Doggie Advice Needed

[anniebird]

I have recently adopted a retired racing greyhound as my first dog. Since bringing her home I think I have sorted out the basics but I have realised that my knowledge of dogs is not very extensive. Can anyone suggest a helpful book along the lines of DOG CARE FOR DUMMIES?

She is a beautiful and good natured dog so I want to make sure that I keep her happy and healthy.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[wolf63]

Here's a starting point http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-essentials-of-dog-care-for-a-healthy-pet.html


I hope that you both have a long and happy life together.

[Buenchico]

Anything published by DK is worth a look:
http://tinyurl.com/pkqpske

However with copies of the RSPCA's own excellent book available for just 1p (plus a couple of quid or so for postage) on Amazon, you could buy that as well:
http://tinyurl.com/pz44oul

Charity shops often have books on dog care as well.

[Brinjal]

Good luck I'm sure you will do just fine and you and your doggy will have a wonderful life together

[Tilly2]

Well done, annie. I hope you have many happy years with your new companion.

Keep her away from cats!

[pastafreak]

Greyhounds are different/special in a number of ways,including yemperament and health needs,so it's best to look at specifics about the breed.
This site should answer some of your questions...
http://www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/caring_for_greyhounds.html

There are a number of other sites...just have a google.

[pastafreak]

Some greyhounds are fine with cats and small furries. It really varies from dog to dog. Though,I'm sure the rescue may have cat-tested her beforehand.
I got my whippet/greyhound(we think) cross because she was tested with cats. She also takes no notice of squirrels and birds. She's a bit dopey....

[jourdain2]

Good for you. Remember that she has been bred and trained to chase, so be very careful before letting her off the lead (I still don't trust my rescue dog completely - he was desperately trying to catch a duck this evening!).

Keep her with you as much of the time as you can so that she is used to being next to you and that you are in charge and her refuge. You can even (I've had to do this) tie a long lead around your waist so that she trots along with you while you are coming and going in house and garden. Talk to her all the time to keep her interest. Separate out some of her daily meal of biscuits and have them with you for treats when she's responded well.

Have a happy life together!

[woofgang]

Stay away from Jan Fennell and Cesar Milan and anything that talks about dominance, Nothing in Life is Free, (NILIF) Learn to Earn and pack theory and you will be fine. Its a lovely thing that you are doing.

[Peaspeculiars]

Well done Annie! Greyhounds are awesome and incredibly affectionate.
If you find out what interests her more: Food or toys first, then use this to help train her.
Youtube has some great basic training videos, or why not try out a taster session at a local dog training school to see how she interacts with other dogs and get some tips?
Most greyhounds should be fine with cats (if you have any) but introduce gradually and on the lead at first to see how 'interested' she is.
Check to see if her ears have been tattoo'ed on the inside? If so, then she will have been raced, so probably keep on the lead whilst near to small furries as she won't forget her training to chase.

Make sure her bed is well padded if she sleeps a lot - greyhounds are particularly prone to bed sores if they stay put for too long on a hard surface, and watch in case she ever starts to chew her tail as this can be a sign of boredom (again, quite a common greyhound trait if they are kenneled for long periods of time).

Good luck, and truly - well done! Greyhounds are so often overlooked and they are superb wee beasties ;-) x

[Peaspeculiars]

Agree with Woofgang - some of their training methods are awful i.e. 'pinning dog to the ground to teach them who's boss' etc - terrible!

