We Adopted A Greyhound! | Meet King 👑| Adopting a Retired Racing Greyhound

We adopted a retired racing greyhound through Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program (MGAP) - this is our experience getting ready and bringing him home!
His name is King (Louie 🐒), he is 3.5 years old and he's white with brindle spots. We are loving having him home with us, and training him to be a well behaved dog & family members.
MGAP: www.greyhoundadoption.ca
WHERE TO FIND ME:
laurasbestlife.ca
laurasbestlife
lauraswellnesslife
yourbestlifeboutique
yourbestlifeboutique.etsy.com
ABOUT LAURA:
Hi - I’m Laura! I’m a 20-something east coast Canadian girl who loves to go for her goals, spend time with her friends and family and strive to live life to the fullest. This is my record of how I live my best life! I love Disney, wellness and I’m a total bookworm. I’m obsessed with learning and growth. I’m married to my hubby Eric and we live in Fredericton, New Brunswick!

[@drwho534]

Awwwh! You've made a wise choice in making a great home for a retired grey! Our now 13-yr. old grey loves her 'Kirkland' beds...she has four, one in a different room LOL. She wanders from one to the other throughout the day. Greys are the best, so gentle, quiet, loving, big couch potatoes! ❤️

[@sethtaylor8443]

Does your grey hound enjoy laying with you guys on the couch , or more by themselves?

[@Amanda-et7ve]

they don’t wear muzzles to prevent fighting bc greyhounds are very dog social since they grow up around other greyhounds :) they wear them because their skin is so thin and even PLAYING they can get cut pretty badly!!

[@jameshenryarchbold5061]

Consider not ditching the crate. Retired racers have had a crate since leaving the farm. It is their familiar safe place.

[@shoegal7]

I disagree, there's no need for him to be confined.

[@lallred1911]

Dogs like to have a den. A crate serves that purpose. I'd keep it but keep it open.

[@todaXPTO]

I'm not opposed to a crate if the door is open at all times

[@ruthgallagher1168]

Ours hated a crate

[@danielleg.1084]

Shoegal7 There’s plenty of reasons that a dog needs to be confined for their safety.

[@greenshp]

He's just lovely. What a beautiful coloring. Beautiful martingale collar too! I wanted to mention to you (I'm a certified vet nurse and worked with greyhound rescue - fostered and owned - for over a dozen years) - his martingale collar is way tight. It should never be behind the ears like that; rather, it should be hanging low on the neck, and when he strains the leash it will of course cinch like it should, and hold him. Behind his ears like that will eventually rub sores, and is very uncomfortable for him. I'm glad the coat worked - it isn't too short. I always couldn't use "normal" store-bought coats, because they were too short. There are many great vendors online that cater specifically to greyhound needs. Where I am, I put jammies on them on cold nights as well. (Remember they have little body fat or insulation; this means they can't handle cold OR HEAT well - sunstroke is common.) If you sew, coats and jammies are easy with fleece. I bought a few, then used those as templates and made tons. We had "cowboy jammies", "penguin jammies" . . .LOL We had heavy winter parkas with matching snoods, light winter coats with snoods, rain slickers, etc. They were always better dressed than I was. I must have 20 martingales lying around - I even use them on my border collie and coonhound. Thought you might love this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWa4n3xqdrN0gbM

[@lauradouglass8168]

greenshp thank you! We have some custom coats for him now, we just didn’t have the ability to measure him and get them ordered before we brought him home and since it was November we knew it might get cold quickly!

[@massatube]

Greenshp & Laura - "Remember they have little body fat or insulation; this means they can't handle cold " Really? Greyhounds handle cold very well and they don't have to have a coat when you walk them outside unless you live in Russia? It's heat they can't handle. Increase the fat content in the meat you feed him and build up his fat. The reason greyhounds have low body fat is because they're fed a low fat diet and they race 2 or 3 times a week. He's not racing anymore is he. I hope you do feed him meat and not just kibble? They do have a fur coat you know. They're not a baby. Also dogs don't like being cuddled. Yes humans like to cuddle but dogs don't. Google that if you don't believe me. I'm offering you this to help you and not pick on you two. Good luck with him Laura & partner, you're very caring.

[@Charmyoftherings]

@@massatube My greyhound (Galga) comes from a rescue in Spain and she loves the heat and can't take the cold. She shivers all the time when its colder than 15 Celsius, so she wears a sweater when we go outside, and if it gets really cold, like under 10 Celsius or freezing she wears a sweater and a jacket. Where does your information come from that you say they can handle cold really well because in everything I have read about greyhounds is that they do well in 20-25 celcius and cold is not good for them.

[@shoegal7]

@@massatube, I'm not sure where you get your information from, but greyhounds do not handle the cold (nor the hot) weather well due to the fact that they carry very little body fat, thus, very little insulation. It's common sense really.

[@AarmOZ84]

Thanks for rescuing a dog as opposed to getting a puppy. I know King's life as a pet now he is retired from racing will be his happiest years ever.

