Understanding Meat Trade Dogs/ Sighthounds Care

From rescue to their forever home, this is their story

  • Candy’s Hound Rescue International saves dogs from meat markets, breeders, trucks, shelters, racetracks, strays or any other situations that a dog needs help from.
  • They are taken to a safe holding shelter or to vets depending where the dog is.
  • The dog travels to a vet as soon as possible where they will undergo routine health check-up, vaccinations, spay/neuter, dental and any other treatment they need. Some of the hounds have injuries, skin problems, broken bones. Whatever their health problems are Candy Cane Rescue will ensure that they are treated for their needs

Routine health check-up includes

Blood test

Canine parvovirus Ag test

Canine distemper Ag test

Canine coronavirus Ag test

Stool test (check for internal parasites)

CDV/CPV/CCV antibodies test

Physical examination

Vaccinations include

Nobiva kennel cough vaccine x 1

Vanguard plus 5/CV-L x 2

Rabies vaccine

Deworming

Spay/neuter and dental care includes

Pre operation examination

Spay surgery for females

Neuter surgery for males

Dental prophylaxis

All of this takes minimum of 21 days boarding at the vets, sometimes longer if they more serious health problems or injuries.

  • Once dogs have completed treatment and given a clean bill of health, they then go into boarding
  • Once in boarding they continue their quarantine

Dogs travelling to UK = 3 months quarantine

Dogs travelling to America = 1 month quarantine

  • Flights booked for dogs ready to travel and flight volunteers
  • Paperwork completed for dogs travelling including Pet Passport
  • Day before travel dogs have vet check up to ensure they are fit and healthy to travel
  • Dogs travel to Beijing airport where they meet flight volunteers and get checked in
  • Fly to Paris CDG where met by transport who will continue journey to UK
  • Travel Paris to Calais where they go through pet reception and paperwork, microchip and passport checked
  • Travel through Eurotunnel to Folkestone where they make their way to their foster homes to be vet checked and assessed until ready to be rehomed in the UK. For the dogs that go from China to the States or other Rescue partners in the UK potential adoptees will need to contact these rescues direct.

Timings can differ depending if dog has been rescued from Korea, Vietnam, Spain or Russia

Sadly, not all the dogs that are rescued make it to their forever homes due to illness or injuries that cannot be treated. This is one of the hardest parts of our rescue. However, we take comfort from knowing they have passed away finally experiencing love and kindness something most of them have never experienced in their lifetime.

Each dog can cost Candy’s Hound Rescue International anywhere from £2,000 to £10,000 due to vet costs, boarding, paperwork and travel.

Once the dogs have been assessed in foster homes and vet checked they are ready to be adopted. These dogs are often traumatised and have suffered abused unimaginable. With that all said most dogs are resilient and crave human touch and attention. With love, routine and hard work there is nothing more rewarding than giving these beautiful dogs a forever home.

Before you decide that you want you want a Candy’s Hound Rescue International dog you need to be sure that you are willing and able to give the commitment that these dogs need. Do not be led by your heart make sure that you have thought everything through. It is easy to see a photo and fall in love with these dogs, but to give a home is another story.

Imagine getting a puppy but one that has never lived in a home. You need to teach a puppy that they need to wear a collar and a lead, toilet train them, how to play, how to live in a house, how to go upstairs, television noise, hoovers and also that they need to be left on their own sometimes. Well this is exactly what you need to do for the Candy’s Hound Rescue International dogs. If you feel in any way that this sounds too much, then maybe these dogs are not for you.

Once you have made the decision you can commit to adopting one of these dogs then we are here for you. These dogs will have rescue back up for the rest of their lives and we are here on the end of the phone to listen to, advise and give any help we can if there are any questions you have whether it is the first day, first week, first month or further down the line.

We work with other rescues in the UK and America that help rehome our dogs. In the UK we work closely with East Midland Dog Rescue who take our ‘non hound’ breeds. East midlands Dog Rescue are fabulous and have already rehomed many of our dogs. They do only rehome within a certain radius of their rescue, so you need to read their information on their website for more information.

