Welcoming Your Greyhound Home

While it is recommend that new owners become familiar with the entire content of this page, we are providing links to help you jump to a particular topic.

If you work full time, try to adopt when you can schedule a three-day weekend. You and your new dog will need a few days to get to know each other as you work on house breaking and alone training.

If you have another dog at home, introduce them to each other outdoors on "neutral territory" and take them for a walk together before going inside. The longer you walk, the more comfortable they will be with each other. Do not leave your new greyhound alone with your other pets until they are comfortable with each other.

If you have cats, be sure your greyhound is muzzled when he enters your home.

Keep your greyhound on lead for the initial tour of your home. Watch closely for signs that he is about to urinate or move his bowels. If he needs to go, get him outside quickly.

Your greyhound is depending you on to teach him right from wrong. Begin training immediately so he will know what's expected of him. Bad behavior should be stopped by a sharp vocal reprimand (Ack) and/ or a stream of water from a squirt bottle.

It's just as important for you to reward good behavior. A happy, high-pitched voice, especially if paired with a treat, will let your dog know that you are pleased with him. Carry treats with you on dog walks so you can reward your greyhound for "performing'.

For the first few hours your dog may pace, pant, and gulp water. These are all normal signs of stress and they will subside as your greyhound begins to relax and feel safe. Pick up the drinking bowl by 8 or 9PM so you won't be up doing turnout at 3AM.

Put Racin' Rover in his crate and without making a fuss, step outside the house for ten minutes. Make sure your dog can't see or hear you. When you return, casually let him out of his crate…again, do not make a fuss. This must appear to be a very routine occurrence. Repeat this exercise several times a day, lengthening the time you are gone by 15 -30 minutes per session.

Do not give your dog the run of the house while you are gone. A crate is the safest option during this training period. Never lock a dog inside a room. You will return to a damaged door and maybe an injured dog.

Refer to Lee Livingood's Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies for step-by-step instructions about Alone Training.

If your dog was transported to Virginia on adoption day, he will arrive exhausted, confused and very hungry so please feed him when you get home. Be sure to mix a cup or so of cooked rice or oatmeal and some water with a cup of dry kibble. This will help to prevent diarrhea. A change in food and drinking water may cause diarrhea. Your dog can have one Imodium tablet per day for a few days if needed to help ease any diarrhea.

We recommend feeding the highest quality food you can afford. PETCO now has a section where you can buy natural, organic and holistic foods.

Canine Caterers high quality dog food is a good option. Canine Caterers is delivered to your home free of charge and the price is very reasonable. Call 703-922-7387 to order. Tell them you adopted your greyhound from Virginia Greyhound Adoption VAGA.

If you prefer to shop at retail stores, we like Solid Gold and Merrick's products, as well as Natural Balance, and Evo. Any food you can buy at a grocery or discount store is NOT a good food and should be avoided. Do Internet research to be aware of what you're buying. A healthy diet is as important for your dog as it is for you and your family.

Some greyhounds need a high protein food as a result of their diet while racing. Evo is an excellent high protein food. Loose, unformed stools and excessive gas may indicate a food change is needed. (Or it could be worms, parasites, or tick borne disease. It's a good idea to have a vet do some testing before changing foods.)

VAGA posts a list of the top dry dog foods as there are many good, quality foods availble. We are always on hand should you have any questions regarding choosing a good kibble. If you find a food that works, stick with it.

Feed your dog 2-3 cups of kibble twice a day. Always add a half-inch of water to the food. Never feed just dry kibble, it's too hard to digest. Once your greyhound's system is settled and bowel movements are firm, you can add plain or vanilla yogurt, vegetables (remember that onions are toxic), cooked chicken, liver, beef, cheese, etc. to provide variety. Be prepared…most greyhounds eat as fast as they run. It's rare to have a picky greyhound.

To avoid neck strain, use a raised feeder or elevate the feeding dish on a step or phone book.

Your greyhound will bond quickly with the person who feeds him. Family members should all share these duties. Children who are seven or older should feed the dog with close adult supervision. We suggest family members take turns feeding the greyhound. One person feeds the morning meal and the other takes the evening shift, etc.

