After-Adoption Activities FAQ
How can I prevent an escape?
- Never let your sighthound off leash in an unenclosed space, even if you think your dog is different and will come when called. The risk is simply not worth it. Make sure you’re checking the fences at dog parks or other places that you expect to be enclosed.
- When you are returning from a leashed walk, always wait until you’re inside and the door is closed before unleashing. Do not unleash in the garage before the door fully closes or as you approach your front door assuming your dog will continue on its way inside.
- If there is any chance that a family member will return home and open the garage door with a remote, do not allow your hounds access to the garage. Make sure all dogs are safely inside or that pedestrian doors leading to backyards are securely closed.
- Install an ex pen at the front door as an extra barricade or install a screen door so that you can come and go with minimal risk of escape.
- Always use a properly fitting martingale collar or harness for walks and always hold the leash with your hand through the loop. Flexible or retractable leashes are not safe for many reasons, including that they allow too much freedom and can easily be pulled from your hand.
- When you’re getting in and out of your car with your dog, have someone with you to hold on to the leash or use a dog seat belt to keep your hound restrained until you have a good grip on their leash and can help them safely exit.
- Make sure anyone handling your hound is up to the task. Anyone holding your hound’s leash needs to be strong enough to hold on if your hound startles or attempts to catch a rabbit. Anyone caring for your hound in your absence needs to know basic sighthound safety and be responsible enough to take the precautions you take. As much as we love our family, we always need to be realistic about the abilities of senior parents and young children.
- Regularly inspect your gate, fence and yard, especially after windy weather. If you have a dog door, restrict access during windstorms so that you can check your fence and gate before your hounds go out.
- Always keep your dog’s identification tags on its collar, even when you are home. Also, routinely inspect your dog’s tags to ensure they are still legible.
- At your annual vet visits, ask the vet to check your dog’s microchip and make sure the contact information is current.
- Keep current photos of your dogs handy on your phone in case you need to identify your dog.
- If your dog is skittish, consider adding a GPS tracker to your dog’s collar so that you have a better chance of finding them if they get lost.
We know that sometimes unexpected circumstances arise despite our best efforts and that everyone can make a mistake. Click here to read the steps to take immediately if your hound gets lost. Please stay safe, everyone!
What do I do if my greyhound gets lost?
- Call your adoption organization immediately. If you leave a message, include your name, the dog’s name, the location the dog went missing and your phone number. GALT’s lost dog report phone number is 972-503-4258. GALT dogs come with an ID tag with this phone number. You should always keep this ID tag, as well as an ID tag with your address and phone number, on your dog. In fact, the GALT adoption contract requires you to do so. GALT dogs are all micro-chipped and the tag is provided to you upon adoption; please keep this tag on the collar as well.
- Post to Nextdoor.com. Nextdoor.com is a free social media network similar to Facebook, only centered around your neighborhood. Set up your account and get familiar with posting today so that you’re ready to go. If your dog gets lost away from home, you’ll need a resident of the area to post for you. Your post should include a current photo, a physical description of the dog, the location the dog was last seen, and your contact information. Ask anyone who sees the dog to call you and not to chase.
- Ask a good friend to take the lead in helping you. As word gets out, you will likely need help filtering advice and responding to inquiries, especially on social media. You can also delegate many of the ideas on this list so that you can go look for your pup.
- Post on Facebook or other social media. On Facebook, make sure your privacy setting for the post is “public” so that the post can be shared widely. In addition to the information in your Nextdoor.com post, your Facebook post should conspicuously identify the city and state in which the dog is lost.
- Share your Facebook post in local lost pet and community groups. While not really local, Facebook’s Greyhound Amber Alert is worth trying. Its members tend to share widely and might reach others in your community.
- Create a sign for posting in the neighborhood. Signs are the most often cited source of leads and are critical to finding a lost dog. Print the sign on bright, heavy paper and include a current photo of the dog standing (likely how the dog will be seen). A silhouette of a greyhound running will work in a pinch. Also include “Lost Dog” and “Do Not Chase” prominently as well as your phone number and address. In some neighborhoods, stating that the signs will be removed when you find the dog can help keep your signs up longer.
- Get your sign copied and buy lots of clear packing tape. Make the signs and the tape available to volunteers outside your front door. Consider leaving bottled water and snacks to show your appreciation. A tablet of plain paper and pens for volunteers to note where they have already put up signs can save volunteer time too.
- Call local shelters to let them know you want your dog back if it is brought to them. You cannot count on them to contact you and will need to follow up with them daily.
- Contact local vets and make sure they have a copy of your sign. People who find dogs take them to the vet either for medical assistance or to check for a microchip.
