If you are planning to get a pet, there are several steps you can take to ensure you become a good pet parent. One of the most important things you will need to do is to research before getting the pet. Take time to consider the right pet who would suit your family and lifestyle. Specifically, you need to think about the breed since this will influence the personality type and care requirements of the pet. Making an informed decision will benefit both you and the pet, helping you to build and maintain a strong bond.
Well, if you have made the decision to buy a greyhound, you should be aware of the important requirements for owning this breed. The tall, slender dogs have unique characteristics and personalities, some of which have led to misconceptions that have contributed to reluctance in adopting them. It is important to distinguish myth from reality, a factor that requires you to familiarize yourself with the dog breed.
Here are important things to consider when getting a Greyhound:
Gentle dogs that make great family pets
When looking to buy a canine companion, a good number of people will consider going for a breed that is known to be smart, loyal, and friendly. This is particularly true if you will be bringing the dog to your family home. A furry friend that loves people and is easy to love will give you an easy time. Some of the best dog brands will have a happy-go-lucky demeanor, making them patient with kids and helping them get along with other pets in the home. Depending on your lifestyle and interests, you may also want to buy a breed with which you can engage in physical exercise and other related activities. This will ensure you enjoy the whole new experience that comes with owning a dog.
Generally, greyhounds are gentle dogs that will not get into much trouble. They are very social, well-behaved, and reserved animals that are likely to fit perfectly into your family. Since they like to show affection and form a deep bond with their family members, greyhounds will actively try to please you. While the personalities of individual dogs are different, you should be ready to give your greyhound the attention he needs. The good news is that they are not big barkers and can easily curl up in small spaces. This means you do not need a big house to take them in since they are great apartment dogs. These factors make greyhounds a perfect addition to your family.
Greyhounds have to be taught about common household fixtures
Because your dog will be part of your family, it is important to think about training before you bring him home. Training is an important part of any dog’s life, a process that will make it easier to live with your four-legged friend and one that could also save his life. Teaching your dog desirable behaviors, and getting rid of the undesirable ones will help to build a positive relationship, increase sociability, impart life skills, avoid problem behaviors as well as enhance loyalty and companionship. The right training techniques should be effective and should not be harmful to your pets. Regardless of whether you will be training the dog yourself or hiring a dog trainer, choosing the best techniques will require that you consider the common behaviors associated with greyhounds.
While greyhounds have a laid-back nature, many of them may not be fully house trained. The dogs are seldom exposed to the physical structures in households, and bringing them into your space will be a new experience for them. Some of the problems that the dogs may have are run-ins with glass doors and difficulty with steps. Introduce them to new situations and objects gradually and in a relaxed manner to help them settle in smoothly. You may also want to spare time to train the new member of your family so that he learns that the household fixtures are a simple part of their new environment. Some of the advantages of greyhounds are that they are intelligent and will easily adapt to the new life.
They can be hyper when they are young
When planning to buy a pet, one of the factors you will have to think about is the age of the animal you want to get. Age is an important factor because it affects the level of care needed, as well as the challenges you will face as a pet parent. Part of the preparation process before buying a greyhound will involve knowing the steps to take so as to ensure both you and the dog are happy once he joins your family. If you are getting a puppy, there is a good chance that they have not yet been properly trained or socialized. This means that the little pet is likely to be very hyper, something you should be not only aware of but also be ready to deal with.
While puppies, in general, tend to be hyper, greyhound puppies have a lot of energy and will want to explore everything around the house. Since they explore things by putting them in their mouth, the puppies may end up getting into trouble. This is more likely to happen during the period before the puppy settles in, a time that will be characterized by feelings of anxiety. A solid training program and plenty of exercises will go a long way in helping to avoid the hyperactivity. You may also want to spend quality time with your dog every day so that you create a special bond. A healthy relationship will ensure the puppy feels safe and comfortable in their new home, helping to reduce some of these issues.
Greyhounds are vulnerable to both heat and cold
There is no doubt that you will want to give your pet the best from the time they become part of your family. If you are to achieve this, you should consider whether the specific breed you prefer is known to have any special needs, vulnerabilities, or characteristics that make special treatment necessary. This will not only help you to decide whether the breed is right for your family but also give you an opportunity to learn how to fulfill those needs. Knowledge of these special needs will also help you to understand your pet better, effectively ensuring you enjoy a smoother relationship. This is part of what you are likely to learn when doing your research.
