National Adopt a Greyhound Month

April is National Adopt a Greyhound Month, a perfect time to adopt and appreciate this fantastic breed.  Every dog deserves a loving home so if you are planning on adopting a dog consider bringing home a Greyhound! We’ve gathered some useful information about the breed to help you decide.

Personality

Greyhounds are considered to be affectionate, gentle, intelligent, and athletic. Most owners would describe them as a “40mph couch potato” because they are indeed fast but will find the comfiest place and lay there for hours, which makes them the perfect cuddling and exercising buddy at once.

Grooming

They have a short, thin coat that makes their grooming needs minimal. By using a soft-bristle brush regularly you can keep their coat clean between baths. Their nails need to be clipped frequently because they are long and grow fast, the dog should be able to walk and move comfortably. If you take them to a professional they will know the correct length.

Health

Because of their short fur, Greyhounds are sensitive to cold weather. Therefore, make sure to put a coat on them when you let them outside or take them on a walk when it’s chilly. They are typically a long-lived and healthy breed.

Why are Greyhounds so fast?

Thanks to their powerful legs, lean body, and flexible spine their speed can reach up to 45mph making them faster than a racehorse! Greyhounds use the double-suspension gallop, which is similar to a cheetah's style. The double-suspension gallop aka the rotatory gallop is a four-beat, double suspension gait, where all 4 feet are off the ground 2 times during a full stride.

Fun facts:

• President Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th U.S. President had a Greyhound named Grim.
• Greyhounds can be listed under the top five gentlest dogs.
• Some universities and colleges have adopted a Greyhound dog as their mascot.
• Greyhounds are an ancient Egyptian breed.