Full Description
"The next best thing to having an experienced Greyhound owner living with you."
—Joan Belle Isle, President, Greyhound Project "Anyone who reads this book and follows its guidance will have a happier, healthier dog and be a happier, more relaxed dog owner."
—Hal and Karen Hawley, Greyhound Friends Northwest
The Greyhound has been celebrated in song and legend for thousands of years. Nowadays, Greyhounds are bred almost exclusively for racing. In the bad old days, prior to the 1980s, dogs that didn't make the grade at the track, and those past their primes, were destroyed. According to official estimates, 60,000 of these noble, mild-mannered dogs were destroyed each year! Fortunately, a number of organizations now exist devoted to rescuing these unwanted dogs and placing them in good homes.
Thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound? Or maybe you're already sharing your life with one of these charming animals. Either way, this friendly guide tells you everything you need to know to:
Understand the Greyhound personality
Find a retired racing Greyhound to adopt
Choose the right ex-racer for you and your family
Educate yourself and your retired racer
Give your new pal the diet and exercise it needs
Keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come
With plenty of good humor and straight-talk, Lee Livingood drawing on her forty-years of experience training adult rescue dogs to cover all the pros and cons of being a retired racing Greyhound owner, and she fills you in on:
The amazing 8000-year history of the Greyhound
Deciding whether an ex-racer is the right do for you and your family
Physical and behavioral characteristics
How to get a retired racer used to living in a home and be a companion
Dealing with common behavioral and health problems
Feeding, grooming, and exercising a Greyhound
Fun things to do with your hound
Bursting with expert advice on all aspects of living with an ex-racer, Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies is must reading for anyone considering adoption or who's already taken the leap.
Contents
Introduction.
PART I: Getting to Know Greyhounds.
Chapter 1: The History of Greyhounds.
Chapter 2: Retired Racing Greyhounds 101: The Basics of the Breed.
PART II: Finding Your Soul Mate.
Chapter 3: Determing Whether a Retired Racing Greyhound Is Right for You.
Chapter 4: Getting Ready to Adopt a Retired Racer.
Chapter 5: Welcoming a Retired Racer into Your Family.
PART III: Training Your Greyhound for Life after the Racetrack.
Chapter 6: Living with a Retired Racing Greyhound.
Chapter 7: Learning to Speak Dog.
Chapter 8: Elbows off the Table!: Teaching Your Greyhound Basic Household Etiquette.
Chapter 9: More Training: Adding Multitask Behaviors.
Chapter 10: Dealing with Behavioral Problems.
Chapter 11: Helping the Fearful Dog Stand on His Own Four Feet.
PART IV: Keeping Your Retired Racing Greyhound Healthy.
Chapter 12: Feeding Your Greyhound.
Chapter 13: Grooming Your Dog.
Chapter 14: Preventing Health Problems.
Chapter 15: Avoiding Emergencies.
Chapter 16: Knowing What to Do When Your Retired Racer Gets Sick.
PART V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 17: Ten Reasons to Adopt a Retired Racer.
Chapter 18: Ten Things to Do Before You Bring Home a Retired Racer.
Chapter 19: Ten Rules for Training a Retired Racer.
Chapter 20: Ten Fun Things to Do with Your Hound.
Appendix A: The NGA Pet Certificate.
Appendix B: Resources.
Index.
Book Registration Information.
