Willy Wonka; pups don't need to be muzzled until they reach about 11 mths I'd say. You would only need to put American muzzles on older pups if they didn't get along with other pups when let out to gallop in a paddock.
You see domestic dogs wandering about on the streets without muzzles and their owners uncaring about keeping them restrained on a lead, so why SHOULD we responsible greyhound owners have to cop being attacked by these bloody domestic dogs??
However I think it's a council regulation that greyhound owners have to walk their greyhounds (any age, except young pups too small to wear a muzzle, I think)muzzled on a public street, so better be on the safe side of the law here lol


Whippee: Since you only have one pup, you have every chance of giving it a good start in life by feeding good quality meat even though it's $4 a kg, it shouldn't cost you too much in the long run ;-)
I would steer clear of butcher's pet mince if I was you, I have seen a few like those, even my local butcher has pet mince at $1.50 per kg, but the problem with these type of mince is that it's mostly offal, leftovers all minced up finely, especially these sausage mince (you can smell the difference there lol) which can upset a puppy's sensitive tummy.

Another good idea for you two (willy wonka and whippee); pups ABSOLUTELY love chicken necks, if you buy a carton tray full from supermarkets (you can see the chicken necks in the pets deli in the supermarket) and keep them in the fridge, I guarantee you there will not be a fussy eater who can resist them! I usually give about 4-5 chicken necks at a time, as you don't want to give them too much otherwise they'll be constipated! lol

They just love chewing on them (my racedogs love them too, they get it as a treat once a fortnight, however they are pigs about it, never chews, just gobble them all down in one go! lol) and it's good for pups' teeth too.
Suitable bones for pups (did I forget to mention that it's very important for pups to get bones regularly for their teeth and intestinal health? lol) are soft brisket bones, chicken necks, I know some big farms give chicken frames although personally I am loathe to do that due to the risk of one splinter of bone lodging in a pup's gum etc and big beefy leg bones so they can spend all day chewing on them, keeps them busy and happy! (although you'll probably hear them whine and cry a bit as they try to pass a hard poo after eating a bone!)


You can throw them a brisket bone etc once or twice a week.

The angel has arrived!!! yeah i would presume the local council would regulate the wearing of muzzles! I was thinking why should they, its not like they have been broken in to chase but as you say we are more responsible with our dogs!! and the MENU..... its like a 5 star restaurant lol

thanks for your time for all this info LILY, and sorry for taking over your thread WHIPPEE but i think we both and whoever else has read it have learnt some lessons needed

you havent taken over my thread, thanks for all the advice from everyone. i spoke to sa greyhounds about kennel sizes today. I have a back section of my shed that is lined, insulated, ect. it is about 3x3. he said this is plenty. I was under the assumption that they needed a caged area outside the kennel, but he said no that the back yard is sufficient. he reckons that the pup just wont get enough exercise in the backyard with a golden retriever. I also have an oval across the road that i take her to gallop. I also take them for a walk on the lead. Happy to say she is quite switched on and is walking like a champ. anyhow anyone i talk to seems to guide me away from rearing my own pup, they say they need to be in a pack ect. ect. I dont believe that is necessarily true. anyhow like ive said to everyone if she doesnt make the track we ll have a beautiful pet.
Willy: does your dog stay in the kennel over night or inside?
thanks again to everyone
andy

WHIPPEE, i got one pup thinking like you, cant see why need 2 and if dont make the track....expensive pet lol give that a few weeks and you will see for your self why they need a friend, i took my 4 mnth pup @ the time to my sisters and she has a very over active whippet x kelpie!!! well once they got together my mrs and myself agreed right then she needed and WE needed another, the change in her attitude, play, run and chase was instantly obvious!!!! and the wait took so long to get the other pup (2 weeks) and she was just BORED even after her walks and runs! and what kennel......... the one each side of the bed "well i guess they do sleep in the kennel" lol real reason was when 1st got bitch pup she travelled a few hundred k's that day and had never been in a car or anything so first cpl of days she went off her food was generally unwell, change in diet as well (had garage/kennel set up) so tried the laundry...well no that wasnt gonna work, HOWLED, BARKED (as she did in the kennel) you name it, she would only go to my mrs ( i felt a bloke had hurt or scared her ) ...SO thats how she come to be by the bed. only way we all could sleep but now shes in love with me bad, wont take her eye off me lol built a trust and shes fine now and loves anyone men and women! I dunno wat else i can say bout it except if you got 1 ya may as well have 2. NOW all i gotta do is get them outside in the kennel! but its proving quite difficult. but they will both end up in one some where if not here (breaking in lol) I know how you feel mate they show so much love you dont wanna kick them out

