Before you welcome your new hound into your home, take some time to make sure their environment is free from hazards. Your hound will be curious about their new surroundings and dogs naturally explore with their mouths, plus the reach of a greyhound is greater than most.
Get down to their level
There are hundreds of items in your home that a greyhound has never seen before: phones, books, handbags, shoes to name a few. To protect personal items, put them out of reach or away completely.
Clear the kitchen benches and table tops
A lot of human food items are actually very dangerous for your hound to ingest. Make sure that all human food is stored securely and kept out of reach. Greyhounds can be known as “counter surfers” thanks to their long necks and curious noses so vigilance is necessary if you don’t want to share your dinner! Consider also medications, craft items – other things likely to be left out on bench/table tops. These things can also be very dangerous if ingested. Finally, make sure their food is kept secure to prevent some sneaky over-eating.
Secure bins
This goes without saying – no one wants to clean rubbish up a second time.
Establish out of bounds areas
If you intend on having areas in your home that are kept hound free, make sure you establish these from the very beginning so there is no confusion. Baby gates are very useful and effective for blocking off whole rooms, or keep the doors closed if you can. Play pens can also be used as a temporary deterrent for sections of your home – eg around your desk, dining table or kitchen island.
Decal glass doors and use rugs in slippery areas
A greyhound has no concept of glass, so use decals at their eye level to prevent any collisions. A wooden or tiled floor can also be a slip hazard for your hound so use rugs in any problem areas. They will struggle or even refuse to walk on a surface that feels unsafe to them.
Watch your coffee table corners
Don’t underestimate the size of your hound. Make sure there is plenty of room for it to manoeuvre around your furniture so that accidents are avoided when playing or simply when going from one soft spot to another.
Taking the time to hound-proof ahead of the arrival of your new best friend is important. By removing potential danger before an incident has a chance to occur, you’re setting yourselves – and your hound – up with the best chance of success!