[@sarahhopwood4668]

I would suggest some raised dog bowls, as greyhounds have pretty long necks and normal dog bowls increase the risk of chocking also they find it more comfortable. P.S I love your greyhound he is so cute and i hope he is really happy with you. :)

[@lauradouglass8168]

He has raised bowls now! He was having some digestive issues so we worked with our vet and ended up raising his bowls. Thanks so much!! He's really come out of his shell and loves to play now!

[@theresabradley4716]

Welcome King! Your life will never be the same - in a very good way. Greyhounds are just wonderful.

[@MrSampsonne]

He’s so beautiful. I recently lost a whippet named Moe who looked a lot like King. I miss my best friend 😢. Give that good boy a pet, he deserves it.

[@railfan439]

I'm on my 5th Greyhound, who is now going on 13. Numbers 2 and 3 were adopted together, numbers 4 and 5 were littermates - sisters and adopted together. Let him explore the whole house. That way he knows where you are, what you are doing, and where to stay out. But he knows what's behind door #1, #2 and #3. That lessens the want to go there. I have never used a crate for any of my Greys, giving them a couch of their own, covered with a heavy mover's blanket (Harbor Freight). Raise the food and water bowls off the floor. I used plant stands from the garden section of Lowe's. Decorative and functional. I also used a plastic planter "saucer" under the food and water bowls because they can slobber a bit. Raising the bowls prevent torqued stomachs, which can happen in Greyhounds. For a water bowl, I use a 5-quart plastic ice cream pail. Asics, Sunny, Sky, Taffy, Rita and me too - Jon

[@lindawalkerlivinglife5566]

Try leaving a radio on while you're gone for the day! Most racing kennels play music 24/7 he won't feel so alone!

[@NikoHL]

King is such a handsome boy. Greyhounds are so elegant. Would love to hear how he's doing now.

[@patriciagoodwin378]

So glad he got a good home greyhounds get such a raw deal especially here in Ireland 💕

[@shoegal7]

They get a raw deal in Australia and the US, too. So sad, they are such beautiful, gentle souls.

[@lauradouglass8168]

We are so happy to have him in our home 💕

[@pachiramen4605]

King is adorable !!!

[@Dagrdottir]

They did very well - just a couple of things I would correct having had lurchers. Avoid anything like jerky or anything of that texture as sight hounds have delicate systems and its easier to digest biscuits and the soft chews - also avoid any bright colouring. Secondly Go for a wider collar - sight hounds have very long, thin neck bones and the broader collars spread the weight of the 'pull'. Lastly as other reviewers have said, for greyhounds try to keep the crate (open) as they will be used to it.

[@Davett53]

Hey! You were posting this in 2019,.....Well let me tell you, you will soon sheltering in your house for the next 2 to 3 years so you and your lovely dog, will get to enjoy a whole lot of "together time". In less than a year a horrible virus will force you to live in your home, and you can forget about "going back to the office". Its now February of 2022,....and most of us humans haven't been able to go back to our offices or a store,...or anywhere. I am looking forward to not wearing a mask, and enjoying seeing people's faces, and I am praying I can go to a coffee house, where I be indoors once again surrounded by the lovely people in my community. Cute pup, and your handsome "man". Best to all of you.

[@politiciansthrowstones]

I really miss my Grey! Just passed from cancer at 8 years old. Ward was the best Dog/Friend I've ever had.

[@Dr.CorneliaKratzer]

Congratulations on your new wonderful companion! I adopted two Galgos hunting Greyhounds rescued from Spain- they are so horrifically abused there and in Argentina! I so very much love Greyhounds!

[@charlie-mf1up]

Congratulations X can't wait for an update x

[@paulinepierre9457]

Lovely that you have adopted a greyhound. I would like to say one thing if you don't mind. Collars for these dogs should always be the very wide ones as they use in racing , because narrow collars hurt their throats as they have long necks plus they do not come off. I hope you don't mind my mentioning this but even vets don't understand everything about them, for instance many don't know their blood is different for all other dogs. Check this out and make sure your vet is aware of the difference and why. I worked with racers in England and sometimes I find it hurtful when people say things like ' these dogs have never known kisses and love and cuddles' not true the girls and boys I worked with loved our dogs, even those that didn't race, for whatever reason stayed with us. Happy and loved. Good luck and bless you.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Thanks so much! We ended up returning the collar we had bought because we found out from our adoption program that they needed to be thicker. They gave us one when we adopted him and that's what we use now. Our vet has been great, she's worked with multiple greyhounds and we gave them the specific bloodwork paperwork to have on file!