House soiling accidents should be few, but certainly may happen. Initially, make allowances for the change in routine, an upset tummy, a urinary tract infection (UTI) from lack of water during transport, or intestinal parasites. Worms and parasites will cause a dog to urinate and empty his bowls at inappropriate times. If housebreaking continues to be a problem for your dog, please schedule an appointment with your vet. Most greyhounds house train immediately.

Scold your dog in a deep, firm voice if he soils in the house, but remember to praise and reward him when he goes outside. Use a happy high-pitched voice to let your dog know he did something right. Greyhounds want to please their new owners and this makes them easy to housetrain. Do not strike your dog or rub his nose in a mess.

If your dog does not perform outside, yet you know he has to go, bring him inside but keep him on a leash while in the house unless crated or confined to a small area. Watch him every minute. Continue to take him outside until he goes and repeat the same command (such as "empty" or go "potty") so he will learn to go on command. Give lots of praise and a small treat when he completes his business. Some racers must be trained to relieve themselves while on lead as they are accustomed to going while in the turnout pen (a large, fenced area).

When your greyhound wakes up and begins to move around in the morning, take him outside immediately. He should always be turned out after meals, when he wakes from a nap, after excited play, and right before you go to bed at night …it's like potty training a child. Watch his body language, learn from your dog's signals and YOUR mistakes.

Provide a mid-day break for your greyhound until he has had 4 to 8 weeks to adjust to your work schedule. Even though greyhounds are crate trained, the racing kennels turn the dogs out every four hours. Therefore, in the beginning, your greyhound will need to go out while you're at work.

You can hire a professional service, ask a neighbor, or a reliable teenager to help with day breaks. The first week you can begin with a day break around noon. (Depending on how early you go to work.) After a week or so, move the break to 1:00 for another five to ten days, then 1:30, etc. until your dog can make it all day without a break. Of course, permanent day breaks are preferred and your pet will thank you for it!

Love Your Greyhound Learning to love your greyhound and having him love you in return is one of the easiest things you'll ever do. Greyhounds crave love and attention during their years working at the track. While trainers handle the dogs several times a day, they are not treated like pets. The day you're introduced to your special greyhound is usually the beginning of a lifetime love affair for both of you.

Walk Your Greyhound To help put your dog at ease and to begin your relationship all you need to do is take your dog for walks. Walking your dog serves many purposes including bonding, relaxing, relieving pent-up energy and providing exercise for both of you. A 30-minute brisk morning walk will do much to alleviate separation anxiety.

Greyhounds never tire of leash walking. A fenced back yard is nice, but a leash walk is a thrilling adventure. You can't walk your greyhound too often. Do take care to avoid burning tender foot pads on hot or freezing roads and paved walking trails. Keep your dog on the grass as much as possible until his pads have toughened up.

Feed Your Greyhound To help your new dog bond with everyone in the family, each adult should take turns feeding your greyhound. Put the bowl down and teach your dog to wait a few seconds and then release him to eat. This establishes your position as the dominant one(s) while earning your dog's respect and love.

Pet Your Greyhound Petting, brushing and massaging your greyhound will earn you groans of pleasure. Whisper sweet nothings as you do this and he'll be yours forever.

Be sure your greyhound's surgical site (if they were spayed or neutered just prior to adoption) is fully healed before you allow your dog to run in a fenced yard or park. Females need four weeks to heal and males usually need two or three weeks. If your dog's incision becomes red, swollen or seeps, please schedule an appointment with your vet immediately.

Leash walking is fine while your dog heals after surgery. In fact, leash walking will most likely remain your greyhound's favorite form of exercise. Some greyhounds look forward to a good romp in a fenced area, while others may prefer to exercise by leash walking with you. For most greyhounds, it's all about the walk. An exercised dog is a happy, well- adjusted dog.

We hope you will offer your greyhound the gift of patience. Please remember that your greyhound has lived most of his life in a crate / kennel. His life has been a constant routine with little variation. Overnight, your greyhound's world has changed drastically. He must learn to climb stairs, walk on new surfaces, meet different breeds of animals, have a different potty schedule, and get accustomed to new foods, smells, and people. The list goes on and on! We know that it will only be a short time before your new greyhound realizes how wonderful this new life is going to be.

