I need to know everything about greyhounds!

Montyforever

Montyforever

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Im going to see potential dog at the weekend (i know far too long to wait :p) :D

So i have some questions, obviously im going to keep the dog on whatever it gets in the kennels for a while until they settle, but what food do you feed your greyhounds?
Is it better for them to have 2 + feeds a day or just one dinner?

Would be getting coats, what sort should i be looking for? eg fleece/waterproof ect.

What sort of toys do your greyhounds like? :)

And anything else you think is worth me knowing??

Eta - ive done my internet research just want to know from an actual greyhound owners POV :)
 
i had a greyhound for 14 years and theres only one way to describe them and thats lazy! lol! they love their sleep next to a nice warm fire, mine was a fussy eater and feed him two small feeds a day which was fish. in the winter a coat is a must i had a waterproof one with a fleece inside, but they dont need much exercise and they dont cost much in vets bills as they arent highly bred they never seem to get any problems!. they are very loyal dogs so im sure you will enjoy yours.
 
I feed mine raw - the best thing I have ever done, all greyhounds have appalling teeth (well known for it with vets) and it has made a huge difference to my three :) I got fed up of paying out £250-£350 per YEAR to have Islay's teeth cleaned and loads of extractions every time, and I knew the other two would follow suit as they got older :(

I used to always feed twice a day, now I feed once a day (around 6pm) and it is loads easier. Plus of course now they are on raw they poo loads less :)

I would recommend the Blizzard coats from here:

http://www.grweshop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Dog_Coats_12.html

These coats are very good value for money, last for years and keep the hounds warm and dry.

Mine dont really play with toys at all TBH, Flick and Amy spend most of their off-lead time chasing each other around in huge circles whilst Islay surveys them distainfully from her position as pack leader :D They do, of course, spend about 23 hours a day fast asleep, and I have found the best beds for them are Value Duvets from Tescos :) Single ones can just be popped through the washing machine/tumble dryer when needed :)

Anything else you should know.....watch out for their dew claws, flippin greyhound breeders never seem to remove them and some hounds are prone to ripping theirs out when dashing around. Dont be ashamed to keep doglet on a lead for at least the first four weeks, I know now how mine are going to be and probably let them off sooner than that but it is not worth the risk if there is any doubt and you dont have an enclosed place to let them off!

And make sure you post lots of photos :D

I did LOL about Jasmine's comments that they dont incur many vets bills, all I can say is it depends on the dog! In the last few months I have had Islay break a toe whilst coursing a hare (£150), Flick cut her head open on something unknown (another £150), all three go down with kennel cough (didnt bother with vets so not too costly), all three need stomach tablets after bin raiding and overdosing on Rimadyl tablets (Sunday call out fee plus tablets)....... and they are worth a million times every penny I spend on them :D

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Oh dear you are going to start something on here, with a Greyhound Thread.

My Greyhound is on a complete dry food called Autarkey, it's Australian but you can get it in this country, it is low in protien which is what you need for a non working greyhound. He also has Sardines in Tomato sause, he likes this added to his food, he is fed a mug and a half of dry and third of a tin of the asda cheap fish once a day, he used to have this split between two meals but he just poohed everywhere all the time!!!

Cliff has some Zebra print PJ's made for him by WWW.forestfleece.co.uk, he wears these at night, because if he gets cold he wanders round the bed until let on to snuggle up.

They are really lazy, two 20 minute walks on the lead is enough for them, mine however is good off the lead so has a wander at the yard in the morning while doing the horses then has a 30 minute loopy walk at night.

I wouldn't bother by dog toys, not interested in them at all, is fave things are balled up socks, a stuffed pony toy, and anything else he's not allowed. found a bra in his bed, which i thought the washing machine had eaten, turns out that he had buried it.

Dental Sticks are great for there teeth and they love him, he has that before bed, he then knows it's time to settle for the night.

Loves to be on the sofa and bed, tried to stop him doing so but gave up, but they don't smell or lose much hair so not too much of an issue, only problem is he likes to spread out so leaves little room for us!!!