[@aliciahowell9617]

Congrats on adopting King! He looks so much like our Atticus Fetch! Do you know his race name or tattoo? If he retired in the last couple years, you may be able to look up his races on line. It completely blew our minds seeing our UBBER Submissive Augie race. Augie was so meek and gentleman like but when those gates opened, he turned into 87lbs of muscled tank knocking other hounds out of the way. He was an A level racer! He passed away 2 years ago before his 11th bday. I don’t know if they told you but their bday is part of the seat tattoo and is 9n their NGA certificate. I could help you look up his genealogy/breeding chart if you need help. We have adopted retired racers for 19 years from the track in Birmingham, AL. Did King race? Our Ava and AUGIE both raced but Atticus broke his leg as a pup and was hand raised by the breeder separately. We have a soft spot for XXL boys with broken hocks/legs. Since we live 3 miles from the track we developed a close friendship with our group. The lady who runs the group actually adopted Atticus’ sire (dad) when he retired from breeding. When we reached out to his breeder, she sent us baby pics of Atticus with his Mum, sire and 5 sisters! You mentioned King has 3 toes on a paw. Greys are extremely prone to having corns in their toes. In severe cases in which hulling the corn doesn’t improve it the hound can can actually become lame. So vets will amputate the toe to improve the hounds quality of life. They adjust remarkably fast. We even know a few tripod hounds who are proud Osteopath (bone cancer) survivors. It’s great to welcome another happy fellow “Greyhound Cult Member”!

[@SandraGarcia-lj3bd]

Thats so interesting , i am spanish and i love galgos

[@aliciahowell9617]

@@SandraGarcia-lj3bd Someday I hope to adopt a Galgo and/or a Podenco. I’m in Alabama in the US and there aren’t any groups within a 4 hour drive that import them. I’m hoping some groups who can no longer access greys (there’s only a handful of YS tracks left so it’s hard to even find a retired racer) will start importing Galgos. They are such sweet souls and I pray more people change their ways on how they handle their hounds at the end of hunting season. We donate to the group at Scooby Medina that rehabs and socializes Galgos & Pods.

[@SandraGarcia-lj3bd]

@@aliciahowell9617 ive got a podenca shes called socks , i found her running along a country Road , no chip or collar of course i kept her. In Spain galgos and podencos have tough lifes , great to read your comment good luck.

[@chrisparent4660]

Congratulations on your new addition. Your video was very well done. All the best to you and King.

[@christinebaker8754]

Oh please check the ingredients of jerky and country of origin; it often says 100% meat on the bag and it may well be, but certain countries don’t oblige manufacturers to state whether there are “other” ingredients. Dogs have becoming extremely ill on some brands and there are safer and more nutritious treats out there. Also wrong size collar - long necked dogs like greyhounds and whippets need at least 2” martingale.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Christine Baker these are made in North America 😊 we have a martingale that we use for walks that we got from our adoption agency; this is just his “house collar”

[@raygustav]

Congratulations and thanks for the video!

[@NachoAE360]

I just want to say thanks for sharing and I commend you for responding so gracefully even to people who were not so nice to you. That takes strength.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Thank you so much! You are so kind, and your comment meant a lot to me 🤍

[@angie9430]

Now that's good to see a KZbinr not buying an expensive puppy but getting a rescue dog ....good for you !

[@sdanielsvt]

This won't matter if you get rid of the crate, but if you decide to keep it... he might be happier with a crate pad plus a blanket. I just got my first greyhound 5 weeks ago (!) and a vet friend of mine recommended the extra padding that a crate pad would provide, so I added one after the first week. That's about when EQ started piling up his crate blanket to make a bigger ball to rest his head (usually), which means that he would have just been on the bare crate without the pad in some spots. Have fun with your new family member!

[@lauradouglass8168]

Thank you so much! We're planning on transitioning out of the crate after 2 months or so. We'll keep an eye on it but normally he doesn't ball up his blanket and he has a small pillow in there that he'll rest his head on sometimes. Maybe I'll go get him some more padding!

[@sdanielsvt]

@@lauradouglass8168 Based on what I read online it seems like ~50% of greyhounds don't like the crate at home. So I wasn't even planning on getting one. But my rescue group insisted, and I'm glad they did. Not only does he still like it in there, but I use it to close him in when human dinner prep or eating are too tempting for him. Not all the time, but at least a few times/week even now. I can tell from your video that you've done lots of reading and preparation. Well done also on working on SA right away. Last thing: Lots of people seem to be recommending that we stay away from rawhides as treats. Not exactly sure why. Maybe ask your vet about it.

[@lauradouglass8168]

That was one of the things we needed to return to the pet store! We’re using kongs and marrow bones now.

[@ShyamSingh-yu5nn]

He is cute! You guys are wonderful souls for adopting him not everyone would like to adopt a greyhound everyone these days goes for beautiful looking breed dog 😢

[@missdontwantaname7900]

He's so adorable 😍but please make sure all his food/drinking bowls are raised. This is important as they're such large dogs, that leaning down like that can hurt their backs over time. Same goes with teaching them sit, it hurts their backs. Here in the UK adoption agencies advise against these things. Hope you have a happy life with king, he's got 2 lucky hoomans x

[@franchescamadden1387]

Miss Don't want a name yeah but then bringing it to far up there stomachs will bloat and turn and that usually kills dogs

[@greenshp]

I agree. I have a vet nurse certification and worked with / owned greys for over a dozen years. We recommended that you don't teach them "Sit" - it's really hard on them. Better to just teach "lie down" or "bow".

[@lauradouglass8168]

We were advised not to use raised feeding bowls unless there are back problems because it can increase the risk of bloat 💕

[@sandracox4341]

@@lauradouglass8168, all the racing kennels I've been to feed on the ground level.

