Retired Racing Greyhounds and Children

Training & Behaviour
Retired Racing Greyhounds and Children

Australia has one of the highest pet-ownership rates in the world, with over 63% of households having a pet.

The relationship between children and pets can provide wonderful benefits including introducing the child to having responsibility, and developing the important skills that come with interacting and caring for another being.  Pets are such a part of our culture, that over 83% of people have had an animal companion during their childhood years so it is not surprising that many parents feel their family will not be complete until they have a pet.

Owning a pet dog can be a fantastic experience for the entire family, but parents need to be fully aware of the responsibilities of bringing a dog into the household, especially one with young children, and need to work actively to ensure that the experience of both the children and the dog are good ones.

‘..the biggest risk factor in dog bites is lack of parental supervision.’

Dog bite statistics tell us that young children are especially at risk from serious dog bites due to their size and behaviour. No parent wants to witness a bite on their child.  Unfortunately, the biggest risk factor in dog bites is lack of parental supervision. The media is full of horror stories where parents left their young child unattended with the family dog, often for extended periods, then were shocked when things went wrong.

Although retired racing greyhounds can make fantastic family pets, it is important to remember that they probably have not had a lot of exposure to children during their life as a race dog and as a result may find some things children do a little frightening.

1 Statistics from the Petcare Information and Advisory Service 2009

Aim to make the children and dog safe

If we better understand dog behaviour and body language, and then educate and teach our children how to behave around the dog, and we SUPERVISE them both, most of these accidents can be avoided. As a parent it is your responsibility to ensure your children are safe, visiting children are safe, and that your adopted greyhound is safe so you will have plenty to do!

Watch your dog’s body language constantly for signs of stress or arousal.  Most dogs give subtle signals about how they are feeling, and it is up to us to see them and deal with the situation accordingly. Things like licking the lips, panting, dilated pupils, shaking, or even a ‘worried face’ can indicate the dog is no longer relaxed and calm.  If you see any of these signs, it is time to step in before things escalate. In most cases, moving the dog to another area, or giving it a ‘time out’ in a safe place away from the children will allow him to settle down and return to a relaxed state.

Teach your children how to interact safely with your adopted greyhound

You will have to supervise your children interacting with your adopted greyhound.  They should be taught the right way to approach, pat and play with a dog, and will also need lessons on interacting with strange dogs as well.  This is because they may automatically assume all dogs are like theirs, when in fact many dogs are not well socialised to children, or may be fearful of the way they approach and interact.

A good behaviour to encourage is that the children should always ask the owner first if they can approach and pat the dog.  If they cannot see an owner, they are not allowed to approach the dog.

All dogs may find ‘human’ greetings frightening – children often want to ‘hug’ a dog when they say hello, but this is very foreign behaviour when viewed from the dog’s point of view.  No other dog would ever hold them with intense contact with their face close and not let go! For this reason, it is very important that children learn the correct way to greet a dog and are discouraged from behaviours that will potentially put them at risk.

Avoid hugging, kissing, or putting faces close to the dog’s face.

Staring or intense direct eye contact should also be avoided as this is very threatening behaviour, and something dogs would only do to each other if they wanted to start a fight.

The kids are having their friends over….

It won’t be long before your children ask to have some friends over to play, or you may just have relatives or neighbours call in with their children. Don’t assume anyone else has taken the time to train their children like you have. Other people’s children may be rough, or even cruel to dogs, or may be scared or frightened as they do not have a dog themselves.

This is a time to pay extra attention to what is happening. When you have multiple children games get crazier and there is usually lots of running and squealing. This may not be an ideal place for your dog as it might get frightened or even highly excited itself.  Once a dog is aroused, they are more likely to behave impulsively and this can lead to problems. Maybe the dog is best confined to a quieter area when there is a lot of activity in the yard or house.

Having separate ‘zones’

It is important that your adopted greyhound has a quiet place where it can relax, away from the kids. By having the dog and children in separate areas at certain times, it is possible to manage them both.  Having set times for play and quiet can help your greyhound adjust to its new life, and help the children understand the dog is not a toy that is available for them whenever they want.

There are other times you may want to separate your greyhound and the kids. Any time you cannot be there to supervise – the greyhound and children should be in separate areas.  When the greyhound is sleeping and at meal times (both dog and human) are other times where the greyhound should be ‘away from the action’.

Greyhounds are used to being left on their own in their kennel with no other dogs or people around when they eat their meals, so they are not used to having children  or even adults near their food bowls. As a result, they may react when people approach them whilst eating. Some greyhounds may even guard their food, which means they might growl or snarl if someone appears to be coming to ‘steal’ their dinner.

Greyhounds tend to sleep very soundly and can startle if woken. They are not used to sharing their bed, and may just need to get away from it all and have a rest.

It is important that the children are taught to leave the greyhound alone both when it is sleep and when it is eating or chewing on a bone.

Wash your Hands...

Children also need to be educated in good hygiene around dogs. Teach them to wash their hands when they are finished playing with or patting the dog, and encourage them to help you ‘pick up the poo’ so that there are not dog faeces all over the yard. Children are most at risk from catch any zoonoses (disease that can be transmitted from the pet to humans) but washing their hands after playing with the dog, picking up the faeces, and regular worming of the dog will go a long way to prevent any problems.

Remember:  It is up to you to SUPERVISE all interactions between your adopted greyhound and children.

Need to learn more?

Visit the ‘We are Family’ website – A guide to nurturing the child and pet relationship from pregnancy to preschool. http://dpipets.milura.com.au/

Meet our dogs ready for adoption

All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.

