Rescue greyhound questions!

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

I nearly overtook the other thread, so here's my own!

For anyone who didn't see the OT dd and I went to visit a local greyhound rescue kennel today, as they said they had a new boy in there who seemed cat trainable. He was gorgeous although a teeny bit nervous - hadn't had 5 ppl in a room before as used to kennels. Took him for the briefest walk as it started to drizzle after about 15meters - he slowed then stopped and gave me a look of "you can't seriously expect me to be out in THIS!" before turning gently back .
We also experienced one of the wallpaper stripping, room clearing greyfarts. That was quite the warning! We also saw him with a cat - in the same room roaming about. He was muzzled and had one ear pricked up but floppy at the top and the other down, watched the cat for a few seconds and tentatively sniffed it then wagged his tail and went for more sniffs very sweetly. Then seemed to lose interest and went off sniffing around the room again. So it seems that his lack of chase drive was possibly why he wasn't a racer. He is 2yo.

I'm already quite head over heels but trying to take my time and ask all of the niggly questions before we fully commit (have reserved him for 4 weeks).

So, my questions so far:

1. I asked about boots as was reading last year about dogs in the snow and the salt eroding/hurting their paws. Rescue guy said no need and he's checked him for corns, of which he has no signs.

1. As it's unlikely he will get much time off-lead outdoors, how do you play/let them play when on walks?

1. Do they like baths? I'm assuming not as they may feel the cold being so skinny - but obviously may need one now and then. I'm guessing they don't like swimming - or can't really if not off lead? I seem to remember seeing one zooming along a huge and largely empty beach we went to in Devon (Westward Ho) and would love to feel confident enough for that but not sure if that is good etiquette considering they have no recall?

1. Although I don't hate the kennel name by any means, it would be nice to be able to change it. Is that possible or just confusing for the dog?

1. The only afterschool club dd does out of school is swimming. Obviously, the dog can't come in but I have to be there for support. Any suggestions for this? Would be appx 2hrs out of the house including travel time to and from the pool.

1. When you travel in UK do you have special doggy friendly places you visit? Is there a site or forum for these?

1. For a glossy coat do you use Evening Primrose oil? I was reading it can help with dandruff...

Just realised I've got to 7 already and beginning to sound like a new mum! I'll stop there for now or the OP will be HUGE!!! x

I've read PetPlan is actually quite good, so I may just stay with that after the free 4 weeks.
BTW if you are looking for an XL crate Mole were doing them (folding ones with 2 doors) for £39 rather than the usual £60+ if you have a store near you. I'm really hoping having that will make the transition easier. I keep worrying that I'm not going to know what I'm doing but then I felt that before dd too and that's worked out pretty well

Those bowls look good. Although do the rescue have a shop? I just found it so much easier buying everything from them. Meant it was all perfect for a grey and they fitted their harnesses, winter coats and rain coats for me.

I have a beautiful tall black boy. There's something very striking about them isn't there?!
I think people are less keen on black dogs for some reason but also the majority of greys are black. Headhoncho who has sired an obscene amont of pups was black so guess that may be part of it.

I also have a brindle girl who is a stunner but everyone is always drawn to Jaxon

xx xx

Hi dreaming - the website has a shop but the actual kennels doesn't. He did say he would give us a collar, lead and coat when we collected him but as far as I know we need everything else so I'd rather have it ready at home. I've ended up with £150 of things in my basket at Amazon though . Does anyone have a DAKs terminator type thing for grooming? Got a toothbrush and toothpaste in there, kong with squirty treat stuff, a bread bin as I hear they counter surf, a poo bag holder (for the bags full of poo rather than holding it as dd likes to hold my hand), evening primrose oil for dogs and a guide book for Grey's. Am I insane? Do I need all of this? What would you drop?

I found that the best thing for grooming our grey with is a Zoom Groom. You just do it in circles and our girl loves it. I found evening primrose oil upset my grey's stomach (as most things seem too!) Mine is not a counter surfer (she won't even touch food that has been left out.) so you may get lucky and not have to worry about that!