[@lorrainethomson8994]

Opinions vary so much on this issue Is there a ' real' potential problem regarding height level of feeding bowls? I would welcome accurate advice

[@jayashrishobna]

Hi Laura, this is Jayashri (from ISSYP!) Stumbled on your video when searching for dog adoption stories :3 Congratulations and glad to see you're doing well!

[@sc00b3rt]

Time and keep the crate. Our Grey is a totally different dog after a year with us. She is a goofball, sweetheart and the best behaved dog EVER!!!

[@leannewalker9925]

We had 2 greyhounds until they past at the same time always kept 1 or 2 for people in school or work when couldn't take care of them fostered and adopted 16 out of our house before we retired and started traveling still get excited when we see them

[@lorrainethomson8994]

Had bit of difficulty understanding your text. Can you punctuate please? Thanks Well done for care of all those greys! X

[@NataliePowellAGreytLife]

What a sweet boy!

[@chapterstars]

I love greyhounds - so underrated!

[@greyhah]

You need to get a good book on Rescuing a Greyhound. They are a totally different breed than other dogs, their breathing is faster, they hold anaesthetic in their deep chest cavity so use a vet that knows about greyhounds. All the best and have fun with your boy.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Heather Hayes thank you! We have a great vet who already works with a few greyhounds and we got the “retired racing greyhounds for dummies” book!

[@gamerhixi]

They are sensitive to anesthetics because they have low body fat, not because of their deep chests. Where on earth did you get that information. I'm 6 months away from becoming a vet btw.

[@texaspatty4697]

@@gamerhixi When you say yard trained, what do you mean? I have a 4 foot fence... and am thinking of getting a large or medium dog.

[@nevermore4971]

We adopted our greyhound yesterday! Her racing name was XJT Rain On Me. We are calling her Rainy and she is such a love bug. Your big boy is beautiful!

[@gazzertrn]

so sweet .

[@bobcasterline6126]

When we got our greyhound, he stood on our new cage when we got him home. He never went into the cage. He loved his beds, which he had in every room.

[@Gomaberry]

Congrats on the new addition!

[@camlacasse3760]

In Houston, Texas, my son saw a dog being raped two days in a row and decided to take her home. He did. Then, his wife died in 2020 and he came to Canada to see me. Fearing I was not doing well, he decided to stay with his 4 yr old daughter. Remember Covid? The closed borders? Well this street rescue dog and a Golden were boarded for a year and a half until they allowed dogs into Canada. We took them to the Vet and were so surprised to learn to had a Greyhound and, of course, the Golden. Never even saw a Greyhound before. She is a wonderful dog - just wonderful. Obedient, sweet, loving, loves to get attention, and is super smart. Yes, she loves to run and jump, but is still contained in our backyard. Good luck with your Greyhound, they are fabulous dogs.

[@johnanderson8096]

GOOD ON YA!!!

[@Spentastic]

Nice video, wish you would do some more to update us on his progress

[@ArielleTheAbstract]

He is so cute! Can't wait to get mine!

[@lauradouglass8168]

Love that! So excited for you!

[@texaspatty4697]

He is beautiful!

[@nothanks150]

He looks a lot like Magnus! ❤️

[@lauradouglass8168]

I think so too!!

[@lorrainethomson8994]

He's lovely But yes, his collar too tight My first greyhound was passed down to me from a family member who was emigrating Her collar had been too tight and had chafed skin behind her ears and there was also some swelling of her glands in her neck My relation hadn't realised this was why she cried when opening her mouth My vet soon rectified the painful symptoms and my grey recovered quickly I've had several greys ( and other dogs) since, and I'm totally ' addicted' to them! I always take my dogs collars off when home from walking, playing etc and This seems to be signal that its nap time and when they hear familiar sound of buckle on collar ' clinking', they are out of their beds, ' pronto' This is just a personal choice, and in no way any advantage or dis- advantage to them! My wee Irish girl is now 10 She had been abandoned by her previous owner/s at the end of her racing years She has several old racing injuries, but is still the beautiful, playful gentle giirl she always was Becoming the ' heartbeat' at my side, five years ago Love to all those greys out there Love and thanks to their owners X

[@tessluman7736]

what a sweet boy! My boy is also missing a toe! I've had him for 3 years and still don't know why haha what a coincidence!

[@ralex3697]

Lovely pooch

[@lauradouglass8168]

Thank you!

[@bookandmusic4327]

Congratulations on getting a Greyhound. King is a beautiful grey. Im excited I am getting a girl from the track, I have to wait month because she has Injured her tarsus. I cant wait to have a greyhound in the family.

[@GreyhoundHomecare]

Good luck with your new greyhound. They are the best! :)

[@bookandmusic4327]

@@GreyhoundHomecare Thank you. Shes in a foster home with a vet because her leg is broken and she needs to get surgery. The women said we can meet her a few weeks just so her can get introduced to her. I'm so excited

[@lauradouglass8168]

I hope you're loving your new family member!

