Well here are some details and information on how you can make the process go faster and help us all :)

For some reason a lot of the people who are keen to adopt greyhounds have cats. I know there is about a 1 year wait for cat friendly greyhounds here in SA. A handy thing to do would be to cat test them yourself. Adoption/rescues have a limited amount of staff and volunteers helping them so if you could pop a muzzle on your fur friend and test with an inside cat and video it that would help so much.

Also, we know most of the dogs have been out in the kennels most of there lives. People who are adopting will be keeping there dogs inside, so house trained is a must. Maybe when you dog is ready to retire or you know they wont make the grade in racing, move them inside. GAP ask for foster carers to keep them for two weeks to get them settled in. Maybe if you let them inside they will only need to be in foster care for a week :)

I do have more tips but I need to go. Please comment and I'll try to answer as much as I can

You mention that most people who adopt want an inside greyhound. I was wondering though, are there problems with people adopting and maintaining a greyhound as an outside dog, providing they are given adequate shelter and presumably rugged in the colder winter months here in Melbourne?

I have friend who may happily take a dog, but an inside dog is out of the question for them.

Cheers

Yes This is very true. I bought one of my girls home from a pound not knowing if she was going to eat my cat or not. She tried but with a lot effort and treats. It took us 2 months to get her able to sit next to the cat and even allow the cat to clean her. Outside cats are very different as if they run the greyhound will do what comes and chase. None of my girls raced yet they still have that urge to run and chase. Its just time and effort.

Another issue is foster carers. There is never enough foster carers. I know GAP doesnt let a dog go until they have spent time in foster homes. I guess to build a profile.

I live in Woodend which is one of the coldest parts of the state (think Ballarat climate....but at 700m elevation) and the dogs/pups survive perfectly well outside without coats.

Sure, they get pretty woolly over winter but as long as they have a snug kennel with bedding (they love sawdust/wood shavings) they will cope just fine.

Telling people they "need" to be inside is unnecessary and could be scaring off potential adopters.

This is great information. My intention is not to "scare off" anyone. I just want to find out the ins and outs of what can be done to get these dogs adopted. The sawdust is a great idea.

Some groups - GSN in Vic for example will only home greyhounds as inside pets. Yes while they can 'survive' outside, they like to be inside with their humans. If people want 'outside' pets then there are more suitable breeds for them than greyhounds.

The don't just "survive" outside....they are perfectly happy and healthy. Same as Boxers, Dalmations, Rotties, Dobermans, Staffies and dozens of other short haired breeds. Virtually all breeds would "like to be inside with their humans".

We shouldn't be scaring away potential adopters because of a misconception that they can't handle living in a backyard.

We would be doing the breed a dis-service.

Greyhounds are taken into foster care to learn how to to live as inside companion dogs. Once they have had a taste of the good life they do not do well outside on their own.

I think if you were wanting a pet greyhound you would have them inside. Lets face it, greyhounds are not gaurd dogs so they wont gaurd your yard. I mean racing greyhounds are working dogs. I know a farmer with a kelpie and the dog isnt allowed inside because she is a working dog. But they have a pet kelpie who comes inside because she doesnt work anymore. Its really each to there own but, if and when I start to help adopt out greyhounds I think Id like it better if they were allowed inside. As I said my girls are outside all day while I work but at night time they come in.

And that's where the disagreement is - to a lot of rehoming groups it is not a 'perfectly good home" if the dog sleeps outdoors in a kennel.
If however they really do want to adopt a greyhound, there are other places they can adopt from. It is just a matter of policy.

The climate "outside" in Australia is a lot different to outside in the UK and Ireland. Yes they need a warm kennel and a rug, but most dogs of all breeds in Australia, family pets included, live outside and love it (people probably spend more time outside in Australia as well - LOL - so there is no contradiction between being outside and being part of the family). (My retired ones do sleep inside in the winter, but they are just as happy outside in the summer and the environment is more stimulating for them.)