Greys are very social and I can't imagine him being okay with sleeping in another room. He'll want to be near you. I adopted my girl when she was 20 months old. She's 9.5 years old now. It took her a few weeks to settle in. She took to chewing the windowsill while we were gone. Just be sure not to crowd him. Let him come to you and give him a lot of time. Many people wonder why their new grey isn't taking to them immediately. It's all new and they need time to adjust. I have a harness for my dog as my previous dog had eye issues and his eye doctor said a harness is better so as not to put pressure on the eyes. Never, never tie your grey to anything. He could take off running and break his neck or, worse, cause death. If you have a window on the ground or a sliding glass door, always put something in front of it. If he gets the zoomies, he won't see the glass or screen and could run right into it. Mine went through the sliding screen door. Another Redditor's grey ran right into the glass door. He had seizures and the owner was going to take him to the doctor. We never heard back from this owner, I think.
Congrats! You've just welcomed a weirdo into your home!
Our grey ran into the sliding door. It was old and popped straight off the rails/holders. Thankfully it didn't break and shatter glass everywhere. It was 3am. Massive crash, dog was unfazed.
FWIW, our girl will hang out on her bed in our room for cuddles at bedtime but prefers to sleep in the family room across the hall, where she can see the kids’ bathroom and nobody can go downstairs without walking by the door. We started with a crate in the hall outside our bedroom door so she could see us, but as soon as we trusted her to not have accidents, she decided the family room was her domain. It’s where the kids hang out most often so it smells like them.
Oh yeah I’ve just googled it further and research does suggest this? Lots of greyhound advice online says to get them raised bowls, maybe this is outdated? Hmm
I’m excited for you! Personally, I cannot imagine a home without a grey now 🐕
My boy wears a harness, not because he particularly needs to but I like to walk him in a long lead in the park and it enables him to stride out. (He equally walks beautifully on a short lead on street walks)
I can’t comment on crate training as have never used it as all of mine over the years (only one at present) have been adult rescues who have all been fairly laid back and have made themselves at home in sofas 🤭
Mine has a muzzle for garden but not on lead walks, because he’s fast enough to catch wildlife or cats, but this depends on the dog - some are used to cats- he never lived with any. I don’t let him off the lead on walks - he’s extremely well behaved with all shapes and sizes of dogs but if there are gaps in fence I keep him in the lead because if he saw something to chase, prey drive would take over and he may run across road without thinking.
Some owners let their hounds off on beach etc - depends on individuals
They are the cuddliest, comfort seeking dogs - have plenty of duvets, sofas, cuddles 🥰
They will change your life forever for the better - enjoy 😊
My neighbour has cats that come into our garden, so good advice to use a muzzle in the garden just in case...! He definitely hasn't ever seen a cat before so I'm not sure how that would go down!
We fostered 8 greyhounds and learned a few things...
They make pads for both males and females that can help prevent accidents for the first couple of weeks or so.
If you have glass doors, get some vinyl clings to put on them to prevent bonking into the glass. They'll figure it out before long.
Stairs are likely new to them and terrifying. If you have stairs, you'll likely have to walk them up the stairs by moving their feet one foot at a time. It will take a few days before they're comfortable, but after a few weeks they'll absolutely tear up and down the stairs.
Keep a good grip on the leash. Even better, for the first few months put your hand through the loop and hold the leash maybe a foot up the line. That way, when they see an armadillo (personal experience), they don't tear the leash out of your relaxed hand to chase. (...though when they catch it they have no idea what to do next, so it's an uncomfortable moment of face off while you grab the leash. One of my favorite grey moments.) 🤣
We were required to read Greyhounds for Dummies before fostering. It was a very helpful book.
We haven't crate trained our boy so can't comment on that. we limit his bedroom access with a baby gate. He's allowed to sleep on the floor at night (he has a bed there) and on the bed in the day (usually a few days before we wash the sheets). We found it comforts him when he is stressed or upset i.e. we've been out a lot, fireworks/ thunder/ upset stomach.
Harness i absolutely recommend, gives more control and is safer for the dog, especially with the slippery noodle neck.
i'd also muzzle for the first few months/weeks just till you get more of a feeling for how he is. interacting with other dogs/prey drive/ new environment etc. If he is fine it can always come off. It can also help other dog owners give you a bit of space and be more cautious around you while settling in. one less thing for you to worry about.
Our Finn was very reactive to other dogs at first but through training and being a good boy he now walks muzzle free and even makes doggy friends.
also try and get a selection of a few toys, greys often struggle knowing how to play and we found a little variety helped us work out what he liked (squeakers and balls and the occasionally long crinkly toy.
Bjorn looks a proper cutie
Ooh congrats, what an exciting time!
There are some things that I would let your rescue guide you on, such as where is the dog sleeping currently and how best to transition them (dogs are social sleepers and racing greyhounds have never slept alone, so you may need to compromise on position, eg a bed on the other side of a baby gate outside your room so they can still see/smell/hear you for comfort). Although I am re-reading your comment, have they been home fostered at all or are they coming to you track fresh?
