My Greyhound Space

Archive for the ‘Greyhound Clothing and Collars’ Category

The bravery of greyhounds never ceases to amaze me.  We do laugh at them (or sympathize with them) for being such wimps.  Tread on a greyhound's foot or subject him to the tiniest injection at the vets and you are often astounded at the way they scream like stuck pigs.  Still, vets say that if they are really really hurt, they are very quiet, and amongst, if not the, most compliant and easy dogs to treat.  Of course this may mean that when they are really hurt they go into a form of shock, which is not funny at all, but at least it makes it easier for a vet to handle them.

But the abuse that some of them have gone through is just unthinkable for us pet greyhound owners.  We have a greyhound, Slinky, who came to us with lots of fears and scars, terrified of anyone with anything resembling a stick, almost starved to death, and with a dent in his skull that the vet has confirmed must have come from a blow to the head.  He is not alone in this.  It is not a legend that many greyhounds are found with their ear flaps cut off, so that the cruel swines who abandoned them cannot be traced from the ear tattoos.  This really happens, and sometimes even worse.

Yet these poor damaged dogs manage most of the time to learn, albeit slowly sometimes, to love people.  They come to know the difference between the abusers who hurt them and the loving people involved in their rescue and adoption.  Their bravery and resilience is truly humbling.

Greyhounds are Different from Other Dogs

There are so many physiological differences between Greyhounds and other breeds of dog, they might as well be regarded as a different species.  Their hearts are bigger, their red blood corpuscles more numerous, all commensurate with the highly-tuned sprint athletes they are.

They also have very thin, light fur compared to other dogs, even the short-coated canines.  It seems so wrong to see poor shivering greyhounds being dragged around on the lead by their owners in the depths of winter.  They have virtually no fat to insulate them, no undercoat in their fur, give them a break - buy them a nice fleecy coat this winter!

Mind you, not all greyhound shivering is due to the cold.  There are quite a few "spooks" in the breed, dogs who for one reason or another are very nervous or anxious about different situations, like meeting people, other dogs, traffic noise, or fireworks and thunderstorms.  This doesn't apply to all greyhounds - some are cool as cucumbers, but it is so common it could be called a "type".  Sometimes they seem to be shivering out of excitement as it rarely happens when they are on home, familiar turf.  It's possible the thyroid - which in greyhounds is again, different, might be to blame.

Our two dogs are wondering what's going on!  As you may know we are great believers in Greyhound coats.  We have coats for hot days and coats for cold days.  We also, believe it or not, have coats for in between days.

The UK's weather has been so variable that we just don't know what to dress the dogs in!  One of them - Slinky - really feels the cold and turns into a shivering wreck if he's not cosseted.  So we dig out the warm coats only to find a short while later the sun comes out with a vengeance leaving a panting Greyhound.  Well, at least the intentions are good, we just hope we get a reasonable summer so we only need the reflective Greyhound coats

Owning a Greyhound is very different from owning other dogs. Their whole personality and behaviour patterns are quite unlike any dog I've ever encountered.

To start with, don't expect a hyperactive racing dog, they're, for the most part, couch potatoes. The joke in the UK is they're the most dangerous dog for burglars to encounter as they fall over them in the dark! Now and then you will find one that has that “I could have been a contender” attitude and will demonstrate his speed at every opportunity. These are the exception.

If you're rescuing an ex-racer, you are in for a surprise during the first six months. So many are traumatised when they find their “forever home” they just can't believe their luck! Typically, the new dog is nervous, frightened by your desire to give him a cuddle as it seems like an assault to him, and looking for an escape route.

Very quickly, he learns that you are in it for the long haul and wish him no harm. Food and treats reinforce the notion that you're on his side and gradually the confidence will grow. After a few stroking sessions he will learn that a cuddle is not an attempt to restrain him, and get to like it. As time progresses you'll find him coming to you for an affectionate squeeze, you'll will feel honoured that you've gained his trust and might even shed a tear.

The reason so many Greyhound owners get so emotional about their dogs is the sad state that so many of them arrive in. The heart rending pity you feel when encountering the worst cases seems to form a bond and sense of responsibility for their welfare that is more powerful than that felt for other dogs. It's hard to explain, but it seems to be the case with most Greyhound owners. Owners, in this context, refers to those of us who've taken the plunge, and adopted an ex-racer. Those who breed or buy them, race them and dump them are not worthy of the term owner. Having said that, there are those who are keen to race their dog/s but keep them as a pet when they retire or ensure they find a good home: They are a different matter altogether.

