How to Groom a Greyhound

Greyhounds are famed as the fastest dog in the world. They are able to run at speeds up to 40 mph. They have a sleek, elegant, thin frame that belies its strength and capacity for endurance. They are fairly easy to groom, requiring a general grooming every month and a full grooming every 8 to 12 weeks. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton balls
• Natural bristle brush
• Coat conditioner
• Scissors
• Thinning shears
• Skin cream

1. Remove tear stains from around the eyes with a moist cotton ball. There are tear stain removers you can buy at your local pet store if water doesn't work.

2. Comb the coat with a natural bristle brush. Greyhounds shed an average amount of hair.

3. Dry shampoo the dog as needed. Apply a final coat conditioner after bathing or dry shampooing. This helps keep your dog's coat looking sleek and smooth.

4. Use scissors to clip the whiskers if you desire. Make this decision based on personal taste, especially if your dog isn't a show dog.

5. Use thinning shears to get rid of stray hairs. Greyhounds should have a very short coat, so long stray hairs are very noticeable if you don't trim them.

6. Use cotton balls to prevent water from getting in to the dog's ears during bath. The Greyhound's ears are folded back which makes it easy for water to get in.

7. Put skin cream on the joints and any rough patches. Greyhounds tend to develop elbow calluses that you can treat or prevent entirely with a good, gentle cream.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your Greyhound opportunities to exercise. They like to run and roam, as well as go on long walks. If you live in an apartment, make sure you give them enough time to exercise every day.
• The life expectancy of this breed is 10 to 12 years of age.
• Like many dogs, Greyhounds are prone to bloating. They are particularly in danger of it because of their deep chests. It's a good idea to feed them two or three small meals every day rather than one large one.

[lacefullone]

on 4/14/2008 excellent how to groom a grey article! The cottonballs is a really good tip becuse they seem predisposed to the water in the ears thing :)
Especially when they get off the track, the cream for the elbows and feet is awesome. Grooming is also an excellent way to bond with them. My greys love to be groomed!
-Lizzie