How to Adopt a Greyhound in New York

Greyhounds are some of the most popular sighthounds that you’ll come across. They’re known for having an S-shaped body with a long face and snout, body, and tail. For these reasons, greyhounds have been used for hunting, racing, and a plethora of other agility events.

While this has made them great dogs, you may be wondering if they’re the right dogs for you, especially if you live in one of New York’s more urban areas.

The good news is that greyhounds can be a great fit for most families in New York, especially if you live upstate or on Long Island. However, you may have some trouble in some of the boroughs, like Brooklyn, where space is more limited. For these reasons, it’s important to learn more about the greyhound breed before you plan on adopting.

Speaking of adopting, it’s also important to learn more about the adoption process in New York. This is because it may vary based on where you’re located. For example, NYC may have different adoption protocols than Suffolk County. Thankfully, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to adopt a greyhound in New York.

What Are Greyhounds Like?

The greyhound is a unique dog breed that almost looks like a capital S when standing up. They have long, slender faces, floppy ears that almost look flat towards the back, and long necks. Their bodies are lean, but they look muscular, especially because you can see their veins and muscles throughout their thin coats.

When it comes to colors, greyhounds may come in various different colors depending on the dog, but some form of gray tends to be there.

Personality-wise, greyhounds are great at hunting, racing, and participating in competitions. They were bred for these activities over hundreds of years, which is why they have a predisposition and skill towards them. That said, the added benefit of these traits is that they’re easy to train, don’t mind going through the process, and can handle a wide variety of complex commands.

Greyhounds are known for more than being fast and agile. These dogs are loyal, affectionate, gentle, and even quiet. Sure, they’ll run at 40+ miles per hour for a few minutes, but they’re just as likely to cuddle up with you.

What Is a Greyhound’s Temperament? Greyhounds are known for being gentle, calm, and kind dogs. While they may have been bred with the mental toughness required to run and win races, greyhounds offer more than just determination as a personality trait. Instead, you’ll find that they love to cuddle up with their humans and love to go on long walks or run alongside you (not at full speed). Greyhounds tend to be more shy around strangers, but once they open up you shouldn’t have any issues. Socialization from an early age can always help in that aspect.

How Active Are Greyhounds? You may think that greyhounds are super active breeds that need a ton of exercise due to their history of running races, but this isn’t the case. In fact, a few short walks with them (30-60 minutes daily) is enough exercise for them. You can also run with them or encourage short sprinting sessions to burn through some of their energy. Greyhounds also need some mental stimulation. Thankfully, you can accomplish this by playing with them or by training them. You only need to spend about 30 minutes daily on these aspects of your greyhound. Dog Training with Dog Academy

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What Size Are Greyhounds?

Greyhounds are some of the tallest dogs you’ll find. They have lean bodies and reach great heights of up to 30 inches at the shoulder! While they may be tall, their weight is closer to a medium-sized dog. You’ll find that most greyhounds weigh 60 to 70 pounds. It’s also important to note that males are slightly taller than their female counterparts.

What Are a Greyhound’s Grooming Needs?

When it comes to grooming, greyhounds are low-maintenance dogs. This is because they have short and straight coats that are easy to care for with brushing a few times weekly and baths when they get dirty. Otherwise, no professional grooming is usually necessary for their coats.

When it comes to other grooming needs, trim their nails every four to six weeks, brush their teeth a few times weekly, and keep an eye on their ears for signs of infection.

What Are Common Greyhound Health Issues?

Greyhounds don’t have a lot of health issues, but one thing we want to note right out of the gate is that they may struggle with the cold in New York during the winter months. This is due to their short coat that leaves them exposed to the elements more so than a lot of other dogs. For this reason, make sure they wear some type of sweater or coat if you’re going to have them outdoors for prolonged periods during the winter.

It’s also important to note that if the greyhound you adopt is a retired racing dog there may be some arthritis, joint pain, and other health conditions to worry about. Unfortunately, greyhounds are also prone to a rare bone cancer, osteosarcoma.

