SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Because of the way Greyhounds are built they need a soft place to sleep and nap. Hard floors, or even carpeted floors without good cushioning, can cause pressure sores. Of course your couch and your bed will usually be your hound’s napping spot of choice, but even if you allow it, your hound should still have a space/bed that he can call his own.
Walmart & Sam’s Club offer good, sturdy, thick dog beds for reasonable prices. Be sure to buy the largest size available. Another option is to provide the dog with one or two comforters that it can “nest” in. These can often be purchased very cheaply at garage sales or rummage sales.
HEAT and COLD ~ Greyhounds have very little body fat therefore, they are more sensitive to extremes in both heat and cold than other dogs. This is not to imply that they can’t live happily in a variety of climates. Thousands of Greyhounds are flourishing in homes from Canada to Florida. But you do need to be aware of their needs regarding the weather.
Greyhounds are inside dogs. They should never be kept outdoors for extended periods of time. Racing kennels are usually carefully climate controlled, as should your Greyhound’s environment be. In summer care must be taken not to let your hound overheat. Sometimes this might mean restricting his exercise on very hot days. Even though they may feel uncomfortable from the heat, they will still often want to run, not knowing it can hurt them. If you walk your dog, you should do it during the coolest parts of the day in summer. Basically, if it’s uncomfortable for you, it will be even more uncomfortable and possibly dangerous for him. You should familiarize yourself with the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and be prepared to deal with it fast if you should see those signs in your dog.
Even while resting, a Greyhound can become dangerously overheated during extended periods of exposure to high temperatures. Your Greyhound should always have access to a comfortable resting place in the shade during hot weather. A cool coat or spray bottle of cool water to be sprayed directly on the dog is also handy, especially on walks.
CLOTHING? ~ In winter many people dress their Greyhounds in special cold weather wardrobes. If your dog is only going out to take care of business, he probably will not need to get dressed up for a quick trip outdoors. If you plan on taking an extended walk with your dog in cold weather, a warm coat becomes more of a necessity than a fashion statement. The rule of thumb is that if you’d be cold without a coat, your Greyhound will be cold, too.