 

Hounds are unique, other things that need to be taken into consideration when adopting are

  • Hounds love their comfort, sadly the Candy’s Hound Rescue International hounds have come from situations where they may never have had their own bed. You can buy lovely comfortable beds from pet shops or online, but if could be as simple as a folded duvet. If you do not want your hound to jump onto the sofa or bed you need to start as you mean to go on and gently teach them no.
  • Coats – hounds have very little body fat and just one layer of fur, this makes it difficult for them to regulate their body temperatures. They feel the cold and also overheat when the weather gets warmer. Coats need to be worn when it is cold or wet cooling coats in the summer. In the warmer weather take care not to walk your hound when it is too hot, it is always best to walk them first thing in the morning or later on in the evening to avoid the hottest times of the day. Never ever leave a dog in a hot room or car – they can die within 10 minutes.
  • Eating – for the taller deep chested hounds raised eating and drinking bowls should always be used. This aids digestion and is more comfortable for them and can reduce the risk of bloat. Fresh water should be always available. Your hound may need to put on some weight, we recommend feeding regular smaller meals to start with. Diet is key and Candy Cane Rescue will be able to advise the best food for your hound and what they have been eating while in foster, however this can be trial and error until you find something to suit.
  • Nails – due to the shape of hound’s feet they need their nails clipped regularly. They grow really quickly, having nails too long can feel like walking in shoes that are a size too small! Nails should be clipped so that the nail is not touching the ground. If you do not feel confident in clipping nails any groomer or vets will be able to do it for you. Regular walking on hard ground can help with keeping nails trim. Always check your hound’s feet for small stones, grass seeds or glass. Wash their feet in soapy water and call vet if concerned.
  • Skin and coat – it is always good to get your hounds used to being groomed. This can be an ideal bonding session for you both as well as promote healthy skin and coats. The Candy Cane Rescue hounds will quite often have poor coats due to how they have been living and brushing regularly along with lovely soft beds and good food will soon have your hound’s coat and skin looking much healthier, which will make them feel more comfortable.
  • Teeth – these should be regularly checked and cleaned. If you are unable to clean your hound’s teeth there are products on the market that can help that you can rub on the teeth or add to their food or water.

 

Candy’s Hound Rescue International’s dogs and children

Our dogs make wonderful pets and can make a family feel complete. Once the dog has arrived in the UK, they go into a foster home this gives us an opportunity to assess each dog in a home environment and introduce it to different situations. Having said that there are rules that need to be followed to ensure that your children and dog are safe – it is not just the dog that needs to be taught to adapt but also your children.

Candy’s Hound Rescue International’s dogs are rescued from all sorts of situations and we have no idea of their background, many have been neglected and led abusive and traumatic lives so far. Imagine knowing nothing apart from living with lots of other dogs, often in squalid environment, very rarely having human touch (although they crave this), eating food around other dogs and never living in a home environment. This is exactly what our dogs are used to, so careful introduction, rules and boundaries need to be put in place to make them feel comfortable and safe. Due to the dogs not used to being woken up by touch we do not recommend allowing your dog on the sofa or human bed. Touching a sleeping dog (some sleep with their eyes open so you think they are awake) can cause startle and the dog may jump up and snap – this is one of the most common reason for an adoption not to work out. You should always call your dog before approaching when they are asleep to let them know you are there.

Bringing your dog home is very exciting for everyone and is the time you need to start as you mean to go on. When your child is around your dog, they should always behave in a calm and quiet manner, it is best to let your dog approach your child rather than your child going to your dog.

