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Post by zigzag on Nov 3, 2008 14:53:24 GMT -5
Hello  I've just adopted a greyhound straight from kennels and he's been with me for just over a week now. I am a total novice to greyhounds and dogs so would really appreciate some advice on a couple of niggles. 1) He tends not to empty his bladder completely when I take him out for toilet (I don't have a garden). It seems like he is saving it up for marking, which he does a lot. Will he settle down? – I don't want him to pee indoors. He did this once when I wasn't looking! 2) Why do greyhounds need soft food? All advice I've been given is that they eat 'complete' food soaked, and also know that they can have problems with their teeth because of the soft food – but why is it that it must be soft? How soft should it be? 3) He often coughs, wretches after drinking water. I have put his bowl on a foot stool (20cms), but it still happens. I am worried he might be prone to bloat – how high should the bowl be? 4) He seems to have lost weight very quickly from changing from racing food – I feed 4 can scoops of Wagg Complete which is 21% protein – is this a good brand? Any advice would be very much appreciated – we are doing well, but I do worry so!  Many thanks Johanna |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2008 16:35:11 GMT -5
Hello I've just adopted a greyhound straight from kennels and he's been with me for just over a week now. I am a total novice to greyhounds and dogs so would really appreciate some advice on a couple of niggles.  How often is he going out, for new dogs I try & get them outside around every hour for a wee until they get the idea that outside is good for weeing. Is he neutered, if he isn't he will try & mark more. They don't need soft food, it's very bad for their teeth. What condition are his teeth in, one of the reasons greyhounds have such rank teeth is because they are fed on slops in racing kennels. He should be on 2 meals a day of mixer biscuit (Wagg is fine) definitely not soaked but you can add a bit of water to moisten it & with a tasty something added like sardines or a bit of meat, or cottage cheese for variety. 20cms is fine, is he gulping water? You can buy raised bowls for eating & drinking which stop the bowls moving around. He may not have had free access to water before so may be getting as much down as he can. One of mine does this, in fact if he is drinking a lot in one go that could be contributing to the weeing problem. Wagg is fine & so is 21% protein you don't want to go higher than this. He may be nervous & adjusting to his new lifestyle still which may be causing the weight loss. How much exercise is he getting & do you know what his racing weight was & how much weight he has lost? Are his poo's OK, not runny? Try not to worry, if he is a nervous dog try putting some rescue Remedy in his water which will help calm him down. There are some good books here which may help you Retired Greyhounds for DummiesPet Owners Guide to GreyhoundsGive him a few weeks & he'll be fine, what's his name? |
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Post by Flaperoo on Nov 3, 2008 16:50:20 GMT -5
Fantastic advice from Wanda.
In addition I would try not to worry. A week is a VERY short period of time. They are used to kennels, not houses and it can take time for them to adjust.
Praise works wonders with ex racing greyhounds. If you priase him profusely when he does what you want ie peeing outside, he will very quickly get the message.
I have had 5 in total, all of mine have come with issues but when they realise their life has changed and they are truely loved they will change.
Patience and positive reward works best....you will then have the most loving companion you could wish for ;D
Mxx
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Post by elmuervo on Nov 3, 2008 20:00:27 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D That is great advice from Wanda. Please don't worry - you sound as though you're doing brilliantly and are already aware of all of the special issues that can affect greys. All I would add is that gulping water like it's going out of fashion can sometimes be just repetitive, familiar, 'comforting' behaviour that the dog indulges in because he feels anxious or insecure. The problem will remedy itself in no time with love and patience. We were in exactly the same position as you just seven months ago, having adopted Barney straight from his trainer. The advice you've asked for is the same that we needed - verbatim! You're on a steep learning curve, but my gosh it'll be worth it in the end! ;D ;D ;D ;D Enjoy life with your lovely new boy. What have you named him? Jo x P.S. Barney's obsessive scent-marking settled to nothing a few weeks after he was neutered, thank heavens!
