Adding A New Member To The Family

[Guest IndyHound]

Hello Everyone,

 

I am in the process of adopting a greyhound from a service for retired hounds. I currently have a 1 year old siberian husky named Kadie. What i am wondering is what are the things i will need to ease both hers and our transition? I have a crate for her. But am wondering how long she'll need to be in it? I am hoping that she'll be able to be out all day and wont need it. I have read two books but they were lacking in a few areas. I am a member of a dog park so getting exercise wont be a problem. How do they handle the cold? Are they bed hogs? Hopefully if all goes well she should be with us in a few weeks so any other advise would be appreciated.

 

Scott

[TheFullHouse]

Having a crate is important, especially if she's a straight off the track dog. If she's been in a foster home, chances are she's had a crate there also.

 

Greyhounds have very little body fat so extreme cold and heat are problems for them, especially the heat. Mine go outside in the summer to do their business, maybe run one lap or play with another for about 5 minutes and then they come back in the house.

 

Leave the crate up with the door open so she feels free to come and go as she pleases when someone is home. Since you have another dog, best to crate her when you're gone or at night until the two dogs adapt to one another. She may always prefer her crate, some of mine do. I've had mine for years and some are crated when we're not home and sleep in them at night by their choice.

 

If your other dog sleeps in the bedroom, chances are she's going to want to sleep in there with you as humans are very important to greyhounds. You may find she follows you around a lot in the beginning. That's absolutely normal. Having another dog should help her feel more comfortable.

 

One thing, it takes some hounds quite a few months before they fully adjust and you see the true personality emerge. The things that help the most, keep things on a schedule. They are used to having everything scheduled while at the track so make meal times a scheduled thing and potty breaks, if scheduled for the same time every day will help in the housebreaking process.

 

Congratulations and good luck!

[OwnedBySummer]

Congratulations on your impending adoption! You're going to love your greyhound!

 

"Adopting the Racing Greyhound" is a good book. I also have "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" and "Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound" (much heavier reading).

 

Aaaah, the crate thing. Some hounds want a crate, others never want to see one again. I was lucky -- Summer had no use for a crate, which was perfect for me as I'm not big on crates. If your new girl is devoted to her crate, well... you might have it around forever with the door permanently open.

 

The dog park thing... that's had a lot of debate. Some people take their greys to dog parks, some only very early when no one else is there, others will not at all. I'm one of the nots. I don't like the behavior of most of the dogs that I've seen at dog parks but even more, I don't like the behavior of the humans. They stand around and yap and aren't watching the dogs. Maybe you'll be luckier at your dog park and have conscientious humans who keep a close eye. But even still, your grey can get injured sooooo quickly and so much more severely than other breeds. I prefer to exercise her several times a week with a 100% greyhound group.

 

On to the cold... you don't say where you are located so I don't know just what "cold" is where you are. But in general, cold is not their thing. Most greys require a sweater or coat of some kind and many also prefer to have boots.

 

And YES, they are bed hogs! I'm constantly amazed by how much room one measly greyhound can take! She can pretty much occupy a queen bed all on her own, if she sprawls.

Edited June 19, 2011 by OwnedBySummer