running with the dogs

Did you mean sedentary? I think you might be careful at first to make sure the dog is introduced to running gradually.

Take it very very easy with her, be mindful of the heat/her paw-pads/etc. Many dogs are very "omgz must please owner" and don't stop even if they're hurting.

Also, greyhounds aren't really bred for crazyawesome endurance. Their original purpose was to dart after a rabbit and catch/kill it in a matter of seconds. With that in mind, make sure you have her on a leash when you're out with her, and be sure you're only taking on her slow, eaaaaasy days.

Let me give you some advice. I have had many a dog in my day. If that b**** dont listen to you, you have several options:

1. Throw her in a filled bathtub, then throw in a plugged in hairdryer.

2. Repeatedly slam her to the ground.

3. Hang her.

I'm good at dogs. They do what I tell them.

YOU ARE A LOSER........ someone should hang you

Greyhounds, as mentioned, are not the BEST endurance dogs, but are built for running. They are tall enough and long-legged enough that can trot (as opposed to gallop) at many people's relaxed running speed. This is a VERY efficient mode of travel for all dogs. This is how most wild dogs travel over very long distances each day, only galloping to go catch something to eat.

Depending on how long the dog has been retired, it may still be in very good shape and could run for quite a while with you. However, remember that pavement of any kind is very rough on a dog's feet. Greyhounds are almost always trained on soft surfaces (grass or dirt tracks), so you'd be better off running on grass and/or trails. Personally, my dog seems to greatly prefer running on trails in the woods versus open fields...i dont know why. He just loves running in the woods. Sometimes to give him a good workout, I'll even get on the mtn bike and ride in a low gear and he'll follow me, and sometimes try to pass me if he sees a squirrel or something. Anyway, start slowly, as you would if you were trying to get your 10-yr old kid to start running with you.

Also, remember you have shoes, the dog does not. Check his/her paws after every run (a vet can tell you what specifically to look for) for any visible damage or changed gait (possible indicating an injury). As mentioned, many dogs will just keep going to please the owner. Mine chased me for about a mile once when i was on an ATV (i didnt know he was chasing me) when he had a hairline fracture in his pelvis!!! I was doing between 15-20 mph the whole time. I simply could not believe he could go that hard when he was limping so bad while walking - he showed no sign of limp when he was chasing me...he just inflamed it worse. There are "shoes" you can get for dogs made by companies like Outward Hound to protect their paws. Some dogs will wear them after getting used to them, some just wont. Try those if you can't find much in off-road running.

For the original poster, rescue dogs are great - what a nice thing to do. Greys are mellow and sweet.

However, Greyhounds are the worst endurance dogs.

Most prefer to be let loose in a field, they will run around like crazy for 1 min, then they are done. They are sprinters. Running with a greyhound would be like running with Michael Johnson.