From Track to Home: Part 1: Retirement – A Well-Earned Next Chapter
Every greyhound who finds their place on the couch began their story somewhere else entirely – as a fit, fast, and finely tuned athlete.
This is the first in a three-part series following that journey, from the day a greyhound retires from racing, through to the moment they walk through the door of their forever home. We’re starting where every story starts: retirement.
A career, not a chapter to forget
Greyhounds are bred and trained for speed, and many spend the early years of their lives as racing athletes. Like any athlete, there comes a point where racing days draw to a close, sometimes because of age, sometimes a change in form, and sometimes simply because their owner has decided it’s time. Whatever the reason, retirement is a normal and expected part of a racing greyhound’s life, not a sign that anything has gone wrong. In Victoria, racing greyhound owners are responsible for planning what happens next for their dogs once their racing career ends, regardless of how that career went. Many owners rehome their greyhounds privately through family, friends, or their own networks. Others choose to hand that responsibility over to GAP, trusting us to find the right next step for their dog.
What retirement actually looks like
For a lot of people, the idea of a “retired athlete” conjures up images of an older, slower dog easing into old age. In reality, most greyhounds retire from racing relatively young, often between two and five years old, which means they’ve still got plenty of life, energy, and personality ahead of them. They’re simply trading one kind of life for another. Up until this point, a racing greyhound’s world has typically revolved around training, racing, and life in kennels alongside other dogs. They’ve had structure and routine. What they often haven’t had much exposure to is the everyday texture of pet life: things like stairs, glass doors, slippery floors, televisions, vacuum cleaners, or the simple experience of being the only dog in a lounge room. None of this is a problem, it’s just new, and greyhounds tend to be remarkably quick learners once given the chance.
Why this stage matters
Retirement is the foundation for everything that follows in a greyhound’s adoption journey. It’s the point at which a racing dog’s story shifts from competition to companionship, and it sets the stage for the next steps: coming into GAP’s care, getting to know their personality, and eventually finding the right family to share their life with What they often haven’t had much exposure to is the everyday texture of pet life: things like stairs, glass doors, slippery floors, televisions, vacuum cleaners, or the simple experience of being the only dog in a lounge room. None of this is a problem – it’s just new, and greyhounds tend to be remarkably quick learners once given the chance. They’re simply stepping into another exciting new stage, this time with all the couch naps, backyard zoomies, and belly rubs that come with it. Every greyhound who comes through GAP is, quite simply, a athlete beginning a brand new chapter.
Next in this series: Part 2 – Settling In at GAP: Health, Care & Getting to Know Them
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Tuna
Zero now Elsie
Inny
Cliffy
Lizzie
Micky ARP
Micky is a handsome and affectionate greyhound with a calm and gentle nature. This sweet boy loves spending time with his people, seeking eye contact and wanting to please. While he can be relaxed and quiet, Micky does have a puppyish side and likes to stretch his legs with zoomies. He also loves treats and has shown interest in bird watching and believes that backyard zoomies are more fun with a bird nearby. He is looking for a home with a secure backyard. He would suit being an only dog or he may be suitable to live with medium or large canine companions. Micky may also be suitable to live with children aged 5 and over.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Uganda ARP
Are you looking for a quiet and sweet girl? Uganda might be the one for you! She can be a little shy when she first meets you but doesn’t take long to warm up. She is quiet and really wants to please her owners. She may suit living with children in their teens but would prefer to find a home with a canine companion of any size.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Millie ARP
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Pedro ARP
Pedro is a friendly, outgoing and confident greyhound with a big personality and an even bigger heart. Affectionate and personable, he loves spending time with his people and is always happy to make new friends. One of Pedro’s favourite things in the world is a good butt scratch, and he'll happily lean in for more when he finds the perfect spot! With his easy-going nature, Pedro may suit a home either as an only dog or with a medium to large canine companion. He could also thrive in a family with respectful children aged 10 years and over who are keen to share plenty of love, attention and cuddles with this charming boy.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
King ARP
Kingis a handsome, friendly and incredibly personable greyhound whose goofy, larger-than-life personality is guaranteed to keep his family smiling. This tall, affectionate boy loves being part of the action and has a playful, puppyish side that shines through in his hilarious zoomies and quirky antics. While King can be a little anxious at times, he always tries his best and gains confidence with patient support from the people he loves. Full of character, charm and plenty of goofy moments, King may suit a home with or without a medium or large canine companion and could do well with respectful children aged 10 years and over who will appreciate his fun-loving spirit and kind heart.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.