Thanks Queen, I've switched the groomers over and that saved a tenner. Bread bin was a 2 layer one and was £35 so have saved that for later. I'll practice the positive mental attitude until proven otherwise

Glad to have saved you some money-I might be about to do the opposite now! These are my favourite websites for collars and coats.

Collars www.meggiemoo.net/

Coats www.milgicoats.co.uk/

Happy shopping!

those sites! OK, well the good thing is I don't know how big he is and so can't order too much
That won't stop me putting things into the basket to prepare though, even if I don't check out just yet!

Hold off on the Kong squirty stuff until you see how his tum is! What food is he on? If dried soak it and stuff and freeze Kong (in a freezer bag!)
Ditch the oil.
Zoom groom is lovely. Could you use a grooming mitt on a Grey?
Don’t spend all your money yet. There’s Christmas to come!
Have you checked out insurance and got a tag for the collar yet?

Ok - good point re the oil and kongs - I have the mackerel for some oils too but am imagining i'll keep him on whatever feed they give us (they give us a bag of what he was on) for the first couple of days and then see how we are going and whether I should gradually mix it in with another brand.
I know they do a collar and lead but actually not sure about the tag. Maybe I should email to check exactly what they are giving us as he only mentioned a few bits, but other GT sites have a whole list...are they all the same or do some give more than others?
I was also wondering about foam shampoo (no need for water) on the GT site. I'm aware he will be a bit stinky from kennels and don't want to freak him out with a shower in the first few days...would this be an option?

I would let him settle. You can get pet wipes but my girl has allergies so I would be worried about skin issues. Vet fleece on top of bed can be washed easily.
Check the Kennel Club website for what needs to be on the tag. Doubt the rescue will do it as it needs your contact details on it.
Maybe see if you can buy a small bag of the same food to avoid a sudden switch. Exciting times!

Thank you wolfie. Fencing guy over later today!

Yay!! I suddenly realised yesterday we have a corner of the garden where madam could jump the fence if really determined. Luckily she won’t. She needs her mum.

You can get dog deodorising spray which is quite good - I think ours is by Mucky Pup.

If you are thinking about a poo bag holder, get a Dicky bag as they are so smell proof and practical

This time of year you'll need a fleece coat for inside (esp at night) and a warmer coat with waterproofing for outside. The Milgi coats are very good quality, and I adore Meggie Moo collars (and have a collection). We also really like her fleece leads as they are so comfortable to hold

wolfie she sounds a very lucky (and sensible) doggo.
CMOT Yes, it's the Dickie I saw as they have them at the local pet shop (about £9 more expensive than on Amazon, unfortunately). There's a suspicious sounding "dog cologne" on the RT site...Old Spike or some calming ones?

OK so now i'm going to purchase:
Vet fleece - it says non-slip, will this go "over" the bedding or is it rubber backed? Maybe I need a different (slippery!) type?
x1 large kong (cheaper than everywhere else I've seen them)
Double feeder (2500ml bowls)
Kong ZoomGroom
x1 Dickie bag (medium)

I use fleece blankets in the crate as they can be hoiked around (one is currently across the sitting room as current pup has pulled it out) - my big dogs like to scratch and rearrange their beds. I use a base of memory foam beds from ebay as they are cheaper than elsewhere, come with spare covers and are thick enough for my special snowflake

Just looking at another branches' info on what you get when you adopt from GT - i'm assuming the identity disc is what you were talking about Wolfie?