[@bookandmusic4327]

@@lauradouglass8168 I am, shes a precious little girl and we love her to death.

[@elizabethczepiel5220]

Hi Laura & gorgeous family, I think Magnus has tried these but please share: PUPPER RECIPES by Aunt Heather and her pupper taste tester “Bernie” Reprinted with ecstatic permission to all canine owners from Heather in Canada. Please SHARE! BERNIE’S BEEFIE STEW Ingredients: 1 cup hamburger meat 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped ½ cup cooked brown rice 2 jars baby food vegies (peas, green beans, carrots, spinach) 2tbsp fat free cottage cheese 1 tbsp olive oil Method In a pan, cook meat in olive oil. Once meat is brown, drain excess grease from meat. Then add eggs, rice, cottage cheese and vegetables. Mix well. Cool to room temperature. Serving size: Approx 2-3 cups. BERNIE’S BONEY COOLERS Ingredients: 2 fresh beef (or other) marrow bones, each at least 1 inch (2.5cm) long Water Method: ?In about a 2 qt pa, put the bones and add enough water to cover. Bring to boil. Continue to boil for at least 10 minutes (more time needed for a richer broth). Remove bones and return any marrow along with any meat you can remove to the liquid. Cool broth to room temperature. Chop marrow/meat/gristle into little bits and put small amounts into each section of the tray. Pour liquid over into 2-4 ice cube trays. Freeze solid. Serve 2-3 cubes on a very hot day (Not too many if you made the broth very rich with extra bones or lots of marrow). BERNIE’S BIANCA BISCUITS Ingredients: ½ cup water ½ cup oil 2 eggs 3 tbspns peanut butter (natural if possible) 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour ½ cup oats Method: Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well. Transfer to a floured surface and knead until dough holds together. Roll out about ½ inch thick and cut with cookie cutters. Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 375oF (190C). Cool on a wire rack. BERNIE’S BREAKFAST BARS Ingredients: 12 cups Oatmeal 4 cups whole wheat flour 8 eggs ¾ cup oil 2/3 cups honey ½ cup molasses 2 cups milk 1 large can solid pack pumpkin (optional, not pie filling) 3-4 mashed bananas (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 325F. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Dump everything into a VERY large bowl. Mix mess together, pat onto greased cookie sheets and bake at 325F (165C) for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn off oven and open door to cool in oven. Break into whatever size you want. They also freeze very well. BERNIE’S POOCHIE CAKES Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups brown rice 3 cups water 2 large potatoes, grated 4 large carrots, grated 2 large celery stalks, chopped 6lbs ground beef 8 eggs Dash salt ¼ cup olive oil 1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats Method: 1. Preheat oven to 400F (205C). Grease 36 cups of large muffin tins. 2. In a medium saucepan, combine rice with water. Bring to boil over high heat, uncovered, and cook for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool for several minutes, fluff with fork and set aside. 3. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots, celery, ground beef and eggs. Mix ingredients using your hands or a sturdy spoon. Add salt, olive oil, rolled oats and rice. Mix well. 4. Fill each muffin cup with some of the meat mixture and pat down to make it firm. Bake 45 minutes or until surface feels set. Cool on rack 10 minutes or longer. 5. Remove meat cakes by turning the muffin tin upside down over a sheet of aluminium foil. Tap each muffin cup to release the cake. Refrigerate or freeze in sealed plastic bags. DO NOT FEED TO DOGS WHEN STILL HOT.

[@joannepereira5080]

I have a 9 weeks old Italian greyhound we had to get pet insurance I never got it before for my other dogs but i was advised to get it for him because they break their legs all a time We get so worry she will will break any bones always keeping an eye on her she’s a jumper always jumping.. Good luck with king I hope king finally gets the good family that he deserves you are a good Mom 🥰👐❤️

[@dnedlew]

Th Fawn colored one is in hunting mode. My Grey would hunt the cats from next door if they came through the back yard. She would let them get half way across the yard then BOOM, off she'd go. The Blue one was waiting to react to the Fawn one. If that cat had taken off then I don't know if the lady could have held onto both of them from the chase

[@ParkerPeachesAnthemLights14]

So pretty 😍

[@sethewan2102]

So it turns out adopting retired Greyhounds in Southern California is near impossible. The organizations here have waiting lists over a year long. Near all Greyhounds from the Florida racing tracks closing are being moved to east coast adoption organizations. I am glad you were able to adopt a Greyhound since it seems to be getting near impossible.

[@donnasymons1872]

Good luck with King. He's gorgeous. Would like to see more of him rather than yourself next time.

[@dominicmurphy]

keep the crate, even if its just open all the time its his place to get away from everything, and greyhounds wear muzzles due to them being sighthounds and instinctivly wanting to chase things

[@bslnicole1177]

All the info I know via 4 sources. Lazy 😂 my Doug has so much energy 🎉

[@panam747]

What's with the muzzle and cages? I've rescued 22 and never used those!