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Post by ailsa on Nov 4, 2008 6:04:23 GMT -5
Hello and ! Congratulations on rehoming a beautiful greyhound - you won't regret it! It sounds like you're doing really well, and any worries are completely understandable. You're in the right place for asking questions. I, too, am a newcomer to these amazing dogs, and have gathered a wealth of information from the generous people on this forum. The only thing I would add is that my greyhound, Archie, lost weight quickly when we first got him. He came to us as a stray (he was running along our road on Easter Monday this year), so we weren't prepared for it at all! Despite feeding him the quantities recommended on the bag of food, it turned out it wasn't enough for him - so there's always a bit of leeway and you'll settle on the right quantities in time. Don't worry - he won't starve! Once Archie had been officially signed over to us by the animal welfare officer, we had him castrated straight away, and the marking that had been a minor problem up until then pretty much disappeared. He's a bit of a water-gulper, too. He drinks very little until mid afternoon, when he has quite a lot, and again after his evening meal. But it doesn't seem to cause him any problems. Keep up the good work - and please show us some photographs of your lovely boy!  Ailsa |
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Post by ragsysmum on Nov 4, 2008 10:10:30 GMT -5
Great advice for you here already. As far as the water situation is concerned, many greyhound kennels do not have water in the dogs pen area and they only get to have a drink at turnout time maybe 3-4 times a day. They usually drink as much as they can and quickly while they have the chance as my new foster boy has been doing, but this is normal. Make sure he has access to water 24/7 even at night in the bedroom if he sleeps there with you and just take him out often. He will soon learn that water is always available and will cut back on the amount he takes in at one go. Now 12 days on my foster boy is easing back and starting to drink less and only when he really feels like it.
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Post by Jane and Sara on Nov 4, 2008 11:34:26 GMT -5
Well done for adopting a greyhound - you will be hooked now! (I know, I too have had a total of 5 greyhounds).
Can we have some pictures?
Jane
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Post by zigzag on Nov 6, 2008 7:47:38 GMT -5
Hello Everyone! ;D What a wonderful welcome. Thank you all so much for the helpful advice and support. My dog's kennel pet name is Lad but I am going to change it - he doesn't seem to respond to it anyway - I will give him a better one to suit him. His racename is Zigzag Dutch Lad, but these names don't seem right either! I might call him Pooka (ancient Irish name for a spirit that takes the form of an animal as in the film Harvey). See if it sticks. Since last posting he had a rather messy brown liquid "accident" in the hallway two nights ago (ugh!  luckily on newspaper!) but I think that was due to giving him a bone, perhaps the crunchy/oily meat upset his digestion. And although he seems calm on the outside, I think things upset him more than he lets on - he lies there with his eyes wide open, and when I stroke him he sighs. Then yesterday we had all the fireworks - he hid in the bathroom, and then chose a new spot under the TV, he seemed to want to be with me which was quite rewarding. He seems to be a bright cookie and does understand the word "no" and really does want to do the right thing. But other words drift over his head and he squints intently like I'm a foreign tourist asking for directions in Swahili. How was everyone's fireworks night? On the soft food/kennel slops - why is it that they soften the food in the kennels if it gives them bad teeth? Is it to feed them quicker or something? On toilet training, I take him out about 4-5 times a day, but since the brown accident I sort of watch him and if he gets up to see me I take that as a sign because he doesn't seem to do it for any other reason yet - he is very emotionally conservative! I have limited energy because of a long-term health condition, so every hour would really be too much for me. I am determined to manage him myself though because he is such good therapy - if we can manage this together it would be so amazing. Thinking about it, the times he has done a naughty indoors have been when something new just happened, like I went away, and I think he got nervous/excited - and it's never been when I've been there - so I can't scold him. I am hoping this will settle down - all clean last night anyway! It is still early days. His water reching thing is better now, only happens occasionally - perhaps is to do with gulping. Thanks on that, Wanda. He still marks instead of going to pee properly, but I have been told he is neutered. Maybe it's because it's a new area still - he's only been here 12 days I suppose. I will pile on the praise and hope that helps, thanks, Mary. I just find it a bit embarassing outdoors squealing "good boy wee wee" in public and it's a brand housing new estate, everythings so clean here still and we stick out like a sore thumb, him with his bright red coat and all! Another thing I have found that I didn't expect was the visual impact a greyhound has in public compared to other dogs. When I put his muzzle on, people whisk up their toddlers, and avoid eye contact, as do some people with small dogs. And most people who stop to say hello (which they do more when you've got a dog!) say oh he's very big, and some are disapproving, like they think I can't mange him - even though he's the best possible match I could get for my lifestyle. Have any of you experienced greyhound predjudice? Also he is black and may look more menacing somehow at first glance, even though he is much more likely to run the other way! I don't have a digital camera to hand but as soon as I get some pictures of my dog I will post them up. Best wishes and good luck with all the fireworks! Johanna ;D |
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Post by bluegreyhound on Nov 6, 2008 7:57:28 GMT -5
We get lots of 'oh they're huge' comments (Eva is big, Fanta even bigger). I just nod happily.
