died after a very long life today) and have a picture of the rabbit on top of one of the greyhounds while it was laying on its side - that I captioned “The winner and new champion!”

I love that you had a greyhound and a bun together. And so sorry about the loss of the bun.

I had a greyhound as a teenager (Debbie), and loved her dearly. She was a wonderful dog. We’d like to get one again someday, but we are rabbit and cat people, and obviously, it can be done, but the risk is so high it’s scary. Our current rescued Golden Retriever gets along with them all. In fact, her best friend is a 16 year old Siamese cat.

Reverse chicken: Back when we had Debbie, she had taken to running through our rather small but long house at high speeds. One day, I thought it would be fun to jump out in front of her and surprise her. BANG! I had a bruise the size of a grapefruit on the inside of my knee. She was fine.

I love greyhounds so much and reading this thread… well, let’s just say damned allergies.

[kayaker]

@Tamerlane

This is very interesting. But it triggers a new question - what happens when and if dog racing goes away?

Do retired Jai-Alai players need homes?

[JcWoman]

@Tamerlane

This is very interesting. But it triggers a new question - what happens when and if dog racing goes away? I mean it is very definitely a dieing sport in North America. 40 states ban it. Another 5 just don’t have it. Looks like it is down to just 18 active tracks, most of them in Florida.

So no more rescue greyhounds in United States would mean…what? A rise in “AKC Greyhound” breeding? Or perhaps just a generalized collapse of the breed into relative obscurity as a rare and expensive breed- a new Otterhound or Novia Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever?

I discuss that in some detail in the linked thread at the top, but briefly they will be bred by puppy mills and backyard breeders (and business breeders) just like any other breed. They’re too popular to become rare. Those will be totally different dogs, so it will be a sad thing to happen.

I totally need to subscribe here so I can post my pet supply shop URL in Marketplace. I haven’t because I didn’t think there was much of a pet crowd here, but now I see I’m wrong!

[RandMcnally]

Can you train one to run on leash at a human jog, not sprint?

[romansperson]

@RandMcnally

Can you train one to run on leash at a human jog, not sprint?

Yes - I have a friend here in town who jogs with her hound, but they really aren’t distance runners. They need to be slowly worked up to it, just like a human would. And just like humans, some of them will be up for it and others not.