The Mouse Family Blog

We're adding a new family member. We are adopting a retired racing greyhound.

His name is Indy.

Greyhounds make good pets -- especially in the city. Contrary to what you might think, they don't require much exercise -- they're built for sprinting, not marathons. They sleep about 18 hours a day. They're called "the 40 m.p.h. couch potatoes."

Greyhounds have an innate hunting instinct, so they can't be left off of leash outside of a fenced yard. Squirrels, cats (and even small dogs) beware! Many greyhounds are cat-friendly in homes, but not our boy. Now how exactly do they test that?!

When they leave the track for a new home, they have a bit of adjusting to do. They don't know how to climb stairs or play with toys yet. They're used to hanging out inside their crate/kennel, and often prefer it there. They're also not sure of what to think of this new life surrounded by people, and apart from other dogs. It takes some adjustment. The adoption group makes that process easier, because they get the dog's initial vet work done and send them to a foster home for a few weeks while the dog learns the basics.

In our case, we're adopting a slightly older racer. He's previously been in another home, but his owner had to give him up because he spent too much time on the road. He's a really sweet boy -- kind of laid back. But you should see him when you break-out the toys. He really likes his toys.