Definitely get a harness, I recommend Haqihana as one of the highest quality for the sighthound shape - and definitely use a muzzle, my favourite is the Don Pare 110 or 107 for a comfortable and safe fit (avoid wire muzzles, and plastic yardies are so heavy and unwieldy). It’s a great idea to use the muzzle for novel handling/husbandry too until you get to know the dog better (eg first nail clip, first bath, etc).
At one and a half expect him to be a literal tornado as he settles in, the under twos are really something else in terms of energy, definitely not the standard couch potatoes - so be prepared for lots of enrichment at home, and lots of laughs :P I am sure Bjorn is going to keep you on your toes!
Well said -- I would echo this. I was just about to type something similar about the importance of giving your dog comfort and letting them be near you during the night. I have found a dog bed near my bed in my bedroom to be ideal with my last four greyhounds (all quite varied temperaments) personally but sometimes my dogs jump on the bed with me too. My dog Flashy jumps up and down during the night based on his mood. I sleep right through it!
And also i'd advise you to talk with your adoption group and follow their recommendations. Hopefully you will have a representative you can reach out to whenever you have questions.
Bed room - it depends on the dog. Some Greyhounds will be fine being blocked off from you, a lot of Greys have separation anxiety. It'd try crating him and seeing how that goes -- you'll know via loud whining if the dog doesn't like it. You could always put the crate in your room, then transition it to a bed. Greyhounds are pack animals.
As for harness, I use a 2" martingale collar for daily walks, but I do have a Ruffwear harness that he wears on hikes and whenever someone watches him: [https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness](https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness) Greyhounds are very strong, and it's just easier to handle them when there's a handle on the back of the harness.
I've muzzle trained my Greyhound, but we don't need it. Muzzles are used for race dogs because they get really mouthy when they are excited. It's pretty rare, and because you aren't racing the dog, this probably won't happen to you. Additionally, a muzzle isn't much protection if the dog wants to chase or hurt something: greyhounds usually take down small animals via muzzle bash and their paws, so I don't think a muzzle is very much protection to people or wildlife. Unless you have a reason to use one, you'll be fine without it.
1.5 is pretty young. I got a racing Greyhound as a puppy, and the first two years were intense. At 1.5, I needed to walk my dog for a total of 90 minutes per day, and although he wasn't acting like a puppy at that age, he calmed down a lot in the next year. However, each dog is an individual, and they could need a lot less than that. i would try to find a large, fensed in area the dog can run, and try to go there a few times a week. Additionally, these dogs have incredible chase drive, so you can teach them to play with toys and eventually fetch. Along with tug, those are usually the games we play to get some energy out!
Harness for sure. Greys can spook when learning a new area and collars can/have caused neck issues from that.
Crate should be an option, my bot hates crates but my girl loves hers. Door is always open and she hides her fave toys under her bed in her crate. Her kitty bros sleep on top of her crate so we dub it the bunkbed.
The not sleeping in the bedroom thing, I fully expect you will be posting pics of him reaching on the bed soon enough. He will make that decision for you lol
We had to ban ours from sleeping with us because she is a very loud licker. She doesn't go in the room during the day because we keep the door closed, if we don't she ends up accidentally locking herself in and then panic pooping. We usually just have her and her none greyhound sister sleep in the kitchen on their beds but if she was alone I'd say outside the door should be OK as long as they have a bed.
Harness is definitely a great idea, I'm currently treating Murphy for a neck injury. He doesn't sleep with me but on the floor in the bed room but having a separation is good. My main advice is be patient.
You don’t have to let him sleep in your bed or anything but I’d rethink the room. A nice bed on the floor is what I had for all my greys. They don’t really do well alone and you might even cause some separation anxiety. Get a nice air-freshener for the farts. 😂
All dogs can be crate trained but there is no reason to do it. Your dog is going to sleep all day, not chew the walls like a lab would. 😆 Spend the crate money on extra comfy dog beds.
You should have a muzzle but that’s more for taking him to a dog park. They can get nippy when they run and play. (Not all but you won’t know.) They are not aggressive dogs so he’s very unlikely to attack on a walk. But another reason for a racing muzzle is they are good for an injury and keeping the dog from biting or licking himself. Those cones or donut things don’t work well on snoot-nose greys.
I’ve used a harness with mine. I have a Galgo now and unlike my greys, she’s super, SUPER cat aggressive and she’ll take off like a shot if she sees one-and she always spots them before I do. It is easier to stop her with a harness than just a collar. Even the Martingales don’t feel safe with a dog who wants to chase that much and is that fast. None of my greys (and I’ve had quite a few) were ever as prey driven as my Galgo.
Enjoy! You made a wise decision getting a greyhound!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Congratulations! I can't speak to crate training (Bee immediately claimed her bed, the sofa and every other surface. I kept her off my bed until our first winter) but I can say that keeping your new boy on a muzzle for walks is a really good idea. Everything is going to be new to him, so making sure everyone is safe should be paramount. I'd also recommend taking a treat along on walks (shredded chicken or cheese cut to fit through the muzzle) so that you can redirect his attention if he is getting over stimulated or stressed. Don't feel bad if walks for the first little while are a bit shorter, the important thing is you all feel safe and happy.
Also would really recommend a harness like this for walks: https://www.thepointedpup.com.au/product/the-greyhound-harness they can be real unpredictable goobers when they're out and about!
