When you adopt a Greyhound from Big Lick, your retired racer has already learned the basics of being a dog: eating, potty-training, steps, doors, windows, car rides, etc. All you have to do is provide the basics, along with love, care, and attention! An adopted Greyhound is yours to keep- forever!
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Things to know before your Greyhound comes home!
- Adjusting to a new home: Time is needed for the Greyhound to adjust to its new surroundings. The adoptive family's willingness to work with the dog during his adjustment period is crucial. While the dog is not a puppy, the newfound freedom may cause behaviors commonly associated with puppy hood. Structure in their lives and a lot of new owner patience is required. This period may be several days or in rare cases several months. The dogs coming from BLG have adjusted to home life, but not at your house. Just like kids, make sure YOU set the rules when they come home. They will test you in the beginning. Make sure they understand who is in charge and what the rules are!
- Crate: The crate is a multi-purpose training and transition tool that sets up a prepared environment for the owner and new dog. BLG suggests using the crate to help ease the dog's adjustment to its new home. It gives the dog a quiet and safe place of his/her own that will be familiar. It is the ultimate safety net for the newly-placed greyhound. The XL Wire crate is the best for the Greyhounds in our opinion (at least 48x30x33). These can be found at Petsmart.
- Companionship: We cannot emphasize strongly enough that greyhounds have rarely been without companionship - human or canine. This dog breed thrives on attention. When leaving the dog alone during the adjustment period, crate it and leave the TV or radio playing. While your dog was left alone in foster care, it was only after they were used to the rules and schedules of the foster parents. Please spend the majority of your days with your new Greyhound the first few days he is at home.
- Separation Anxiety: Because these dogs have rarely been alone, some may suffer from separation anxiety. Unfortunately being an only dog is a difficult thing to evaluate during the foster period. Most individuals who wish to spend the time and energy fostering, already have greyhounds in their home. Big Lick will do our best to evaluate your dog prior to placement. A crate is especially important for a dog with separation anxiety as they may become destructive or have accidents. Most dogs will, however, overcome these difficulties with time and patience. If your dog is stressed when you leave him/her alone, please contact your representative for suggestions to deal with this adjustment problem.
- Stairs: Most greyhounds have never seen stairs before the come to their foster home. However, most dogs leaving foster care are able to negotiate stairs. Please be patient if your dog has not learned how to use the stairs yet. This could take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks just to go up and down alone- gracefulness may take a month or more!
- Chewing: When a dog is nervous or bored, he may chew. This is another reason the dog should be crated or muzzled when the family cannot be there. Use only pressed rawhide bones -- not the rolled sheet, knotted bones or rope toys. Never feed real bones.
- Garbage: Protect your greyhound from garbage to prevent problems associated with natural greyhound curiosity about all things fragrant and/or edible. The dog must be protected from ingesting bones, foil, plastic, being cut on sharp edges and eating spoiled food. Please keep garbage cans in a cupboard, closet or under the sink.
- Other pets: Pet-to-pet bonding is a gradual process that must be carefully monitored. Be careful during introduction. Introduce the animals apart from either dog's territory to keep the situation as neutral as possible and use the muzzle as a precaution. Be aware that dogs, which ignore small animals indoors, may revert to instinctive chase behavior when outside.
- Muzzle: Use the muzzle as training, precautionary device. It is designed to give the owner peace of mind and keep everyone safe during the adjustment period. The muzzle is a valuable tool to assist in introductions and behavior modification, but not as a replacement for adult human supervision.
- Elimination: Monitor the dog to establish a schedule for relieving him or herself. Setting a routine mimics what the dog is used to, and will help remedy any glitches in the housebreaking process. Make sure not to punish your greyhound, only praise when doing his business where he should! Greyhounds should be fully potty-trained out of foster care, but they will need to learn new rules and schedules at your house!
- Exercise: Greyhounds need the same amount as any other dog their size. If a greyhound is to be kept in a home without a fenced yard, the owner will need to walk the dog 3 to 4 times a day for elimination purposes. Walks are just as good as runs. Walking and talking will strengthen the bond between dog and owner; as well as burn excess energy. Heavy exercise should be avoided before or after eating since this could cause the dog to experience "bloat", a stomach condition that could be fatal.
- Leash: ALWAYS USE THE LEASH. Because they are sight hounds, greyhounds have a natural chase instinct that overrides a learned command - and even invisible fencing! When not on leash, the dog must be in an enclosed area. NEVER TIE THE DOG OUTSIDE or place him on a runner or pulley, even temporarily. These types of restraints are dangerous for any dog. Provide safe fencing, just a four-foot fence will do, with secure locks, or become committed to walking the dog as indicated above.