But they are the best dogs in the world and i would not have anyother breed ever again, and there are plenty of people on here that will totally agree.

picture.php
Having a run at the yard....looks more like a kangaroo.
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At work sleeping as usual, it was warm so he led directly on the floor which is rare. He had a open joint wound from jumping off a wall, to obiediant (most aren't) instead of going round he went over, trouble was the four foot drop on the other side. stoopid doggy.


Anything i've forgotten just shout.
 
I second using Blizzard coats for wet weather and mine have an Equafleece jumper each - brilliant for keeping baldy chests warm and dry.

OH has banned me from raw feeding (working on that!) but I've recently switched to CSJ dry food and their coats are fantastic on it. I do give them 2 meals a day but only a small breakfast & most of their food at night.

I'm so glad you are getting a greyhound :) I'm sure you will find them the perfect pets. oh, and a word of warning - you can never stop at one ;) :D
 
Brownmare said:
I'm so glad you are getting a greyhound :) I'm sure you will find them the perfect pets. oh, and a word of warning - you can never stop at one ;) :D
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Thanks all :D

I know i soooo want to bring his mum home too as shes an older dog so shes been there a while too! :( but she wont live with a cat, i just hope she finds somewhere nice, all his brothers/sisters have been gone ages but hes still there because hes nervous and shy and cant be left alone for long. Poor little guy, i really hope it works out with him :D
 
If he is likely to have separation anxiety then you need to add a crate to your shopping list too (have a look on the destruction thread and note the number of greys lol)
 
Brownmare said:
If he is likely to have separation anxiety then you need to add a crate to your shopping list too (have a look on the destruction thread and note the number of greys lol)
Click to expand...

Hmm i thought about that but im home all the time (being agoraphobic at the mo :() and the only places i go are the yard and my nans, both he could come too :)

Do you think he would need to be crated at night?
 
I think in order to help the boy out and cure him of his SA you need to crate train him and get him use to being on his own. Even if thats only while you are in the other room.

The crate would also help him feel less nervous and more safe.
 
katielou_houston said:
I think in order to help the boy out and cure him of his SA you need to crate train him and get him use to being on his own. Even if thats only while you are in the other room.

The crate would also help him feel less nervous and more safe.
Click to expand...

Oh i see what you mean :)
Best to tackle the problem straight away i guess!
 
We have had our retired greyhound for 18 months, she raced until she was nearly 6. She had really bad teeth and had to have a couple out as well as a general clean of the others. I think they feed them on mushy food when racing which doesn't help, we have gradually weaned her off this and she has Wonder Dog with a bit of hot water on it mixed with our leftovers or tinned dog food (she is a food monster and loves all food!) Only feed her in the evening but she is lady greyhound now and has a bit of toast in her bed in the morning:). She was easy to housetrain considering she had been in kennels all her life, just let her out morning/after eating etc, she soon learned & also to go on just one bit of the lawn too. At first she slunk about in the hallway and was quite timid, but soon joined our jrt infront of the fire...and learned to climb stairs (her other favourite place is the bed). She loves to play with balls/toys and throws them about and will fetch when thrown. Likes to sleep for most of the time but will go for a quick race around in big circles as if racing when out on a walk and comes back when called. Just be careful where you let yours off the lead i.e not near a road because they can get from a to b in no time at all particularly if they see a rabbit etc! She has a thin waterproof coat, a padded waterproof coat & a fleecy coat for extra cold nights (all pink of course, much to OH's despair:D) Don't regret getting her for a minute, she is a really lovely dog and a real character
 
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I have 4 Greyhounds soon to be 5 & had Greyhounds all my life, really don't know anything different.

Mine are fed a variety of foods, the biscuits are Gain 20 & are given with cooked mince, steak, sardines, cooked carrots, cabbage & stew if i am cooking a pot of it.
They love nothing more than lazing about on the sofa or on my bed !!!
They all have waterproof coats for when we go out in the cold weather.
Mine all play with toys, enjoy chewing on a rawhide.

When out we have to be careful they don't come across any rabbits as they will chase them especially being ex racers.
All mine get on great with all types of other dogs.
My mum has 2 Shih Tzus & 1 Lhaso Apso & we all going walking together.

They are hardier than we make them out to be.

XxX
 
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