Greyhounds are amazing dogs but, just like any breed, they have their own unique requirements. Before you adopt a retired racing greyhound, you should consider whether a greyhound suits you and your lifestyle. After all, you want your relationship with your dog to be a harmonious one.

If you have seen a racing greyhound in action - travelling at speed, wearing a muzzle and with its eyes focused on its lure - you might have the wrong impression about the breed. They may appear all-action and even aggressive, but the truth is they are extremely gentle and caring dogs. When people first meet them, they are charmed by their amiable character and, for some would-be adopters, that is enough to convince them to offer a home.

But living with a greyhound is rarely what people expect and it is important to understand the unique traits of this breed. Here are a couple of important things you should know about living with an adopted retired racing greyhound champion.

Greyhounds love to hunt

Your greyhound will be a placid soul for the majority of the time but if they spot something small and furry moving in the distance, they will want to chase it. Thousands of years of breeding has programmed them to react this way and there is very little you can do about it. No matter how much you train them, there are some greyhounds that just get ‘in the zone’ when they catch sight of prey.

This is why they make great racers - the desire to chase a mechanical lure around a track is just too much to resist. And a greyhound at full sprint is a remarkable sight, as anyone who has attended a race can attest. It is for this reason that greyhound racing remains popular and why so many new greyhound betting sites like the ones listed on greyhoundbetting.co.uk have appeared online.

But this hunting instinct brings its own set of issues. If you want a dog that you can take to public places and let off the lead, a greyhound is probably not for you. Once they start chasing a squirrel or rabbit, there is little you can do about it and they could be out of sight within seconds.

In most cases, a greyhound will always return to their owner but they might spend 20 minutes staring up a tree before doing so. For an owner, this can be incredibly stressful as your dog could be vulnerable during this time.

Unless you have access to a very remote land where your dog can run free away from traffic, people and obstacles, you should always keep your greyhound on a lead. Ideally, you will have access to a large fenced-off area where your hound can get up to running speed and burn off any excess energy. But, as long as they get a decent amount of exercise a couple of times a day, they will be happy to chill out and sleep for the rest of the time. Which brings us to the next point.

Greyhounds love sofas

If you want a dog that will keep off the furniture, a greyhound is not the best choice. Greyhounds and sofas are a match made in heaven and these furry racers will always seek out the softest space to rest their bony frames. As well as heading for your sofa, they will think nothing of joining you in bed or sleeping on your washing pile. They will even rearrange your cushions and soft furnishings for maximum comfort.

When they are not scanning the horizon for squirrels or hares, greyhounds love nothing more than being warm and cosy at home. So, if you like cuddling up to a bundle of fur and bones on the sofa, a retired racer could be perfect for you.

However, you will need to grab your spot quickly. Greyhounds have a habit of lying on their backs with their legs stretched in the air in a position known as the ‘roach’ (due to its similarity to a dead cockroach). A greyhound in full roach position is a sight to behold but they are capable of taking up an entire sofa, so be warned.

Friend for life

These are just a couple of the quirky habits of the retired racing greyhound. Your own dog will reveal more of their personality the longer you spend with them. And, remember, there are many health benefits associated with dog ownership.

When they first arrive at a new home, they can be a little reserved and appear as if butter would not melt in their mouth but, once they have fully unpacked their luggage, they reveal their true selves. When that happens, you will have a hilarious, caring and loyal friend for life.