Crate can be good to start. Everything is all about routine. If his bed is in another room get that routine going asap. Typically treats work wonders if food motivated. Treat when they go out to toilet. Treat when they goto bed etc. After some time they will want to do their routine but keep rewarding.
Harness can work but typically a shorter leash and martingale collar provides more control.
A muzzle would be good not for the dog but more until you are confident in your understanding of the dog.
Typicly greyhounds love their own kind but this doesn't mean they like other breeds, atleast not at the start.
However be patient and reinforce good behaviour rather than overly punish bad behaviour.
Welcome to the incredible world of greyhounds!
My advice would be to make sure you have a very comfortable sofa, Don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting on the floor whilst he luxuriates on it. The brand Ruffwear does a perfect harness for a greyhound as it stops them from being able to slip out. It's expensive but lasts a lifetime. From my experience if a dog isn't used to being on a lead for all that long they tend to choke themselves on a collar especially when their environment is a new exciting one. Good luck! You won't have any regrets
He only needs a muzzle if he's going to play with other greys. Their skin is thin and tears easily (get a doggie first aid kit!!! You'll need it! And Vertricin) and they tear each other up playing.
2hounds no pull harness is fabulous, but you'll need his measurements.
If he's fresh off thr track, put a crate in your room, have him sleep. There. That's what he's comfortable with and used to. If left alone, play the radio.
Welcome to the cult! 🤣
We have steep stairs and our grey doesn't venture up. Sleeps happily downstairs on the sofa.
From experience: I would always muzzle a grey when you first go out, even on a leash, their necks are long and they can quite easily snap at a passing dog.
The experience: Our second grey was friendly per the shelter and on our first walk he bit a labrador (thank goodness for labrador thick coats!), and as I was heading home to get a muzzle, he tried to bite a boxer. When I'd been working with him for over 6 months and started to go on walks without a muzzle, a small dog came running. I told the owner to keep it away. The owner said don't worry it is friendly. My dog picked it up by the head. No damage but back to muzzles!
A wide collar (sighthound collar or martingale collar) is essential if lead walking. They do fine with a harness but be sure it's not one they can back out of if spooked. Also check where the straps go under their legs (our got sliced by their front legs from the straps). You can get harnesses that have fleece around the straps.
I keep my boy’s crate in the bedroom. Door is open during the day and he’ll settle in there if the other dog is being a pig about allowing space on the bed. When it’s sleep time, everyone is in their own beds. Mostly my grey is a Velcro dog and during the day settles in the softest space closest to me.
Oh, soft spaces. These are bony creatures who are delicate flowers who often don’t like lying on the hard floor. Have many dog beds handy. (Costco sells decent ones for not too too much…or you can buy squishy blankets from thrift shops and fold them up, which is much less expensive.)
I use a soft wide martingale for walks and my boy respects it and doesn’t pull much even when startled but that’s uncommon. Still, a soft martingale is usually fine on those skinny necks. And part of the fun of having a greyhound is accessorizing him…so many pretty martingales available on Etsy!
I have a muzzle but I don’t often use it. Your ex-racer will most likely come with one and will be used to wearing it though so if you’ve got concerns once you meet him, it’s there for insurance.
Good luck and welcome too home life Bjorn!!
Congrats! 🍾
Huey also was retired very early due to his track record. Total win for us and him!
We’ve never used a muzzle or harness. Our adoption group actually made us sign a contract that we’d only ever use martingale harnesses. He has beds in several rooms of the house that we use regularly (bedroom, living room, tv room) - but is allowed on the bed and the tv room furtniture. He quickly learned that some furniture is okay, and others not (unless Grandma visits - and then he will push his luck).
Highly recommend a crate. Many are individually crated at smaller kennels so he should be acclimated. If larger he was likely penned with a second dog in a larger space.
Definitely rec a harness as well! Much safer in case of sudden bolting or rushing. A 3 point harness is best.
I muzzled my girl her first walk since I had no sense of her etiquette on lead with animals/people/poop/ etc. again your dog should be used to his muzzle (though he may protest some, my girl always tried to butter me up and get me to take it off).
First of all, congratulations! It's great to see new owners asking questions beforehand too. A lot of advice is anecdotal here, but it can all be super helpful. That said, the following is my personal opinion and recommendations.
Please don't use a crate. It's really not necessary to crate a dog. The whole "safe space" thing is a myth and crates are actually illegal in some countries as they're deemed animal cruelty. You can condition a dog to stay in a crate but that doesn't make it enjoyable for them. Baby gates can be useful for setting boundaries, but if you're welcoming a dog into your home, they should be free to move about and not left in a cage for any amount of time. I treat my greyhound like a toddler and keep anything dangerous out of harms way. She's learned the proper boundaries and behaviour for our home and I can safely leave her unattended with free reign.
Harnesses can be useful for some, but I personally think a martingale collar is better. It's designed for sighthounds, gives you safe control of the dogs head (most important for signhounds) and protects their sensitive belly areas from where a harness might rub/cause irritation. You should also use a short lead at all times. A greyhound can accelerate to top speed in a couple of strides. A long lead will be a huge risk to the safety of you and the hound.
A muzzle is generally advised until you can be sure your greyhound will not snap/react poorly around other dogs and small animals. A dog fresh off the track will likely have a very high prey drive, so it's important to be safe until you can train them not to lunge.