Fanta wears a muzzle, so mums with kids do look a bit nervous sometimes - daft if you ask me, it's a dog without a muzzle that's going to do the damage if there is any.
I find it an advantage if people keep their small dogs away - the less small furry things that wander up under our noses the better.
People will get used to you and your hound - you're setting a good example to counter greyhound prejudice, so keep at it.
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Post by zigzag on Nov 6, 2008 8:27:46 GMT -5
Yeah, nobody likes small furry things yapping about anyway! If people do stroke him, they say that he is sweet natured, so yes maybe we can do some good PR for greyhounds.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2008 8:44:18 GMT -5
You sound as though you are doing so well ;D They can be a bit emotionally retarded as they are used to little human contact apart from turning out, training & racing, usually no time for playing or affection You will find it so rewarding when he starts to develop a personality but be warned the big, black boys are in a league of their own, ask anyone on here about the black males  You can tell if he's neutered by checking whether he has an empty purse or 2 golf balls between his legs, empty purse is good Please don't worry about people's reactions to the muzzle or his size. You are being a responsible dog owner using a muzzle, in time when you get to know one another you may find he won't need to wear one all the time or at all. But in the beginning it's definitely better safe than sorry and as has been said if small dogs take a wide berth that can only be seen as a bonus in my eyes Personally I think the larger dogs are more laid back, I have 1 large black male who is so daft & laid back & 2 black females who are norty. The nortiest being the smallest, cutest looking one Please do keep us updated ;D |
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Post by stussy on Nov 6, 2008 8:50:51 GMT -5
I just find it a bit embarassing outdoors squealing good boy wee wee Ahh stuff em.. my neighbours hear me gibbering away all sort of gooey praises/silly dog voices etcc, and get to hear my night time.. 'come on girls weeeee weeeee' at about 11 pm every night they are the ones that must be mad if they dont have dogs and understand ;D |
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Post by Jane and Sara on Nov 6, 2008 13:09:14 GMT -5
Funny that - my big black lad Bob is very laid back and quite daft too, while my cute little bitch is very norty!
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Post by elmuervo on Nov 6, 2008 13:18:05 GMT -5
They can be a bit emotionally retarded as they are used to little human contact apart from turning out, training & racing, usually no time for playing or affection You will find it so rewarding when he starts to develop a personality but be warned the big, black boys are in a league of their own, ask anyone on here about the black males I can vouch for that as the proud owner of a huge, black, nutty lump of trouble . . . oooops, I mean 'joy' When Barney first arrived Steve used to say "is this IT then?" referring to Barney's complete emotional withdrawal. We used to worry because he was completely apathetic and his eyes were just expressionless - totally dead. But now . . . my gosh he's a wonderful dog. And funny? We've had dogs all our lives and have never come across one like him - and I mean that in a good way! ;D ;D ;D It's the small things that touch your heart the most. I remember especially the first time Barney greeted me because he wanted to and not because he was just following Ellie's example. She was elsewhere in the house and hadn't heard me come home, but Barney charged over to me and was lashing his tail, leaning on me and rubbing his ears against my hands. I couldn't believe it - it was as though his emotional light had been switched-on for the first time. ;D ;D ;D Cried like a baby, I did! You're embarking upon a wonderful journey, and I can't imagine that there are many things more rewarding than teaching another sentient being the joys of love, trust, companionship and play. It is just the most wonderful feeling!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D Hey, hark at me? I think I need to ring Lisa about getting another . . . Jo x |
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Post by Flaperoo on Nov 6, 2008 16:17:40 GMT -5
Johanna, Your experiences with your beautiful big black greyhound so familiar ;D  , but mostly ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D. He is obviously eating now because you haven't mentioned it  You are experiencing the most amazing voyage of discovery. I have loved your journey so far with Pooka. I have no doubt your journey together will prove to be one that rewards you both immensely.  It would be lovely to see a picture of you both ;D Keep posting we would all love to hear how he is doing. Mx |
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