When taking your first steps to Owning a Greyhound don't be deterred by the poor looking, drooping head specimen before you when you meet the candidates for adoption. With good food and grooming the changes that take place are are nothing short of incredible. The scruffy coat will get back to it's original gloss. The frame will fill out and the horrible joint outlines will vanish. Above all, your Greyhound will gradually recover it's pride and hold it's head up. You now own a pet Greyhound, not a disposable racing machine that no longer earns it's keep.

Why are Greyhound coats so important? The answer to this is obvious when you look at the physical make-up of the "Grey".

Firstly, they have less fat to insulate them from the extremes of temperature. Secondly, they don't possess the thick fur found on most breeds of dog. The result of this is a dog that can suffer from hypothermia in cold weather and of course, hyperthermia when the sun is strong.

It has to be said that, like humans, Greyhounds vary in their sensitivity to temperature changes. Greyhound coats ensure your dog is able to cope. Another aspect of this is to compare their situation to humans. We can tolerate extremes of temperature very well indeed, but, we're far more comfortable if we're appropriately dressed for the prevailing weather. The older or weaker human can perish if not protected from extreme weather.

So, what is needed to afford your Greyhound the necessary protection?

A good warm and waterproof winter coat is essential. To not give such a sensitive dog this basic item is downright cruel. Your dog may not drop dead, but it will be very uncomfortable without one. The difference between surviving something and being comfortable must be appreciated.

Other Greyhound coats include light waterproof types for showery, warm weather. Many of these will fold up nicely and fit in a bag or pocket. Remember, a cold dog is one thing, a cold wet dog is something else again.

What about hot sunshine?

Here we have an altogether different issue to address. The problems relate to the colour of the dog. A white Greyhound - or any other dog for that matter - can be badly burned as they tend to have areas of exposed pale skin. If your dog is likely to be affected the nose and any other vulnerable areas should be watched and the necessary sun block applied if needed, as Greyhound coats can only cover the body.

Black and other dark coloured dogs absorb heat. There's no argument, black absorbs heat, white reflects, it's basic physics we all learned at school.

There are now reflective Greyhound coats available. These are great as they are a dual purpose garment. The UK isn't unique in having extremely changeable weather, so a "be prepared for anything" approach is required. Fortunately, reflective coats are wind and waterproof as well as being able to reflect the suns heat.

They really do keep a dog cool. Try this if you ever see a lucky Greyhound whose caring owner has kitted out for the sunshine. Having sought the owners permission, feel the top of it's head, then slide your hand under the coat. You will be amazed at the difference in temperature.

Of course, none of this means you should neglect the other aspects of dog ownership, fresh water must always be available and if it is unbearably hot, both you and your dog will be better off in the cool somewhere.

There's never been a better selection of Greyhound coats available.

Our local Greyhound rescue group had a fund raising coffee morning and Christmas fair on Saturday.

We helped out by dressing our dogs up in their Christmas greyhound coats, parading them around Cromer in the freezing cold and passing out leaflets to passers by.  In the photo, Pingu has that far away look we've got used to since the onset of his blindness.  Slinky - on the right of picture - is dreaming of a warm home and a sofa!

Greyhounds dressed up for fund raiser

Considering the weather and the fact that a lot of people were pre-occupied with thoughts of Christmas shopping and getting home before the inevitable rain started.  Many greeted the idea of getting out of the cold for a cup of coffee and helping to raise funds with enthusiasm, whilst others were far to busy.  Some however, when told it was to raise funds to help rescue Greyhounds just grunted and looked at us as though we'd suggest they participate in some un-natural act!

Anyway, the event was a success and I believe enough money was raised to rescue nine dogs.  These are ex-racers from Ireland who would otherwise face an uncertain future.  If only we could rescue all of these poor animals.  It's interesting that our walks around town take us so long.  The reason being that we are stopped so often (even when the dogs aren't dressed up as Santa's little helpers) by people who are totally captivated by these gentle creatures and want to know more about them.  Needless to say, we're only to happy to oblige!  The surprising thing is that so many people are amazed that they make such wonderful pets.. We just keep on spreading the word and hoping it spreads.

Really Impressive! This men is certainly the best bus driver in the world.