The 40 mph couch potato! (Greyhound)

Member Name: Shellywelly

Product:	Greyhound
Date:	03/09/09 (163 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loving, Gentle, clean, the best pet ever!

Disadvantages: Can be nervous around new people, but once they trust them they are happy to socialise

I first found a love for greyhounds when I visited my partner's cousin for the weekend and she had a 7 year old greyhound called Harry. I had never really thought of greyhounds as a pet at this point and I had thought of them as a ugly dog due to the teeth baring muzzled dogs you see in the racing pages of the paper. How wrong was I.... after meeting Harry my love affair with the greyhound began!

A year after meeting Harry the greyhound I moved in with my partner, before this I lived in rented accommodation and was therefore unable to keep any animals, it didn't take long till my quest to convince my partner that a greyhound was what we need to complete the family home.

Around a month later we were on a day out when we saw a stand for greyhounds, much to my surprise my partner pointed it out to me. The stand was organised by one of our local retired greyhound trust centres, Monmore Green, and the man gave me some leaflets and answered some questions that I had about greyhounds and their needs. Well this convinced me that I didn't just want but needed a greyhound! My partner however was still not 100% sure due to the responsibility, but agreed that maybe we could go to the Monmore Green just to have a look at some point.

I wasn't going to give up that easily, therefore I was the perfect girlfriend for the next few days and on our next day off together I managed to convince my partner that we should go and visit the greyhounds, my work had paid off and my partner readily agreed and his mum came along with us. Before we left my partner stressed that we were just going to have a look, not to get one! (damn!)

We arrived at the centre, which was surrounded by farmland and asked one of the volunteers if we could look around, they readily agreed and arranged a member of staff to come and answer any questions we had. I knew what type of greyhound I was looking for! I wanted a female greyhound as they are usually quite a bit smaller than the males, I also knew I wanted a 'black beauty' as the trust finds black greyhounds are the most difficult to re-home as people favour the brindle and other greyhound colours.

We wandered through the building and a few kennels in I fell in love, I didn't need to see any of the others, a little lady walked to the edge of her kennel and wagged her tail at us as we walked past, her name was Flo-Jo, her racing name was Fabulous Hostess, she was indeed a black beauty with a pretty face, white socks and a white chest. They say that you don't choose the dog, they choose you and I believe Flo-Jo chose us as she took a instant like to us, where we have later discovered Flo-Jo can be quite nervous of strangers. We asked some questions about her and found out she was only a young greyhound at 20months old.

My partner made me look at the other dogs, however I knew Flo-Jo was the one for me! We did take some interest in another dog called Delta, but after taking each dog out for a walk we all agreed that Flo-Jo seemed much more comfortable and interested in us. My partner caved in!!

Flo-Jo was so friendly and loving that my partner couldn't help it, he didn't want to lose out on having her and decided that yes we did indeed need a Greyhound!

We organised for a home check and a week later Flo-Jo was ours! We did have some initial teething problems with separations anxiety for around 2 weeks but since that our life has improved from having Flo-Jo in it. Greyhounds are the most amazing and loyal dogs, they are fantastic with children, patient and well behaved. I would never go back to having any ordinary dog again!

I'll tell you the information that I have learnt about greyhounds requirements since we have had Flo and please feel free to add comments or ask for any information I have missed out.



Where to get a greyhound

We got Flo-Jo from Monmore Green which is one of 70 branches of the Retired Greyhound Trust (http://rgtwolverhampton.co.uk) The trust was very helpful in assisting us with our choice and answering any questions that we had. Upon re-homing a Greyhound you are required to have a home check, but the Greyhound Trust are flexible with your circumstances and you don't even need to have a garden, the check is more to see that you are who you say you are. The Greyhounds are neutered and vaccinated as well as micro chipped and you also receive a coat, outdoor collar and lead and a weeks worth of food for your Greyhound. The trust request that you make a donation, I have noticed that many trusts request a minimum of £100 donation, however Monmore request a donation of whatever you can afford and when asked what was the usual amount they told us that most people donate between £50-£100. You also get sent home with a money box for your loose change, which you then return when its full to help keep the trust running.

Feeding

We struggled to get this right at first as there are lots of misleading information on different websites and at the end of the day only you know what's best for your own dog as all the dogs are different. The most important thing to remember is never give your retired greyhound feed that is above 20% protein or they will be bouncing off the wall! We started Flo-Jo on Weetabix for breakfast with dry complete resting greyhound food for tea, bought through the trust as this is what she had when she was there. Flo was starving all the time and stealing any food left in sight! So back to the website's and we were informed on a forum to forget the cereal as its not got anything in that your dog needs. So just to the dry feed.... Flo's coat was very flaky and she was going to the toilet a lot! Visit to the local pet shop was in order, The owner seemed horrified that we used to give her cereal and explained that the food she was on was too high in residue hence the large bowel movements, she also told me that skin problems can be a sign that the dog is either unsettled or that the dog could have some intolerance to the food. The pet shop owner advised 2 brands of food, we had been in touch with Harry's owner and one of the brands that the pet shop recommended was the same as what Harry's owner suggested. So Burns it was. 2 weeks later, Flo's coat is shiny and bright and she is having less bowel movements, she also seems much happier and more playful. Success!!

Toileting

Greyhounds are almost house trained from the moment you get them! Yay! As Greyhounds live in Kennels they don't like to toilet near their bed, hence they become used to waiting for someone to come and let them out. As long as you don't leave the greyhound for a long time they are unlikely to have a accident. If you are leaving them for a while I would suggest leaving paper in a designated area and we have found that Flo-Jo will aim for that. Remember they will have occasional accidents as Greyhounds have never been allowed to be a puppy and will have to learn from scratch from everything from toileting to learning how to play, so never shout at your greyhound, firmly say no and put them outside for a short time.

Exercise

40mph couch potato. Greyhounds do NOT need lots of exercise! Yay! Greyhounds are used to short bursts of exercise not long walks, the do need a walk everyday, preferably 2 walks but not long walks as they initially struggle to walk far. Flo-Jo gets shattered on the 40minute roundtrip on the school run and plods for the last 10 minutes. However you can train your Greyhound to walk long distances and I know someone who walks their Greyhound for 5 miles, however they don't usually favour so much exercise. If you are walking your greyhound far remember to up their feed accordingly, also never allow your greyhound to run after a meal as this is fatal. Greyhounds do not have much fat on them and do struggle in extremes of temperature, the guide is if you need a coat your greyhound needs a coat. Also never leave them out for long periods in the sun as they may get heat stoke or sunburn.

I hope this information is helpful to all greyhound or potential greyhound owners. Once you meet a greyhound you can't help but fall in love with these gentle creatures, you will also find that people will ask you about your greyhound when you are out with her its surprising the amount of people that are fond of them. Most greyhound owners are happy to talk about their dogs and happy to promote Greyhounds as pets so always feel free to talk to a greyhound owner when they are out with their dog.

Summary: Simply the most loyal dog there is