Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies - (For Dummies) by Lee Livingood (Paperback)

About the Book

Is there life after retirement? More than 18,000 greyhounds are adopted every year, and this handy reference puts the reader on the fast track to finding an adoption group, selecting the right dog, and more. 8-page color insert. Photos & illustrations.

Book Synopsis

"The next best thing to having an experienced Greyhound owner living with you."
--Joan Belle Isle, President, Greyhound Project

"Anyone who reads this book and follows its guidance will have a happier, healthier dog and be a happier, more relaxed dog owner."
--Hal and Karen Hawley, Greyhound Friends Northwest

The Greyhound has been celebrated in song and legend for thousands of years. Nowadays, Greyhounds are bred almost exclusively for racing. In the bad old days, prior to the 1980s, dogs that didn't make the grade at the track, and those past their primes, were destroyed. According to official estimates, 60,000 of these noble, mild-mannered dogs were destroyed each year! Fortunately, a number of organizations now exist devoted to rescuing these unwanted dogs and placing them in good homes.

Thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound? Or maybe you're already sharing your life with one of these charming animals. Either way, this friendly guide tells you everything you need to know to:

• Understand the Greyhound personality
• Find a retired racing Greyhound to adopt
• Choose the right ex-racer for you and your family
• Educate yourself and your retired racer
• Give your new pal the diet and exercise it needs
• Keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come

With plenty of good humor and straight-talk, Lee Livingood drawing on her forty-years of experience training adult rescue dogs to cover all the pros and cons of being a retired racing Greyhound owner, and she fills you in on:

• The amazing 8000-year history of the Greyhound
• Deciding whether an ex-racer is the right do for you and your family
• Physical and behavioral characteristics
• How to get a retired racer used to living in a home and be a companion
• Dealing with common behavioral and health problems
• Feeding, grooming, and exercising a Greyhound
• Fun things to do with your hound

Bursting with expert advice on all aspects of living with an ex-racer, Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies is must reading for anyone considering adoption or who's already taken the leap.

From the Back Cover

"A no-nonsense guide to the joys and pitfalls of adopting the retired racing Greyhound."
Bruce Skinner, Editor in Chief, A Breed Apart

Find out about your retired racing Greyhound's special needs

Get the lowdown on keeping your dog healthy and content

Are you thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound, or are you already sharing your life with one? This fun and friendly book is bursting with expert advice on all aspects of owning an ex-racer: understanding the Greyhound personality, taking care of your new friend, teaching good manners, and much more.

Praise for Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies^(R)

"The next best thing to having an experienced Greyhound owner living with you."
--Joan Belle Isle, President, Greyhound Project

"Anyone who reads this book and follows its guidance will have a happier, healthier dog and be a happier, more relaxed dog owner."
--Hal and Karen Hawley, Greyhound Friends Northwest

Discover how to:
Find a retired racing Greyhound to adopt
Choose the right ex-racer for you
Manage your new friend
Educate yourself and your retired racer
Maintain good health, proper exercise, and diet

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About the Author

Lee Livingood has been training adult rescue dogs for nearly 40 years. She lives with two adopted ex-racers, volunteers for her local Greyhound adoption group, and writes for Greyhound and other dog publications.