When you get your new greyhound there are some items that you will need. They should be purchased either before you get your new family member or right after you get your pet. These items can be purchased at your local pet store or catalogue sales, with the special items available through NJ GAP. The items you will need are as follows:

• Special nylon safety collar and 6 foot nylon leash - This will be furnished by NJ GAP at the time of adoption. A greyhound can back out of a standard buckle collar (You could be left holding a leash/collar with a greyhound running 45 mph away from you.) Also, please never use a metal choke collar on your greyhound as you could damage their throat. Additional leash and collar sets are available from NJ GAP.
• Name Tag - Your name/address/phone are to be used on a tag, in conjunction with the NJ GAP tag.
• Large crate - NJ Gap will recommend the size and style to best suit your particular dog prior to adoption. At least 40" long, 27" wide and 30" high (Vari-Kennel 500-plastic crate) or an equivalent sized metal crate.
• Stainless steel or ceramic bowls - One bowl for food and the other one for water (3 quart bowls work well).
• Innova, California Natural, Wellness, Solid Gold Hund N Flocken or Solid Gold Millenia DRY food - use the adult formula. It is not necessary to use the ‘performance formula’ or ‘light formula’ of any food.
• Dog bed or thick quilt - Something soft for your greyhound to lie on. If you have allergies to dogs we recommend a thick quilt or blanket because it is easier to put in a washing machine and be fully cleaned.
• Dog Coat - Since greyhounds have very little body fat they need a coat for winter. NJ GAP has a large selection of custom made coats available.
• Toys - Fleece chewman (shaped like a gingerman), large squeaky toys and Booda bones are popular with greyhounds. You want to take your greyhound shopping to pick out a favorite. AVOID small vinyl/rubber toys.
• Use a large or jumbo KONG filled with some dry pieces of dog food or a little peanut butter to keep you dog occupied when they are in their crate.
• Dog biscuits - Innova or California Natural or other equivalent high quality biscuits.
• Rawhides - NOT RECOMMENDED to soothe the urge to chew as rawhides become soft and gummy very quickly. Your dog can easily chew off a small piece and choke on it.
• Pooper Scooper or Plastic Bags - To pick up after your pet on your walks.
• Nature’s Miracle - A cleaning solution to effectively rid those "accident" spots of odors.
• Dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste - This is for your greyhound’s weekly grooming. NJ GAP recommends Oxyfresh Soothing Pet Gel as a toothpaste. Oxyfresh Neutralizing Pet Deodorizer should be added to the daily water to eliminate doggie breath.
• Shedding blade, hound grooming glove or rubber curry comb - This will pull out your dog’s dead hair and reduce shedding.
• Dog nail clippers - For the once a week tipping of the nails.
• Ear cleaner - Oti-Clens or other veterinarian recommended solution.
• Flea & Tick Products - NJ GAP recommends ADAMS flea & tick shampoo, ADAMS flea & tick mist (with pyrethrins), ZODIAC Triple Action Flea & Tick shampoo, ZODIAC Water Based Flea & Tick spray.
• In addition to the chemical based flea & tick shampoos & sprays there are also natural products that can be used.
• PREVENTIC collars can be worn by greyhounds (these collars are for ticks only & can be purchased through mail order catalogs or your veterinarian). FRONTLINE SPRAY is flea & tick spray that is applied once a month.
• NJGAP does not recommend the Frontline top spot that is applied in between your dog’s shoulder blades as we have seen several dogs get burned from this chemical.

NOTE: Never purchase any over the counter worming medications - please consult your veterinarian if you think your greyhound may have worms.

The above items can be ordered from the following catalogs or obtained from:

Cherrybrook at 908-689-7979

J-B Pet Supplies at 1-800-526-0388

PetsMart - Local Store

Oxyfresh — 1-800-223-7374 Distributor # C 384202103

www.waggintails.com-to order delivery of food

food websites: www.naturapet.com / www.solidgoldhealth.com / www.oldmotherhubbard.com

NJ GAP wants you to know exactly what to expect if your dog has been spayed/neutered just prior to adoption:

Expect your greyhound to be groggy for the first few days after surgery. Each day the dog will get better.

Expect that your greyhound will need to go to the bathroom more frequently for a few days.

Expect that your greyhound may vomit the first night from the anesthesia. Nothing is wrong.

Expect that anesthesia may cause coughing.

Expect your greyhound to be tender and sore for a few days.

Do give your dog only a small amount of water, with a few ice cubes, the first night. Don’t allow uncontrolled water drinking.

Do check the incision every day for the first week. If it is red and/or inflamed call NJ GAP or your veterinarian.

Do go to the veterinarian for suture removal, if the sutures are not the dissolvable type.

Do keep your dog in a crate more the first week. Rest and relaxation are the key to a speedy recovery.

Do call NJ GAP or your veterinarian with any questions.

Don’t let your dog jump!! If you must go up/down from a high place, pick the dog up by placing one arm behind the rear legs at the knees and the other arm on the dog’s chest. Gently lift and place the dog.

Don’t feed your greyhound the first night. If you must, out of guilt, offer it food, and limit it to _ cup. Then get the cleaning solution (Natures Miracle), a bucket and paper towels to clean up the vomit that will result!!!

Don’t let your greyhound run or jump for 14 days following the surgery. This applies to both males and females.

Don’t give your dog a bath for 14 days following surgery. Your dog has been given a thorough flea and tick bath prior to surgery.

Don’t let your dog lick or chew on the stitches. If this happens, use a muzzle and tape the bottom half. You can also put men’s underwear on the dog, with the dog’s tail coming out the slit. Please keep the shorts on the dog while in the house. Remember to remove them when you go outside or they may get wet.