Also WHIPPEE i get my meat, lean race beef for $2.50kg, you can get it cheaper for bulk and can get free fat from the butcher if he's nice like mine and can just add a little chopped up finely to the beef, better than crappy puppy mince for your pup! so it can be cheaper idea? so basically 2 pups get a kilo between them a day (plus kibbles and breaky) so $2.50 feeding 2 dogs a day cheaper than CHUM what i have been led to believe is cheaper kibble like supercoat more supps better kibble like ADVANCE hardly any supps so as LILY said in her post it all virtually works out the same in the long run after doing some maths which drained the brain lol BUT it all comes back to the wallet and wat we can afford i reckon. been told over n over by diff people supercoats just fine so ? IF IM WRONG ANY WHERE ANYONE SPEAK UP IM HERE TO LEARN TOO!!!!

It cost me for my race dog $15 per week lean beef, $25 for 20kg bag of kibble which lasts me 6 months, 1 centrum multi vitamin tablet which lasts me 2 months $22 for that, two omeaga 3 capsules which lasts me 6months $14 for that, 1 vitamin E capsule (500iu) per day which lasts me 6 months $18 for that.1Iron tablet 3 times a week which lasts me 8 months $12 for that.

Had a blood count done on him 2 months ago and all was good.

coops

COOPS, im taking that as most of the supps you give your dog are off the shelf at coles? so what ratio should the kibble/meat be?? per day?
And what can we give our pups along with the meat/kibble, 1 being 5 mnths today the other 7 weeks younger??? i take it the kibble you are using is supercoat at that price?

Actually human grade vitamin capsules/tablets aren't really suitable for dogs, especially young pups, so I would definitely recommend not to make that mistake

Buy only vitamins that are MADE for dogs, it was designed for that purpose as dogs' intestines are quite different to humans', humans can take a tablet and it slowly dissolves in their tummy, whereas with dogs, the tablets are useless as it just passes out in their stool, doesn't have time to dissolve slowly.

Too many vitamin tablets over a long period will probably do more harm than good, so just stick with the good feed, a couple of dog vitamin powder and you'll be right as rain.


PUPS under the age of 4mths NEED to be fed 3 times a day. Morning, lunch and dinner.

They can eat up to 1kg meat per day, as they grow they need a lot of energy. 500gm meat with soaked kibble in morning or at lunch, (you can choose whether you want to feed milk/weetbix in morning or at lunchtime) plus another 500gm meat with soaked kibble in evening. Just use common sense when you see how much the pup is eating, when it gets a bit full, take the food bowl away and have a look at how much meat is left, then you'll work out how much you should give the pup each time. As the pup gets older you can gradually increase the meat amount.

I know the same novice trainer who only fed his pup once a day, and the poor pup just looked very lean, with big wrists that had outgrown its body, wasn't getting enough nutrition to match its energy needs. Pups have to look like they're well covered in the ribs (not chubby fat though) and be round, with sparkly eyes, healthy gum colour, clean ears, trimmed toenails, full of boundless energy (if a pup spends all day inside dozing, then it's not being fed right).

You need to give a pup at least 200gms kibble twice a day. With at least 500gms meat twice a day. You wouldn't guess a little pup could eat that much, but believe me, they do.

Cheerio

GEEZ, i give mine 500g meat only once a day at night with the kibble, no meat at breakfast. so i should be doubling up? they get all the toast n weetbix n kibble in the mornings, they seem content with all that food at the moment so? i dunno