GAP Tasmania is a program administered by Tasmania’s Tri-Code Racing Authority – Tasracing. No profit is sought from any income derived from GAP Tasmania. The aim of charging fees is to help cover the administration costs of running the program.
An adoption fee of $300 (including GST from 1st February 2018) per dog assists GAP Tasmania cover the following costs in relation to preparing each greyhound for adoption:
Vaccination | Desexing | Microchipping | Worming | Flea Treatment | Teeth cleaning | Nail trimming | Health exam | Grooming | Temperament testing | Printed materials | Post-adoption support
All greyhounds are handed to their new owner with a new coat, a special collar that identifies him as a GAP Tasmania dog, a harness, matching leads and a muzzle.
If you adopt 2 previously fostered greyhounds at the same time the fee is reduced to $500 the pair.
If you are a non-fostered greyhound and elect to do the home introductions your self the adoption fee is $250 for one dog or $400 for two at the same time.
The vast majority of greyhounds have been well socialised and are friendly by nature. They get along well with other dogs, although they may not play with them! Common sense should be exercised during the introductory period and supervised feeding is always recommended in a multi-pet household.
Male greyhounds are taller than females, weighing from 30 to 45kg and standing from 65 to 75cm at the shoulder. The females can weigh from 25 to 35kg and stand from 60 to 70cm at the shoulder.
Greyhounds are quiet, well-mannered, and very easy to live with. They are friendly, affectionate, calm, clean, loving, trusting and good-natured. They require far less exercise than you might imagine! you won’t need to sprint 500 metres a day alongside your new dog! They are more than happy with a regular gentle stroll!
All adoptions should be undertaken with the expectation that your new pet will be with you for life. However, GAP Tasmania will take any greyhound back into the care of the program within 28 days of adoption in the unlikely event that you are unhappy with your decision.
It depends on the individual dog. While some greyhounds are not suitable for homes with small animals, a lot are. At GAP Tasmania we test our dogs very thoroughly to ensure that a correct match between greyhound and adopter is achieved. Care should be taken when introducing your new greyhound to your cat and they should never be left alone together until you are sure there are no problems.
Retired racing greyhounds are very tolerant of children. If a child becomes overbearing, the dog will usually walk away rather than snap or growl. Male greyhounds can be better with children than female greyhounds – females can sometimes regard children as puppies. It is in their nature to discipline their own puppies when they get too boisterous, and some do the same with human children. This is usually evidenced by growling or barking when their patience has been pushed to the limit. Males, however, tend to see children as siblings and are more likely to enjoy playing with them. As with all breeds of dogs, small children should never be left unsupervised with your greyhound. It’s also vitally important that you teach your children to respect the dog. Children poking dogs, falling on them or pulling tails should never be allowed.
Children should also be taught to respect the dog’s space around food and bedding. Homes with young children should also provide the greyhound with a “time out” area – this is a quiet space where the greyhound can get away from the children for a rest. Children should be taught that this area is off-limits.
The most common colours are black, brindle and fawn. Other colours include blue and white, and a combination of these colours (e.g. black and white). It is important to note that GAP Tasmania does not select dogs by colour.
Dogs available for adoption are generally around two years of age, but it is standard for GAP Tasmania to have a range from eighteen months right up to eight years at any given time. The adaptable, stable and loving nature of the greyhound predisposes an easy transition to companion dog regardless of age. Generally, younger dogs will be more active, while older dogs will be more quiet and well-mannered. The expected lifespan of a greyhound is twelve to fourteen years.
Most of our dogs are house-trained before being adopted if they have been through foster care. Greyhounds are intelligent, clean animals who learn very quickly. As they are already kennel trained, house training is usually quickly learnt. You should, however, expect some accidents until a routine has been established. Even after foster care remember your home is new to them and they don’t know where anything is, it is your job in the first few days to help them adjust.
In Tasmania, the muzzling law has changed to allow greyhounds that pass an accredited program to be muzzle free when in public wearing their identifying collar. Gap Tasmania is an accredited program and the green collar signifies the greyhound being permitted to be muzzle free.
It is still the law that they must be on the lead in a public place, this is as much for their safety as any other reason. The only way to assure your greyhound’s safety is on lead.
No. Greyhounds are sprinters and as such, tire very quickly. They enjoy but are not dependent on moderate exercise. In most homes, the shared experience of a short brisk walk once a day is enough to keep both the adopter and the adoptee in good physical health. They can make good jogging companions, but only after they are properly conditioned for long distances.
Yes. Greyhounds are fostered by GAP Tasmania to expose them to as many new things as possible, and the dogs are quite settled in a family environment well before the foster time is through. Greyhounds thrive on human companionship and bond very quickly. Bonding usually only takes a matter of days, and becoming accustomed to a new routine and environment generally only takes a few weeks. The older greyhounds tend to be better mannered from the start while the younger dogs are generally more curious and active.