What Is a Greyhound’s Lifespan?

Despite their size, greyhounds tend to live longer than other medium to large dog breeds. With a healthy diet, trips to the vet, and exercise, greyhounds can live for an average of 10 to 14 years.

Are Greyhounds Good With Other Animals or Kids?

Greyhounds are great with children because they’re gentle, kind, and affectionate. If your child is on the smaller side, however, just keep an eye on them while they play because accidents do happen. Still, greyhounds won’t get aggressive during play sessions and won’t intentionally harm your child unless they feel threatened.

On the other hand, when it comes to other animals greyhounds do have a prey drive. For this reason, they may chase or nip at smaller animals like cats and rabbits. Furthermore, they may chase around smaller dogs as well. Fortunately, you can manage these behaviors with socialization from a young age.

Are Greyhounds Good for First-Time Dog Parents?

Yes, greyhounds tend to be good for first-time dog parents. This is because of their kind and gentle nature. Plus, they’re responsive to training and should integrate into your family with little problems.

While they may be shy at first, once they open up, these dogs are easy to care for as long as you spend some time bonding and playing with them. If you have any issues, training and socialization will help you overcome them.

How Do You Adopt a Greyhound in New York?

To adopt a greyhound in New York, there are a few steps you can follow. It all starts with finding a greyhound near you. This can be done with our online adoption tools, but you can also check local greyhound rescues.

What’s more, you may have a good chance at adopting a greyhound from a rescue, as these dogs are often discarded by their owners once they can’t race anymore. For example, many greyhounds are placed in adoption programs once they retire.

Once you find a greyhound that’s available for adoption, you should visit and interact with them. Spend some time getting to know them and then fill out an application form. At this point, you may be able to place a deposit to ensure that nobody else can adopt them. Then, it’s time to fill out the paperwork.

Most adoption paperwork in New York will ask you for personal information, details about other pets, and ask for references. Many shelters and rescues will also have someone visit your home to ensure you have enough space. For example, if you’re trying to live in a small NYC apartment with a greyhound, they may reject your application once they learn this.

After you’re approved, you can bring the dog home after paying the adoption fee. However, you may have to take them for their vaccinations or any mandatory surgeries. Make sure you read the adoption contract to learn more about what’s required of you after adopting.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Greyhound in New York?

The cost to adopt a greyhound in New York varies based on where you’re getting them from. Some rescues may charge a few hundred bucks while others may charge up to $1,000. The adoption fee often covers vaccinations, neutering/spaying, and other medical procedures.

You’ll also have to spend money on food, toys, and anything else they may need. Expect a greyhound in New York to cost you at least $1,000 to $2,000 within the first year you adopt them.

How Should I Train a Greyhound?

Greyhounds aren’t hard dogs to train, especially if you start with a basic obedience routine or something similar. The breed is known for its trainability based on its history of working in dog shows or participating in other types of events, so even more advanced training routines are on the table!

That said, it’s always best to start small with positive reinforcement to ensure that they’re comfortable throughout the process and learning the right behaviors.

Positive reinforcement training is a unique training method that involves rewarding your greyhound for good behaviors without punishing them for the bad ones. The result is often a more well-rounded training routine. This is because greyhounds who are trained with negative reinforcement tend to develop stubbornness, aggressive behaviors, and other behavioral problems.

Find the Right Greyhound in New York for You

Finding the right greyhound for you in New York is easy once you know where to look. The hard part is making sure this breed is the right fit for you and your family.

Take some time to consider how much space you have and whether or not you have the time to help them exercise. These dogs need a lot of attention for training and playing, so they may not be the right fit for New York’s more urban areas.

Aside from evaluating how well they may integrate into your family, it’s also important to understand the adoption process and what that may look like. This will help you prepare for any interviews and make it less of a shock when someone shows up at your door for a home evaluation.

Fortunately, everything in this article will help you prepare for your new life with a greyhound companion.