F. A . Q . s
Q. I work long hours can I still have a greyhound?
A. We dont recommend that any dog is regularly left for more than 4-5hrs.
If you have someone reliable and trustworthy who could pop in and spend some time with the dog then that may be an option. There are also companies around who will provide dog walking services on a professional basis. Have a look at the petpals website to see an example of what is available.
Q. Can I let my greyhound off the lead?
A. We recommend that you do not allow your greyhound to run off lead. As a sighthound greyhounds can see a long distance away, couple with their speed and they can be a long way away from you very quickly. Also they are used to running in prepared surfaces and can injure themselves seriously on rough terrain or by running into objects even barbed wire.
Q. I have never had a greyhound before and am concerned that he/she is to thin?
A. It is important to maintain the right weight for your greyhound, as being to overweight can put a strain on his/her heart, and is just as dangerous as being underweight. In general you should be able to see the outline of the last three/four ribs, but every dog is different so we will give you advise when you receive your dog.
Q. Does a greyhound need a coat?
A. Greyhounds have very low amounts of body fat and consequently feel the cold more than other dog breeds, therefore in the winter months your greyhound should wear a coat outside.
Q. Do I still need to get my greyhound microchipped as he/she has ear marks?
A. Tracing ownership through earmarks is reliant on the database being up to date and can only be done during office hours. Microchipping usually costs around £15 and can speed up finding the owner if a dog is found a stray. It is also very important if your dog has indistinct ear marks.
Dorset greyhound rescue now microchips all our greyhounds before they are homed, we recommend that you also have an engraved dog tag for your greyhound as the barrell type can come apart and lose the details within. It is important to note that a dog must wear a tag by law, we recommend that your dog has the following information
1.Your family name
2. Postcode
3. Telephone number
Do not put your dogs name on the tag as precaution against dog napping
Q. I have been using a flea treatment purchased from a major pet store but my dog has still suffered from fleas over the summer why is this?
A. Over the counter treatments are really not strong enough-you need to get a flea/tick treatment as supplied by your vet to ensure that your greyhound does not suffer unduly from these unwelcome visitors.
Q> Help my greyhound has bald thighs what can I do?
A. A lot of greyhounds suffer from this, it can be caused by laying on the kennel floor or stress. If hair follicles have been damaged the hair wont grow back. However many greyhounds do start to grow the hair back after a few months in their new home. Addition of fish oil or oily fish (sardinnes or tuna, in oil only never brine as the salt content is to high) added to their food can help as can rubbing sudacream in to the bald areas.