I am trying not to be a greyhound snob.

Some of you have kids. We don't. The dogs are our kids. We do not want children. So, we spoil the dogs. The have too many toys, too many rawhides, too many beds. They are our companions. They go with us when we take day trips for hiking across AZ. They are funny, loving, and always interesting. To some of you, they're just dogs. To us, they are our 'kids.'
When we adopted them, we adopted through a rescue group. We did a lot of reading about them before hand, so we were prepared. Greyhounds are a little special-
They need to learn how to be a pet. They have only known the track & kennel life. Not a life that includes toys, fluffy beds, and bones to chew whenever they want.
Greyhounds have a different metabolism and different enzymes than other dogs. This means-
--- They cannot be left outside all day. Ever. They cannot handle the extreme weather of AZ. Most dogs can be outside in the summer with lots of shade, and lots of water. Not a greyhound. If left outside with shade and water in the summer for several hours, it could kill them. They do not have a lot of body fat to help absorb and combat the heat (or cold.)
---They cannot metabolize anesthesia like other dogs. If your vet is not very knowledgeable about greyhound chemistry, they could easily not wake up from the anesthesia. This has been documented many times. Take them to a vet who has experience with greyhounds.
---They cannot have some of the rawhides that normal doggies get. They cannot have the white rawhides - usually the white or 'natural' rawhides are dipped in arsenic to get the white color. Greys cannot metabolize that, and they could get very sick. No rawhides made outside of the US. Rawhides made in Mexico, China, etc- the chemicals used on those rawhides could make greys very sick. They can have compressed rawhides or rawhide made in the US only.
--- Little tears in their skin could turn into a major tear requiring stitches, easily. They have such thin skin, a brush against something could turn into a tear. This has actually happened to us twice.
--- Do not send your greyhound to a kennel where they are kept in cages all day. Greyhounds were kept in cages their entire track life, and will most likely not adapt well to going back in a cage all day long.
--- They needs lots of fluffy places to lay. Since they have very low body fat, they do not have a lot of cushioning when they lay on a hard floor.

Whew, that's a lot. Its really not that bad as it sounds. Our vet understands greyhounds, both dogs have gone under twice, and are fine. We found a greyhound-only sitter who we leave them with when we go back to PA. They have coats, a dog door, lots of compressed rawhides, lots of toys and lots of beds.
But, I have been a bit of a grey-snob. Their vet was once the track vet at Phoenix Greyhound Park, and is considered the best around. Their sitter only sits greyhounds, where the sitter understands the breed, and knows their idiosyncrasies.

The problem? The vet and sitter are SOOOO far away. The vet is a 70 mile round trip, and the sitter is about a 90 mile round trip. So, I have been trying not to be a grey-snob, and trust people.
We have seen a vet in Maricopa. She is knowledgeable about greyhounds, and have treated several. She has also treated some at the greyhound farms outside of Maricopa. We really need a vet in town. I cannot keep traveling the 70 mile round trip. So, I am working to trust the vet in town for regular items. Major issues, such as Patton's corns, and when Patton was attacked, he goes to our original vet.
There is a sitter in town who I am meeting with on Saturday. She has an in house sitting business, but takes all dogs. She is as competent as my sitter who only sits greys, but she sits all breeds. I have to trust the boys will be fine. I will leave instructions, and of course check in on them, but I cannot treat the dogs with kid gloves. For my own sanity.