Greyhound Standing On The Grass In The Park

South Carolina is a beautiful state. With great cities like Myrtle Beach and Charleston, there’s plenty of adventures to be had with a canine companion, and for this guide, we’re covering the greyhound. These dogs are bred for speed, so if you’re someone who loves to run along the coast of Myrtle Beach, you can’t go wrong with this breed.

You’ll also find that greyhounds can be trained to handle walks down the busier streets of Charleston, and they’re great dogs for the suburbs of South Carolina’s beautiful cities. While this is the case, there’s still a lot you need to learn before you should adopt a greyhound. Examples include how to train them, what caring for them looks like, and most importantly, having the right amount of space for them.

The good news is that we’re not going to leave you high and dry when it comes to information. This comprehensive guide teaches you how to adopt a greyhound in South Carolina, but also how to train and care for one. Learn more below.

Greyhound Adoption in South Carolina

We have some good news and some bad news about the adoption process in South Carolina. While it’s an ethical way to add a greyhound to your family (the good news), it’s also the most complicated way to do so (the bad news). Compared to buying a greyhound from a breeder, you have to meet several requirements before you can even bring one home.

One such requirement is being the appropriate age. Most adoption organizations require you to be at least 18, but others may require you to be 21, 22, or even older. Moreover, don’t forget to bring a form of photo ID, as most organizations need this to verify your identity, address, and age.

Meeting the minimum requirements is only part one of the process. The next phase is meeting with a greyhound you want to adopt and starting the application process. You can find greyhounds through animal shelters, rescues, and foster programs, and many of these organizations have online applications you can use.

After filling out the application, there is usually a review process. People from the organization will contact references, evaluate your home, and even speak with veterinarians you’ve worked with in the past. Meet-and-greets are also necessary, so anyone who lives with you should prepare to meet the greyhound before you adopt them.

If you’re able to pass through these checks, which can take around 10 to 20 days, you can pay the adoption fee and bring your greyhound home.

Other Dogs For Adoption

Greyhounds Racing On Sand Track

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Greyhound in South Carolina?

Adopting a greyhound may be an ethical way to welcome a greyhound into your family, and while it’s cheaper than buying a puppy from a breeder, it’s not exactly free. Adoption fees tend to be around $250 to $500 for a greyhound, and if the dog is younger, you can expect to pay closer to that $500 figure.

That said, you also have to license your greyhound once you adopt them. For example, Richmond County offers licenses that are valid for up to one year. While inexpensive, these licenses will cost around $4 to $22.

How Should I Train a Greyhound?

When training a greyhound in South Carolina, you have to consider a few things. First and foremost, you need to start with a strong foundation. This includes a combination of positive reinforcement training, which rewards your dog for successful tasks/behaviors. When you pair this with a routine that involves training them for around 10 to 20 minutes several days per week, your greyhound will respond well and even look forward to it.

Once you have the basics down, you can start to get into the more complicated training methods. We offer courses for most training goals online, even if you want to go the agility or service dog route. The basics are also covered, whether that’s obedience or walking on a leash.

Dog Training with Dog Academy

Greyhound On Grass

Find the Right Greyhound in South Carolina for You

When you’re searching for a greyhound to adopt in South Carolina, the hardest part is usually finding one. Unfortunately, rare breeds like greyhounds go fast in shelters, or they end up stuck in them due to their health history, especially if they were racing dogs. Thankfully, we have online adoption tools for greyhounds that will help you find a greyhound to adopt in your area.