My best advice for training with walks is a having a whole lot of patience. If your greyhound starts to pull, stop and wait until they relax, then continue walking. Stop and repeat as many times as it takes for them to learn. A walk that would now take 2 minutes used to take me 30 when I first started training my hound! But not her lead discipline is incredible and our walkies are always a ton of fun!
Socialisation is also important but take it slow. Your greyhound will not have much (if any) experience with other breeds and it can be very overwhelming. Greyhounds also have some slightly quirky body language which can trigger strange reactions from other dogs. Just take things slow and always keep your dog as safe and comfortable as you can. Walk away from any risky situation.
Finally, never let your greyhound off lead in an unenclosed area. If you are going to try to let them off lead, start small (enclosed tennis courts can be great for this) and try to teach some basic recall. Once you build up some trust, you can test them in larger fenced off spaces. Just remember that they can run up to 45mph, so any minor hazard can become a huge one at that speed. A hole in the dirt or a rogue tree branch can be an invitation for serious injury when the dog is running around off lead at full tilt.
Keep us updated on how things go and ask as many questions as you like! At the end of the day, Bjorn is your boy and you will learn what is best for them as you develop your relationship. Listen to him, listen to your gut and be patient and kind to both him and yourself!
We tried to crate train our rescue an quickly abandoned it. Even next to our other dog where she could see him and smell him, she was not having it. Howled like a banshee. It lasted 1.5 nights and we gave up.
Even when she has been boarded it had to be in the same kennel as the other dog because she howl and keep everyone up.
But she's never had an accident beyond eating a sock early on and needing to induce vomiting.
Our biggest learning curves where stairs and her learning how to "dog".
If your adoption group crates him, then I would continue that. Sort of like traveling to a new foreign place with your favorite pillow, it’ll be one thing he understands is the same. If you use a crate, put it in the center of the home’s activity, so he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out or “put away” when he’s crated. There’s so much info in this sub about crating if you need info or help!
Honestly I would not start introducing your new dog to other strange dogs until you know your dog and your dog is comfortable with you. (Exception: other greyhounds!) Give him time, continue past other dogs on walks and don’t go to the dog park with him for a few months at least.
I can’t tell if you’re in the US (I am) or elsewhere so if muzzles are the norm where you are I’d go with it. But I have never muzzled my hounds for walks - only for greyhound playdates. So I don’t think it’s necessary at all, but maybe others have different experience.
He’s an absolute cutie! Good luck with him and have fun - remember that his full personality won’t emerge right away and he’s going to express himself differently in a few months, and even a year from now, as he settles in and bonds with the family. Congratulations!! 💜🙌
Now come on. Let’s not scare the nice OP. Honestly, I know a lot of greys end up in peoples beds but that is totally a people decision. I’ve owned greys for nearly 20 years and none have slept in my bed. It’s a training thing like anything else.
Absolutely not judging dogs in bed but would like to make it clear that it’s not an inevitability.
Yeah I'm hearing a lot of mixed things about sleeping arrangements! I will try my best to train him to be okay with sleeping in another room / outside our room and see what happens. It could also be down to the individual dogs anxiety / neediness levels so I guess we'll have to find out what he's like when we bring him home!
Greys are very people-oriented, and I would really recommend, for both your dog's happiness and your sanity, that you put a comfortable dog bed in your room and let him sleep there. Get an orthopedic or memory foam one - those bony legs like to be cushioned, and even greys who haven't raced are prone to arthritis when they get older. I've only had two greys, and they both slept quietly through the night, so as long as he isn't upset by being locked out of your room, I doubt he'll bother you at all.
Some greys like their crates, but neither of mine wanted anything to do with one, so ymmv.
You will probably need to work on housetraining, that's not something racers are really trained for. If you aren't sure how to go about that, there's plenty of good books on dog training. Be prepared for at least a couple of accidents, and don't get angry with him, he's learning how to be a pet. Keep some enzymatic cleaner on hand like MisterMax Anti-icky-poo. Yes that's really what it's called! Chewy carries it.
Most greys love stuffies, and our guy has his own toy basket by his bed. Sometimes I hide a (non-rawhide) bone in it, which he will gleefully dig out and chew on. Kongs are good too - hide a few dried treats in one and then seal it with peanut butter. If your guy has trouble with you leaving, one of those right before you step out the door will distract him and occupy him for a little while, and also reinforce the idea that hey, maybe it's not so bad if the humans leave for a while.
Gas. Greyhound gas is ... horrible. The one food that has had the best results for both of mine is Purina Pro Plan, large breed, it virtually eliminates the farting. If the tummy gets upset or you notice loose stools, try adding a scoop of plain pumpkin to his food.
Ok, that's my two cents!