While greyhounds are easy to live with, they have sensitive skin, thin bones, limited body fat, and not much hair. These characteristics require that you look after them more carefully than you would other dog breeds. Due to the small amounts of body fats, the animals should be protected from extreme temperatures, especially those that would see them becoming chilled. You will also have to create a thick foam bed that is lined with warm blankets to help keep the dog warm. Although the long legs are an advantage when it comes to running, the animals have long and thin bones. They also have sensitive skin that makes them incredibly fragile. Before buying a greyhound, you should be aware that these characteristics mean that the dogs need to be protected from rough environments and inappropriate handling.
Energy levels
Another factor that prospective dog owners consider is the energy level of the dog they want to buy. Generally, different dog breeds have different energy levels, with the factor influencing whether they play all the time or are more of couch potatoes that will prefer a slow walk followed by a nap. It is important to establish whether the dog’s energy level is right since this will influence how they behave, the amount of exercise they require as well as ease of training. Whenever possible, you should consider trying to see the dog in different circumstances, going for a walk with him, trying playtime, and watching interactions with other dogs. This will give you an opportunity to know the dog’s energy levels.
Greyhounds have relaxed and mellow personalities. This is one of the factors that pet parents who have limited access to a private outdoor space for exercise or do not have an active lifestyle find admirable. However, as much as these dogs may be relaxed and laid-back, they also love to run and are a very fast breed of dog. This means that they are both sprinters and couch potatoes; and that they can keep up if you are active and will be cool with lounging if you are not. This is an important consideration since you should decide whether you will be in a position to deal with the high energy levels when the dog wants or gets an opportunity to run.
Health concerns
While any dog can get sick, there are certain breeds that are prone to suffering from specific diseases. It is important to know whether the breed of dog you intend to buy is commonly associated with health problems. Health issues can compromise the quality of life and affect the happiness of your dog. In fact, pet parents are likely to notice behavior changes when their furry companions are unwell, mostly characterized by a lack of enthusiasm and interest in activities. Finding out if your preferred breed of dog is likely to develop health problems will help you to prepare for the responsibility that will come with dog ownership and implement preventative care. Knowing what you are getting into will minimize the chances of getting frustrated in case of such challenges.
Generally, greyhounds will be in good overall health. However, since they tend to have bad teeth, brushing, and getting their teeth cleaned annually will be very helpful. Greyhounds are also likely to suffer from osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that is the leading cause of death for the dogs. This means that you should take limping seriously and schedule a trip to the vet as soon as possible. Another condition is hypothyroidism, which is caused by low levels of the thyroid hormone, but this can be treated with medication. Kidney disease, corns on the paw pads, pannus that occurs when the cornea is inflamed, and hypertension are other health conditions that are common to the breed. This makes it important to consider these health concerns before buying a greyhound.
Grooming needs
Among the top factors, you will have to think about before getting a pet is the care and maintenance needs of the animal. Grooming is an important part of taking care of your dog. Apart from cleaning your canine friend, brushing the dog’s fur regularly will help to ventilate their coat, a factor that will keep the animal growing healthy and strong. Grooming also minimizes the level of grease on their coat, ensuring that the dog’s skin can breathe and helping to avoid skin irritation and problems that could arise if too much grease blocks skin pores. Regular grooming will make it easy for you to identify any underlying conditions or diseases early, allowing you to seek professional help in good time. This is why you will need to know and understand the grooming needs of your preferred breed of dog.
When it comes to greyhounds, the dogs are easy to groom because they do not have much hair. Besides being a single thin layer, their coat is also short and smooth. As much as you can expect some shedding, it will be light and will not be difficult to deal with. If you decide to own one of these dogs, you should be ready to brush them regularly as recommended as well as chip their nails and clean their ears regularly. While you can bathe your dog as little as once in six months, you must make sure that the water is neither too hot nor too cold. The conditioning shampoo you use should be gentle and made for dogs. After bathing your greyhound, rinse him thoroughly to remove any shampoo that could cause skin irritation.
