How to Take Care of a Greyhound

The Greyhound is a tall slender dog. The head is long and narrow, wide between the ears, with a long tapering muzzle. The small rose ears are held back and folded and are semi-perked when they are excited. The eyes are dark in color. The slightly arched neck is long. The legs are long with the front legs being perfectly straight. The chest is wide and deep. The long tail tapers with a slight upward curve. The short, fine coat comes in all colors. Greyhounds are a large breed of dog they need lots of open space. This is not true. Greyhounds that come from the track are used to being confined to crates for up to 20 hours of every day. While this is cruel, it means that Greyhounds often find comfort in the small spaces and so they tend to do very well in the apartment environment. However like any dog, they need daily walks to stretch their legs.

Bringing home a Greyhound is much like bringing home any other dog. Commitment and love is the key to make an animal a part of a family. There are some things to be aware of with Greyhounds that set them apart from their canine counterparts. Rescued Greyhounds have a chasing instinct that is essential to their success at the track. It is important to always have a Greyhound on a leash when in open areas. They tend to bolt after small furry animals like rabbits and cats. They will often get along very well with smaller pets already in the household but it is important to introduce them slowly and to exercise patience as their first instinct will be to chase.

Greyhounds are not jumpers but they are big. So it is important to install animal friendly fence systems that are at least 5 ft tall. It is also important to be vigilant when introducing the dog to a new environment because while they aren’t jumpers, many are great escape artists. Greyhounds are a lean breed with very little fat and require soft surfaces to lay on and for sleeping. Hard floors are uncomfortable for them and can cause sores. Due to their sensitive nature, most vets do not recommend flea collars or flea sprays as the Greyhounds are extremely sensitive to insecticides.

It is better to feed them 2 or 3 small meals rather than one large one. They are sensitive to drugs, including insecticides. They are also prone to hypothyroidism.