Adopting
a Greyhound
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ABOUT
GREYHOUNDS
Appearance
The greyhounds that THE GREYHOUND RESCUE SOCIETY OF TEXAS places
are usually between 2 and 10 years of age. The size will vary,
with most weighing between 50 and 85 pounds. Males are usually
larger than the females, and they stand anywhere from 26"
to 30" at the shoulder. There are an almost endless variety
of colors, including black, brindle, white, fawn, red, blue or
any of the colors broken with white. Greyhounds are graceful,
muscular, and naturally on the "lean" side. They have
been described as being "small" large dogs because they
are "cat-like" in their ability to curl up in the smallest
ball and fit into the smallest places.
Behavior
Typically, a retired track greyhound is good natured, clean, quiet,
and very gentle. There is little difference in temperament between
males and females, but the males do seem sweeter. They are equally
wonderful! Because they may have been around many other dogs and
many different people in their track life, the greyhounds do well
in homes as companion pets. They are affectionate and loyal.
They continue to enjoy
exercise, but require far less than one might imagine. A long
walk or romp in an enclosed area 2 to 3 times a week will do.
Because they are "sight hounds" a greyhound must always
be kept on a leash when not in an enclosed area. Much of the time,
they are very content to relax on a soft bed or sleep. In fact,
they make very good apartment/condominium pets. Greyhounds are
extremely sensitive and intelligent animals and respond quickly
to training. Because of their docile nature and their tendency
not to bark much, they usually don't make good "watch"
dogs; however many instances have been reported of alerting family
members to emergency situations.
Health
Generally speaking, the greyhounds that THE GREYHOUND RESCUE SOCIETY
OF TEXAS receives are in good health. As with any new pet, it
is recommended that you take your new greyhound to a veterinarian
for a thorough check-up. Racing greyhounds are bred for athleticism
and as a result, have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
Dental care is a must
for greyhounds. You should have your hound's teeth checked, cleaned
and any damaged teeth pulled at least once a year. Part of their
routine grooming is brushing their teeth regularly, and it is
a must to ensure clean teeth and healthy gums, making a healthier
greyhound.
Use a soft-bristled
brush or hound glove to groom your grey's coat. Regular cleaning
of their ears and clipping of nails is also necessary. Nails that
are not kept trimmed can cause damage to the foot by tearing or
splitting. Greyhounds, because of very little oil in their skin,
have no "doggy-odor", and shedding is kept to a minimum.
Because of these characteristics, many people with allergies find
they can live comfortably with a greyhound.
There are no genetic-related
abnormalities common to greyhounds; they have one of the lowest
incidents of hip dysphasia of all the breeds. However, being a
large breed, they can be prone to Bloat, which is caused by the
stomach flipping over -- it can be fatal and must be treated immediately.
Do not feed for at least 30 minutes after strenuous exercise or
let your greyhound run hard less than 1 hour after feeding. Too
much water before or after exercise can also cause Bloat. Having
little body fat, caution must be exercised when using some anesthesia
agents. You should discuss these sensitivities with your veterinarian
to ensure he is familiar with this fact.
Flea collars should
not be used on greyhounds and flea shampoos only containing Pyrenthrins
should be used. A mixture of 50% Murphy Oil Soap and Joy dishwashing
liquid, if left on the greyhound at least 5 minutes, is an excellent
low-cost shampoo and kills any fleas. Frontline or Advantage can
be used as a flea deterrent, and can be obtained from your vet.
Housebreaking
Track greyhounds are "kennel-broken", meaning that they
have been trained not to soil their living quarters. It is relatively
easy to housetrain such dogs. They need to get the message that
the house they are now in is their "kennel". Their life
was one of routine at the track, so if you employ common sense,
patience and consistentency when they are brought home, housebreaking
can be relatively easy. The greyhound, being a very clean dog
by nature, will assist in the training. Greyhounds should never
be hit, and a stern "NO" should be enough to discipline
them. A crate, muzzle or keeping them enclosed in a specific area
can be helpful in the beginning when you bring them home.
Children
Being gentle, patient and sensitive, greyhounds live with families
having children quite well. (Click
here for photo.) Greyhounds tend to walk away if play becomes
too much, rather than snap. However, all children should be supervised
by an adult when playing with any dog, and they must be taught
to respect the greyhound's personal space, especially when the
grey is sleeping.
Other Pets
Introducing your greyhound to other family pets should be done
slowly and with a muzzle until all family members are comfortable.
Many greyhounds live harmoniously with cats inside the home, and
Greyhounds Unlimited has foster homes for cat testing. Every effort
is taken to ensure that this testing is accurate; however, caution
should be taken when meeting for the first time.
Exercise
DO NOT LET THEM OFF A LEASH unless they are in a totally enclosed
area. Greyhounds are sight hounds which means they hunt by
sight. If they see something to chase - they are gone, and needless
to say you won't be able to catch them! They do not know about
cars either and could easily be hit if they are running loose.
They are very good on a lead, so you won't have any problems walking
or running with them, once they are used to the routine. They
are sprinters, so they need to be trained for longer distances
at a slower pace.
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