Top Activities For Greyhounds

Introduction

It may surprise you to learn that Greyhounds were originally bred to be hunting dogs. Today, people typically associate Greyhounds with their speed and what a fast dog they are! Going up to 45 miles per hour, a Greyhound's swift run is what made them ideal hunters (they can go faster than any rabbit or fox they may be chasing!). Cater activities and games to your Greyhound by keeping these things in mind - they love to go fast and they like to hunt!

Running Games

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

30 min

Items needed

Remote Controlled Car

Ball

Treats

Activity description

There is a wide range of running games that you can set up for your Greyhound and your pup is sure to love them all. While Greyhounds are known runners, it is important to keep in mind that they are best at short, fast runs rather than going far distances. So while your pup will enjoy going for a quick mile around a track with you, you may want to leave them home if you plan on going for a 10 mile jog. Another pointer when setting up racing games for your Greyhound is to think about their hunting background and how they enjoy chasing something, not just running around freely. Here are a few running games you can try.

Step

1

Fetch

Of course, fetch is a favorite game of a Greyhound. Your dog gets to sprint after a toy and then play with the toy once they retrieve it. A Greyhound may not be the best at returning the ball to you, however, as they will want to keep their "prey".

Step

2

Car chase

If you have ever seen a dog race, you will notice that the dogs (mostly Greyhounds) are chasing a decoy bunny around the track. You can simulate this by purchasing a remote controlled car and racing it around for your dog to chase. You can control where your pup goes by the direction of the car!

Step

3

Chase me

Go to a fenced in location and let your Greyhound off the leash. Then, run around with your dog. While your Greyhound is almost guaranteed to be faster than you, your dog will love chasing you around and playing with their favorite person. This is a great way for you to get some exercise as well!

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Therapy Dog

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Hard

1 - 2 hrs

Items needed

Treats

Therapy Certification

Activity description

You may have heard of therapy dogs and the many benefits that they have. Therapy dogs are basically pups who will visit places like hospitals or rehabilitation centers to cheer up those who are ill. They provide love, comfort and affection and are an excellent resource to those in need. A Greyhound is actually the perfect breed for this job. Greyhounds are very mild mannered, affectionate and calm. They enjoy being around people and are typically not afraid to be pet and fawned over. Training your Greyhound to be a therapy dog will not only be great for your community but your pup will like it as well.

Step

1

Get certified

Find a local organization that will train your dog to be a therapy dog. There are many training tests that your dog will have to pass and your Greyhound will also need to get an official certification to be a therapy dog. Most of the tests are about the dog's demeanor and how they act in stressful situations. These tests are super important to ensure the safety of the people you will be helping and the safety of your dog.

Step

2

Train at home

Help continue the therapy training at home. Have friends and family over to make your dog accustomed to being around crowds and people. Bring your dog on errands with you anywhere that pups are allowed. Pat your dog constantly at home and all over their body so that they are use to people touching them.

Step

3

Plan visits

Once certified, schedule your Greyhound to visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, libraries - anywhere that a therapy dog may be needed! Your dog will love spending so much time with people and the good feelings that you are providing with your pup are immeasurable.

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Agility Courses

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Moderate

Hard

1 hr

Items needed

Agility Equipment

Whistle or Clicker

Treats

Activity description

Greyhounds are the perfect breed to train to use a dog agility course. Since most agility courses are short, a Greyhound's quick bursts of speed are ideal and the fact that they are small and nimble will help as well. When training a Greyhound to run an agility course, keep in mind that this breed does best with slow and steady training. So rather than telling your pup a harsh "no" and using discipline to train, coax them into doing the correct actions using treats and praise - your Greyhound will respond better to this! Once trained, your Greyhound has serious potential to be an agility race winner.

Step

1

Equipment purchase

Find agility course equipment that you can purchase or join a local club that has agility courses you can use to train your dog. A club is also a great idea if you plan on competing with your Greyhound (and you should as your pup will surely be one of the fastest around!).

Step

2

Training sessions

Train your dog how to do each obstacle separately before tying them all together as a course. For example, teach your pup to run around cones or across a beam first, spending a good amount of time on this skill. Then move on to having them run around cones AND through a tunnel. Piece the course together slowly for optimal training results.

Step

3

Run the course

Run the agility course with your dog frequently and change the order of the obstacles often to keep it fresh and exciting for your Greyhound. Sign up for competitions and test your dog's agility and speed. As always, praise your pup and give them lots of love and affection for doing a great job (Greyhounds especially love this attention!)

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More Fun Ideas...

Greyhound Groups

Find a local Greyhound group that you can be a part of. People with Greyhounds love bringing their pups together and there may be many events that you and your dog can attend. Greyhounds do love to be social!

Toy Shopping

Greyhounds are very playful pups but they also like to just cuddle in their dog bed with their favorite toys. Look for a soft, plush toy for your Greyhound and test a few out to discover which is your dog's favorite (then buy a few in case one gets 'accidentally' destroyed!)

Conclusion

Greyhounds are a remarkable breed of dog. Their inherent need to chase prey and their incredible speed are sights to be seen. These bursts of energy from a dog who then wants to just cuddle and relax makes for a very enjoyable breed to have at home. Make sure to satisfy your Greyhound's need to run and also their desire to unwind and just hang out on their dog bed. With such a complex personality, there are plenty of things you can do with your Greyhound so get ready to have some fun!