Greyhound People

We've been Greyhound owners now for almost 2 years -  They've been the best 2 years of my life.

I don't think I've laughed out loud so much or smiled so often.

Both our hounds are a constant source of hilarity and happiness to us.

In fact both Lottie and Bomber have become such a big part of our lives that being without them isn't an option.

Adopting both has also had some huge benefits.

I love to get home from work. I am usually greeted at the door by two furry tail wagging four legged tornados and this is just brilliant beyond belief.

Then there's the health benefits. Wearing a smartwatch with a built in step-counter has given me insight into the healthy effects of  living with two hounds. Most days I'll hit my 10,000 step goal with little to no effort as a 30-40 minute walk twice a day boosts my step count.

Best of all is the social side of things.

Lottie and Bomber both have their own fan clubs in our  community. Each morning we go for a morning stroll and bump into a regular cast of people who also happen to be out and about.

Many stop and make a fuss over Lottie and Bomber. Both hounds have also got to know these people and look forward to seeing them, greeting them each morning with furious tail wags.

Then there's the amazing Greyhound community that we've become a part of. Other greyhound owners are amazing people, and I count many as firm friends. It isn't all that unusual to meet up at least once a week with several of them to take our hounds for a zoom at a secure hound friendly location.

Dinners and other catch ups are common too. Great advice is usually shared and we discuss the quirks of our hounds, more often than not with a liberal dose of laughter. The social scene is a big bonus and an unexpected one too.

Greyhound owners in Wellington are also well connected. Every new hound adoption is usually known about.  Its also a pretty inclusive environment. Most owners know each other and welcome new owners into the fold. The social scene has to be one of the least discussed yet better benefits of adopting a Greyhound.

A gathering of hounds

Greyhounds are an amazing breed. They're so like other medium to large dog breeds in many ways but in others, they're also completely different.

This crossed my mind over the holiday break. Bomber (AKA Tinklebert Woofledink) turned 5 so we held a small birthday party. 10 of his fellow greyhounds turned up along with a dozen or so of their humans.

Most dog owners would see this as a potential recipe for disaster. Yet excluding one or two incidents, the hounds all got on pretty well with each other.

So well in fact that we arranged dog beds along the length of a hedge running across our back lawn. Each hound sat back on their bed and did what Greyhounds love to do - sleep.

Several days later a friend's hound turned 10 so she also held a gathering of hounds and humans at her place. Once again, the hounds behaved. 

So why do greyhounds tend to get on so well together?

Greyhound pups often spend a lot longer with their mothers compared to other breeds. This means they're usually well versed in canine etiquette. They're also raised in kennel environments. Which translates into them being well socialised with other Greyhounds.

This said, nothing is perfect and as will be with any large groups of dogs, there is the odd snarl or snap. Making the hounds wear muzzles is always a good idea, even if the dogs are being quiet and well behaved.