Racing Greyhounds wear plastic basket muzzles in the turn out pen and on the track. They keep the racers, which have very thin skin, safe as they play and run since many Greyhounds have a tendency to nip in the excitement of the chase.
Those who adopt retired racers are generally encouraged to use muzzles, at least initially, and most find--often to their surprise--that the dogs really don't mind. These dogs have been wearing muzzles whenever they get to play or run so to them muzzles are a sign of good times.
To someone who has never owned a retired racing Greyhound, though, a muzzle may invoke images of aggression and restraint. And while there are muzzles for aggressive dogs, basket muzzles are very different. For one thing, it doesn’t restrict their mouth from opening and closing, and they can eat and drink while wearing a basket muzzle. (NOTE: a basket muzzle might inhibit a dog's ability to pant so always monitor your dog when it’s warm.)
As you may have already figured out, SHUG is a big fan of the plastic basket muzzle--and not just for Greyhounds. We think they are a “must have” in every Sighthound home. Those first couple of days when you're leaving your new dog loose in your home, a basket muzzle ensures you still have a completely intact couch--even if some idiot carpet salesman knocks on your door while you're at work. When transporting dogs too big to be crated, $10 muzzles can prevent $500 vet bills when an abrupt traffic stop causes a pileup in the back seat. A muzzle is a handy tool when making introductions between new dogs or a new dog and a cat. A muzzle can also--with the addition of the aptly named "poop guard" -- prevent the dreaded poop-scented kisses after a romp in the backyard.
Borzoi, Galgos, Salukis, and Afghan Hounds may not have the history with basket muzzles that Greyhounds do, but we’ve seen those breeds easily sporting the dashing accessory. While we occasionally have one who expresses his or her displeasure by smacking your backside with the muzzle, for the most part non-racers are as nonchalant about their headgear as retired racers.
Once you've decided to give it a try, how do you put on a muzzle? First, have it right-side up. Take a look at the picture to the right. Once you have the muzzle in the right position, pull the strap forward toward the basket and slip the basket over your dog's nose. Then you can bring the strap over their forehead and behind their ears. The strap has a buckle to adjust the size if it's too tight or too loose.
In a well-fitting muzzle, the tip of the dog’s nose doesn’t quite touch the inside end of the muzzle and the strap is easy to pull behind their ears but not so loose as to pop off with the swipe of a paw. (You can also add a collar strap to you muzzle for about a $1.) If your dog has particularly sensitive skin, you can add a piece of moleskin or fleece against the inside of the nose piece at the top of the basket to provide some padding.
Muzzles can also be quite the fashion accessory! They come in a variety of colors and while most of us are content to simply write our dog's name across the top with a sharpie, there are some (you know who you are!) who go all out with the stick-on gems and glitter.
It helps that muzzles are fairly inexpensive (under $10) and can be ordered online. Keep in mind that most greyhounds wear a medium (girls or small boys) or large (big boys); borzoi may need extra large for those awesome needle noses.
As you can see by the photos, the dogs don't mind their muzzles at all. If you're still not convinced, here is what can happen when playing without muzzles gets a little out of hand.
Galgos are one of the breeds under the SHUG umbrella.
SHUG -- the Sighthound Underground -- is a multi-breed global rescue formed in 2013 in the Washington D.C. area with a goal of rescuing, rehabilitating, transporting, and supporting Sighthounds around the world.
Many breeds have dedicated rescue groups, including those that re-home ex-racing Greyhounds, and many of the volunteers with SHUG are also active in such groups. But SHUG has a broader mission. We are dedicated to filling in gaps in the canine safety net and providing a refuge for Sighthounds of all types. We take in dogs who can no longer be cared for by their owners or who have for a variety of reasons found themselves homeless.
We also work extensively to assist shelters and other rescues in the US and abroad that are overcrowded or who have dogs with special needs that can't be adequately addressed in a shelter environment.
We feel that Sighthounds have special needs and are just, well . . . special! The volunteers of SHUG are for the most part experienced Sighthound owners who have an affiliation for tall skinny dogs and an understanding of their peculiarities. In many cases they also have a large pack of Sighthound companions to help their fosters adjust quickly to being in a home environment.
Three SHUG pupsters wait in their airline crates on their way to forever homes in the U.S.
A large part of SHUG's mission is transportation. We have an ever-growing network in place to move Sighthounds from where they have been abandoned – and where they often face obstacles to adoption due to cultural misconceptions or economic hardships – and bring them to foster and forever homes in other communities. Or other continents! This is generally the case with our Spanish Greyhounds, also known as Galgos, and our Salukis, who come from the Middle East. Their best shot at a new life lies an ocean away and SHUG's volunteers are waiting for them when they reach the other side.
