Things You Need for Your New Grey

So you've read up on Greyhounds and our group.

You've put in your application.

Your references checked out and you've shown us you'd be a great home for one (or more!) of our rescues.

Now it's time to get your home ready for your new friend. Here's what you need:

• A crate. A big one. Not an airline travel crate, but a wire crate. The ones we recommend are about 48 inches deep, 30 inches wide, and 36 inches tall. If you're getting a tiny little greyhound (in the 50-60 pound range), you could go one size smaller (42 by 28 by 30). Your Greyhound needs to be able to turn around without difficulty.

Even people who don't think they need a crate, need a crate! It's the best place to feed your Grey. They feel safe when they have a place that's just for them. Chances are you'll find them going into their crate voluntarily to take naps.

• A crate pad. Greyhounds are skinny and bony. They need padding. You can also skip this one and just get more of the next item...
• Blankets and/or comforters. Greyhounds are skinny! More padding for the crate is going to make them much happier. We get our bedding from Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Get lots.
• Dogs beds or more comforters. Wherever you expect your friend to hang out, provide some extra padding for the floor. Next to the couch, at your feet in your office, and so on.
• Stainless steel bowls for water and food. One quart or six cups is a good size for the food bowl. The size of the water bowl depends on how many pets you have and how often you want to refill it. Be sure to get stainless steel, not plastic, glass, or ceramic.
• A baby gate. Or two. You'll find times when you want to restrict your Grey to just the room you're in, or out of the kitchen when you're cleaning the oven, etc., etc.
• Nail clippers or a rotary grinding tool (like a Dremel) or arrangements to have someone else take care of toenails. Grinders are easier and lower stress than clippers. We do not recommend the grinder you can get at places like PetSmart, as it's underpowered. Go to a hardware store the next time they have a tool sale.
• Dry dog food - high quality. We recommend something like California Natural, Iams, or Eukanuba.
• Toys. Most Greyhounds take great delight in stuffed toys, although some are baffled by them for a while. Be careful what you buy, though:

• No hard plastic bits, like eyes. You can cut these parts off, but that makes it easier for your Grey to start pulling out the stuffing (which they're probably going to do anyway).
• No electronics. Cute monkey noises? That's a speaker, a battery, some wires, an electronic chip or two, and a hard plastic casing. All of which stand a great chance of getting crunched and swallowed. This is a bad thing.
• Many Greyhounds like to toss their toys up in the air and try to catch them. With this in mind, soft toys are preferable to hard rubber kongs and such. Unless you like heavy objects bouncing around your tables, shelves, windows...

 

 

Adopt-a-Grey with Gorges Greyhounds,
Ithaca's local way to adopt a Greyhound!
Serving Ithaca, the Fingerlakes region, central New York, and northeastern Pennsylvania.