[@user-jz7qc9ee7c]

I had 2 greyhounds got one and got aother one to keep him company

[@davidwinter2959]

We rescued 5 grayhounds now we have a inch of sofa to sit on if we are lucky we had to get small chairs so they couldn't sit on them so we could get a seat

[@lauradouglass8168]

Luckily we already had small furniture - he hasn't been very interested in getting up on our couches, but he loves our bed!

[@davidwinter2959]

@@lauradouglass8168 does your dog seem to want to go out more at nite time than the day I mean for the toilet

[@lauradouglass8168]

@@davidwinter2959 No, we typically put him out right before he goes to bed and then he's good for the night!

[@davidwinter2959]

@@lauradouglass8168 we also do that and they get big walks threw the day but it's like having babys all over again this lasts till about midnite

[@samicullen679]

Beautiful boy I’m adopting a gray hound to

[@minanes6549]

Congratulations on your beautiful dog! It looks like you're being terrific doggy parents xx

[@calamityjane4331]

❤❤❤❤

[@rexyboy649]

I have greyhounds but it is racer so I don’t really know what you can do

[@sandracox4341]

The heart shaped spot on his bum❤

[@paulalderson6920]

Greyhounds do not fight, most laid back canine ever. The muzzle is a ridiculous rule based on the fact they are sight hounds trained to chase the lures.

[@icybinuya2294]

Nice name

[@Nimzo1]

Thanks for keeping him Muzzled! It’s so important - they have high prey drive which cannot be trained out after so long racing - I saw two of these dogs chase a small puppy in a park and tear it to pieces it was horrific and the owner had no clue about prey drive. They MUST be muzzled 100% of the time in public as they are killing machines for small furries

[@shoegal7]

Killing machines? What rubbish. Many greyhounds live with small furries and cats.

[@Nimzo1]

@@shoegal7 larp harder shill, there’s too many documented cases of these animals killing puppies and even children for you to have even a shred of credibility. It’s irresponsible clueless idiots like you that cause the death of decent peoples pets. Your incompetence and idiocy is literally dangerous.

[@shoegal7]

@@Nimzo1, it appears that you are incapable of having a conversation without name-calling and insults, so I won't waste any more of my time. Clearly, you know nothing about Greyhounds.

[@Nimzo1]

@@shoegal7 did you not read my original comment when I said I saw a PUPPY being torn apart by 2 greyhounds? Do you not realise how horrible that is to witness? Not surprised seeing as you’re a greyhound owner - likely a complete idiot. I know all about them after one attacked me as a kid. They’re racing dogs - literally trained to chase and kill small things you stupid moron. How are they not killing machines? One google search leads to endless stories of attacks and killings and it’s irresponsible clueless owners like you who don’t understand them that causes it.

[@shoegal7]

@@Nimzo1, it would have been horrible to witness the poor puppy being killed, no doubt about it but let's break this down, shall we? Yes, I am a greyhound owner. I do not race them - I think it's abhorrent what the racing industry does to this gentle breed. You said it yourself, they are "literally trained to race and kill small things". I do not believe it is good practice to allow them off lead in dog parks with small dogs because instinct can take over and it is better to be safe than sorry. I have never allowed my dogs to run free in that situation and I never will. I have, however, witnessed on lead and muzzled Greys being attacked and torn apart by other off-lead uncontrollable dogs. Their injuries have been horrific and I'm sure if you Google searched that, many stories would come up. In fact, if you googled ANY breed, there will be similar stories - your accusations are not exclusive to Greyhounds. The racing industry has a lot to answer for.

[@TheCassieschick]

What's the brand of that coat? I've never been able to find anything store-bought that fits our greyhound!

[@lauradouglass8168]

Cassie Schick it’s Beaver Canoe - we got it at Pet Smart! I think it only works because it’s just a topper with a belly strap, otherwise I think it would be too big around the chest/waist for my skinny boy!

[@lorrainethomson8994]

Try 3 Peaks, from good Pet Stores Always worked for my greys!

[@c-dizzle0099]

How much did you get him for

[@maxmcdonald4537]

My family adopted a retired racing Greyhound whose name was King was well! What are the chances.

[@automandan3066]

What was his racing name?

[@caroline0515]

What happened to the videos of King? You just stopped. I hope all is well. Strange.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

I’ve been an owner of retired greyhounds for a decade. We always have a dog and a bitch together as this is what they have been used to in their racing careers. My top tips. Unless they are new to each other, muzzles are unnecessary when introducing two new dogs and bitches, a muzzle on both for 24 hours is sufficient. Always muzzle your dogs when out walking. Never let them off lead unless in a confined area. Anything small and furry is lunch- 2,000 years of breeding means they can’t help it. I’ve never used a cage. Each dog has a day bed in different rooms of the house-- they like their own designated area. We have a large double kennel with run outside which they sleep in at night. We leave the gate open so they can come out as and when they like. Feed them once a day and remove bowls as soon as they stop feeding. Consider adopting a black greyhound. Modern sires in Ireland are throwing huge numbers of black pups. People like to adopt the fawns, blues, brindles etc so the black dogs get overlooked. Finally, count your blessings for bringing these wonderful dogs into your lives. I wouldn’t be without ours.