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Wolf

3 years old

Meet Wolf! He is a young boy who can be a bit unsure of new environments and situations. Once he is comfortable, he allows his true colours to shine through and is puppyish, playful and affectionate. Wolf appears to have some issues with his vision, so he will need a special home who can manage this over the course of his life. Wolf may suit living with or without a canine pal of similar size and older children aged in their teens. Wolf has low vision, which isn't expected to get any worse. He doesn't require medication for this. He will be adopted out with a approval for a follow up appointment with an eye specialist, paid for by GAP.
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Jett

4 years old

This boy is ready to Jett his way into your heart and onto your couch! Sweet Jett is an incredibly friendly and outgoing boy with a puppy like nature and loves nothing more than a cuddle and play! Due to his excitement towards life Jett would be best in a home with a family who is experienced with large breed dogs! He may suit a home with another medium or large canine companion who likes to play as much as he does. He may be best suited to a home with children 10+ who can also keep up with him!
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Angus

4 years old

If you're looking for an enthusiastic young boy to be part of the family then look no further than Angus! Angus is an awesome outgoing and lovable goofbag that would love to be your new best friend. He absolutely loves toys and treats and would benefit from an adoptive home who will include him in all the day to day activities. He would be best suited to a home with a backyard as he loves to stretch his legs! He may suit a home with full time workers and children in their teens Angus is very special needs, he has retinal atrophy, he is looking for a special person, he has significant loss of sight now and complete vision loss over time is expected, he can learn to navigate in a stable environment and live a wonderful life with the right owners who are mindful of this. Talk to our adoption team to learn more about him.
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Stevie

4 years old

Our wonderful Stevie boy is ready to win hearts. Stevie is a lovely and friendly boy who can charm anyone with his outgoing and affectionate personality. He loves his toys and may be best suited to a home with children 10+ and would enjoy having another dog to be his buddy. We could all use a bit of Stevie love in our lives! Stevie would also love a backyard to run and play in. Stevie has spent some time in foster care and his foster carer said that he is a "...happy, big goofball, eager to please, cuddler and leaner. sleeps all night. plays with every toy likes soft toys and chew toys, favourite is the snorting pig and chasing ball. loves digging them all out of the basket. would be great with another large dog or by himself as long as he has things he can play with." Stevie has some osteo arthritis from an old injury, but this doesn't stop him from being his bright, bubbly self.
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Esmae ARP

2 years old

Esmae is everyone’s friend! She is sweet, funny, personable and puppyish. She loves being around other dogs and people and would love to find a home with another dog bestie to spend her days hanging out with. She loves to lean on anyone that wants to give her pats and attention. We think Esmae will best suit living as an only dog as she does not want to share the love, she would also suit children 5 and over. Esmae may even suit living with fulltime workers.
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Poppy

9 years old

Meet Poppy, the lovely and endearing greyhound lady who's ready to bloom in her forever home! This gentle soul is as sweet as can be, with a heart of gold and a desire to please. Poppy loves people and enjoys human interaction, making her a fantastic companion for families and individuals alike. Poppy has been through behavioural rehabilitation, which has helped her become a confident and well-adjusted greyhound. She's perfect for families with kids aged 10+, who will adore her calm and gentle nature. Poppy would most likely love to live as the only furry friend or alongside respectful medium to large male dog. She is a perfect lady on the lead and walks quietly by your side. Poppy has Inflammatory bowel disease, but this doesn't stop her happy go lucky attitude.
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Dwight

4 years old

Dorky Dwight is in the search for his forever family! This boy is incredibly affectionate and has nothing higher on his wish list than someone who can provide bum scratches. When he isn't requesting affection, he is showing off his goofy and puppy-like side that is sure to make you laugh! Due to his playful ways, he may suit a home with children 10+ who can play with him! He may enjoy a medium or large canine sibling but may also like being the star of the show as a solo pooch! His playful nature means he wouldn't do best in a home with small dogs or cats, and will need some space to run, therefore wouldn't suit apartment life.
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Mia

7 years old

Meet Mia, a friendly and affectionate greyhound who's bursting with enthusiasm! This extroverted girl loves people and can't get enough attention - she's always eager to please and shower her humans with affection. With her bubbly personality, Mia's sure to bring joy and excitement to her forever home. Mia's looking for a household where she can be the only dog, and she's suitable for families with or without kids aged 10+. While she's a wonderful companion, Mia's still working on her manners, so she'll need a patient and understanding owner to help her learn and grow. If you're ready to provide Mia with love, guidance, and a forever home, she'll reward you with loyalty, affection, and plenty of personality!

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Meeko

3 years old

Meet Meeko, the charming and playful greyhound gentleman who's ready to capture your heart! This friendly boy has a delightful puppyish streak, loving nothing more than seeking attention and playtime from his favourite humans. Meeko's unique trait is his love of seeking eye contact, often gazing adoringly at his people to connect and show affection. Meeko is perfect for families with kids aged 5+, who will adore his energetic and loving personality. With his outgoing and affectionate nature, Meeko promises to bring joy and companionship to his new family. If you're looking for a loving and playful buddy, Meeko is ready to be your new best friend! Meeko has an old hock fracture which has healed well, without any hardware present. Meeko needs a home with another dog for company, and can also be a bit anxious in new situations.
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Shelby

6 years old

Meet adorable Shelby, who has the best ears going around. Sweet Shelby is a fun and confident girl who loves water and cuddles; she is incredibly affectionate and outgoing and is sure to become your best buddy! Shelby may enjoy having a medium or large canine sibling but may also enjoy being the centre of attention as an only dog! Due to her energetic ways Shelby may do best with a home with children 10+ who can keep up with her and wouldn't suit a home with a small dog or cats.
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