In addition to Galgos and Salukis, SHUG also helps Greyhounds (both tattooed registered racers and non-tattooed), Italian Greyhounds, Borzoi or Russian Wolfhounds, Podencos or Ibizan Hounds, and Afghan hounds, as well as “lurchers” and other sighthound mixes usually bred for sport hunting in rural communities. Although we are headquartered in the MidAtlantic region, SHUG places dogs in homes throughout North America and we have foster homes in Ohio, New England, Georgia, and other areas.
If you know of a Sighthound that needs help -- call us! Many times even if we can't intervene directly we can point you in the direction of someone who can.
How can you get involved? Volunteer! Donate! Follow us on Facebook, share our blog and web page with others. Offer to be a foster family! And definitely let us know if you are traveling to Spain or the Middle East and are willing to be a flight patron! We’ll have more on flight patrons in a future blog post.
Seniors Rock – The Argument for Adopting an Older Dog (And a Scarlett Update, Too!)
Lovely Miss Scarlett practices sitting in her cart while her medical issue gets resolved.
Scarlett – racing name Water Orchid – is an 11-year-old red greyhound who lost an eye to glaucoma. She is sweet, calm and doesn’t act her age and was a SHUG available adoptee for about a nanosecond before she was snapped up!
Now some who saw Scarlett’s photo may have simply said she was “too old.” Most veterinarians consider a dog a “senior” around its seventh birthday. Some shelters may consider these dogs unadoptable – even when they are healthy and active – and they may be euthanized relatively quickly.
But here at SHUG, we don’t think a little silver on the muzzle or a little hitch in the giddy-up is a big deal. Many of us are proud owners of older dogs. Here are some good reasons to consider adopting a senior dog:
1. They have manners, most of the time. They’ve usually been in a home, at least at some point in their lives, and they don’t need a lot of time to adjust getting back onto one.
2. Generally speaking, they don’t chew on you, the furniture, the house (like puppies) or need to go out in the middle of the night to pee (like puppies) or just pee wherever they happen to be standing (like puppies).
3. What you see is what you get. As adults, they have grown into and developed who they are. They are a safe bet in terms of knowing what their personality will be when you get them home.
4. They are generally calmer than younger dogs and may need less exercise. So for a home situation where less energy is better, a senior dog can be a perfect fit!
5. They are still trainable! You can teach an old dog new tricks, and with their greater attention span and a few tricks probably already under their belt, teaching new ones isn’t as difficult as with younger dogs.
6. Greyhounds and other sighthounds, including galgos and salukis, are long-lived breeds. An eight or 10-year-old dog still has many years ahead!
7. They’re not as long a commitment as a puppy. If you are thinking of downsizing your family in the future, moving overseas at some point or you’re older yourself and don’t want a dog who will outlive you, a senior is a good option.
And, then, of course, they simply deserve it. Every dog needs to be loved and part of family. We owe it to our senior dogs to give them as much a chance to snooze on a soft couch as their younger companions. We may have them for a shorter time, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t bring them into our families for what time they have left.
Scarlett says: I could get used to this mode of transportation
As for Scarlett, she’s getting acquainted to her chariot, courtesy of her new mom, Deanna Swartzfager. Scarlett’s hind end weakness was recently diagnosed as blood clots that are affecting her ability to walk or run more than short distances. Her body will hopefully eliminate the clots over many weeks. In the meantime, she’s getting used to riding in her cart so she can enjoy being outside.
We think she’s getting the hang of it. Thank you Deanna for taking such good care of her!
Update: It is with great sadness that we report lovely Miss Scarlett had to be escorted to the Bridge as her condition was not improving. It is so sad when we lose them before their time. We thank Deanna for giving Scarlett a chance to find a soft couch and a loving family before she passed over.
Dog Parks – A Great Idea That Isn’t Always a Great Reality
It's best when Sighthounds romp only with other Sighthounds and when all are wearing their muzzles.
The Sighthound Underground is not a big fan of dog parks. In fact, we're officially against taking your Sighthound to a public dog park.
All too often we've seen unfamiliar dogs get aggressive or small dogs get frisky and try to “run with the big dogs.” Either way, someone gets hurt. And while it’s usually the dog owner who is to blame when things go awry, it’s almost always the dog that pays the price.
So SHUG endorses private dog parks--with screening policies--and “play dates” with familiar dogs. We also encourage Sighthound owners to consider using basket racing muzzles. They won't hurt your dog and may save you--and your fellow dog owners--the pain and expense of an injury.
