Tats- I can handle disagrements, I just don't feel that personal attacks are needed. Oh well. I think I will be hanging around this forum for a while. I've been working with animals of all kinds for over ten years now so I've learnt a thing or two. In a year or so (I need a break from school before I go back!) I'll be applying to Vet School so hopefully I can be Dr. Tigeress. Heehee

Kobi- Greyhound are far from fraile! Trust me Baley can play with the best of them. Their legs look so thin because there is actualy very little muscle in the lower section (it is all in the upper leg and hip) so what you see is mainly bone, which is just as thick as any other dog their size. However he really isn't into rough housing. They are discouraged from playing at the track so that they don't play when they should be racing so he really doesn't understand 'play'. He is just starting to learn tug a war with the rope, but it really isn't in the Greyhound nature. And FORGET fetch. You throw something and he just looks at you like "Why did you do that?"

Baley is unusualy large for a greyhound. They average 45-60 pounds, but I've seen them at 90! And not because of fat (muscle also wieghs more than fat and since they have a very low % of body fat it can make them look lighter)! When Baley puts his paws on my shoulders he is almost six feet high. Which is why he was a 5 year champion. Greyhounds can only legally race for five years, but few ever make it that long.

You see if a Greyhound fails to place, win or show in three races in a row then he is bumped down a class (there are several 'classes' of Grey so that you don't get uneven races). If they are already in the lowest class they are 'out'. Some of these 'out' dogs get homes, most are euthanized.

Baley not only ran for his full five years he was also bred to a top female. Again few Greys are bred because it is a bussiness and people only want the best in the breeding stock. This is why Greyhounds have very few genetic diseases such as hip and bladder problems that are prevelent in highly bred dogs like Lab, Dalmations, and Shepards.

Wolflady- If you are into the strong silent type then I suggest you follow your instinct and get a Grey! Here are a few tips - get an older dog, 4 to 5, they are calmer and harder for the rescue people to place. I got Baley when he was just turning 6. Also concider a black coloured greyhound. I say this because they are also very hard for people to place because people like the look of the other colours better.

If you have stairs you will have to teach your Grey to climb them, for the most part they have never seen stairs. I had to carry Baley up any stairs we came to for three months before he learnt to do it himself. Also many Greys like to have a kennel crate to sleep in. They spend 21 hours a day in crates and it is all they know. Baley hates it when we take him on trips and he doesn't have his crate to sleep in.

When I went to the rescue people I said bring me your hardest to place dog. The woman said that that would be a large, old, black male. I thought that was perfect, I like my men tall, dark, and hansome! Heehee.

Jenni- Ah! There is nothing like a Mutt!! If I didn't live so close to the track I'm sure I would have endded up with a mutt. I'll give Baley a squeez for ya! As for your friend with three, Greyhound are like potato chips -it is hard to have just one! I simply don't have room for another right now, but the moment I do....