Some easy lessons are:
Sit - Stand in front of your dog, hold food or toy in hand at their head height, but close to your body. Say command 'Sit' and whilst you move the food hand towards them and over their head - this will raise their head backwards and their body will naturally sit down to watch where the food is going - As soon as they sit, give the dog the food and TONS of praise. Repeat.
Use this food following method to get them to follow you to heel (hold food near your hip and use the command 'heel' as you begin walking) and after a couple of paces, if they stay with you and concentrate, give them the food & praise. Keep gradually upping the amount of paces you take before the treat.
Wait - get your dog to sit. Hold up a your palm towards the dog (as a traffic policeman would do) and say 'Stay'. walk backwards a couple of steps - repeat command - walk back to your dog and give them the treats. Keep doing this and gradually up the amount of steps backwards you take. If your dog comes out of sit - go back to them silently and ask them to sit again.
The more they understand that if they don't do as told, they don't get any fusses/ treats, the better the dog will be trained. They want to please you, so go wild with the happy praises! Good Girl!! Well done!! Good Girl!!! (don't feel silly, no-one can see you!)

Lie down - this one is fun to learn and you can try and ask your dog to lie down from sit position just by using the moving hand to floor technique (mine did not understand this at all) so have your dog 'sit'. Sit on the floor yourself at a right angle to the dog and raise your legs to create a tunnel. Move the food hand under the tunnel whilst saying 'lie down' gently and hopefully the dogs nose will follow the food under your legs, naturally causing the dog to lie down - as soon as his body touches the floor - Treat/ praise / well done!
Keep doing this and every so often, try without sitting yourself on the floor to see if she can remember the 'lie down' command.

Persevere! Your dog will love spending so much quality time with you, getting fusses and treats and it does take time, but is worth it.

One of the best commands I think is teaching your dog to 'Leave It' - this has come in handy when in public spaces and someone has dropped mouldy food on the floor - Once she has learnt to sit & Wait. Teach her to come to you (after you gradually have built up the distance) - when she is good at this, place a treat between her and yourself when you are walking away from her and when you are in position, call her to you with your food in hand - if she goes towards the food on the floor shout 'Leave it' and if she does and comes to you give her amazing amounts of praise! Keep practising this and it will work - of she goes for the food, completely ignore her, take her to her 'sit & wait' place again and try the exercise again.

All the best :-)

[anniebird]

Thank you all for your suggestions and best wishes. I shall go into town to see what is available and if there are no suitable ones I shall order on-line. Polly sends her thanks as well. I rather like having a 40 mile an hour couch potato.

Anniebird

[woofgang]

I tried the lie down by getting them to reach under my legs when mine were pups. Gave it up when they learned to tip me over by standing up while under my knees!

[Chipchopper]

I've spoken to many people who have taken on x greyhounds as pets and they all say what lovely companions they make.
They've probably done with all that chasing electric hare baloney, and are now looking for a relatively quiet retirement with you!

All the best.

[Grumpygrandad]

We have a retired greyhound , and also do volunteer work with Greyhound Rescue West of England, www.grwe.com. They have an excellent book on retired greyhounds on their website, by Carol Baby, who is the Rescue's behaviour specialist. The book covers all aspects of retired greyhounds as pets, from first bringing the dog home to training, feeding and any medical problems that may occur. The book is also available on Kindle .
We have had nothing but pleasure from our retired grey, they are fantastic animals. All the best, you won't regret having a greyhound!

[lankeela]

Be aware that because Greyhounds have very 1ittie excess f1esh and short coats they do not to1erate either heat or co1d at a11 we11. Ensure you do not over exercise her during the hottest parts of the day and use a coat in co1d or wet weather. Do not assume because she is no 1onger racing she won't want to chase anything sma11 that moves - they can get used to 1iving with cats and sma11 anima1s but the instint to chase may a1ways be 1urking - it is the quick movement that catches their attention and often they use an inf1ated pastic bag at the tracks which doesn't even 1ook 1ike a furry rabbit! They most1y don't take to norma1 training without a 1ot of effort on your beha1f, finding it difficu1t to sit and 1ie down as a norma1 dog wou1d, but they make the most 1oya1 1oving pets given their own comfy bed (o1d duvets are idea1) - another thing they wi11 often do is stea1 any food 1eft out as they have been used to eating any food put in front of them. (Apo1ogies for the number 1 instead of the 1etter 'e11' as mine doesn't work!).