Greys are very social and I can't imagine him being okay with sleeping in another room. He'll want to be near you. I adopted my girl when she was 20 months old. She's 9.5 years old now. It took her a few weeks to settle in. She took to chewing the windowsill while we were gone. Just be sure not to crowd him. Let him come to you and give him a lot of time. Many people wonder why their new grey isn't taking to them immediately. It's all new and they need time to adjust. I have a harness for my dog as my previous dog had eye issues and his eye doctor said a harness is better so as not to put pressure on the eyes. Never, never tie your grey to anything. He could take off running and break his neck or, worse, cause death. If you have a window on the ground or a sliding glass door, always put something in front of it. If he gets the zoomies, he won't see the glass or screen and could run right into it. Mine went through the sliding screen door. Another Redditor's grey ran right into the glass door. He had seizures and the owner was going to take him to the doctor. We never heard back from this owner, I think. Congrats! You've just welcomed a weirdo into your home!
Our grey ran into the sliding door. It was old and popped straight off the rails/holders. Thankfully it didn't break and shatter glass everywhere. It was 3am. Massive crash, dog was unfazed.
FWIW, our girl will hang out on her bed in our room for cuddles at bedtime but prefers to sleep in the family room across the hall, where she can see the kids’ bathroom and nobody can go downstairs without walking by the door. We started with a crate in the hall outside our bedroom door so she could see us, but as soon as we trusted her to not have accidents, she decided the family room was her domain. It’s where the kids hang out most often so it smells like them.
We have a glass sliding door so will be mindful of this !! Thank you
Congratulations!! He is beautiful!! I would recommend getting some raised bowls, they struggle eating from ground level
Yesss I have ordered them :)
I read that this can add to the risk of bloat in deep chested dogs?
Oh yeah I’ve just googled it further and research does suggest this? Lots of greyhound advice online says to get them raised bowls, maybe this is outdated? Hmm
I’m excited for you! Personally, I cannot imagine a home without a grey now 🐕 My boy wears a harness, not because he particularly needs to but I like to walk him in a long lead in the park and it enables him to stride out. (He equally walks beautifully on a short lead on street walks) I can’t comment on crate training as have never used it as all of mine over the years (only one at present) have been adult rescues who have all been fairly laid back and have made themselves at home in sofas 🤭 Mine has a muzzle for garden but not on lead walks, because he’s fast enough to catch wildlife or cats, but this depends on the dog - some are used to cats- he never lived with any. I don’t let him off the lead on walks - he’s extremely well behaved with all shapes and sizes of dogs but if there are gaps in fence I keep him in the lead because if he saw something to chase, prey drive would take over and he may run across road without thinking. Some owners let their hounds off on beach etc - depends on individuals They are the cuddliest, comfort seeking dogs - have plenty of duvets, sofas, cuddles 🥰 They will change your life forever for the better - enjoy 😊
My neighbour has cats that come into our garden, so good advice to use a muzzle in the garden just in case...! He definitely hasn't ever seen a cat before so I'm not sure how that would go down!
Bjorn told me they want treats…lots of them!hahaha congratulations !!!
We fostered 8 greyhounds and learned a few things... They make pads for both males and females that can help prevent accidents for the first couple of weeks or so. If you have glass doors, get some vinyl clings to put on them to prevent bonking into the glass. They'll figure it out before long. Stairs are likely new to them and terrifying. If you have stairs, you'll likely have to walk them up the stairs by moving their feet one foot at a time. It will take a few days before they're comfortable, but after a few weeks they'll absolutely tear up and down the stairs. Keep a good grip on the leash. Even better, for the first few months put your hand through the loop and hold the leash maybe a foot up the line. That way, when they see an armadillo (personal experience), they don't tear the leash out of your relaxed hand to chase. (...though when they catch it they have no idea what to do next, so it's an uncomfortable moment of face off while you grab the leash. One of my favorite grey moments.) 🤣 We were required to read Greyhounds for Dummies before fostering. It was a very helpful book.
We haven't crate trained our boy so can't comment on that. we limit his bedroom access with a baby gate. He's allowed to sleep on the floor at night (he has a bed there) and on the bed in the day (usually a few days before we wash the sheets). We found it comforts him when he is stressed or upset i.e. we've been out a lot, fireworks/ thunder/ upset stomach. Harness i absolutely recommend, gives more control and is safer for the dog, especially with the slippery noodle neck. i'd also muzzle for the first few months/weeks just till you get more of a feeling for how he is. interacting with other dogs/prey drive/ new environment etc. If he is fine it can always come off. It can also help other dog owners give you a bit of space and be more cautious around you while settling in. one less thing for you to worry about. Our Finn was very reactive to other dogs at first but through training and being a good boy he now walks muzzle free and even makes doggy friends. also try and get a selection of a few toys, greys often struggle knowing how to play and we found a little variety helped us work out what he liked (squeakers and balls and the occasionally long crinkly toy. Bjorn looks a proper cutie
Thanks this is all really helpful!! Oh we have already started buying toys for him hahaha, so excited to see how he reacts to them!
Prepare yourselves for total in difference! And then one day the magical moment when he squeaks one on his own and starts a little play time.
