Greyhound Rescue of New England

06/03/2026

Look who i visited.....Greyhound Rescue alumni Emmy Lou, Melrito and Rosie. Sweet, happy pups (Rosie is a big imp!)

06/01/2026

Interesting....

I STILL NEEDED MY MOM

The early weeks of a puppy’s life play a crucial part in laying a foundation for a well-adjusted adult dog.

This foundation influences future behaviour and how well they go on to cope and interact with the world.

Unfortunately, there are still breeders who allow puppies to leave their moms and littermates at only 6 weeks old, often with no regard for the long-term impact this can have on development.

Many new owners blindly trust that breeders must know best and never question this. But while a puppy may no longer rely on mom for food at this age, they are still deeply dependent on their family unit for learning vital life skills, social skills, building emotional security and resilience.

Between 6 and 8 weeks, puppies are in the process of learning:

• Bite inhibition
• Appropriate play behaviour
• Frustration tolerance
• Impulse control
• Communication and social skills
• Confidence and emotional resilience

These are skills that we as people, can never fully replicate in the same way that a pups family unit can.

While 8 weeks is generally considered the minimum age for puppies to leave, many ethical breeders prefer to keep puppies until 10 to 12 weeks, while also providing positive, age-appropriate socialisation and habituation experiences.

Habituation means gently introducing puppies to the world around them in positive, developmentally appropriate ways — different sounds, surfaces, objects, environments, people, smells, and everyday experiences — so they learn that new things are safe rather than frightening.

However, we don’t live an in ideal world and having to care for or rescue pups much younger than 8 weeks is often unavoidable due to different circumstances.

This post is not aimed at those situations - it’s about education, awareness and encouraging people not to support irresponsible breeding practices that place profit and convenience above the wellbeing and healthy development of puppies.

05/07/2026

We're excited to be heading to Logan next week to pick up Podengos.....here are my two sunny themselves🙂

05/07/2026

Interesting....

REDEFINING REACTIVITY

Reactivity is a complex topic that requires an individual approach for each dog and their specific circumstances. But the underlying driver is often the same — it’s an emotional response.

Trying to “fix” it through obedience training, corrections, or punishment-based methods focuses on what a dog does, instead of how a dog feels. It doesn’t address the root of the problem—and often creates new ones.

Reactivity can quickly become self-reinforcing because it works. When the trigger moves away, the dog experiences relief—and that emotional shift strengthens the response. The more it’s repeated, the more it becomes a default or a habitual behaviour.

Changing an emotional response is not a quick fix. Real change takes time, patience, understanding, and consistent practice.

Behaviour is the symptom. Emotion is the cause. Work on changing that emotion and the behaviour will follow.

Understanding that behaviour is driven by emotion, should change how we respond to our dogs. They’re not being difficult—they’re struggling.

Looking at reactivity from this perspective should encourage us to be more empathetic and understand that we need to support them rather than control them.

05/01/2026

04/13/2026

Feel like shopping for a great cause? Some really nice items.....

Greyhound Friends’ Signs of Spring Online Auction runs from Saturday, April 11 to Saturday, April 18, 2026. All proceeds from this online auction support the adoption and advocacy work of Greyhound Friends, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

* Bidding opens at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Auction closes at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Saturday, April 18, 2026 * Late bids will not be considered. Bid comments received on or after 8:01 p.m. EDT will be declined. The admins’ Facebook time indicator will be used to determine the time bids were placed. In the unlikely event two bids are received with the same time stamp, the larger bid will be accepted. If two identical bids are received with the same timestamp, a blind drawing will be done to choose the winner. Bids from anyone who previously won an item and did not follow through will be declined.

Please read item descriptions and terms carefully before entering your bid. Bidding is in whole-dollar increments only. Enter your bid(s) by commenting on the item photo in this album.

Shipping cost is to continental US only, unless special arrangements are made *before* the auction closes. Please note that items may ship from different locations so we may not always be able to combine shipping. **We will combine shipping costs whenever we can.** Shipping time may be longer than expected due to USPS delays. Cost is estimated and may be higher due to recent rate increases.

If you prefer to pick up your winnings in person at the Greyhound Friends kennel, you may do so by appointment only. Kennel pickup is available Sat-Tues, 10am-3pm when the kennel is open to the public.

Winners will be contacted through Facebook messaging with their totals and payment instructions. ***If you are not on Facebook regularly, please include your email address with your bids so we can contact you if you win.***

Payment by credit card is accepted through Paypal to [email protected] or you may choose to mail a check to Greyhound Friends, 167 Saddle Hill Rd., Hopkinton, MA 01748. **Please wait to receive your total before making payment.**

Please ask any questions before bidding. Thank you and good luck!

04/12/2026

Melrito, Rosie and Emmy always know when Daddy's home (which means happy time and snacks)!

04/04/2026

We're ready to start collecting for our fundraiser Barn Sale (in partnership with The Greyson Hound Foster Fund). The barn in Uxbridge is clear and ready to be filled (picture on the left). The picture on the right is last years sale! Email me at [email protected] or message Carla Kenney for drop off plans of your donations. It's a fun time for everyone! Thanks🙂

04/01/2026

We're working on bringing this little sweetie over.....more info to come🙂

01/30/2026

Tico continues to thrive on his new home💜 We need to start working on bringing more Podengos over....they are awesome little dogs! Who wants to adopt a Podengo?