Feeding and Treats

• Your Greyhound should be fed in the same area each day. Pick a quiet area.
• Feed your greyhound TWICE a day. Depending on your dogs potential weight start with 2½ cups in the morning and 2½ cups in the evening. Add about ¼ cup of water to the dry food. Feed immediately do not let the food get soft.
• Make sure you use metal food and water bowls and they are raised no higher than 8 inches off the ground. NO FREE FEEDING (leaving food out all day). They can gain weight too fast and it will be difficult getting your dog on a schedule to relieve itself. The food can also spoil.
• If your hound does not finish the food in 15 to 20 minutes pick it up and throw it out. They will learn that when food is down it is time to eat. If your hound does not eat anything call me ASAP.
• Avoid exercise 1 hour before and 1 hour after eating. If your dog is active immediately before or after eating they can get "BLOAT". Bloat, or gastric dilatation/volvulus or GDV, a medical emergency, is a deadly condition most common in large deep-chested breeds. Symptoms usually begin after a meal. The stomach becomes engorged with food, fluid, and gas, and then may twist on itself so that nothing can escape. It can kill the animal in an hour.
• A dog experiencing bloat will be very uncomfortable. It may seem anxious, may whine and pace the floor. It may look at its stomach, which may look swollen and distended, it may try to vomit, with no results. Your dog will not be able to get comfortable in any position. If you think this is happening rush to your Vet or emergency clinic immediately. Your hound can die within an hour.
• Males usually should weigh 68-80 lbs and females 55-68 lbs.
• Modify the amount of food depending on your dog's activity level. A dog with high activity may need more food.
• Your dog will gradually gain weight. At normal weight you should be able feel the front ribs not see them, however the back two ribs should be identifiable by sight, but not excessively so.
• NO TABLE SCRAPS, only dog food. Your dog does not benefit at all from table scraps. We suggest a complete diet of hard food. Do not feed any food with artificial preservatives, corn or corn glutenate. Many dog breeds are allergic to preservatives and corn. Our suggestion is to keep it simple and easy. Quality- premium dog foods we suggest are Canidae, Innova, California Natural, and Natures Variety with a large dollop of cottage cheese, You can sometimes add a large tablespoon of quality soft dog food for extra taste as long as there are no corn products or artificial color in it and some cooked vegetables.
• Dogs with sensitive stomachs may need low fat, high-fiber foods. See your vet if you think your dog has a sensitive stomach.
• Ask your vet for Derma-Cap food additive, it will make your dog's coat soft and vibrant. Just give one or two squirts with his/her morning meal.
• Some track dogs are gulpers. They are good eaters who bolt their food down. Getting them to slow down is easy. Ask Stu for advice.
• Ex-racers do not know how to beg for food but they are fast learners. Do not feed your dog when you are eating at the table.
• If you want to change food you should have a good reason. If you do change, do it gradually. Start adding a little of the new food into your hounds current food and gradually increase the amounts. This will avoid any stomach problems.
• Never give your dog potatoes, onions, grapes or chocolate. These foods will poison your dog. Absolutely no meat bones, chicken bones, pork or turkey bones. The best food is DOG FOOD.
• It is normal if your dog does not take treats from your hand at first. Track dogs never had someone give them treats before. Once your dog trusts you they will love their treats.
• Treats should be given at your discretion and not while you are eating.
• Doggie treats, like dog food, should not contain corn, preservatives or additives with dyes or sugar.
• Treats should not be greater than 25% of your dogs' daily intake. Make getting a treat fun. When your hound does something right, reward it with a treat, they love praise and rewards, Mother Hubbard or Canidae doggie treats are great and dogs love them.
• Do not give your dog pig ears, rawhide or cow hooves. They can splinter and choke your hound. They may contain chemicals harmful to your hound since they come from cattle outside the U.S.
• Watching your pet's diet, including treats, can help suppress flatulence. The stress, newness, change of diet and treats - all affect their gastric system.
• Cat food has an irresistible smell to dogs, so please put it up or out of the way where your greyhound can't get to it. They will get sick eating high protein cat food.
• Make sure your greyhound does not have access to the cat's litter box. Your hound will get very sick eating cat litter and cat feces.

Click on the categories below to jump to another section in the guide.