Greyhounds and the cold
Greyhounds have relatively thin skin and very little body fat. This is great for helping them cool down after a run, but it also means that they are susceptible to cold weather.
The need to maintain their vital organs at a fairly constant temperature means that the body has to work harder during the winter to keep warm. This can affect diet and potentially cause injury when exercising.
If the greyhound’s core temperature drops, its body automatically tries to keep the important organs warm by restricting the blood flow to the skin and extremities. You will have experienced cold fingers and hands on a very brisk morning, along with the exposed skin that’s cool to the touch and which turns bluish. This same process happens in greyhounds to try to conserve heat when the outside temperature is low.
If this is not enough to maintain the core temperature, the body will try to generate heat by shivering, which is an involuntary muscle activity. Shivering is an indicator of significant temperature change within the body, and it uses up quite a bit of energy to create the muscle contractions.
Past this point the dog enters into hypothermia (hypo– meaning ‘below’, –thermia meaning ‘temperature’).
For the greyhound, being cold is not only uncomfortable, but it can mean that they lose condition due to the change in their energy requirements. Now they not only have to fuel their normal activity but also have to use energy to create warmth just to function normally on the inside. This may mean they need more calories in their daily diet.
Cold muscles are also more susceptible to injuries, ranging from minor tears to more serious ones.
What can you do?
Make sure that your greyhounds are kept warm when the weather is cold.
For greyhounds that sleep outside, a bed that is well off the cold ground, and making sure that your kennel building is not leaking or subject to draughts.
Make sure that each dog has a clean and dry kennel to sleep in. Winter weather does not make it easy to keep things clean and dry, but wet dogs, wet bedding, and wet kennels can lead to very cold greyhounds.
You might need to put a warm coat or jacket on the dogs, especially in the evenings and overnight. Make sure that coats are regularly inspected for damage, and are not tied on so tight that they are uncomfortable when the greyhound curls up, nor so loose that the dogs are constantly getting tangled in them. All coats and jackets should be regularly cleaned too – male dogs are notorious for peeing on the edges of their coats!
Watch your dog’s weight
It may be that your greyhounds will need more food to maintain their weight in the winter time. Monitoring skin and coat condition and body weight will quickly tell you if something isn’t right. Keeping them warm may not completely stop changes in condition, but it will help.
By paying attention to your greyhounds needs during winter, you will save yourself time and money and avoid injuries and illness.
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Joe ARP
Happy Joe! This handsome young boy is a friendly and personable young boy that loves his food, toys and zoomies. Joe has had a lot of experience being a pet and is ready to spread his love and joy to his new family. Joe may suit living in a home with children 10 and over and another canine companion of any size. As Joe is still a bundle of fun we think if he has a smaller play buddy they would be better being a bit robust as he loves to zoom! Joe would appreciate a nice backyard to do his sillies in and make you laugh everyday with his antics. This lovely dog is not suitable for a home with cats.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Xinji ARP
Echo ARP
Can you hear an Echo? Its saying “Hey you! I’m ready to be adopted, adopted, adopted…..”. Ok enough with the cheesy jokes. But seriously, this boy is a super sweet, personable, quiet, polite and a little sprinkle of puppy. He can be a little shy in new environments, but he soon relaxes and shows his charm. We think he may suit living in a home with children 10 and over and possibly with a play buddy of any size as long as they are willing to play with a greyhound. We also think he may suit living with full timeworkers.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Izzy ARP
How pretty is this little girl! Izzy is a sweet and personable girl that can be a little unsure and shy in new environments. She may take sometime coming out of her shell in her new home but once she is apart of the family we think she will thrive. A home with children 10 and over and respectful of boundaries may be ok and another male dog of any size. A place with an outdoor area for her to relax in will be ideal for her as she comes out of her shell. This lovely dog is not suitable for a home with cats.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Reindeer ARP
She may not be leading Santa’s sleigh like Rudolf but this quiet achiever is still just as important! She is a shy girl that we think will come out of her shell in a home that understands she just needs time to learn how to be a pet and patience to go at her pace. A quieter home with children 15 and over that are respectful of her boundaries maybe ok and somewhere with a nice yard that she can go and relax in. She may also benefit from a male friend that is medium or larger to help her transition into pet life. This lovely dog is not suitable for a home with cats.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Britney ARP
Britney ARP is a super sweet little lady who can be a little shy when she first meets you but comes out of her shell quickly. She is super quiet and easy to be around and may suit living with children aged 10years and over. She may suit living in a home with or without another medium or large canine companion. This lovely dog is not suitable for a home with cats.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Jess
Owen
Bing ARP
Bing is a lovely friendly, personable boy who can have a soft side at times. He tries his hardest to please, but sometimes he can get a little overwhelmed. He would benefit from a family who can build his confidence up and show him that the world isn't such a scary place. He would prefer to live in a quiet home in a quiet neighbourhood. He may be happy to live with a calm, polite dog of any size, though he may also be happy living as an only dog. Bing may be happy living with children aged 10 years and over. This lovely dog is not suitable for a home with cats.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.