Your greyhound will be looking to you for security and guidance. You can help him by being calm, consistent, and confident. The more consistent and confident you are, the better and quicker he will adjust to the many changes you are throwing his way. Greyhounds are very intelligent dogs, and they generlly adjust very quickly. Some greyhounds settle right in to their new lifestyle as if they have always lived in a home, while others may take a few weeks. However long it may take your greyhound, you too will be discovering just how much your life has changed. The strength of the bond you will develop with your greyhound is one that will likely surprise you. You soon will discover what all greyhound owners know: There is something very special about this breed.

A Grinning Greyhound You're just waking up a few days after adopting your first greyhound. To your horror you open your eyes to face a mouthful of teeth inches from your face. As you leap to your feet you notice your greyhound's tail is happily wagging… What's going on? It looks scary but you can relax. Your greyhound is greeting you with a big greyhound smile. Not all greyhounds smile, but if you're the lucky owner of a grinning greyhound, you'll be blessed with endless laughter and entertainment.

Collecting Other than a racing crate, your greyhound has never had its own belongings. He will learn to love his new toys, bed and blankets. You'll smile when you discover your greyhound surrounded by all his toys (and maybe a thing or two of yours!) as he sleeps.

Nipping Some greyhounds get so happy and excited that they may nibble or mouth your arm. This love nibble should not be confused with a bite, but it should be discouraged.

Once your new greyhound is settled and comfortable in his new home with you, take him for car rides, to the children's sports events, family outings, camping, to home improvement stores, video stores, office supply stores, the bank, walks around the neighborhood, etc. Your dog NEEDS to be socialized… This is SO important. If you neglect socializing your greyhound, he could develop social problems that will make him extremely unhappy and frightened when he is out in public. At the every least, take your greyhound to several of VAGA's Meet and Greet events each month. An hour or two a few times a month is a good investment in achieving a happy, well balanced and socialized pet.

It is important that your greyhound be allowed to meet other breeds of dogs. However, you must keep a close eye on both dogs for signs of stress and possible aggression. (Watch the dogs that come in contact with you so you can determine if they are a threat to your greyhound.) Keep your dog on a short, tight lead if either dog has a rigid raised tail, a stiff, quiet stance, is growling or snarling. Walk briskly away to avoid confrontation.

Keep an eye on our web-calendar and join us as often as you can at our events and Meet and Greets. Your dog will thank you for it and you'll make new friends and greyhound contacts too!

While you're thinking about social opportunities, you should know that we've had several greyhounds attacked and injured at dog parks. Be aware that diseases and parasites may also be picked up there.

Our feeling on dog parks is conditional. Release your greyhound only if you're familiar with the other dogs at the park. If unknown dogs are in attendance, watch them for signs of aggression before releasing your greyhound. Most importantly, can you stay focused on your dog and not on chatting with friends?

It's a very good idea to attend dog parks at off-peak hours and arrange a play date with other greyhound owners in your area. (This is the kind of thing you can set up while attending Meet and Greets.) Always muzzle your dog when he is running with other greyhounds. They can nip at each other in the excitement of the chase.

Clean your dog's feet as soon as you leave the park to prevent the chance of transmitting anything that may have been picked from an unknown source (errant pile of poo, for example). A baby wipe works well and can easily be kept in the car. Clean feet and avoiding the public water dish will help keep your dog healthy.

If you ever have any concerns about your dog's safety, collect him immediately and leave the park.

While socializing your new greyhound you'll want to know how to watch your dog's body language (and other dogs) for signs of stress. It's very important for you to always keep your eye on your dog and pay attention to what his body is telling you.

Some obvious signs of stress are:

• Tail curled under or tucked up under the stomach
• Head is dropped low below the neck
• Hackles (area at the base of the neck) are raised
• Shaking
• Pupils dilated.

New places should be introduced while you are walking (not stopping and standing around talking). The walk is done at a quick pace; the dog is now in his comfort zone. A dog's natural gate is one and a half times our normal step. Dogs that are walking take in the new environment and are much more comfortable accepting a new situation. For instance, when you arrive at a Meet and Greet hosted by a large store, briskly walk your dog around the store while talking softly to him. Take as much time as you need until your dog is relaxed. If an event is a good experience the first time, you'll both want to return again and again.

Lawn chemicals are very dangerous for greyhounds as well as other pets. These chemicals can cause reactions ranging from upset stomach, diarrhea, and even death.

Lawn services have been guilty of leaving fence gates open after lawn treatment. At least two VAGA dogs have escaped as a result of this neglect. Add this danger to the list of reasons why you should NOT use lawn services.