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

[tabulahrasa]

Oh crates are great, but what I meant is even if he’s not entirely happy with the door closed to start with, it gives you options if he is a bolter.

Most dogs aren’t btw.



If he looks like he might just jump out of the boot - you kind of half open it and stick your arm in to grab him

[HenTen]

Just a cautionary tale - my greyhound broke my nose the second week we had her. It was the first time we'd taken her out in the car since getting her. I was nervous about her jumping out of the boot and so bent down to see her so I could get hold of her lead as it was opening. She was spooked and launched herself out of the boot straight into my face. I stood there trying to hold onto her and my other dog (who was still in the boot) with blood pouring from my nose and shaking as I was so shocked after having 60lbs of dog slam into my face. Luckily a lovely passerby came to help me.

So, stand straight, don't get your face at boot level! Getting them in and out of the car is fine now (she used to have to be lifted in as she was scared of the car) and they know that they need to wait. It didn't take long for me to feel comfortable going out with her despite the awful start!

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

Ok thanks everyone . I think I am just worrying and over thinking. He's not a lead puller or shown any inclination to run with us before so there's no reason to think he'll bolt.

Had the fence panels delivered today and the guy said that if he can start any earlier putting it up he will; they've just got a puppy so he understands my excitement .

Did you guys change the food gradually from the begining? I get 15kg of the GT food which is made with Dodson and Horrell GT food who seem to be quite well established? I'm expecting squitty poos for a while, with nerves, but when/why did you decide to try different feed? Have any of you tried Country Value Greyhound Complete Dog Food? Just wondering if I should be getting a bag of something else in to begin gradually mixing new/better food in after a few days or if I should just leave it for a month?

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

X post Henten - your poor nose! Oh and that is precisely the kind of thing I can imagine happening to me, which is why I asked (thank you for coming on and making me feel less of a pillock for asking!). I think I may wait for dd to be in the car too and she can hold the lead from the back seat. I was going to get him while she was at school as a friend said they will drop her off for me as a surprise...will have to see how brave I feel . Maybe a muzzle for me would be an idea

[samandcj]

Please can I ask a question?
We collected our retired racer last Saturday. Danny has settled in well. He is very calm, doesn't seem to like the bad weather, likes his bed and his food.
Just one problem.........
We lead walk him away from the house - he is quite relaxed, doesn't seem bothered by squirrels etc. We have a large, secure garden with plenty of space for him to run. Today he caught and killed a squirrel. That was bad enough ....but I would be devastated if he caught & killed a neighbour's cat.
What would you do? I am thinking that I could muzzle him each time I let him out into the garden......then, when I am sure all the small furries have let the garden, I could remove the muzzle. Not 100% safe.
What do you all do?

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

Eek. I think unless you have been told they are furry/cat workable this is a risk a lot of dog owners take. I've got similar questions as the neighbours cat used to come into our house and pee everywhere...which is why I keep them in the boot room with the cat flap. I'm really hopeful the cats are savvy enough not to risk it (i'm sure they are more aware of risks of dogs than squirrels?), but it is a risk. Interesting question!

[Wolfiefan]

Shouldn’t an ex racer be muzzled when in public? Cat proof your garden so they can’t get in?

[HenTen]

@samandcj I always muzzle my dog when she's outside. Both on walks but also in the garden because we have a lot of neighbourhood cats.

[RuthW]

I have two greys

One we changed her name from Jess to Betsy no problem

They HATE water whether it be rain or baths. They never have baths.

They are never let off lead. They wouldn't come back.

They have twenty mins exercise a day then sleep the rest of the time. They are like very large cats

Separation anxiety is very common. One of ours cries if left alone at all. Together they can be left 4-5 if they have to be.

Sorry if I've repeated anybody else, but not had a chance to read all the replies.

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

Thank you Ruth! Gosh it's a long thread! Funny how as a breed they seem to hate the rain .

I was also planning on the muzzle in the garden. I think though no imagined that after a month or two I could take it off in the garden as all of the local animals would know my garden had a dog by then (not squirrels but neighbours cats). Tommy is cat workable but I suspect anything fluffy running would get most dogs attention.

[samandcj]

HI Wolfie & Henten. We are very rural. Cats are extremely rare in our garden. We have a secure 1 acre but it would be impossible to cat proof.

We are "very new" to greyhounds. Our guidance from the Greyhound Trust was to use the muzzle until we get to know our dog. So we do muzzle when out in public but, so far, Danny has not reacted to anything that has crossed our path. He is unbelievably calm & placid. Pictures from the local trust show mostly unmuzzled Greys out being walked.

Danny will never be let off lead when out walking. His recall will improve but never be good enough for me (I am an experienced collie owner) My issue is just in the garden.

I plan to muzzle him in the garden for the foreseeable future ...at least until I know him better.
NB My sister has just told me that her cats bring home dead squirrels!

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

Great news! We had our home check today which went well. Got a chance to talk to the guy about my worries 're the boot - he said he will go over that when I pick him up to put me at ease. He was very reassuring and I asked him so many questions (split tail queries, squitty poo queries, food queries, etc). He reiterated that many dogs aren't used to central heating so to wait for them to shed before going for pyjamas and that the main thing is to be in control. He also said they have a behaviour guy who would come out if there were any issues (free of charge) but usually that would be to train me rather than the dog! Also they have an enclosed field that they use for the dogs which is free some evenings - also free of charge. Feeling much calmer now and mainly excited again . So, I'll stop this thread here and maybe start up a new one on Thursday with some pics (and probably a whole load of new questions!). Thank you all so much! Invaluable advice from all of you

[Wolfiefan]

That’s brill. Looking forward to a new thread and pictures too!

[PengAly]

We are seeing our big guy on Sunday!! We already bought a dog bed and 2 toys... January cant come soon enough

[LonelyandTiredandLow]

"PengAly* that is so exciting! The weeks drag by when you are excited! We got him a day early as the fence was completed at 9.30am!
Current view on my spycam is attached (so funny to use as he can hear it moving so watches it, but doesn't realise I can see him having a good old nose about ).
Only once accident so far, while I was attempting to get an excited dd to sleep. He did it by the door so completely my fault. Such a sweety though and happily gnawed on his bone after being in the house just 10mins!