chris's greyhounds | a look at the retired greyhound

Now that you have got your adopted greyhound home, there are some things that he/she will need which are not always supplied by the homing centre:

Collars

The first thing that your greyhound will need is what is called a house collar with a name tag, by house collar I mean a collar that your greyhound wears at all times. A name tag is a legal requirement and should contain the greyhounds name along with an address or contact telephone number. I suggest a mobile number for the simple reason if your greyhound does escape from home and your out looking for him/her you can be contacted if someone does find your greyhound.

Food

The modern day way of feeding is to use a complete food, it's good value for money and compleately balanced in vitamins and minerals and contains all the nutrients that your greyhound will need.

I personally like to feed a purpose made greyhound complete food which I soak to make moist to which I add either raw or cooked meat, normally beef, chicken or tripe. I feed offel (liver, kidney, or heart ) once a week and also fish normally tuna in sunflower oil again once a week.

Dogs are like humans they like varity, after all we wouldn't sit down to the same meal everyday and our dogs are no different.

Below are 2 of the complete food I use for my own dogs

Beds

Greyhounds with their long legs like to stretch out when they sleep. Purchasing an expencive dog basket is a waste of money in my opinion, a folded duvet is all they will need, although I do admit to my dogs having donut beds.

Greyhounds are known as the 40mph couch potato (couch being the important word here) and if given the chance will make use of the 3 piece suite, as Gilly shows below.

In this modern age of wooden flooring I have found that a piece of rubber placed under the dogs beds stop them slipping and causing injury to the dogs.

Coats

The greyhound feels the cold because of a thin coat but more importantly they have little mussel mass so in cold weather a purpose made greyhound coat is essential.

Muzzles

I get asked why my greyhounds wear muzzles whilst out walking, the reason they wear them is for their own safety. Greyhounds are trained to chase and small furry dogs and cats running up to them present themselves as targets. Greyhounds are not on the dangerous dogs list and therefore it is not a legal requirement for them to wear muzzles, but I do strongly advise that you use a muzzle until you are 110% you can trust your greyhound with other breeds of dog.

Muzzles can be purchased from most homing centres.

Leads

I personally like the greyhound all in 1 collar and lead (featured below) but saying this I don't use these on my own dogs I use a harness because I feel that I am controlling the body rather than the head which for a strong dog is perhaps a good thing. A greyhound has a special shaped collar known as a fishtail because of the shape of their necks and heads, a normal collar would easeily slip over your greyhounds head.