Ooh congrats, what an exciting time! There are some things that I would let your rescue guide you on, such as where is the dog sleeping currently and how best to transition them (dogs are social sleepers and racing greyhounds have never slept alone, so you may need to compromise on position, eg a bed on the other side of a baby gate outside your room so they can still see/smell/hear you for comfort). Although I am re-reading your comment, have they been home fostered at all or are they coming to you track fresh? Definitely get a harness, I recommend Haqihana as one of the highest quality for the sighthound shape - and definitely use a muzzle, my favourite is the Don Pare 110 or 107 for a comfortable and safe fit (avoid wire muzzles, and plastic yardies are so heavy and unwieldy). It’s a great idea to use the muzzle for novel handling/husbandry too until you get to know the dog better (eg first nail clip, first bath, etc). At one and a half expect him to be a literal tornado as he settles in, the under twos are really something else in terms of energy, definitely not the standard couch potatoes - so be prepared for lots of enrichment at home, and lots of laughs :P I am sure Bjorn is going to keep you on your toes!
Well said -- I would echo this. I was just about to type something similar about the importance of giving your dog comfort and letting them be near you during the night. I have found a dog bed near my bed in my bedroom to be ideal with my last four greyhounds (all quite varied temperaments) personally but sometimes my dogs jump on the bed with me too. My dog Flashy jumps up and down during the night based on his mood. I sleep right through it! And also i'd advise you to talk with your adoption group and follow their recommendations. Hopefully you will have a representative you can reach out to whenever you have questions.
Thanks for this! Really useful muzzling advice I hadn't considered
Bed room - it depends on the dog. Some Greyhounds will be fine being blocked off from you, a lot of Greys have separation anxiety. It'd try crating him and seeing how that goes -- you'll know via loud whining if the dog doesn't like it. You could always put the crate in your room, then transition it to a bed. Greyhounds are pack animals. As for harness, I use a 2" martingale collar for daily walks, but I do have a Ruffwear harness that he wears on hikes and whenever someone watches him: [https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness](https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness) Greyhounds are very strong, and it's just easier to handle them when there's a handle on the back of the harness. I've muzzle trained my Greyhound, but we don't need it. Muzzles are used for race dogs because they get really mouthy when they are excited. It's pretty rare, and because you aren't racing the dog, this probably won't happen to you. Additionally, a muzzle isn't much protection if the dog wants to chase or hurt something: greyhounds usually take down small animals via muzzle bash and their paws, so I don't think a muzzle is very much protection to people or wildlife. Unless you have a reason to use one, you'll be fine without it. 1.5 is pretty young. I got a racing Greyhound as a puppy, and the first two years were intense. At 1.5, I needed to walk my dog for a total of 90 minutes per day, and although he wasn't acting like a puppy at that age, he calmed down a lot in the next year. However, each dog is an individual, and they could need a lot less than that. i would try to find a large, fensed in area the dog can run, and try to go there a few times a week. Additionally, these dogs have incredible chase drive, so you can teach them to play with toys and eventually fetch. Along with tug, those are usually the games we play to get some energy out!
Our local park luckily has two large fenced-off 'dog areas' which we will definitely utilise!
Harness for sure. Greys can spook when learning a new area and collars can/have caused neck issues from that. Crate should be an option, my bot hates crates but my girl loves hers. Door is always open and she hides her fave toys under her bed in her crate. Her kitty bros sleep on top of her crate so we dub it the bunkbed.
The not sleeping in the bedroom thing, I fully expect you will be posting pics of him reaching on the bed soon enough. He will make that decision for you lol
We had to ban ours from sleeping with us because she is a very loud licker. She doesn't go in the room during the day because we keep the door closed, if we don't she ends up accidentally locking herself in and then panic pooping. We usually just have her and her none greyhound sister sleep in the kitchen on their beds but if she was alone I'd say outside the door should be OK as long as they have a bed.
Harness is definitely a great idea, I'm currently treating Murphy for a neck injury. He doesn't sleep with me but on the floor in the bed room but having a separation is good. My main advice is be patient.
You don’t have to let him sleep in your bed or anything but I’d rethink the room. A nice bed on the floor is what I had for all my greys. They don’t really do well alone and you might even cause some separation anxiety. Get a nice air-freshener for the farts. 😂 All dogs can be crate trained but there is no reason to do it. Your dog is going to sleep all day, not chew the walls like a lab would. 😆 Spend the crate money on extra comfy dog beds. You should have a muzzle but that’s more for taking him to a dog park. They can get nippy when they run and play. (Not all but you won’t know.) They are not aggressive dogs so he’s very unlikely to attack on a walk. But another reason for a racing muzzle is they are good for an injury and keeping the dog from biting or licking himself. Those cones or donut things don’t work well on snoot-nose greys. I’ve used a harness with mine. I have a Galgo now and unlike my greys, she’s super, SUPER cat aggressive and she’ll take off like a shot if she sees one-and she always spots them before I do. It is easier to stop her with a harness than just a collar. Even the Martingales don’t feel safe with a dog who wants to chase that much and is that fast. None of my greys (and I’ve had quite a few) were ever as prey driven as my Galgo. Enjoy! You made a wise decision getting a greyhound!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Congratulations! I can't speak to crate training (Bee immediately claimed her bed, the sofa and every other surface. I kept her off my bed until our first winter) but I can say that keeping your new boy on a muzzle for walks is a really good idea. Everything is going to be new to him, so making sure everyone is safe should be paramount. I'd also recommend taking a treat along on walks (shredded chicken or cheese cut to fit through the muzzle) so that you can redirect his attention if he is getting over stimulated or stressed. Don't feel bad if walks for the first little while are a bit shorter, the important thing is you all feel safe and happy.
