Welcome to a fellow greyhound addict! (Well, maybe you aren't an addict yet, but you will be!)

Carrie has given some great advice. I would also recommend reading "Adopting the Racing Greyhound" by Cynthia Branigan and "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies."

As to the toy issue, I know that many greyhounds tend to be pickier about toys. The kong seems to be very successful with many grey owners, as long as they stuff the toy with liverwurst, peanut buter, fat free cream cheese, or the like. My first two greyhounds want nothing to do with the kong, however, and I never bothered to try it on the third.

Basically, in our house, we have two types of toys that get played with: fleece stuffed toys with squeakers in them; and Nylabone brand gum-a-bones.

We have spent lots of money trying to find toys that our greys enjoy, and the above two types seem to be the winners. We used to give them regular hard nylabones, hollow leg bones, and cow hooves as chew toys, but then Boo chipped a tooth, and we learned how bad these hard things can be for our dogs' teeth. That is why we now use gum-a-bones. They have to be nylabone brand, or else they are in bits in hours (the nylabone brand is much more durable!), and it has to be liver or chicken-flavored, or they don't ever pick it up to chew. We have one plain gum-a-bone that has sat around the house, pretty much untouched, for almost a year. The liver-flavored type usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

Fleece toys are by far the favorite, and they all have their preferences: Buddy likes big floppy toys he can carry around, Boo likes small round fleece toys like balls, and Paula likes anything with a very noisy squeak that she can squeak for about five minutes straight. However, Paula doesn't usually play with toys - she only gets the mood to pick up a toy a few times per week.

Carrie knows what she's talking about with greyhound behavior: they are used to not needing people for anything. My greys still show very little interest in interactive games, like tug-of-war. They prefer to play with toys on their own. Remember, they are not Retrievers, who will jump in and learn to 'fetch' in about two minutes! My Buddy and Boo will sometimes chase a toy in the yard, but only if it's the right toy (something small and fleece). I don't know if they will ever chase tennis balls or frisbees. And they can never bring the toy all the way back to us - they drop it about five feet away, and then walk up to us to be petted.

Sorry to be so long-winded! Just trying to emphasize that greyhounds (and many other already-adult dogs you might adopt) don't know how to play, so you have to use trial-and-error and try many toys with them until they find something they like. Be prepared to spend lots of money at your local pet store (hopefully, they have a return policy so you can get your money back on toys that are untouched). (Also, remember that your dog is in a new environment and probably very scared.)

And don't ever be afraid to get down on the ground and show your grey how to play! Who cares if you look stupid - your dog will love you for it! Good luck, and keep us updated!