Adopting the Racing Greyhound

Several years ago my partner and I were looking for a large sized dog to keep in an apartment. After quite a bit of research we learned about racing greyhounds. We ended up acquiring two of them. Then we got a house and had three. The original two got old and passed away and we now own our fourth and fifth. Greyhounds can be kind of addicting. I've read pretty much every book ever written on Greyhounds and one time or another, and have searched the web extensively. When greyhound adoption first became popular Branigan's book was the only published reliable source. Since then other good books have been written, but I still think anyone interested in greyhounds should start here. The book provides good advice on dealing with the greyhound when you first get it home and get it accustomed to living in a house. However, I'm not a big fan of crating my dogs. In our home we have actually made the dogs their own area where we sometimes confine them, although it is more of an in-house kennel complete with couch dog beds and doggy door (and windows for squirrel watching). They do actually like having some degree of confinement, and Branigan is correct in suggesting that the dog needs time to adjust and a degree of confinement. After all, they lived in a crate until they came to the house. She also provides, as others have noted, quite a bit of good medical information. Not only is the thyroid information important, but I have spoken with every vet about the greyhound's sensitivity to anesthesia. Every greyhound owner, or anyone thinking about owning a greyhound, should read this book.

This is, by far, the best book on greyhound adoption that I have read. Cynthia Branigan does an excellent job of translating her 10+ years of greyhound adoption experience into a manual that is clear, concise and very easy to read. She takes you through the adoption and adjustment process practically step-by-step, from choosing the right dog to helping both you and your new pet adjust to life away from the track. I especially appreciated the information concerning insecticides and anesthesia - I don't believe my veterinarian expected me to have as many questions on the subject as I did! I don't believe that Cynthia glosses over the racing industry or the abuses these wonderful dogs often face, as the purpose of this book is not an expose on the horrors of greyhound racing. (As anyone who is involved in greyhound adoption will tell you, you will learn about all of that soon enough the minute you take an interest in these dogs.) What this book WILL provide is the best information you will find on how to welcome these "greyt" dogs into your life. As a volunteer with Make Peace With Animals and the owner of three greyhounds, I highly recommend this book to anyone who currently owns or has considered adopting an ex-racer.

If you're thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound,there are many great resources for you on the web and in hardcopy. This book is probably the best of them. It is inclusive and informative on virtually all topics of general interest to Greyhound owners, and is a good starting place for more specialized Greyhound-related topics. (In addition, any adoption group will be more inclined to regard you favorably if you've already read this book!)Adopting the Racing Greyhound covers everything from track life to pet health. With this book in your hand and your mind, you can avoid some of the pitfalls of Greyhound ownership, and locate and develop the best relationship possible with your very own needlenose. There's simply no other resource available in any format that can provide such a good overview of Greyhounds in pet life.This will not be the only book you'll need once you have your hound. (You may want to purchase, for example, Care of the Racing Greyhound by Blythe for medical topics, and Playtraining Your Dog by Burnham for training topics.) But it will teach you enough about hounds to decide if one is truly right for you, and it will help you get through the first days, weeks, and months of ownership, too.In short, this book is a necessity for every Greyhound owner or owner wannabe... END

Adopting the Racing Geyhound has given the most comprehensive and complete(as well as compassionate)guide to determining whether a racing greyhound is right for you or you for them! An inexpensive investment to avoid heart ache and head ache or start you on an increadilble journey to happiness and wagging tails!! As a dedicated greyhound rescue volunteer, I have seen the positive results this book has had in guiding perspective adopters and owners.

Ms. Branigan's book offers a lot of wonderful information for anyone considering adopting an ex-racing greyhound. She explains many of the different scenarios you can expect when you first bring your new dog home and offers advice as to how to acclimate your greyhound to life in a home. The book is very informative and easy to read. I strongly recommend it to anyone considering a greyhound as a pet.