[@michaeldenton2503]

I am in Western Australia and we adopted an ex racing greyhound 2 months ago and here muzzles are not required but they must be on a lead in public. Hailee has not worn a muzzle since we adopted her and it has not been an issue.

[@boo11034]

I have just adopted a greyhound as well, how did you help him overcome the anxiety problem?

[@elviscobb5922]

VP I have adopted three greyhounds. They need some time to settle in but will adjust. They very much like to have a safe area in the house to go to when they are anxious. Greyhounds enjoy a soft blanket or a pillow in their sleeping area. My greyhounds generally will calm down if I speak to them in a soft reassuring tone.

[@GreyhoundHomecare]

They get better over time. If you sit and pet the dog for 10 minutes every day, it helps. :)

[@GreyhoundHomecare]

@@elviscobb5922 It's true! Greyhounds LOVE pillows :)

[@GoogleUser-wy2vv]

Greyhounds luv to sleep in cozy places.

[@GreyhoundHomecare]

That's true! My Lily's crate is so plush, my neighbor calls it her "condo!"

[@shoegal7]

Many of them are terrified of being crated. They love to sleep in cozy places; sofas, mainly.

[@greyhoundsquadkatelynbilly2701]

I have alot of greyhounds

[@andrealouisejackson5307]

Greyhounds wear muzzles on their faces when they race. But greyhounds are beautiful dogs.

[@sethewan2102]

Why did you keep him out of the bedrooms at the beginning?

[@lauradouglass8168]

Seth Ewan it was recommended by our adoption agency as he settled into living in a home for the first time after being at the track for the first portion of his life. He’s now allowed in all rooms and loves to sleep in our bed with us! 💕

[@sethewan2102]

Laura Douglass cool cool. My wife and I are looking at adopting a retired grey hound so I have been watching videos. Yours is the first I have seen that shows the time right after adoption. Thanks for posting it.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Seth Ewan it has been so incredibly worth it for us!! He is a member of our family and we can’t imagine our life without him! As we were preparing to adopt I was watching videos too so I wanted to make sure I made one!

[@maxmccart3179]

You will need a muzzle for dog parks because racing greyhound normally have a strong prey drive and will chase smaller dogs thinking it’s a hare

[@leannewalker9925]

Don't forget boots feet get cold take a little bit of time to get used to

[@chop3625]

Just don’t say “They’re Off!!!”

[@katiemeredith4585]

Why have you not made a video about him since this? What happened!?

[@lauradouglass8168]

I was honestly a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of comments and judgement because this video blew up very quickly and I took a long time to decide whether I wanted to make more videos. I recently posted a day in my life vlog where I give a bit of an update on King, and I'm planning to do a longer update video for his birthday this year!

[@skippyoz3366]

The second this video came on I could tell that colour was way too tight

[@ratterrierdogma]

And not too tight just for greyhounds. Too tight for any dog.

[@SandraGarcia-lj3bd]

I agree too tight for any dog

[@jeannetfaber1382]

I have a good greyhound his name is Leroy

[@hindesite]

Please be aware that chicken jerky has a history of causing serious illness in dogs. Other chicken is generally fine, but handle with care.

[@greyhah]

Don't feed your dog anything Made in China. They put such rubbish in their chews/treats etc that it can be toxic to dogs and cause all sorts of trouble.

[@Cientxa]

More greyhound and less closeup narration please.

[@LivingAsVicki]

So glad you adopted, but PLEASE check into a different collar, ingredients in his food, jerky is BAD for him, raise his bowls, keep his feet warm or cool, and MOST of all, let him LIVE in the house. Don't have a dog if he isn't a family member, and family members get the run of the house. He should NOT be shut out of rooms.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Vicki Boedges Hi Vicki! Thanks for your concern. We’re still learning all the time. The collar he wears in most of this video is not his collar that’s used when he actually goes on walks. We chose not to use raised bowls as they increase the risk of bloat in greyhounds which can be fatal (this was at the recommendation of the adoption agency we used). He now has the run of the house, however as we were bringing him into a house (a completely new environment for him) our agency recommended giving him more boundaries in the beginning. 💕

[@carolinestanczuk]

I think you took dog from People that knew nothing about greyhounds. Greyhounds are not aggressive they don't tend to need a muzzle even if there's 10 of them and greyhounds in general dont bite or bark. ex racing greyhounds are very common in Ireland and I own one too

[@sandracox4341]

Some rescues recommend you muzzle them at first when you're walking them to see how they react to small dogs, and other small animals like cats you might experience until you know how they are going to behave. My two greyhounds get along fine all the time, but when I take them to a large enclosure to run free, they do nip at each other, so to avoid any injuries I muzzle them when they run.

[@sandracox4341]

Oh an my Current two greyhounds bark quite a bit. They bark to wake me up, they bark when they want to go out, they bark when they want to play, they bark when they want to eat, then my girl barks when she wants us to go to bed. Now my other Greyhounds I've had didn't bark much. One howled when all the other dogs in the neighborhood were barking.

