Greyhound Facts and Figures

Size - about 25 - 29 inches at the shoulder Weight - about 55 - 80 lbs.

Lifespan - about 13 years - Speed - about 40 mph!

Diet - suggested (Please Note - I generally feed my greyhounds 2 meals of very slightly moistened dry RED MILLS brand greyhound "Racer" food - but most dry dog food  is fine - plus the standard treats and bones) The food information below is actually suggested by the R.G.T

FEEDING

Greyhounds are easy to feed they eat almost anything!

Breakfast
Cornflakes or Weetabix and ½ pint milk or Pasta with gravy (made from 1/3 of an Oxo cube or gravy granules plus water)

Lunch
Milk or water with dog treats, or dog chews, or biscuits or for a treat a tin of tuna or pilchards

Dinner
Greyhounds are generally used to "Greyhound Feed". Gain, Red Mills, Purina, or similar brands, retired greyhounds should be given a 20% brand rather than a racing mixture.

Mix with approximately eight ounces of meat and gravy, vegetables can be added. All biscuit meal and greyhound feed should be soaked as too much dry food can upset at greyhound's digestion.

Meat: Butcher's scrap meat or minced beef (cooked and fat skimmed off) ox cheek, breast of lamb, tripe, or chicken. Rolls of a ready-cooked meat from the Pet Shop. Fish carefully boned can be used for a change. Dry meat is not really suitable unless thoroughly soaked and given infrequently

Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and broccoli should be cooked, chopped up fine and stirred in well. Although many dogs enjoy fresh vegetables or even frozen ones! Avoid tinned food to start with as it can cause an upset stomach, dogs can be weaned onto tinned food gradually.

Should your dog get an upset stomach (many do when they arrive home) mix in a large tablespoonful of Arrowroot (this is available in powder form from the chemist)

Give dog's treats at your own discretion, most greyhounds have a soft spot for Kitkats and Malteasers - PLEASE NOTE - Large amounts of chocolate can be POISONOUS - about 1.5 kilos of milk chocolate or 125 gms of Dark chocolate for a 25Kg dog - SO DON'T LEAVE IT AROUND!! Many greyhounds love a raw egg in their milk occasionally..

Feeding your greyhound once they arrive home it is very often a question of trial-and-error and fitting in with your lifestyle.

FRESH WATER MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE -although your greyhound may not drink it.

NB. Many greyhounds at first try to supplement their diet by helping themselves to any food within reach!

General Health

Greyhounds are generally very healthy with very few genetic problems unlike many other pedigree dogs. Some may have scale coated teeth due to their high protein, soft diet. while racing and like many other athletes may have some arthritis when older. For more detail click HERE

Health Care
Regular worming and booster inoculations for distemper and leptospirosis are essential, your veterinary surgeon will advise you. He should also be requested to check your greyhound's teeth on any visits. To prevent the build-up of scale on teeth a large raw marrow bone should be given every week. Cleaning the teeth with a brush is also advantageous.
Do not let your greyhound run on very hard or frozen surfaces.
Racing greyhound bitches are rarely spayed. Some of ours are, others may have to be done after adoption due to use of Seasonal Suppressant. Your own vet can tell you if it is in your bitch's best interest.
Prompt veterinary attention is essential if your greyhound seems off-colour, particularly in the case of excessive thirst or vomiting.

 Equipment
1 Greyhound collar - to be worn at all times when out of the house (correct adjustment allows only one finger underneath it)
2 Lead: preferably long double-ended leather (with buckles at each end) or alternatively one with strong reliable clip (watch for wear).
3 Name and address disc/capsule
4 Food bowl (small washing up bowl).
5 Water bowl.
6 Fairly stiff brush for daily grooming.
7 Coat for wet/cold weather. If you are unable to obtain any of the above. Contact the Trust.
8 Bed. Settees are ideal. Alternatively, a duvet or similar raised off the ground out of draughts and in a corner. Your greyhound must have his own bed, where he can go and rest as he pleases and not be disturbed..

The English Greyhound Stud Book registers all UK Greyhound Ear Tattoos.
Their telephone number is: 011 44 01638 667381.
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IRISH TATTOOS:
Three letters in the Left Ear (i.e., AAA); and, two letters in the Right Ear (i.e., BB). The FIRST letter in the RIGHT ear indicates the Whelp Year (the second letter in the right ear indicates the tattooing steward's identifier)...

The Irish Coursing Club registers all IRL Greyhound Ear Tattoos.
Their telephone number is: 011 353 52 22611.
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The additional letters (numbers) are used by the respective Club/Book, in registering the relative hounds in addition to the Whelping Year This is similar to the five digit left ear numbers used in NGA Tattoos in the USA. A telephone call to the respective Club/Book is necessary to obtain additional information. .

The National Greyhound Racing Club carries the registration and racing history of all dogs that have run under NGRC rules. A Five Pound Sterling fee is required to obtain this information - see CONTACTS page.
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Here's two relatively useful URLs:
http://www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/gruk/n_care_tattoos.html
http://freespace.virgin.net/caroline.h/ears.htm
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This website has been designed to assist people taking a retired greyhound into their home for the first time. This version compiled by R.J.Lobb

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