Settling your dog is the number one priority
Adopting your new greyhound should be one of the happiest days of your life. You have done all the research, you know the greyhound is the perfect dog for your home and you have found your perfect match.
Now the big day has come and you are totally excited to be heading to the adoption centre or racing owner’s property to acquaint yourself with your soon to be new best friend. But in the happiness of the big day, there are some very important things that need to be considered and sometimes get overlooked in the all excitement.
What may be your happy day could very well be one of the most scary day that your new dog has ever experienced, so that is an essential thing to keep in mind.
The dog’s welfare, its safety and happiness have to be the number one priority, so everything that happens on the adoption day and the weeks and months that follow have to be all about the dog adjusting to its new life.
Greyhounds are very much individuals, with their own personality traits and quirks, so it is vital that its personality and its own unique ability to adjust and cope should be the guide for everything you do.
PICKING UP YOUR NEW DOG
• Try and curb the excitement and have a chat with the adoption people or owners about food, vaccinations etc and get as much information about the dog’s personality and likes/dislikes
• Greet the dog on its terms, let the dog come to you and get down to its level
• Park your human expectations – for you it might be love at first sight, but the dog is transitioning into a whole new world where NOTHING IS FAMILIAR
• Make sure to ask about and learn how to adjust collars correctly
• If adopting through a rehoming group find out the contact details of the previous owner and keep in contact. Their input will be invaluable
• Try and take something with you that dog is familiar with, a favourite toy or blanket, to help it settle
• When it is time to go, get the last whizz in and don’t drag out the farewells, it is easier on the dog and also the previous owner (if you are adopting privately)
THE DRIVE HOME
• Make sure the vehicle you are transporting your new dog in, is set up properly so that the dog is comfortable and safe
• Have plenty of water available
• On the journey expect the dog to be stressed, panting or standing up, remember you are strangers, everything is unfamiliar and the dog has no idea of where it is going or even if it is safe.
• Just talk gently to the dog and if possible, have someone sitting near the dog in the car for reassurance
• If you have the car radio on, turn it down to a quiet volume. The last thing you need to have rear speakers blasting in the ear of a nervous dog.
• Lower the rear windows just a little to get some air into the car
• It is probably best to leave the collar and lead on the dog at this stage, so you can have better control of getting the dog in and out of the car safely
• Remember you are total stranger to your new dog, and it doesn’t know it can trust you and could be easily spooked. So unless you have a long drive (in excess of 2-3 hours), go straight home, don’t stop off for a pee stop because you don’t want to risk the dog escaping on the side of the road.
• Definitely DON’T go to see family or friends on day one. Settling the dog is the priority, your family and friends can catch up when it is relaxed and settled in its new home
INTRODUCING YOUR NEW DOG TO YOUR HOUSE AND PROPERTY
• When you arrive at your property, remember to secure all gates and doors before removing the dog from the car.
• For the dog, stepping out of the car will be like its own “Moon landing”, landing in a brand new world
• By this stage the dog will be looking for a toilet break, so make that the priority
• With the dog on lead, take it on a tour of your property, letting it smell all the new odours, get its bearings and understanding the layout of obstacles in the garden
• Don’t be rushed by anyone. When you feel extremely comfortable, unclip the lead and then supervise the dog exploring the garden
• Again, expect the dog to be unsettled, panting and unsure of itself
• Be re-assuring and educate family members to not be over the top in their interactions
• Try and keep loud and sudden noises to a minimum
• At all times ensure, gates and fences are in good repair, locked and educate the family that closing gates is a MUST
• Once the dog is comfortable take it into the house to show it where it sleeps and where it will eat and drink
• Put away all valuables and remove all toxic chemicals and foods and lock them away in cupboards
• If the dog is up for it, supervise a curious exploration of the house
• If the dog is shut down and nervous just let them sleep on their bed and let it adjust in its own time and at its own pace
• At this stage it is vital to let the dog come to you and your family in its own time
• If your dog refuses to eat, don’t be surprised and don’t panic. No greyhound has ever deliberately starved itself
THE FIRST NIGHT/WEEKS
• Acknowledge that on the first night and even the first few weeks your new dog will be unsettled or very unsettled
• It is your job to gently assist their adjustment to Planet Pet, but don’t rush anything just be there for support and start your conversations
• In coming to your house your dog has gone through significant change in its life and lost everything familiar and comforting
• Your dog will be confused so expect that
• Your dog will be missing its previous life and people, expect that
• Your dog wont love you instantly, so expect that also
• Begin as you intend to finish, meaning that the structure and routine you want in place needs to start from day one
• The first days and weeks are the period where you begin the bonding process and it might be one step forward and two steps backward
• They don’t know if this new move is permanent or temporary but if you give them love and support and time, they will eventually realise that your home is the forever home
• Eventually there will be a ‘light bulb’ moment and you will physically see the dog relax and come to terms with and enjoy its new life and new family
INTRODUCING YOUR NEW DOG TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
• Don’t be in a hurry to introduce your new dog to the neighbourhood
• Racing greyhounds predominantly come from quiet, isolated rural environments, so suburbia is a very unfamiliar and initially a scary place
• Let your dog settle in and be totally comfortable before heading outside into another scary and unfamiliar world
• When the day comes to venture out, don’t make a big fuss of going for a walk, just grab the lead and head out
• Make sure all leads and collars are adjusted properly and in good condition
• The last thing you need is a dog slipping its collar and escaping into a scary and very dangerous world
• If you are using a martingale collar try not to let your new dog get behind you when walking or to pull backwards. Their necks and heads almost the same size and they can slip a collar very easily if scared or nervous
• Make sure your first walks are in quiet areas, preferably close to home and away from aggressive neighbouring dogs and strange and loud noises
• Your dog doesn’t have to meet all the neighbourhood dogs on day one, in fact it doesn’t have to meet them at all, if it is shy, quiet or a bit anti social
• Don’t be surprised if your dog is hesitant to venture too far, let it gain confidence in its own time
• Gradually increase your dog’s exposure to the neighbourhood and at all times putting its safety first