Susan Netboy
Founder, Greyhound Friends for Life and Greyhound Protection League
SO…YOU HAVE YOUR NEW RESCUE GREYHOUND…..what now?
You must expect an adjustment period and, during this time, and you must spend quality time with your new hound. If you work, your evenings will be committed and you might have to get up a little earlier. Not so much of a problem if you are at home all day, but then you must remember your new dog DOES need to rest!
The adjustment period varies from dog to dog, but unless you have chosen to make a new life for a badly treated dog, you should see marked improvement in a very few days.
A few basics first:
- Always have fresh water available in a location where it will not be knocked over by human or animal.
- Dogs are creatures of habit and a schedule for exercise, eating and sleeping will add to the dog’s security.
- Public access gates to the dog’s area should be padlocked; those within your property should be latches that dogs cannot open.
- Your dog should have his own area. A place with a blanket that is his alone. This is NOT a place for punishment. Placing your dog in a corner with a dunce cap does not work anyway!
- Dogs like to please the pack master (YOU, as adopter) and regular training exercises will benefit both dog and owner. Training can be as little as the “shake hands” variety to an obedience course. An obedience course is highly recommended. There is no better way to get a dog to respond to a new adopter (and vice versa!) The rewards are tremendous.
A few other things for your consideration…perhaps reminders if you have previously adopted (or been adopted) by a Sighthound (ie, Greyhound, Afgan, Saluki, Borzoi, Deerhound, Wolfhound, Whippet):
All Sighthounds are chasing (coursing) hounds. Your new Sighthound should NEVER be allowed off-lead in an area that is not closely fenced. Whippets, for instance, can wriggle through a very small opening (don’t leave your car windows down more than ½ inch). And Afghans notoriously (and some of the other hounds less often) climb! Watch carefully for this tendency in your fenced back yard the first few days. It may be amazing, but all too true, as you watch an 80 pound Greyhound climb a six foot cyclone fence.
The former life of your rescue is not always known. Most Sighthounds get along wonderfully with children IF they have been raised around kids. It is dangerous to assume your new dog will like children. It is also threatening to the dog to have an 18 month to 5-6 year old stagger, run, walk or jump towards him. You must remember the Sighthounds were hunters and this ancient art is inborn in any hound, no matter how many years he and his forebears have spent on someone’s couch!