Yes, we know that muzzles aren't always popular--but we think they're a great way to introduce new dogs to each other . . . and they come in such pretty colors!
Whether at a dog park or on a play date or in your own living room, always pay attention when your dogs play and take note of these signs. When dogs display one or more of these behaviors it can mean that it's time for a break (credit to Petfinder.com):
•A dog repeatedly pins another down, with no reciprocation
•A dog repeatedly chases another, with no reciprocation
•A dog does not back off when the other dog gives a high-pitched yelp
•A dog continues to pursue another who is trying to end the play session by hiding.
Making sure play stays fun for everyone is the dog owner’s responsibility. If you’re not sure, take your dog for a walk instead. That’s always a good thing!
SL Senator is a 4-year-old former racing greyhound from the track in Mobile, Alabama. He isn't a big boy--but he has a huge heart! And did we mention he's super cute?!
Senator is a “turn key dog.” He is sweet and loving – and will make sure you never had to use the bathroom alone ever again! He’s just starting to give little Eskimo kisses to his foster mom. Senator eats well (he’s a bit food motivated so he may try to steal a snack from another bowl) and does all his business outside! He sleeps quietly through the night in a dog bed although we’re trying to move his wake up call to a bit later in the morning!
Senator!
Senator is not shy, exactly, but he is a bit unsure of himself at times. He does look to other dogs for confidence. He is not at all dominant and has not put one foot wrong with his foster pack. And he doesn’t seem to be a greyhound snob – he’s as happy with his golden retriever pals as his greyhound friends. He does need a home with a four-legged pal of some sort, though.
That said, we’re not sure of his small dog status. Medium dogs are certainly fine, but little fluffy white ones seem to be a bit too interesting.
What else? He’s clumsy up the stairs – takes them like a kangaroo – but is never hesitant on them. He has no problem with “scary” wood or tile floors. He’s not high energy – a walk once a day is fine. And he’s good on a leash.
We think he’s a great dog! His adoption fee is $300 and Senator is available to approved homes anywhere in the US or Canada. If you’re interested, submit an application here.
Wordless Wednesday — Ear Kisses for an American Volunteer
Residents at Galgos del Sol, in Murcia, Spain, give some loving to Paul, an American who flew to Spain from the U.S. to bring dogs back for SHUG. We're always looking for travel patrons. Let us know if you're traveling to Spain in the future. You, too, could get some galgo kisses.
Caramel, a smooth, fawn Saluki, was hit by a car in her native Doha. Her owner chose to abandon her but volunteers from Dogs in Doha stepped in and saved her. The group paid for her broken hip to be repaired and then nursed this sweet little girl back to health.
Caramel, left, now known as Rosie, got a greyhound brother, a new mom and dad, and a house of kids -- and couldn't be happier in her new life far from the hot, dry desert.
It was the beginning of a new lucky streak for Caramel. She landed a spot on a transport to the US where she became an official SHUGer Baby. Caramel came off the plane with a waggedy tail and lots of kisses, winning the hearts of her foster family – who took her to swim therapy to build up her muscles after her injury – and then, quickly, her new forever family.
Heidi Wells and her family drove from Massachusetts to Maryland in July to pick up their new girl, bringing with them a new Greyhound brother for her, too! Finally little Caramel had her new family . . . and a new name, too! Caramel became Rosie and embarked on her new life.
So how is Rosie doing now? Her mom says:
She especially loves her daddy, (Steven) with a whole body wagging, tail propeller-ing, song-singing passion. She adores the attention of all resident neck scratchers and belly rubbers, and has even made her peace with kibble (as long as it has some egg, cheese or sweet potato mixed in).
Getting the “Desert Rose” used to the rain has been a bit of a challenge, and there have been more than a few 'clean-ups,' when the weather does not cooperate with her potty schedule. If there is downer at all -- that's it -- but fortunately, with the house under construction, the floors are covered in rosin paper, and the picking up is not a big deal.
On the upside she is never lonely! She tolerates her big lug-nut of a brother, Sully (her shadow), but makes it very clear that he is her minion. Fortunately, he is happy to oblige -- and he adores her company. She did NOT approve of the crate we bought for her (too small for Her Royal Highness), but Sully's crate suits her just fine. She races up to bed at night and scoots in before he has a chance to argue. She grabs his favorite stuffie, uses it as a pillow, and stretches out confidently on his fluffy, zebra striped, mat. Sully stares at her quizzically and then when he realizes that she is there for the night, finds a suitable square of carpet and within minutes, is snoring and "running" on the track in his sleep.