[@Gomaberry]

It happens when they’re in groups sometimes. The play dates with my grey that I attend require muzzles. There’s usually 10-20 greys... While overall they’re not known to bark or bite, they can be playfully mouth one another and with thin skin that can be rather problematic. I’ve seen what goes on when they play too. My experience is more than 7 years of greyhound ownership. This is not to say I disagree that they’re gentle giants but I get it when they’re in big groups or introductions to other dogs and cats when they’re new. Especially if they’re fresh off the track and you don’t know if they’re friendly towards other dog breeds or cats. Anyway my baby is the sweetest and I’ve certainly attended play dates when it’s a chill group of 8 greys and they’re all sunbathing on dog beds.😂

[@cedelany21]

In some countries greyhounds are required to be muzzled in public. All of Australia for example! I am adopting a greyhound and was also advised to use it for the first few weeks. They are trained to wear them at the track and while turned out with other greyhounds.

[@sandracox4341]

@@cedelany21 , they have repealed that law in Australia at least in some areas.

[@belmum1689]

Grey's have very delicate skin use human baby shampoo on them, give the animal products to a friend who has a dog, too harsh for grey's skin.

[@belmum1689]

I love Johnson's baby shampoo for my grey's

[@belmum1689]

I forgot and don't use those flee collars....etc on their skin too.

[@theresabradley4716]

Bel Mum Definitely do NOT use any shampoo meant for people on any dog! The pH level in a person’s skin is a different level to dogs and cats, too, and will cause skin irritation. Please always use shampoo especially for your dog. He/she will be much happier, and won’t have any problems caused by the wrong shampoo. I was a veterinary nurse, and we learnt this in our first semester of our qualification certificate. This comment is meant in a nice and helpful way, not as a criticism. Hope you have a lovely day.

[@belmum1689]

​@@theresabradley4716 I said baby shampoo which is not a harsh as those dog shampoo but thanks anyway.

[@NataliePowellAGreytLife]

You won’t need to bathe King very often. I’ve had my greyhound for two and a half years and she’s only had half a dozen baths in that time. They don’t get smelly like other dogs.

[@berkshiresow]

Like James below: ditch the crate, but also the muzzle and the rules. I currently am enjoying my second greyhound. They're are the most amazing when they have freedom to be part of the family and house. They don't need human guidance to be amazing. The food in the hand business is very strange. Don't micro-manage that beautiful dog. It seems like you're defending yourself against him already before you know what he's like. Take the crate back, put the bed on the floor and relax.

[@bethevans375]

Please don't feed him rawhide bones. Greyhounds are such lovely pets. Welcome King

[@lauradouglass8168]

No worries, we returned the rawhide bones immediately!

[@kathleenbifulco8129]

Need to do better research and know what food, treats are good for a greyhound, so surprised u keep admitting u don’t know anything!

[@charlotteshanagher4816]

Please don't give raw hide.

[@lauradouglass8168]

Charlotte Shanagher we returned the raw hide!

[@charlotteshanagher4816]

@@lauradouglass8168 Good luck with your wonderful adventure! They are truly wonderful dogs!

[@robertcasey7312]

Squeaky toys. Lots and lots of plushy squeaky toys.

[@maitrangtran2775]

do you just wake up in the morning and say holy shit am gonna get a tumor: this is just a joke am not making fun if the dog 5:15

[@liesahotz4154]

Please NEVER walk a greyhound by attaching a leash to his collar! They need harnessed! If they take off running and you have him attached at the neck they can injure themselves! It's important to do your research before adopting!

[@lauradouglass8168]

Hi Liesa, thanks for your concern. We adopted him from an organization that has been working with greyhounds for years and these martingale collars are the standard in Canada (we have friends who have adopted greyhounds from across the country, and they all had the same recommended to them).

[@liesahotz4154]

@@lauradouglass8168 Ours wears a Martingale collar too. Across the UK, Europe and the US, harnesses are the recommended way to leash a greyhound. In addition to potential injury caused by leashes attached to collars, there is also the concern that your Grey can easily escape your watchful handling when the leash is attached to the collar. As our veterinarian, a greyhound d specialist points out, "Grey's heads are smaller than their necks. They can easily back out of a collar if there's any tension forward on a leashed collar." Thanks for saving our retired goofballs!! Peace..

[@TheRudespo]

Poor dog he s gona be so bored in that house l'ol

[@keeferdog5617]

Now that you have a REAL dog, you can buy a REAL guitar....goodbye Epi hello, Gibson...

[@bellapassanisi6440]

Why is he’s collar so freaking tight... poor dog 😳🤷🏻‍♀️

[@aguilona]

Now you did everything to CONTROL him, please do some activities with him. He looks so bored. I rescued hundreds of them and know them well. Having a walk is not enough. These dogs need to run and have fun. And please throw away that muzzle. Be a happy pack. Good luck🤗

[@idontwantgoogletofindoutmy558]

You rescued hundreds of them huh? If you have rescued them, you would know that greyhounds have been bread for generations to chase small animals... so are you encouraging the owners to let their dog attack another dog an potentially be put down? (That's why they wear muzzles, it is as much for the greyhounds safety as it is for the other animals)