The Greyhound Vision: Man's best dog

4 years after saving our greyhound, Digger (handsome isn't he?) I am prepared to argue that greyhounds come pretty close to the perfect pet. If you're thinking about adopting a dog into your life, take a few moments and ponder this:

1. Greyhounds come fully trained, with perfect manners - Having spent their lives on the track, most rescued greyhounds are totally housetrained, extremely well mannered on a leash, completely crate trained, and used to eating a few times a day.

2. You are saving your greyhound from near certain death - nuff said

3. Greyhounds are fabulous apartment dogs - If you have space for a soft dog bed, you're in business. Hounds are used to being in a crate most of the time, and don't really need alot of space. Many folks keep their greyhounds crated even after they are adopted, but due to his excellent house manners, Digger gets free reign in our abode.

4. Greyhounds don't need alot of exercise to be happy - Most people won't believe this when you tell them, but greyhounds are total couch potatoes.  Although they are used to racing, they are bred for bursts of engery (aka sprints) and not for endurance.  As such, they really only require one average walk per day (and the requisite potty breaks). In fact, we once took Digger on a 5K run and he pretty much died at mile 2. 

5. Hounds have hassle-free, short hair - Soft as a newborn babe's

6. Greyhounds are guaranteed to attract a fan club - If you get a greyhound you will make lots of new friends.  This can be extremely useful for meeting new neighbors, getting dates, making nice with local police, making nice with the local homeless, and generally feeling superior to other dog owners.

7. Greyhounds have extremely loving and gentle temperaments - Greyhounds love people and children. Your hound will likely follow you around the house, sit at your feet, lean on you for petting, stare at you fondly, and spoon you at night (if you'll let them).

8. Greyhounds have good vision - As members of the sighthound family, greyhounds hunt primarily using their vision, not their sense of smell.  Handy for spotting, rabbits, squirrels, and other varmints.  More practically, greyhounds don't much acknowledge what they can't see...this makes them very quiet in the house.

9. Greyhounds don't (initially) like people food - Because your hound is used to a very regimented environment, they won't show much interest in "your" stuff unless you give it to them. If you find your greyhound chomping down leftover pizza, the blame is likely on you, my friend.

10. Personality, personality, personality - This is a dog that will keep you laughing. I have listed my favorite greyhound "isms" below: 

> loves to collect stuff from around the house and build a nest upon which to rest

> will literally let you do anything to it without complaint (important for those who like their dogs to star in holiday cards)

> the turkey pose

> will respond to a squirrel call