We cannot emphasise enough children should never ever approach your dog when they are lying down or asleep. Dogs often sleep with their eyes open. If your child touches them it may startle them causing them to jump up and possibly snap. Remember the saying ‘let sleeping dogs lie’. It is important for your dog to have their own space in the house where they can relax and know and feel they are safe, this could be their bed in a quiet part of the room or a crate. The child should be taught that this is a no go area and belongs to your dog. Most dogs love comfort and will search out the best places they can and will claim as their own, as we mentioned earlier, we strongly advise to not let your dog sleep on the sofa or human bed. If your dog is crate trained your child should never be allowed to go into the crate even if your dog is not in it. This is your dog’s safe place and somewhere to go to feel relaxed and sleep in peace.

Some of the Candy’s Hound Rescue International dogs can be the same height as a small child which means they can easily see and take food out of a child’s hand. The easiest way to stop this is to ensure that if your child is eating that they are in a different room to your dog or sitting down away from it. When feeding your dog, they should be allowed to eat their food in peace and your child should never approach or interfere while they are eating, this also applies when giving your dog treats.

Children should always be taught to be kind to animals, it is important to let them feel part of looking after your dog but always under supervision and once your dog has had time to settle in. A child should never be allowed to take the lead to walk your dog on their own, however they can be included by adding an extra lead so they can learn to walk calmly beside them. Gentle grooming is another way to include your child in your dog’s care.

Be careful with doors, make sure your child never opens the front or back door without ensuring your dog is secure, child gates can help with this, if your dog does get out they move fast and could be down the road in no time. Always teach your child to secure your dog before opening doors or better still do not allow them to open door and always call you.

Candy’s Hound Rescue International dogs make fabulous family pets, however the environment they have come from, they would never have experienced many things including children. We assess the dogs prior to being rehomed and will only home them with children if they think they are suitable, sometimes this could be children above 12 depending on the dog’s personality.

In summary here are the points to remember

  1. Make careful introductions
  2. Always supervise, never ever leave your child and dog on their own
  3. Always let sleeping dogs lie – never approach when sleeping, relaxing or in their crate.
  4. Do not allow your dog to get on the sofa or human bed
  5. When feeding your dog, give them space and let them eat in peace.
  6. Never open front or back door without ensuring your dog is secure.
  7. Teach your child to be gentle and kind to all animals.
  8. Candy Cane Rescue are always available for advice, please call if you are struggling and need help.

 

Understanding your hound and responsible exercising

One of the most common questions we get asked is ‘when can I let my hound off lead?’  this is not a simple question and in some cases the answer is never.

When you first take your greyhound home they need to get to know and trust you and it takes time to build a bond. Greyhounds have not been taught to sit, stay, come, or recall as most puppies would learn at home or at puppy classes. They are athletes and have been taught to run and chase.

Any rescue dog should not be allowed to go off lead when first rescued. It can take at least 6 months for a newly rescued dog to really settle down and build a bond with their new owner. Be mindful that your hound will not have been taught to sit, come, stay, or recall. It is like having a puppy so you will need to go back to basics or even join a dog training class.

Often Candy’s Hound Rescue International dogs have been abused and traumatised and have never been put on a lead, let alone taken for a walk. Some have been locked up in a small space, if lucky enough to have outside space they have been allowed to wonder on their own terms.  It is your responsibility as their owner to ensure you keep your hound safe. Sighthounds can run extremely fast and with the best will in the world you would never be able to catch your hound in full flight. As well as the fact they run really fast, they have not been taught recall and once your hound is in full flight, they will have tunnel vision and only focus on running and may not hear you calling them.

Candy’s Hound Rescue International dogs can be very sensitive souls and can easily be spooked, everything will be completely new to them even down to language. If your hound is off lead and something happens such as a gunshot, car or motorbike backfiring or bird scarers they could and will bolt if off lead. This is a fact and has happened, hounds have disappeared never to be found. Can you even begin to imagine losing your hound and never finding or knowing where it is or find out it has been killed in an accident?

You can hire out enclosed fields and if you really want to let your hound off lead these can be ideal. However, there could still be danger, your hound could stumble on unlevel ground, run into objects or fences, and severely injure or even kill itself.

