Yesterday afternoon, I had another opportunity to hang at the Maine Greyhound Placement Service - this time to get some photos and video footage of their beautiful charges. When I was there last, the Canine Carnival had everyone hopping; this time, I had an opportunity to speak at length with Jess, a vet tech who interned with MGPS before recently coming on board as an official member of the organization. Since we're just finishing out the week spotlighting Maine Greyhound Placement's excellent work, this seemed a prime opportunity to share a few of the things I learned.
(1) Greyhounds require little exercise, preferring instead to spend the bulk of their time lounging. "They make great apartment dogs," Jess informed me. "They'll have bursts of energy when you first take them out, but they're okay with short walks everyday. The rest of the time, they'd rather just hang out on the couch."
(2) Unlike many big dogs, hip dysplasia is all but unheard of in greyhounds. Because of the way they are raised as pups - running in a straight line on the track, to prepare them for their racing future, - their hips form correctly and maintain good alignment throughout the course of their lives,
(3) Greyhounds live an average of twelve to fourteen years, giving them one of the longest life spans of any mid- to large- sized dog,
(4) Health problems for greyhounds are minimal, though their dental care is an issue and, like many large-breed dogs, they do have a higher risk of bone cancer than smaller dogs,
and...
(5) Another reason Greyhounds make great apartment dogs? They shed very little, and barking is a rarity.
So, if you're looking for a companion dog who's great with family and relatively low-maintenance, consider a great Grey. Need another reason to take one home? Check out Coda, a two-year-old Greyhound currently in residence at Maine Greyhound Placement, in action:
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