Rebanne

How common are heart problems in Greys now? I know that years ago we lost a bitch (retired racer who was better suited to the show ring) to a heart problem. Back then I remember 'overhearing' vet talk about greys having heart issues. Has that changed in recent years?

not common to my knowledge. I know some Americans are doing heart testing on their show bred greyhounds.

RULE NO 1 in owning a greyhound is never let them off lead unless in a secure area.

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

Owner, breeder, exhibitor, previous foster carer, have owned both race and show bred

2. Where and why was the breed first developed?

Lots of arguments going on about this but most people subscribe to the theory that the modern greyhound is descended from greyhounds from England, before England - well there are pictures of greyhound type dogs in Egypt plus they are also mentioned in the Bible, so a very ancient breed.

They are sighthounds bred to hunt.

3. How common is it in Australia?

Race bred very common, show bred rare. The two types are very rarely interbred. Race bred can be show, show bred can not be raced.

4. What is the average lifespan?

Up to 12 years but over that is quite common.

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

Laid back, smoochy, a couch potato who likes a daily run (short) often called zoomies.

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

Not much, a walk is more for them to get out and about than to exercise them. 20 - 30 minutes, though there are plenty that like more and plenty who like less.

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

Yes

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

Yes

9. How much grooming is required?

Very little, they are a smooth coat, so a wipe over with the occasional bath is all they need. When moulting a daily brush is enjoyed and their nails and teeth needed to be checked frequently.

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

Usually okay.

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

Not really. Being a large, deep chested breed owners need to be aware of bloat and osteosarcoma. Pannus and thyroid problems can also occur in greyhounds.

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)

Most greyhounds are adopted through a rescue organisation as adults. You need to be totally honest with your circumstances so they right greyhound can be found to fit in with your home and lifestyle.

There are no mandatory health tests required for greyhounds. I hip and elbow score my dogs and thyroid test them before breeding, show bred. Race bred greys may be thyroid tested before being bred from.

I recomend adopting greyhounds from organisations that have had the dog in a foster home to get a truer picture of their nature, they are a sighthound, bred to hunt and while many of them are very capable of living with other animals of all descriptions, some are not.

Greyhounds have a lower body fat than most other dogs so if they need to be anesthetised, the vet needs to be careful what they are given. They also don't handle extremes in temperature well so need a warm, snug coat or 2 on in winter with a good draught proof kennel while outside and in the summer, plenty of shade and water. Most love the clam pools you get from K Mart, Big W etc.

RULE NO 1 in owning a greyhound is never let them off lead unless in a secure area.

Thanks for replies so far - I do have a clicker but haven't really used it as yet. Am I right in understanding that I 'load' the clicker with rewards (eg. food). Then when she IS in position, I click (but don't reward EVERY time)?

you must reward EVERY time or otherwise you make the click meaningless

how long have your parents had the dog? Many moons ago I was told that you had to wait for at least one change of coat after adoption to see if there was an ongoing problem. If the dog came from GAP she would have been bathed before being adopted out.

I fed my bitch raw with no problems.

I don't give anything until they are 5 to 6 months old, then I start them on monthly.

I've been lucky and only had one bitch affected, years ago, but Stilbestrol worked very well. I didn't think you could still get it though. Once it was under control my GSD was on one one tablet a week.

The puppy is very cute. The main thing to be aware of is not to cuddle & pat her if she shows any shyness. This will tell her its ok to be like that & make it worse.

All puppies are cute, but if this puppy is genuinely timid and shy I would recommend that you purchase another puppy, a puppy that shows these signs at five weeks is likely to show the same behaviours as an adult, sure proper socialising and training may improve the problem, but the predisposition to shyness will always be present. There are plenty of normal puppies around, don't pay good money for a puppy with a problem.

Agree totally with this.

assuming you are getting your pup at 8weeks and it has just had a monthly dose of intraceptor, you would then use an ordinary wormer at 10 weeks, then the monthly again at 12 weeks. Do not use the monthly tablet every fortnight. Personally I think you are overdoing it. I wormed my pups at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and then again at 12 weeks. I vaccinated with a C3 only at 8 and 12 weeks. Heartworm will be started mid July just before he turns 6 months old. No need to start heartworm preventive before 6 months particularly down south and in winter time.

