Following the Government’s announcement that greyhound racing in New Zealand will soon end, close to 3000 dogs are likely to be put up for adoption.
On Tuesday, Racing Minister Winston Peters said the Government intended to wind down racing over 20 months in a decision “driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs”.
A key task for that process will be rehoming the estimated 2900 racing greyhounds in New Zealand. This means anyone looking to have a greyhound as their family pet will soon have the opportunity to adopt one.
So, what do you need to know about the breed before welcoming one into your home? Dr Arnja Dale, chief scientific officer at the SPCA, offered some advice.
She said a greyhound can make a “great companion” for families.
“Like any breed of dog, each greyhound is an individual with a unique personality. As with all dogs, their behaviour is impacted by a combination of genetics, early life experiences, and training.”
Dale said that while greyhounds are known for being the fastest dog breed in the world, “it may surprise people to find out that they are happy to spend most of their day lounging around on the couch”.
“Greyhounds are sprinters, so after a quick run around, they love nothing more than to snuggle up.”
For exercise, Purina New Zealand recommended two 20-minute runs per day.
“They are known as the 40mph couch potatoes – needing a good, fast sprint, not miles of walking,” Purina said on its website.
It also said a reliable recall was essential before letting your greyhound off its lead because of their chase instinct.
Dale described greyhounds as “long-legged, gentle souls” who are often great with people. However, “some adjustment” may be needed as the dogs move from kennels to homes.
“While some trainers may do a great job of socialising their puppies, not all greyhound puppies receive adequate socialisation and training needed to set them up for an easy transition to life in a home.”
She said some dogs, known as “spooks” in the industry, have a “severe” fear response to any novelty and may find everyday household noises or experiences – like going upstairs and meeting new people – scary.
“It is not clear if this behaviour is due to inherited traits or early life experiences, such as a failure to adequately socialise these dogs as puppies.”
While most greyhounds are friendly and gentle, Dale said, they may show signs of “predatory behaviour” if they have not been adequately socialised with smaller animals.
“For this reason, it is recommended that they should wear a muzzle in public, unless you are totally confident that your greyhound can be trusted around any small animals they may encounter.”
When it comes to health, greyhounds are generally considered to be healthy dogs that don’t require a lot of grooming thanks to their sleek coats.
But like all breeds, Dale said, they have some common conditions, including dental disease, trauma, and osteoarthritis.
“While this could be partly due to inherited breed disposition, limited veterinary and other dental care during their early rearing and throughout their racing life appears to also play a role.”
She said regular vet checks, dental treats, and teeth brushing should help.
