How to Prepare Home for Retired Racing Greyhound Dog

Retired racing greyhound dogs make great indoor house pets. However, even if you have adopted other breeds of dogs, you will need to make special preparations before bringing a retired racing greyhound dog into your home. These dogs have lived a life much different from your average dog, and they have special needs that you will need to accommodate before bringing a retired racing greyhound into your home. Here is how to prepare your home for a retired racing greyhound dog.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bedding
• Crate
• Dog Food
• Dog Sweater
• Food and water bowls
• Leash
• Martingale collar

1. Set up a crate in your family room. Retired racing greyhounds have spent most of their lives (over 20 hours a day) in crates, and they view their crates as "home." A retired racing greyhound's crate is his den, which he views as his "safe place." Your retired racing greyhound will be much happier if you provide him with a crate for sleeping and taking some private time.

2. Line the crate with thick bedding. Greyhounds have thin fur and very little body fat, so their bodies are sensitive to lying on a hard surface. Buy a thick, comfortable liner for the crate as well as blankets on which the retired racing greyhound can recline when she is not in her crate.

3. Purchase a Martingale collar. Greyhounds have large necks and small heads, which makes it easy for a greyhound to slip out of a standard collar. The Martingale collar is designed for greyhounds so that it tightens if the dog is slipping out of the collar, but it is much gentler than a choke collar. The Martingale collar is also safe to leave on the dog at all times, whereas a choke collar needs to be removed when the dog is unsupervised for the dog's safety.

4. Get a leash. Retired racing greyhounds are not street smart, and they are very fast. This is a dangerous combination. Retired racing greyhounds should always be either on a leash or in an enclosed yard.

5. Obtain food and water bowls. Choose a food bowl that comfortably fits inside the crate. The water bowl can remain outside the crate as long as the retired racing greyhound has access to the water bowl twice a day.

6. Supply high quality dog food. Less expensive dog-food brands contain more waste, which causes the dog to have to relieve herself more frequently. Also, most retired racing greyhounds are thin and need quality food to gain weight safely.

7. Purchase a dog sweater. Because greyhounds have thin fur and very little body fat, they need protection from the elements. If the weather is cold enough for you to wear a coat, then your greyhound needs to wear one too.

Tips & Warnings

• Martingale collars come in a wide variety of designs, so have fun when picking out a collar. You can purchase holiday collars, collars with your favorite sport team's mascot or a collar that expresses your personality in other ways.
• Never let your retired racing greyhound off the leash unless he is in an enclosed area. Greyhounds are sight hounds and can run away in seconds if they see a small animal run by.

Resources

• Crazy Collars

[FaithAllen]

on 3/11/2008 We have a fenced-in backyard. Our greyhound loves to run laps around it for 5 or 10 minutes, and then he is done. He is very social and has never met another dog he did not like.

Our greyhound definitely needs his crate. If we forget to put him in his crate (which has happened a few times when we were in a hurry), he shredded the trash in the trash can and ate my kid's crayons.

- Faith

[diggitydogg]

on 3/11/2008 Also, be sure your Greyhound gets plenty of running time in. Greyhounds love the off-leash dog park and get along very well with other dogs. And also keep in mind there are some retired Greyhounds that adjust just fine to their new homes and don't even require a crate...but most do. This is a very useful article with great info. for those considering adopting a Greyhound.