But really you need to be asking the breeder these questions and making sure you don't do something that would void the contract.

and the high possibility of vet care (lots of puppies require vet care early on in life)

besides the expected costs of vaccinations and worming what are the high possibilities of vet care for a pup? Accidents and illness can cause strife at any age so what, specifically, causes a lot of pups to require vet care early in life?

I've only ever crated trained 2 dogs from puppyhood and am currently training the 3rd. I use their full size crate and have never used a divider. No problems with the crates being too big

Finn is booked in next week for a check up and heartworm test, thanks for the replys

My daughter has just adopted a greyhound and hes was treated with advocate before being released into her care. She has goggled and come up with this:

Advocate may be safely applied to heartworm infected dogs, and therefore there is no absolute requirement for a heartworm test before commencing treatment. However, a diagnostic test for heartworm prior to commencement of treatment is recommended to ensure the optimum health of dogs.

So my question is, should Finn still be tested for heartworm before starting on another preventative?

I wouldn't like to hold my breath

My pet insurance doesn't cover any alternative therapies unfortunately however it's paid for itself many times over in other ways

mine doesn't either and so far it's paying for itself with all the other stuff! Seems as if I no sooner took out pet insurance than I have started to need it! Coincidence I know but spooky all the same

Chiropractic tuneups, acupuncture and ask about gold bead therapy. Lean but well muscled and the usual additives like glucosamine and yes the cartrophen injections are good as well.

Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement.

We're thinking alike!

mmm my first port of call is the muscle man

My experience with greyhound muscle men has not been very good I have to say, you need to find someone who actually knows what they are doing. Miller has been having some growing pains and at the shows he was looked at by 2 muscle men, one said he had a fracture in his foreleg, the other said he had done his monkey muscle in the other leg but neither were right. Both highly recommended. Of course Miller has now broken his toe but that's a whole different story.

I have had my dogs to one greyhound man, once, and he was okay (and cheap) and for general tuneups I suppose I would use him again but for anything a bit more in depth I always use Ian.

Personally I would be getting xrays or at least seen by a vet before having anything manipulated. You could do more harm then good if she has a damaged disc in her back.

I am the opposite, if I think there is a skeletal/muscular problem I take my dog straight to the chiropractor. Helps he's a fully qualified vet as well. He is my first port of call if my dog is lame, sore, moving strangely etc. He is a specialist.

I'm so sad to hear this news and I've shed a few tears over it. As you say it would have been instant and Ruby wouldn't have known a thing, except for the sheer pleasure she must have felt at that moment. Thank you for giving her such a happy life. Please take care of yourselves and Tommy.

I believe the 2 issues could well and truly be related. Might be referred pain, might be out along the tail and the back. I will be interested to hear how you go.

Surely that won't happen? Surely other people have a big dog door open for their dog when they are at work!

I have a big hole in my back door so I can set it up that the dogs can get into the kitchen when I am away. The door from the kitchen to the rest of the house has a simple hook thingee on it, mainly to stop the door coming open accidently as I have 3 house cats.

If entering more than one dog on the day or one or more dogs in a 2 day show double check you are wearing the right number, for the right dog, for the right day

I feed them as I get them from the butcher, mine are rarely too fatty. Even the 12 week old greyhound pups love them!

were they the small ones,if so I thought that mine wouldn't work, turned out the blade was stuck, needed oil to loosen it, now they are fine

thank you, thank you, I just read your post, went and put a drop of oil on them and away they went! I don't need new clippers now, I just needed an instruction book, which it didn't have.

:cheer: :p ;) :rofl: When in doubt read the instructions.

it didn't have instructions but now I know how to make it go

were they the small ones,if so I thought that mine wouldn't work, turned out the blade was stuck, needed oil to loosen it, now they are fine

thank you, thank you, I just read your post, went and put a drop of oil on them and away they went! I don't need new clippers now, I just needed an instruction book, which it didn't have.