My Greyhound Space

Archive for the ‘Greyhound, Dog articles’ Category

Well, it's around a year since our Pingu was diagnosed with PRA which means he'll eventually go completely blind. So far he's managed very well and finds his way around OK. But, being a Greyhound that loves to run, he still races around the gardens at full speed! He even does it in the dark! We have security lights front and back, but the passageway linking the two gardens is dark.

He did have a mishap whereby he managed to remove a chunk of flesh from his leg when he hit a low brick wall in the garden. The wound was so bad he had to have another incision made further down to "free up" some skin for the sutures to go into. It was a horrible experience for all concerned.

So, using the usual system of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, we fixed up a padded protector on the wall.

As you can see from the picture, it's just polyurethane insulation/lagging for 15mm copper pipe. We simply fixed some cheap plastic pipe to the wall and put on the padding.

Needless to say, we now watch him like hawks to unearth any other potential hazards!

It seems our Pingu is coping quite well with his failing eyesight, but there are signs that he is still getting used to his situation.  Sometimes, when out in town, he seems to be a bit freaked out when he sees other dogs. If the other dog is a bit "lively" it seems to confuse him and so he barks at it, albeit in a half hearted way.  There's no malice, it's more like "What the hell's going on?"  It hasn't been too much of a problem though.

He falters when he enters the house when the light is bright outside and takes a few moments to adjust to the change in light level, again, he copes in his own way.

The most heartening, and in some ways the most frightening, thing is his running about in the garden.  He's always been keen on running like a maniac and that desire hasn't diminished as his eyesight worsens. To see him in failing light, or hear him in pitch darkness is astonishing.  He travels around the back garden, along the side of the house and does a lap of the front garden before repeating the circuit several times.  It's an amazing testimony to a dogs sensing abilities other than eyesight.  He's either relying on scent, or memory.  As we've only been in the house since August, it seems it's the good old "dogs nose" that gets him around.

So far, our other Greyhound, Slinky, doesn't seem to be taking advantage of his superior eyesight and they remain very close friends.

Our lovely Pingu whom we rescued two years ago has developed Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) with the result that he is going blind.  This was a huge shock when we discovered it this week.

Our Ex-Racing Greyhound - Pingu.

We had noticed certain signs in the past but assumed his clumsiness resulted from his exuberant approach to life.  He tends to bound up to us, or our other dog Slinky and has even been known to bowl Slinky over!  It all makes sense now and needless to say, we're very upset.

Last week he was in our garden sniffing everywhere over and over again.  His head was swinging from side to side as though he was disorientated.  We guessed his sight was compromised and when we looked, his pupils were huge.  A trip to the vet and then to a canine ophthalmologist confirmed the worst.  He is totally blind in low light and can only make out large objects in full daylight as blurred shapes.  We understand that within 18 months the loss of vision will be total.

It is said that the owners of blind dogs are more upset than the dog and this seems to be the case here.  His behaviour indicates he's still getting used to the situation, possibly because of the varying level of vision he's experiencing.  What he can percieve at mid day is very different from that in the lower light level at 9pm.  The condition is incurable, being hereditary, and progressive.  Onset is probably from around the age of two.  Pingu is now 4 and so more into the advanced stage.

We all have to learn to live with it and take the appropriate precautions such as drawing his attention to any new, or moved, objects in the home.  Obviously he is needing a lot of love and attention.  We will, however, take care not to spoil him as we know from experience that dogs will take advantage if they can get away with it!

I'll write more about our dogs soon.

Owning a Greyhound is very different from owning other dogs. Their 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.

Don't be deterred by the poor looking 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 and incredibly rewarding.

What is a Greyhound?

One of the oldest types of dog, the Greyhound is not the first breed that springs to mind when seeking a new pet.

Greyhounds were depicted on the walls of tombs in Egypt and even on the walls of a 6,000 year old temple in Turkey.

Blessed with the most amazing eyesight, they are part of the family of dogs known as sighthounds. This group of dogs, which includes the Afghan Hound, The Borzoi, Saluki and Whippet, hunt by sight rather than by scent. In some ways it could be said that they're cursed by their wonderful sight and amazing turn of speed.

They're used for hunting, particularly Hare coursing and of course, racing. This is where the problems lie. The sheer mindless cruelty of some members of the racing and hunting fraternity beggars belief.

Although it must be said a lot of owners of working Greyhounds are scrupulously caring and kind, there are far too many others who treat their dogs like inanimate objects and literally throw their dogs away in the manner of an old bicycle. Some ex-racers end their lives in the most hideous manner, often at the hands of the hunting fraternity. Others, considered by many to be the lucky ones, are put to sleep by a vet.

The problem is that a dog that can live until it's 12 to 14, only races for a few years, possibly two to three, and is then unwanted. Some small racing kennels keep the dogs as pets but these are the minority.

It's fortunate that Greyhound rescue centres have been set up all over the world and large numbers of these lovely dogs have been saved.

I sometimes look at my two gorgeous "Greys" and think that ones just like them are being beaten and tortured to death in countries such as Spain and elsewhere.

So, what is it like to rescue a Greyhound?

Sometimes when your Greyhound arrives, a certain amount of rehabilitation is required. You may be one of the fortunate majority, and take in a happy healthy hound. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Our two were totally different in nature and condition. One was lively and quite unruly, whilst the other was a sorry sight, painfully thin and terrified of his own shadow. When we took him for his first outing something of his past was revealed: he was terrified of sticks. We live near the coast and during the summer, children are everywhere with crab nets. The poor animal was cringing behind our legs whenever he saw a crab net or fishing rod

It seems that when his racing career came to an end he "fell off the radar" for around 18 months. During this time he became emaciated and acquired a number of scars, some of which are without doubt due to entanglement in barbed wire. He'd obviously been used for coursing.

Eighteen months on, you would not believe he's the same dog. He's put on around 10 kg in weight and is a pleasure to own. We were told that after six months we would have a very different dog. This was true, and ownership of our Greyhounds has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.