#Greywatch

There are many misconceptions about Greyhounds but the truth is they are extremely loveable couch potatoes, who enjoy spending the majority of their time curled up on a warm couch surrounded by people they love. Greyhounds make the most loyal, loving family pets. They are mostly gentle, quiet souls who are great with children and have a quirky sense of humour.

Despite this, we have found that sadly Greyhounds spend on average twice as long in our Rehoming Centre waiting for their forever homes. Recent research carried out on our behalf by Behaviour & Attitudes, revealed that 98% of people have never owned a Greyhound and half of those stated that they never thought of it!

In 2016, 53% of Greyhounds who entered Irish dog pounds were put to sleep.

To help show people just how wonderful greyhounds are as pets, we have launched a humorous, uplifting video to the Baywatch theme tune, featuring real life home video footage of Greyhounds and Greyhound crosses doing the funniest things! We put a call out on social media for Greyhound owners to send them videos of their long legged friends and received an overwhelming response with hundreds of people sending in adorable photos and footage of their pointy dogs.

For many years, we have been campaigning for a ban on the export of Greyhounds to countries that have poor or non-existent animal welfare standards and most recently we proposed an amendment to the Greyhound Industry Bill, due to be published in the coming months, that will help protect the welfare of exported Irish greyhounds. Click here to find out more about our lobbying work.

How can I help?

Below is a sample letter you can post or email to your local TDs to help secure political support for this vital amendment:

Letter to TDs DOCX 13 KB
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We are also urging the public to keep a “watch” out for Greyhounds and pay more attention to how amazing these dogs truly are. We want people who may never have considered adopting a Greyhound or sighthound to watch our video and see what fantastic pets they make.

Here are the beautiful Greyhounds and Greyhound crosses currently available for rehoming at Dogs Trust: Mavis, Brenda, Bliss & Joni.

However, there are many other Greyhounds waiting for their forever homes in other rescue centres and dog shelters across Ireland so please see here to find the nearest organisation to you.

Greyhound Facts:

Greyhounds have bigger hearts than other dogs!
They also have a 270 degree field of vision! This is due to their narrow heads and widely spread eyes and belong to a grouping of breeds called Sighthounds, which includes Salukis and Whippets.
Greyhounds usually require one or two 15-20 minute bursts of exercise and generally snooze for the rest of the day……on the sofa! There is a popular saying 'Adopt a Greyhound, lose a sofa' given their penchant for soft, comfortable places to slumber. However, it’s worth noting that, like all puppies, Greyhound and Lurcher puppies or 'pointy babies' as we affectionately know them, are full of beans and quite active!

The Greyhound is the only breed of dog mentioned by name in the Bible. King James Version, Proverbs, 30:29-31
Their average life expectancy is 12 years and Greyhounds are usually healthy dogs that generally don’t have inherited conditions like other breeds.
Greyhounds are not very good at sitting but this is due to their anatomy not the fact they don’t want to! They often squat or hover if asked to sit but usually prefer to stand or lie down.....on something comfortable.
They usually walk well on their lead and are usually quiet, gentle and affectionate creatures with a quirky sense of humour!

They tend to form very close bonds with their owners and love nothing more than snuggling up on the couch.
Greyhounds require little grooming and they don’t shed as much as other breeds as they have no undercoat.
They vary in appearance, depending on breed mixture; their coats can be long or short and colouring can differ too.

Alexander the Great, George Washington, Henry the VIII and Bart Simpson were all Greyhound owners.
Greyhounds generally don’t bark as much as other dogs but can ‘yodel’ if very excited.
Greyhounds can be great with children, cats and small animals but, as with any dog, it is always best to use caution when introducing initially and take things slowly.

They are sensitive, loving creatures and can become very upset if spoken to harshly so, like all dogs, respond well to treats and praise.
These leggy lovelies eat the same food and same quantity as other dogs. Some can be angelic-faced, food stealing ninjas, so make sure you don’t leave your dinner where they can reach it – you may also want to get a dog proof bin too!
Generally, they adapt to home life quickly and become solid citizens. Many are gentle enough to have qualified as therapy dogs in nursing homes and hospitals!

Dogs Trust recommends a secure garden for every dog and this is especially essential for Greyhounds and Lurchers because, if they are motivated, some are willing to clear a six foot fence! Depending on their breed mix, Lurchers can require mental stimulation to prevent boredom. Agility training and fetch games are a good way to occupy them, and food is a great reward tool.

We cannot over emphasise what amazing and affectionate pets Greyhounds and Lurchers are, so please don’t overlook them if you are considering adopting a dog.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram or follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #Greywatch