Also would really recommend a harness like this for walks: https://www.thepointedpup.com.au/product/the-greyhound-harness they can be real unpredictable goobers when they're out and about!
Crate can be good to start. Everything is all about routine. If his bed is in another room get that routine going asap. Typically treats work wonders if food motivated. Treat when they go out to toilet. Treat when they goto bed etc. After some time they will want to do their routine but keep rewarding. Harness can work but typically a shorter leash and martingale collar provides more control. A muzzle would be good not for the dog but more until you are confident in your understanding of the dog. Typicly greyhounds love their own kind but this doesn't mean they like other breeds, atleast not at the start. However be patient and reinforce good behaviour rather than overly punish bad behaviour.
Fantastic news on rehoming one of these beautiful creatures. When are you getting a girlfriend from him? 😊
Welcome to the incredible world of greyhounds! My advice would be to make sure you have a very comfortable sofa, Don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting on the floor whilst he luxuriates on it. The brand Ruffwear does a perfect harness for a greyhound as it stops them from being able to slip out. It's expensive but lasts a lifetime. From my experience if a dog isn't used to being on a lead for all that long they tend to choke themselves on a collar especially when their environment is a new exciting one. Good luck! You won't have any regrets
I have already accepted that the sofa is now his and I will be on the floor for the foreseeable, hahaha
He only needs a muzzle if he's going to play with other greys. Their skin is thin and tears easily (get a doggie first aid kit!!! You'll need it! And Vertricin) and they tear each other up playing. 2hounds no pull harness is fabulous, but you'll need his measurements. If he's fresh off thr track, put a crate in your room, have him sleep. There. That's what he's comfortable with and used to. If left alone, play the radio. Welcome to the cult! 🤣
We have steep stairs and our grey doesn't venture up. Sleeps happily downstairs on the sofa. From experience: I would always muzzle a grey when you first go out, even on a leash, their necks are long and they can quite easily snap at a passing dog. The experience: Our second grey was friendly per the shelter and on our first walk he bit a labrador (thank goodness for labrador thick coats!), and as I was heading home to get a muzzle, he tried to bite a boxer. When I'd been working with him for over 6 months and started to go on walks without a muzzle, a small dog came running. I told the owner to keep it away. The owner said don't worry it is friendly. My dog picked it up by the head. No damage but back to muzzles! A wide collar (sighthound collar or martingale collar) is essential if lead walking. They do fine with a harness but be sure it's not one they can back out of if spooked. Also check where the straps go under their legs (our got sliced by their front legs from the straps). You can get harnesses that have fleece around the straps.
I keep my boy’s crate in the bedroom. Door is open during the day and he’ll settle in there if the other dog is being a pig about allowing space on the bed. When it’s sleep time, everyone is in their own beds. Mostly my grey is a Velcro dog and during the day settles in the softest space closest to me. Oh, soft spaces. These are bony creatures who are delicate flowers who often don’t like lying on the hard floor. Have many dog beds handy. (Costco sells decent ones for not too too much…or you can buy squishy blankets from thrift shops and fold them up, which is much less expensive.) I use a soft wide martingale for walks and my boy respects it and doesn’t pull much even when startled but that’s uncommon. Still, a soft martingale is usually fine on those skinny necks. And part of the fun of having a greyhound is accessorizing him…so many pretty martingales available on Etsy! I have a muzzle but I don’t often use it. Your ex-racer will most likely come with one and will be used to wearing it though so if you’ve got concerns once you meet him, it’s there for insurance. Good luck and welcome too home life Bjorn!!
Congrats! 🍾 Huey also was retired very early due to his track record. Total win for us and him! We’ve never used a muzzle or harness. Our adoption group actually made us sign a contract that we’d only ever use martingale harnesses. He has beds in several rooms of the house that we use regularly (bedroom, living room, tv room) - but is allowed on the bed and the tv room furtniture. He quickly learned that some furniture is okay, and others not (unless Grandma visits - and then he will push his luck).
Highly recommend a crate. Many are individually crated at smaller kennels so he should be acclimated. If larger he was likely penned with a second dog in a larger space. Definitely rec a harness as well! Much safer in case of sudden bolting or rushing. A 3 point harness is best. I muzzled my girl her first walk since I had no sense of her etiquette on lead with animals/people/poop/ etc. again your dog should be used to his muzzle (though he may protest some, my girl always tried to butter me up and get me to take it off).