- Safety Collar: This collar type is also known as Martingale collar. No greyhound should wear any other style of collar. Make sure to tag your Greyhound as soon as he comes home. There is also a microchip ID which your vet can install under the dog's skin. If the tags are lost or removed, the microchip will still identify the animal. Statistics show lost dogs with tags are returned to their owners 85% of the time. ID tags are the reason for the happy reunions.
- Vet Care received:
The following procedures are done before you receive your Greyhound: Rabies vaccination, Distemper vaccination, Sterilization (spaying or neutering), Deworming, Heartworm test & started on preventative, Teeth cleaning
- Health records: When receiving animals from the track, the first priority of Big Lick Greyhounds is to provide medical attention from a qualified veterinarian. Before placement, a dog receives all necessary vaccinations, treatments, dental care and spay/neutering. Health, rabies, spay/neuter certificates and any available racing papers are included in BLG's adoption packet. Big Lick has limited knowledge of each dog's racing career, medical background and genetics. Therefore, we cannot make any guarantees or warrantees regarding any future medical problems the dog may experience. Greyhounds do not have a genetic propensity toward hip dysphasia, but there does seem to be statistical support that long legged dogs have an increased incidence of bone cancer.
- Flea products: Greyhounds cannot wear flea collars or process some commercially available flea preparations. All flea products, i.e. shampoos, powders and sprays must be Pyrethrin based. Read labels and ask your vet. BLG recommends Advantage/E or Frontline.
- Anesthesia: Greyhounds are sensitive to anesthesia. Be sure that the veterinarian is familiar with this breed before putting your Greyhound under.
- Stools: Parasites can be transmitted through stools. Police your yard or walking area and pick up waste regularly. Physical problems may be observed by checking the stool. If you walk your dog, restrain him/her around other dogs' droppings. And always pick up after the dog on walks. Sandwich bags are perfect for this task. Prior to placement, the greyhound will be wormed, tested for heartworms, and placed on preventative medication or treated accordingly. After placement, consult with the veterinarian for continued protection. Having the dog's stool checked 30 days after placement is a good idea and should be about the time that the dog is ready for a renewal of heartworm preventative.
- Tick Diseases: Greyhounds are much more likely to get diseases like Babesia or Ehrlichia from ticks than are other breeds of companion dogs because of tick exposure at the track kennel. These diseases are not transmittable to other pets or family members, but should be tested for at your first vet visit. Talk to your vet for more information.
- Feeding/Diet: Feed twice a day to avoid upset to the dog's digestive system. High quality, NO SOY dog food with consistent formulas are recommended (Soy will give your Greyhound even more gas!). When your dog is placed, he will be eating Purinia One Adult Lamb & Rice food. If you change the food, mix new food gradually with the food the foster home provided. Greyhounds should not be directly switched from one food to another because their digestive systems are easily upset. When switching the dog's food, begin mixing a small amount of the new food with the current food; gradually reduce the amount of current food. Even changing flavors of food within the same brand may cause problems. Make sure your food bowls are off the floor at least 6”. Some stores sell bowl stands- these are best for your Greyhound. Any food that your grey has not eaten after 30 minutes should be removed. This helps with potty-training, as well as teaching your dog to eat when you put it out (this way if you are in a hurry, you know he will eat and can be taken out for potty before you leave). When out of the crate, fresh water should always be available. When the dog is crated for a long time, control water consumption prior to crating. Please make sure you do not use any type of toilet bowl cleaners that remain in the toilet. Your greyhound will enjoy drinking the fresh water out of the toilet, but we don’t want him to get hurt, so watch out for those cleaners! The toilets are also the proper height for water bowls!
- Housing: Greyhounds have a low percentage of body fat which mandates they are indoor pets. Because there is not much padding on their bodies, very soft bedding should be provided where the dog will be. These dogs are social and like to be where your are. They should not be separated from the family.
- Grooming: Brushing the coat, trimming the nails and cleaning ears and teeth are important and should be done routinely. Baths are rarely necessary because of greyhounds' non-oily coat.
- Integrating w/ the Family: Because dogs are pack animals, a greyhound will integrate itself into its home as a member of the pack. The entire family should be involved in the adoption and care of the dog to build the social bond and ensure that the dog understands that the humans are the bosses of the "pack". Everyone who will live with the dog needs be willing to assist in the care of the dog.
- Registration Papers: Registration papers often do not come with the greyhound from the track. Contact the National Greyhound Association in Abilene, Kansas, for registration information on individual dogs. Pedigrees or pet registration are available for a nominal fee. The adoption agreement is proof of ownership. It is the owner's responsibility to license their dog in most municipalities.
- Landlord: When a potential adoptive family rents their home, signed permission from the landlord must be provided before Big Lick can place a dog with that family.
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