^The recommended adoption fee is £150 and you will receive:

Leather greyhound collar and lead
Muzzle
House Collar
Identity Disc
4 weeks FREE insurance with Pet Plan
Food Scoop
15kg bag of greyhound food
All greyhounds from our kennels are health checked by our vets and are neutered.
Dental checks and treatment has been carried out if necessary.
All dogs are fully vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms.
We offer kennelling for our greyhound owners for their dogs when they go on holiday^

PengAly I also found this about the PetPlan insurance via GT (I think you said you were adopting through them too?):
All of our greyhounds are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before they go to their new homes, and we provide a collar, lead and muzzle to get you started. You'll also get 4 weeks' free pet insurance with Petplan; if you choose to take out a full policy once the 4 weeks is up, Petplan will donate 10% of your premium back to the Greyhound Trust to help us care for the greyhounds that are still waiting for their forever home.
and www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk/pet-insurance

Guessing the identity disc is what I meant. It must have certain details by law.
It doesn’t mention microchipping. Guessing that is done. Don’t forget to transfer ownership to you!
Dicky bags are brilliant! I may have two.
She’s not sensible. Just needy.

Racing greyhounds are now microchipped along with tattoos for identification, i assume the rescue will sort out transfer along with the adoption paperwork. I had to sort out own ID tag, last ones i ordered from identitag much deeper engraving & cheaper than pet store.

My greyhound came with some cheap dog food from the rescue so just used it to gradually change onto something with better ingredients (& half feeding quantity). Turned out to be sensitive to poultry based kibbles, as always resulted in soft poo/stinky farts (no its not normal) till switched to fish instead, currently on autarky or skinners f&t salmon & rice.
The cold pressed lukullus/ Markus muhle went down very well & are top rated on allaboutdogfood site, i only switched due to a reduced budget www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_health/cold_pressed

Fleece Vetbed is great stuff, warm, easy to wash & dries quickly (non slip takes longer), cuts to size & is a handy roll up bed when taking the dog out. Online's usually much cheaper than pet shop's.

I would sort out the insurance policy you want asap and just use the freebie as back up during the 14day illness exclusion period as it maybe a more basic cover. You can overlap policies just not claim from both.

Getting together a little first aid kit is a good idea they seem to injure themselves constantly due to paper skin. My most used items are cotton wool & Hibiscrub (dilute to pale pink) to clean surface wounds/bites, sudocrem. Non adhesive pads, Vetwrap/cohesive bandage, Prokolin- helps settle upset gut.

They're microchipped but you might find that the chip details haven't been properly registered - we found that with one of my ex racers and the local dog wardens updated the register for us. Current DDog's microchip's gone for a big wander and is currently somewhere around her shoulder - you can feel it when you stroke her.

Now, have we discussed pyjamas? This photo is our dog's preferred attire if you dare suggest she has to go outside in the cold to have a pee.

Thank you Melonm that was a very useful list! I've added some steri strips as I've been meaning to get those for our first aid kit anyway.
Fencing has now been passed over to someone else (apparently the cold weather has caused a backlog) who reckons he can do it in 1st week of Dec...all cutting it a little close!

I've also decided to get a tag engraved just in case - I'd rather be sure I've got my correct address and mobile on it and happy to pay for a deeper engraving.

Another question - we've got underfloor heating. The guy at the kennel said that central heating is often a bit too much for them straight after kennels but I keep reading about fleeces at night. I've got a few fleece blankets and am not sure if I should try these first (don't want him to overheat!) or just fleece him up. Should I avoid putting his bed on the warmer parts of the floor or are those ideal? Keep seeing photo's of dog beds by the radiator and thought the warmer rooms would be better?

Oh Ferret! what a complete cutie! My heart just melted

OK, i've emailed GT to confirm we'll be over for a walk again on Saturday and asking for measurements.
I just simply can't restrain myself any longer. I NEED to buy PJ's and a hat [santa], at the very least.

My dogs pjs are from Greyhound Monkey - we have red with white spots and purple camo.

Oh my goodness! That site is amazing! I've got so much pending in virtual baskets in shops just waiting for the sizing...
Do any of you use leg warmers? My poor doggo is going to look like he's been yarnbombed if i'm not careful

I've only put legwarmers on my dogs when they are being dressed up for events, and I have to say they weren't impressed