Much care has been taken in testing your greyhound’s compatibility with small animals. We ask that you follow the accompanying directions when introducing your new dog to your current pets:

• Muzzle - Please use the muzzle we have provided if you have small dogs and/or cats. (The muzzle is also helpful if your dog chews its stitches after surgery).

• Dogs - Introduce your greyhound to your other dog(s) on neutral territory. With leashes on, have them meet on the sidewalk or down the block from your home. Let them greet each other and then take them for a walk together. When you arrive back home walk them around your property (leashes still on) and then bring them into the house.
• Cats - Introduce your greyhound to your cat indoors with the greyhound muzzled and leashed. Hold the leash in your hand. Leave the cat on the floor.

Look for the following signs:

Fixed gaze or stare - which cannot be broken even when you run your hand in front of the greyhound’s eyes.

Your greyhound will be curious about your cat but interest combined with the above signs can indicate that your greyhound is one of the few that cannot live safely with small animals and should be exchanged for a different dog.

• Separation - For the first several weeks, keep the dogs and/or cats separated when you are not at home or cannot supervise their interaction. Watch them carefully when they are interacting and keep your greyhound muzzled!
• No Chase - Never let your greyhound chase any of your small animals, even in play. Play can turn to hunt in a flash and no cat or small dog is fast enough to get out of the way of a determined greyhound.
• Feeding - Feed your cats/dogs in separate areas. You can feed your greyhound in his/her crate. Always reinforce the pecking order in your house at feeding. The top animal should always be fed, or given treats, first. Then the second...

If you have any questions or are not sure if you are reading the warning signs correctly, please call NJ GAP immediately, we will be happy to discuss this with you.

NJ GAP strongly recommends that you restrict your dog’s exercise before and after eating.

The following are the guidelines for feeding:

• Strenuous exercise - There should be no strenuous exercise, 2 hours before and 2 hours after a meal. Strenuous exercise can induce bloat.
• Type of Food - Innova, California Natural, Wellness, Solid Gold Hund N Flocken or Solid Gold Millenia - DRY food - use the adult formula. It is not necessary to use the ‘performance formula’ or ‘light formula’ of any food.
• Feeding Balance - Feed 2 meals per day of even amounts (for example 2 cups a.m. and 2 cups p.m.)
• Weight feeding guide - The average female of 65 lb. should eat approximately 3-4 cups per day. The average male of 75 lb. should be fed approximately 4-5 cups per day. Keep in mind that individual dogs vary and your particular dog may need less or more of these recommended amounts.
• Gain weight - If your dog needs to gain weight, increase the amount of food by a quarter of a cup per feeding and observe for 2 to 3 weeks. The desired weight gain should take place.
• Lose weight - If your dog needs to lose weight, decrease the amount of food by a quarter of a cup per feeding and observe for 2 to 3 weeks until the dog reaches "fit" weight. Remember "Don’t change the type of food just the amount."
• Table scraps - Limit the table scraps to your dog’s meal times. The following foods are OK to add to your dog’s food-shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, steamed broccoli or cauliflower. A tablespoon in total of one or a combination of the above is a good guideline for the amount. NEVER GIVE YOUR DOG ANY TYPE OF BONES.
• Treats - Limit the number of doggie treats per day. If you use the large biscuits, break in half, dogs like to get treats, they don’t care how big or small the treat .
• Prozyme - Prozyme is a great additive. It helps the coat grow in quickly and aids in digestion.
• Fresh water - Fresh water should be available at feeding times. Do not let your dog drink excessively after eating. Drinking too much water to quickly may cause bloat. Remember " What goes in must come out".
• Gags - If your greyhound gags on the dry food add some warm water. Also, gently massage its throat and soothe it. It is best to slowly wean your dog off the wet food as a good crunch does wonders for the teeth.
• Inhales - If your dog really inhales its food, use a Jell-O mold or a bundt pan for its dish. The center hole forces the dog to eat more slowly.
• Neck strain - To avoid strain on the dog’s neck you can elevate their food dish.

You should always be able to see the tip of the backbone and a bit of rib on a greyhound. Also, there should be an area that indents between the ribs and tail. A greyhound should never look like a sausage!

Allowing your greyhound to gain too much weight can create health problems. Their bone structure cannot support extra pounds. The more excess baggage a dog has to carry around, the less it wants to move and the chunkier it becomes.

Greyhounds, because they are sight hounds, can see far away up to a half-mile or more. The sight of a small animal (rabbit, squirrel, chipmunk, etc.) paper bag or leaves blowing in the wind, can send your greyhound into a full run at 45 miles per hour. In a few minutes they can be a few miles away and not realize they are even gone.

Also unexpected noises, such as firecrackers, motorcycles, loud cars or trucks can also startle and panic the unleashed greyhound. It may take off and become lost and/or get killed by a car.

The rule is "Greyhounds should always be on a leash or in a completely fenced area when outdoors"

If you are fencing your yard for your greyhound, the fence should be a minimum of 4 feet (the ideal fence is 6 feet high). Greyhounds are not jumpers, but the exception, may require a higher fence.

• NEVER leave your greyhound (or any dog) unattended in a fenced yard unless you are home to keep an eye on them. Many are stolen, mistreated and/or sold to research labs.
• Greyhounds are HOUSE dogs and should never be left out in hot or cold temperatures. Their short coat, lack of body fat and thin skin can cause them to overheat in summer and become chilled in winter. We advise that you make or buy a heavy lined coat to use when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
• NEVER put a greyhound on an overhead run or tie them out to a stake or a tree as they can take off running at 45 mph from a dead stop. A broken neck, leg or possibly death can result.

When you walk your greyhound use the nylon safety collar and 6 foot leash you have received or purchased from us.