Sully gets some revenge as he wakes up the household at 5:15. He climbs in the crate and pesters his sleeping sister. She, in turn, gets up and sings to Daddy until he gets out of bed. Sully demands that I put my feet on the floor, and we all start our day with a walk and some fresh air (mostly) appreciative of some enforced, early morning exercise.
Caramel, on the right, shortly after landing in the U.S.A. took no time to get used to an American couch in her first foster home.
I can speak for all of us when I say that these two pups have completed our family, and added immeasurable joy to our crazy hectic days. Love, love, love them!!!! Thanks so much for bringing Rosie into our lives. We are beyond grateful.
Thank you so much for your support of this blog and our Facebook page. We now have over 2000 fans on Facebook! – a milestone we’re going to be celebrating in a special way, so stay tuned for that announcement. And we really appreciate all the “Shares” for our blog posts. This is how we get the word out about what we’re doing and why, and get forever homes for our deserving pups. It’s an example of social media at its finest. Without you, we’re like a tree falling in the woods with no one around. Or something like that.
Along this theme, we’re going to start a regular “Spotlight On” weekly post to highlight one of our available dogs. Please help these special pups find homes by sharing these posts, that will help us move dogs from foster homes and open up spots for more dogs!
Our other big news is that we have revamped our Web page! Please take a look. It’s still a bit “bare bones” at this point, but it’s easier to get through, has a clear "who's available" page and it makes it easy to get to our other platforms and, importantly, Petfinder.
A few other things:
We monitor our Facebook page regularly, but sometimes a comment may come in with a question that we accidentally miss. To reach us with a question, you can always use our email address: info@sighthoundunderground.com. And we don’t take a comment such as “we want that dog” as an application. You have to actually put in an app! You can find it here: https://sighthoundunderground.com/files/forms/Application.pdf. You'll be pleased to know our ap is now "online" so no printing out and faxing. Really, the handwritten aps were a bit hard to read!
And, if you’re following a dog at one of the shelters in Spain or the Middle East that you want to adopt, please drop us a line and we’ll work to bring that dog over.
By the way, we’ve got a special guest coming later this month. Fingers crossed. More on this later.
Lastly, if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in our blog. Something you want explained or an adopted dog you want an update on, drop us a comment and we’ll see what we can do.
Tilly is an "honorary" Italian greyhound recently adopted by one of our SHUG volunteers. Here she's getting a special treatment for a skin condition and we just had to share.
She was discarded by her "forever" family as she hit double digits and was deemed "too old." Really? Look at this sweet face! What is wrong with people? Her new mama says she's basically perfect. We're so glad she is part of the extended SHUG family.
Racing Greyhounds wear plastic basket muzzles in the turn out pen and on the track. They keep the racers, which have very thin skin, safe as they play and run since many Greyhounds have a tendency to nip in the excitement of the chase.
can prevent $500 vet bills when an abrupt traffic stop causes a pileup in the back seat. A muzzle is a handy tool when making introductions between new dogs or a new dog and a cat. A muzzle can also--with the addition of the aptly named "poop guard" -- prevent the dreaded poop-scented kisses after a romp in the backyard.
Borzoi, Galgos, Salukis, and Afghan Hounds may not have the history with basket muzzles that Greyhounds do, but we’ve seen those breeds easily sporting the dashing accessory. While we occasionally have one who expresses his or her displeasure by smacking your backside with the muzzle, for the most part non-racers are as nonchalant about their headgear as retired racers.
pull the strap forward toward the basket and slip the basket over your dog's nose. Then you can bring the strap over their forehead and behind their ears. The strap has a buckle to adjust the size if it's too tight or too loose.
Muzzles can also be quite the fashion accessory! They come in a variety of colors and while most of us are content to simply write our dog's name across the top with a sharpie, there are some (you know who you are!) who go all out with the stick-on gems and glitter.
As you can see by the photos, the dogs don't mind their muzzles at all. If you're still not convinced, here is what can happen when playing without muzzles gets a little out of hand.
SL Senator is a 4-year-old former racing greyhound from the track in Mobile, Alabama. He isn't a big boy--but he has a huge heart! And did we mention he's super cute?!
Residents at Galgos del Sol, in Murcia, Spain, give some loving to Paul, an American who flew to Spain from the U.S. to bring dogs back for SHUG. We're always looking for travel patrons. Let us know if you're traveling to Spain in the future. You, too, could get some galgo kisses.
Our other big news is that we have revamped our Web page! Please take a look. It’s still a bit “bare bones” at this point, but it’s easier to get through, has a clear "who's available" page and it makes it easy to get to our other platforms and, importantly, Petfinder.
Tilly is an "honorary" Italian greyhound recently adopted by one of our SHUG volunteers. Here she's getting a special treatment for a skin condition and we just had to share.