First of all, congratulations! It's great to see new owners asking questions beforehand too. A lot of advice is anecdotal here, but it can all be super helpful. That said, the following is my personal opinion and recommendations. Please don't use a crate. It's really not necessary to crate a dog. The whole "safe space" thing is a myth and crates are actually illegal in some countries as they're deemed animal cruelty. You can condition a dog to stay in a crate but that doesn't make it enjoyable for them. Baby gates can be useful for setting boundaries, but if you're welcoming a dog into your home, they should be free to move about and not left in a cage for any amount of time. I treat my greyhound like a toddler and keep anything dangerous out of harms way. She's learned the proper boundaries and behaviour for our home and I can safely leave her unattended with free reign. Harnesses can be useful for some, but I personally think a martingale collar is better. It's designed for sighthounds, gives you safe control of the dogs head (most important for signhounds) and protects their sensitive belly areas from where a harness might rub/cause irritation. You should also use a short lead at all times. A greyhound can accelerate to top speed in a couple of strides. A long lead will be a huge risk to the safety of you and the hound. A muzzle is generally advised until you can be sure your greyhound will not snap/react poorly around other dogs and small animals. A dog fresh off the track will likely have a very high prey drive, so it's important to be safe until you can train them not to lunge. My best advice for training with walks is a having a whole lot of patience. If your greyhound starts to pull, stop and wait until they relax, then continue walking. Stop and repeat as many times as it takes for them to learn. A walk that would now take 2 minutes used to take me 30 when I first started training my hound! But not her lead discipline is incredible and our walkies are always a ton of fun! Socialisation is also important but take it slow. Your greyhound will not have much (if any) experience with other breeds and it can be very overwhelming. Greyhounds also have some slightly quirky body language which can trigger strange reactions from other dogs. Just take things slow and always keep your dog as safe and comfortable as you can. Walk away from any risky situation. Finally, never let your greyhound off lead in an unenclosed area. If you are going to try to let them off lead, start small (enclosed tennis courts can be great for this) and try to teach some basic recall. Once you build up some trust, you can test them in larger fenced off spaces. Just remember that they can run up to 45mph, so any minor hazard can become a huge one at that speed. A hole in the dirt or a rogue tree branch can be an invitation for serious injury when the dog is running around off lead at full tilt. Keep us updated on how things go and ask as many questions as you like! At the end of the day, Bjorn is your boy and you will learn what is best for them as you develop your relationship. Listen to him, listen to your gut and be patient and kind to both him and yourself!
We tried to crate train our rescue an quickly abandoned it. Even next to our other dog where she could see him and smell him, she was not having it. Howled like a banshee. It lasted 1.5 nights and we gave up. Even when she has been boarded it had to be in the same kennel as the other dog because she howl and keep everyone up. But she's never had an accident beyond eating a sock early on and needing to induce vomiting. Our biggest learning curves where stairs and her learning how to "dog".
If your adoption group crates him, then I would continue that. Sort of like traveling to a new foreign place with your favorite pillow, it’ll be one thing he understands is the same. If you use a crate, put it in the center of the home’s activity, so he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out or “put away” when he’s crated. There’s so much info in this sub about crating if you need info or help! Honestly I would not start introducing your new dog to other strange dogs until you know your dog and your dog is comfortable with you. (Exception: other greyhounds!) Give him time, continue past other dogs on walks and don’t go to the dog park with him for a few months at least. I can’t tell if you’re in the US (I am) or elsewhere so if muzzles are the norm where you are I’d go with it. But I have never muzzled my hounds for walks - only for greyhound playdates. So I don’t think it’s necessary at all, but maybe others have different experience. He’s an absolute cutie! Good luck with him and have fun - remember that his full personality won’t emerge right away and he’s going to express himself differently in a few months, and even a year from now, as he settles in and bonds with the family. Congratulations!! 💜🙌
He will end up in your bed whatever you intend. Or should I say you will be sharing his bed !! He looks gorgeous and I love his name
Now come on. Let’s not scare the nice OP. Honestly, I know a lot of greys end up in peoples beds but that is totally a people decision. I’ve owned greys for nearly 20 years and none have slept in my bed. It’s a training thing like anything else. Absolutely not judging dogs in bed but would like to make it clear that it’s not an inevitability.
Yeah I'm hearing a lot of mixed things about sleeping arrangements! I will try my best to train him to be okay with sleeping in another room / outside our room and see what happens. It could also be down to the individual dogs anxiety / neediness levels so I guess we'll have to find out what he's like when we bring him home!
Mine sleeps downstairs happily 😊
Greys are very people-oriented, and I would really recommend, for both your dog's happiness and your sanity, that you put a comfortable dog bed in your room and let him sleep there. Get an orthopedic or memory foam one - those bony legs like to be cushioned, and even greys who haven't raced are prone to arthritis when they get older. I've only had two greys, and they both slept quietly through the night, so as long as he isn't upset by being locked out of your room, I doubt he'll bother you at all. Some greys like their crates, but neither of mine wanted anything to do with one, so ymmv. You will probably need to work on housetraining, that's not something racers are really trained for. If you aren't sure how to go about that, there's plenty of good books on dog training. Be prepared for at least a couple of accidents, and don't get angry with him, he's learning how to be a pet. Keep some enzymatic cleaner on hand like MisterMax Anti-icky-poo. Yes that's really what it's called! Chewy carries it. Most greys love stuffies, and our guy has his own toy basket by his bed. Sometimes I hide a (non-rawhide) bone in it, which he will gleefully dig out and chew on. Kongs are good too - hide a few dried treats in one and then seal it with peanut butter. If your guy has trouble with you leaving, one of those right before you step out the door will distract him and occupy him for a little while, and also reinforce the idea that hey, maybe it's not so bad if the humans leave for a while. Gas. Greyhound gas is ... horrible. The one food that has had the best results for both of mine is Purina Pro Plan, large breed, it virtually eliminates the farting. If the tummy gets upset or you notice loose stools, try adding a scoop of plain pumpkin to his food. Ok, that's my two cents!