Guidance on proper pet nutrition
Even as you think about proper care for your pet, you cannot ignore the importance of health and nutrition. Before bringing a pet to your home and making him part of the family, you should know what and how to feed the animal. One of the factors that will influence the feeding pattern and nutritional needs of the dog is its breed. Since you will want your canine friend to be strong and healthy, you will have to take time to find out more about such needs. The good news is that you can consult experts and rely on various resources for information. You may also want to educate other members of the family, especially the younger ones, about issues relating to pet nutrition.
For greyhounds, water should be available all the time and changed regularly to keep it fresh. Complete foods that contain about 20 percent protein will be an economical, efficient and effective way to feed the dog. Read and follow the feeding instructions on the packaging, taking into account the weight of your dog. Fresh meat and vegetables will serve as a lovely treat, while biscuits and chews will help to clean the dog’s teeth. In terms of when to feed the canine, a small cereal breakfast in the morning will be great, with warm milk or milk and water completing the meal. Depending on your schedule, you can serve the main meal either at lunchtime or in the evening.
Socialization
As a prospective pet parent, how smoothly and perfectly the new member of your family will settle in will be very important to you. This is why you will have to think about socialization as you bring the animal into a totally new environment. Apart from the breed of the dog, other factors that will affect how he interacts with other dogs, other animals, and people are training and the setting in which he lived previously. Even as you think about this, you will want to consider your lifestyle as a family as well as the behavior of the other pets you have at home. While this is important for both puppies and adult dogs, puppies will be much easier to train and teach behavior that you consider acceptable.
Although greyhounds are sociable animals, they are also gentle and laid back. In case the dog had not been exposed to other dog breeds before, some individuals may exhibit behavioral problems and issues with anxiety. Before buying a greyhound, you should consider creating a quiet place for them to retreat whenever they feel uncomfortable. You should also give the dog enough time to settle in. In case of any issues, you can talk to your vet and ask the expert to help you find ways of ensuring a smooth introduction of the new greyhound into the family and home. Talking to the expert will also enable you to determine whether the particular greyhound you have chosen is the right fit for your family.
They are emotionally sensitive
Understanding your pet will go a long way in helping you to meet their needs as well as build a strong bond. Animals have feelings too and are capable of a range of emotions. This means that in addition to learning how to care for your dog, you should also educate yourself on how to treat them. Make sure you understand the specific breeds you intend to buy and find out of you are ready to give your pet the physical and mental stimulation he needs. This will involve creating time for the dog, whether it is for purposes of training him or just having fun. By doing this, you will not only establish a way to communicate and form a trusting relationship but will also be promoting the physical and mental well-being of your four-legged companion.
Greyhounds are non-aggressive and more sensitive than most of the other breeds. They like to be handled with a gentle touch and will usually jump in case you touch them, and they were not expecting it. Besides physical touch, the dogs are also sensitive to the way you act towards them. They do not like it when they are yelled at or harshly criticized, with most of them responding in a much better way when treated with patience and gentleness. While this is true for every breed, the effects are more visible when it comes to greyhounds.
Greyhounds are big dogs
When choosing the right dog for you and your family, dog size should not be taken lightly. While dog size may not seem like a big issue, it will have a huge effect both when the dog is at home as well as when in an outdoor environment. The larger the dog, the more space you will need if you are going to house him comfortably. This means you will have to think about the size of your home and yard. You will also have to consider the children in the household. A dog that is too big can accidentally step on or knock over young children, while smaller breeds are more fragile and could be unintentionally hurt by children.
While they are certainly not the largest dogs in the world, greyhounds are big enough. An average greyhound will be about three feet at the shoulder and weight between 80 and 90 pounds. The sheer size and weight of the dog mean that it is capable of knocking an adult off their feet in case it runs into them. While this is not a problem in itself, you should make sure you have the dog’s attention immediately when you notice that it wants to chase something. Considering that greyhounds are fast, they can do a lot of damage if they crash into something or someone. Before buying this breed, you should ensure that you can handle such situations.
