An Owner's Guide
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Greyhound Basics An Owner’s Guide A Publication by the National Greyhound Adoption Program Greyhound Basics An Owner’s Guide A Publication By National Greyhound Adoption Program 10901 Dutton Road . Philadelphia, PA 19154 Office: 215.331.7918 / Fax: 215.331.1947 [email protected] David G. Wolf Director www.NGAP.org © 2010 NGAP TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction...............................................................................1 Proper Use of the Greyhound Muzzle.......................................3 Muzzling Your Greyhound..........................................................3 Leash and Collar........................................................................4 Adjusting to a New Environment.............................................5 Housebreaking........................................................................6 Furniture, Dog Beds & Crates...................................................7 Feeding Your Greyhound........................................................8 Force Feeding Your Greyhound.................................................9 Empty Stomach Syndrome.......................................................10 Gulping Food............................................................................10 Dealing With Slippery Floors...............................................11 Hazards of Glass & Mirrors...................................................11 Learning Stairs........................................................................12 Training Your Greyhound........................................................13 Grooming..........................................................................14 Greyhounds & Children...........................................................15 Separation Anxiety...................................................................16 Fear of Thunderstorms............................................................17 Sleep Aggression.....................................................................17 Greyhounds & Other Pets.......................................................18 Pack Status.............................................................................19 High Prey Characteristics.......................................................19 Ear Tattoos...............................................................................20 Temperature Sensitivity..........................................................21 Exercising Your Greyhound.....................................................22 Greyhounds & Yards...............................................................23 Boarding Your Greyhound.......................................................24 Traveling With Your Greyhound..........................................25-26 What To Do If Your Greyhound Gets Loose.......................27-28 History of the Greyhound...................................................29-31 Physical & Mental Characteristics of the Greyhound.......32-33 Life on the Racetrack..............................................................34 Greyhound Racing Industry Facts..........................................35 Starfish....................................................................................37 INTRODUCTION Congratulations on adopting a former racing greyhound as a pet! National Greyhound Adoption Program is proud and pleased that you have chosen to adopt your pet through our organization. We take great care in profiling our dogs and analyzing your application information to match what we consider to be the best dog for your household and lifestyle. We trust that you and your new companion will enjoy a very special relationship for many years. The information contained in this care manual is intended to acquaint you with the breed and to assist you and your greyhound during the transition period from racer to house pet. We encourage you to read what we have written and to use it as reference to achieve maximum enjoyment from your new family member. NGAP is devoted to greyhounds and their care; we want you and your new pet to be happy. Should you have any questions regarding your greyhound, or if you encounter any problems, please do not hesitate to call our Dutton Road office. www.ngap.org 1 2 Greyhound Basics PROPER USE OF THE GREYHOUND MUZZLE Adjust the strap to the proper approximate size of your greyhound’s head. The muzzle strap should fit easily over the head with the strap closed and adjusted, but should not be so loose that it can be rubbed off against a fence or other object. To put the muzzle on, position the basket in front of your greyhound’s nose and slide the strap over it’s forehead and ears. Re-adjust the strap if necessary so that basket of the muzzle does not push against your greyhound’s nose. MUZZLING YOUR GREYHOUND Your greyhound began wearing a muzzle at the same time it started wearing a collar. He was always muzzled while racing and often wore one in the kennel where he lived. Muzzling your greyhound is not cruel and can serve a multitude of purposes. Knowing the appropriate time to use a muzzle really depends on how well you know your dog. Newly adopted dogs should be kept muzzled whenever they are introduced to children, other dogs (both large and small), cats, and other pets. Your greyhound should be muzzled anytime you are not in the immediate vicinity to supervise the situation until you are sure everyone is getting along. If your greyhound exhibits aggressive, territorial, shy, or anxious behavior, especially while in his crate or while sleeping or resting, muzzling your greyhound is your safest option until your dog learns to trust you and until he learns what is expected of him. In addition, the muzzle eliminates your greyhound’s ability to chew his way out of his crate. Muzzles can also be used to restrict your dog from exhibiting other undesirable behaviors such as counter surfing, chewing, and general destructiveness when left unattended and to control the licking and biting of sutures and stitches after surgery. A stool guard inserted into your greyhound’s muzzle will eliminate feces consumption when outside. Competitive greyhounds that nip and bite other greyhounds and dogs while running should be muzzled as a precaution against such behaviors. If your greyhound has not been wearing a muzzle for awhile, chances are he will not enjoy wearing one. Rest assured that he will get used to it. Be forewarned that some greyhounds will be very clever in removing their muzzles from their face by rubbing it against a Proper position of the muzzle. protruding object and pulling it off. This can be avoided by obtaining a plastic collar like those worn at the racetrack and looping it through the muzzle while it’s on. Responsible use of a muzzle can be a very useful tool because it will help you to achieve positive results early on so that ultimately you won’t have to use it in the future! www.ngap.org 3 LEASH AND COLLAR Most dogs can wear a buckled collar or metal or nylon choker, but not a greyhound. Your greyhound has very little hair around his neck and needs a collar that will not injure or irritate it. He also needs a collar that will not allow his small head to slip out. A martingale collar is designed for the greyhound and, when adjusted properly, will keep your greyhound from escaping. Always be sure to have the following ID tags on your greyhound’s collar: NGAP ID, Personal ID, Rabies, Microchip, and Applicable County License (if any). If your NGAP tag is lost, please notify us at 215.331.7918 for a replacement. Replacement tags are $4.00 each. It is important to attach the tags to the side ring of the collar and not the “D” ring where you attach the leash. If the tags get caught on something, a dog could panic and choke because the collar tightens around Martingale Collar their neck by the “D” ring. Use a four to six foot nylon leash. Your greyhound should be very familiar with the leash. If he does pull on the leash as you are walking, then correct him. The best way is to just stop and make him ease up before you continue. Try working with him indoors on the leash until he learns that pulling only means he will not be going anywhere. Soon he will be walking by your side. Your greyhound may walk great on a leash at the park and always come when called in the backyard but do not assume he will hear you or even pay attention to you in a wide-open space. NEVER LET YOUR GREYHOUND RUN LOOSE IN AN UNSECURED AREA. His natural instinct, bred in him for thousands of years, is to run after anything that excites him and to run away from anything that frightens him. His total attention is then focused on what he is doing, whether you approve or not. Personal ID Rabies Vaccination ID HomeAgain Microchip ID NGAP ID 4 Greyhound Basics ADJUSTING TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT The first few days in its new home, your greyhound will probably follow you every-where. This is his way of learning your routine and his intense desire to fit in. Your greyhound’s past was centered on imposed uniformity in a rigid environment. A daily routine helps him know what to expect and when. Include him in your activities to make him feel special, useful and like part of the family. Leave him for short periods without making a big fuss when you come and go, so he understands that he will be spending some time alone; you do not want to unintentionally create separation anxiety. Do not overwhelm your new pet. Where to eat, sleep and eliminate should be the first priorities with exercise and play also being taken into account. The more your greyhound