Penelope

Penelope is a petite 50-pound retired racing greyhound who has been one of the calmest, easiest dogs we have brought into our home.

She quietly settled into our routines like she belonged here. Penelope is “Velcro dog,” though not in an overwhelming way. She likes to know where her person is and prefers to be nearby. She is not clingy and shows no signs of separation anxiety when left alone. Most of the time, she is perfectly content relaxing on her dog bed in the same room while you go about your day. Every now and then, she will wander over for ear scritches before returning to her preferred lounging spot. She is not especially cuddly, but she is deeply companionable.

And she does love a soft place to land. She has already decided that our couch is an acceptable part of her retirement package. Penelope sleeps quietly on her bed in our bedroom from about 10:00 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. every night without issue. She is also the best car-riding greyhound we have ever transported. She simply settles in and goes with the flow.

Outside is where Penelope’s inner greyhound shows up. We originally thought she might be apartment friendly, we quickly realized she genuinely loves being outdoors. She takes squirrel patrol very seriously and can become so distracted scanning the yard that she occasionally “forgets” to pee before coming back inside. We suspect this will improve with routine and daily walks as she continues to acclimate to home life.

Penelope gets along beautifully with our two resident dogs and has been calm around children. However, her prey drive is real and should be taken seriously. She is far too interested in cats and tiny dogs to safely live with them. She would do best in a home with no cats or very small pets and a securely fenced yard.