Greyhounds need time and patience
Pet parents and their families have to treat animals in a gentle and humane way. Training is an important way of influencing how the pet behaves by giving rewards for good behavior and teaching the consequences of unacceptable behavior. Even when the pets display behavior that is considered unacceptable, you should find ways of showing him that there are consequences without making the pet develop a negative attitude towards training. In order to develop the right training techniques and program, you will need to understand the unique personality of your pet. It would also be important to consider the circumstances that could influence his behavior at that particular time. This will help you to avoid punishing the dog for misbehavior that is not as a result of disobedience.
If you plan to buy a greyhound, you should know that these dogs need time and patience. Your greyhound will look to you for care and guidance, and you will need to teach them in a way that will ensure they learn the lesson. For instance, the dogs have a tendency to grab any food in sight. As you train your pet to avoid this behavior, you can consider using gates to contain the area. This is a habit that may take time to turn the dog away from. Similarly, greyhounds love to run and chase smaller pets. If you are to bring your dog along when going to a public space, you will want him to behave properly, a factor that will require training. Make sure you have the time and patience to help your greyhound adopt the right behavior.
A good environment that fits their personality and characteristics
One of the responsibilities of pet ownership is creating a conducive environment in which your furry friend can thrive. The right environment will ensure the pet is happy and help to avoid common health issues that may come about as a result of an unfriendly setting. This will also ease the transition of a new dog into your home. In order to do this, you will need to consider the personality, size as well as the physical needs of the animal. Since the dog will be spending a good part of their day in this place, you can enlist the help of a vet to ensure you give them the best.
Considering the personalities of greyhounds, they will do best in an environment that is calm and quiet. Although these dogs like people, they will tend to avoid noise and commotion, instead choosing to curl up in a quiet spot. This would be important to have in mind, especially if you have guests over frequently. Whenever possible, you should buy two greyhounds since the breed thrives with a companion. Part of creating a great environment will involve setting a regular routine early on and sticking to it in order to ensure consistency. Having a fenced yard will allow the greyhounds to roam freely while ensuring they remain in the safety of the enclosed area.
Greyhounds need regular vet visits
It goes without saying that if you own a pet, there are times when you will have to schedule visits to the vet. This is a huge responsibility that you should be ready for by the time you decide to bring a pet into your home. Vet visits are not only critical to properly taking care of the pets but also help to identify different health conditions that may not be apparent at the time of onset. The visits will present an opportunity for dental cleaning and examinations as well as preventive treatment. In the long run, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that your canine companion is in good health.
Considering the health concerns associated with greyhounds, regular veterinary visits will go a long way in helping to prevent or catch medical problems in good time. It is recommended that you visit a veterinarian every six months. Greyhounds can overheat when they get nervous and are typically sensitive to certain types of anesthetics. The normal ranges for their blood work are also slightly different from most breeds of dogs. For this reason, the veterinarian you visit should be familiar with the unique needs of the breed. This will ensure you get the best possible level of care for your pet.
The right place to buy a greyhound
While this may seem like a no brainer, a good number of people forget to take this into consideration. However, it is important that you take time to identify a good place from where you will get your new pet. Working with a reputable dog breeder who tests the animals and makes sure they are free of genetic diseases will help you get a healthy dog. This will go a long way in ensuring that the animals have sound temperaments, giving you an easy time both during and after the period the pet settles in. You will also save money associated with frequent vet visits. Make sure you do your research properly in order to identify a reliable person from whom to buy.
While owning any dog makes for an enormous, this is truer when it comes to greyhounds. These dogs are not only emotionally sensitive but also need to be protected and handled properly due to their fragile nature. The breed is also likely to develop a number of health problems, some of which are serious and could result in death. Finding out more about the dog from the previous pet parent will also help you to make decisions that are in the best interest of the canine. You will also have the choice of working with the veterinarian who has and understands the medical history of the greyhound. In the end, you will provide the dog with high-quality care and enjoy the new experience.
Buying a greyhound can be an unnerving process. These unique animals display quite the personality, making it necessary to go for one that will suit not only you but also your lifestyle. Take time to meet the dog to ensure he has no health or behavioral issues. Keenly observe the dog’s temperament to find out if he will adapt to your living situation. More importantly, keep learning more about greyhounds to ensure you become a better pet parent.