- Call the non-emergency numbers for your local law enforcement and fire departments. Many are dog lovers and paid observers. They will likely want to help.
- Never lose hope. If your hound is lost for more than a few days, you’ll want to take additional steps, depending on the circumstances, such as hiring professionals, placing live traps, contacting the City, and working with local businesses and construction zones. Continue to post updates in social media so that volunteers know you’re still looking and make sure your signs remain up.
A lost hound can happen to any of us. Take a moment now to snap a current photo of your dog and to make sure the contact information associated with your dog’s microchip is current. If you need to update your contact information with GALT, email info@galtx.org. Keep those pups safe, everyone!
Can I do obedience training with my greyhound?
GALT periodically offers Dog Skills classes taught by Mary Waugh Swindell. If you want to take a Dog Skills class, but no class appears on the horizon, please contact GALT. We may be able to schedule an extra class if there are enough people interested.
Click here for more on Training Classes.
I've done basic obedience, what else is there?
There’s always Dog Skills 102! Other training opportunities include canine freestyle, agility, and canine good citizenship testing.
Many greyhounds also enjoy agility training and competitions.
Click here for more information.
How can I get involved in animal-assisted therapy?
Our greyhounds bring so much joy into our lives. Their gentle nature and loving disposition make them the best companions. Truly those so blessed should share with the rest! Greyhounds make outstanding THERAPY DOGS. A therapy dog is specially trained to provide affection and comfort to people in need and to remain calm and relaxed in stressful situations. Both dog and handler must pass a test before being certified. Therapy Dog groups go out into the community and provide educational presentations to area schools, comfort and entertainment to local nursing home residents, and encouragement to children with special needs.
We would love to form an all greyhound therapy team to go out and spread joy throughout the metroplex. If you are interested in training your special companion to be a therapy dog, please contact Cheryl Woolnough (Audi and Belle’s mom) at K9companiontraining@gmail.com for more information.
Become certified to visit nursing homes, hospitals and schools through Pet Partners Program of the Delta Society, www.deltasociety.org. Certification requires greyhounds to know basic obedience commands and to be comfortable in a variety of different settings. Typically greyhounds, with their gentle demeanor, can be good candidates for this type of activity.
Can I make homemade dog treats for my greyhound?
What better way to spoil your hound than to make them some special homemade treats! (It can be easier on the pocketbook than store-bought too.) There are a lot of quick and easy recipes for dog treats. Here’s one easy example:
HOMEMADE FROSTY PAWS
Frosty Paws is a commercially made “ice cream” for dogs. I never met a dog that didn’t like it. This is a homemade version that’s always a hit. Makes 18 servings.
- 1 quart vanilla yogurt
- 1 medium banana
- 2 Tbsps peanut butter
- 2 Tbsps honey
Puree the banana in a food processor or blender. Add the peanut butter and honey and continue processing until smooth. Add yogurt and process just long enough to blend all ingredients together. Place 18 small paper cups (bathroom size) in a baking pan. Fill paper cups to about 2/3 full. Freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen treats to zip-lock bags for easy freezer storage.
Try substituting other goodies for the banana/PB/honey, like 1 cup of pumpkin puree, melon/honey, or applesauce/cinnamon. Just remember, carob is fine, but no chocolate!
What is lure coursing?
Lure coursing is a humane sport which re-creates the chase of the hare by the pursuing hound. The “bunny” consists of strips of white plastic attached to a continuous loop line that runs through a series of pulleys to simulate the zigzag path of a rabbit on the run. No wagering is involved; the dogs run for fun and the occasional ribbon or trophy. Coursing is not merely a race. Greyhounds and the other participating sighthound breeds are judged not only on speed, but also on enthusiasm during the course, agility in making turns, how accurately they follow the path of the lure, and their endurance in completing the course. Lure coursing is an athletic activity – check with your vet before embarking on this adventure. It is not recommended for dogs who have previously broken a leg.
Click here for a detailed description on how to get started in lure coursing.
What is LGRA or NOTRA racing?
The NOTRA (National Oval Track Racing Association) and LGRA (Large Gazehound Racing Association) racing meets are a wonderful athletic activity for you and your greyhound. There are several different types of sighthounds at the meets: borzoi, saluki, Italian greys, afghans, etc. The dogs race against their own breed. Greyhounds, however, are the only dogs with professional experience, which makes it easy on the owner since there is no need to train your dog. Racing is an athletic activity – check with your vet before embarking on this adventure. It is not recommended for dogs who have previously broken a leg. Photo courtesy of Shot on Site Photography
For more information, go to www.gazehoundsintexas.org.
Have more questions?
If you have a question that was not answered in one of our FAQ pages, please call or email GALT!
972-503-4258
info@galtx.org