Raising dogs, especially providing care for the greyhound, is old hat for humans. Historians say dogs were domesticated between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-ft stature earns them the title of tallest dog. But the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The greyhound is another popular choice among dog owners. Some owners are misinformed, however, of some of the most important greyhound care tips.
General cost of care for the greyhound
The yearly cost of taking care of the greyhound—including everything from meals and snacks, to doctor bills, toys and license—could range between $420 and $780. This doesn’t even include capital costs for spay/neuter operations, a collar and a leash, carrier and a crate. Note: Make sure you have all of the necessary supplies before bringing your greyhound home.
Basic greyhound Care
greyhound Feeding Outline
- greyhound pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need 4 bowls of food every twenty-four hours.
- greyhound pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a day.
- Feed pups six months old to one year two bowls of food daily.
- When the greyhound reaches her 1st birthday, one meal in a day is adequate.
- Many times greyhounds, however, eat 2 smaller servings. It’s your job to adapt to your greyhound’s eating tendencies.
Premium-quality dry food ensures a balanced diet to adult greyhounds and can mix with canned food, water, or broth. Your greyhound may also dig fruits and vegetables, cooked eggs, and cottage cheese, but these foods should be less than 10 pct of his daily food. greyhound puppies must be given high-quality, name brand puppy food. You should try to cut down on “people food”, though, because it can result in mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone issues, and might result in some very finicky food choices and obesity. Clean, fresh water should be available always, and be certain to wash food and water bowls very regularly.
greyhound Care Tips: Your greyhound needs physical activity daily
greyhounds must have some daily physical activity so they can stay healthy, recharge their minds, and remain in good health. Daily physical activity also really helps greyhounds avoid boredom, which would often lead to naughty behavior. Getting out will cure most of your greyhound’s instinctual urges to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Individual exercise needs are dependent on your greyhound’s age and her level of health—but ten minutes in back of the house and just a couple of walks around the block every day probably is not enough. If your greyhound is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will be more.
greyhound Grooming Tips
You can help keep your greyhound clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. Check for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes greyhounds don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Prior to bathing, cut out or comb any and all mats from the greyhound’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
How to Handle Your greyhound
Pups are clearly the easiest to handle. To carry your greyhound pup, put 1 of your hands beneath your dog’s chest, either with your forearm or your other hand supporting the hind legs and rump. Don’t attempt to grab or lift your pup by the front legs, nape or tail. When you have to pick up a bigger, full-grown greyhound, lift from the underside, holding her chest with 1 arm and rump with the other arm.
Housing the greyhound
greyhounds need a comfy peaceful place to be able to sleep apart from all drafts and off the floor. You may wish to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wood box. Put a clean comforter, sheet, blanket, or pillow in the bed. Wash your greyhound’s bedding frequently. If your greyhound will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain she has covering and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry shelter during the winter.
greyhound Identification
Make sure you follow the city’s licensing regulations. Be certain to connect the license to your greyhound’s collar. This, together with an ID tag, could help you recover your greyhound should she go missing.
Facts on greyhound Temperament
Thoughts on greyhound Training
A well-behaved, companion greyhound is a joy to own. However, left untrained, your greyhound may be a pain. Training your greyhound on the standards—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—improves your relationship both with your pooch and the visitors. If you own a puppy, start training her on the right behavior asap! Use meals as incentive and reward. Puppies should begin obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Contact your local SPCA or humane society for training schools. You should always walk your greyhound leashed in public, even as a puppy. Just be certain your dog will come to you if you say. A disobedient or aggressive greyhound shouldn’t play with children.
The Health of Your greyhound
Your greyhound should visit the vet for a complete check-up, immunizations and a heartworm blood screening each year, and ASAP when he is hurt or ill.
The Oral Health of Your greyhound
While many of us might object to our greyhound’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may be telling us. Foul-smelling breath usually indicates that your greyhound requires a dental examination. Dental plaque triggered by bacteria results in a foul odor that requires professional treatment. Once your greyhound has had a professional dental cleaning, his teeth and gums can be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can supply you with more data on minimizing dental disease and bad breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your greyhound’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Sometimes, greyhounds develop periodontal disease, also known as an infection between the gum and tooth. This painful disease can possibly lead to loss of teeth and also propagate disease throughout her body. The vet may clean your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your greyhound’s health screening.
Breeds with Halitosis (bad breath)
While the foul odors brought on by periodontal disease might not be very serious if found early, sometimes halitosis may indicate more serious, long-term causes for concern. A sweet, fruity smell may usually be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. Kidney disease may be the reason if your greyhound’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. If ever you determine your greyhound has smelly breath along with other indications of disease, like loss of appetite, nausea, loss of weight, bad mood, too much drinking and urination, plan a trip to his vet.
Fleas and Ticks in greyhounds
When it’s warm, it’s important for you to perform daily checks of your greyhound for ticks and fleas. Remove and find fleas with a flea comb. There are several new techniques of tick and flea elimination. Talk with your veterinarian about his options.
Heartworms in greyhounds
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your greyhound by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections are potentially fatal. It is very critical to ensure your greyhound takes a blood test for this parasite each year during the spring. A once-a-month tablet given in the warm, wet time of the year can protect your greyhound. Your greyhound should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some of the milder regions, vets advise preventative worm medication be taken continuously.
Toxins and Medicines
Do not ever give your greyhound medication that has not been prescribed by a vet. One little ibuprofen tablet can create stomach ulcers in greyhounds. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your greyhound. If you have reason to think your dog has been exposed to a toxic substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison help.
greyhound Sterilization Operations
It is recommended that male greyhounds should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the ovaries and uterus – by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, a common and often deadly condition for more mature female dogs. The risk of an infected uterus, which is another serious disease that affects older females, can also be removed by spaying before 6 months. Neutering male greyhounds prevents testicular and prostate diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias.
Vaccinating your greyhound
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-1 shot”) should be given to your greyhound at 2, three, and four months of age and then once per year. This vaccine immunizes your pup from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The greyhound must be vaccinated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If you have the rare greyhound who has not been vaccinated and is older than 4 or 5 months, she must get a set of two innoculations given 2 to 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual immunization.
- greyhound pup socialization and innoculation should go hand in hand. You can take your greyhound puppy to socialization courses as early as eight to nine weeks of age, as recommended by most doctors. They should have already received their first innoculations by this age.
Rules are so varied around the country, the best thing is to call your community veterinarian for rabies immunization info. In NYC, for example, the rule states that all pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies immunization must be followed by a subsequent immunization the following year, and then every three years after that. There are a variety of vaccines, many of which are right for your greyhound. There are others that are not, however. Your veterinarian can give you his opinion. Also, if your greyhound gets ill because she is not innoculated, do not administer the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Roundworms in greyhounds
greyhounds are often exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a greyhound’s feces. Even the healthiest of greyhound puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to effective treatment is correct diagnosis. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates hookworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best identify the culprit—and decide the most effective medicine.
Additional greyhound Care Tips
greyhound Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for greyhounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog box or bed with blanket or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Never, ever feed your greyhound the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, tea, coffee, or any other caffeinated foods
- Grapes & raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in spot, always keep your greyhound on a leash. If your greyhound does number 2 on a neighbor’s lawn, on the sidewalk or any other public spot, please clean it up! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about greyhounds
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