Most sighthounds are lazy dogs, and many are happy to bimble along on a lead enjoying sniffing every blade of grass and bush with their owners. They do not need to go off lead to live a long happy fulfilled life.

Some hounds can live with small furries such as cats or even rabbits. While the hound is in foster being assessed it will become apparent if a hound can be safe around small furries, this will then be tested. We will always be able to say if a hound is cat safe or cat trainable. However, this will involve careful introductions when you take your hound home and Candy’s Hound Rescue International will be there with advice to help keep your hound and small furries safe.

We will go through everything with you when you adopt your hound and explain the best course of action for your new friend. Please make sure you take notice of our advice, we have rehomed 100’s of hounds and have a lot of experience in what makes them tick, their quirks and needs. Remember we are always available on the end of the phone to offer advice should you need it.

In summary…

  1. Do not let your hound off lead for at least 6 months or until you are confident, they have excellent recall.
  2. Remember your hound will not be used to a lead or being taken for a walk
  3. English will be a completely new language to them
  4. Careful controlled introductions need to be followed especially to new situations
  5. Always be mindful of the injuries your hound could get if off lead.
  6. Candy’s Hound Rescue International is always available to give advice, please take notice
  7. It is your responsibility to keep your hound safe

 

Which Harness is best for your hound??

 

Harnesses are becoming more and more popular among retired Greyhound owners but it’s important to get your Greyhound a harness that is the correct fit.
There are many different harness options on the market but we always recommend 3 strap harnesses for Greyhounds as they are the most secure fit for their body shape and escape proof when fitted correctly.
Fleece Cosydog style harnesses are very popular and we love them for certain dogs but sadly they are NOT escape proof, no matter how tight they are done up because they don’t have the extra belly strap. If a Greyhound pulls backwards or panics they can easily wriggle free from 2 strap style harnesses. We recommend this type of harness only be used on very well behaved dogs or ideally only used in conjunction with a fishtail or martingale collar, with a lead attached to both the collar and harness for extra security.
The best harnesses for Greyhounds are 3 strap harnesses as the extra belly strap means they are escape proof when done up correctly. There are lots of 3 strap harnesses available but some we recommend are listed below (Photos of all below too)
1. The DryDogs escape proof harness is one we highly recommend. They come in a variety of amazing colours and their website explains sizing. They have a Y shaped front, handle on top and 2 points of attachment for a lead which is ideal. They are also really budget friendly, good quality and very secure when fitted correctly. They can be found here- https://drydogs.co.uk/…/sighthound-escape-proof-harness
2. The Ruffwear Webmaster or Ruffwear Flagline harnesses are also ones we highly recommend. They are on the pricey side but they are excellent quality and long lasting. They come in a few different colours and are very comfortable for your hound as they have a Y shaped front, extra belly strap and are super secure when done up correctly. They can be found here – https://ruffwear.co.uk/products/web-master-harness
3. The Rabbitgoo escape proof harness is very similar to the two mentioned above and can be found on Amazon.
4. The Haqihana Double H harness is another well made harness and excellent fit for a Greyhound.
You can also find some brilliant made to measure escape proof harnesses on Etsy.
Harnesses with a chest strap style front should be avoided as they restrict the dogs natural movement and they are not secure or escape proof for Greyhounds (photo below). Harnesses with a Y shaped front are best.
Always remember that using a harness on it’s own gives you no control of your Greyhounds head, this is fine for quiet hounds that walk well on the lead but if your dog is nervous or has a high prey drive it is best to have a lead attached to both a fishtail or martingale collar and to the harness to ensure maximum control of the dogs head and body (double ended leads are good).
Dogs should have a separate collar with their identity tag attached. This should be worn when out in public (this is law in the UK).
A ‘house’ collar with id tag can be left on at all times and is a good way to hold onto your dog if anyone comes to the door or if they do unfortunately slip through the door they have your details attached so you can hopefully be reunited quickly.
Martingale collars should NOT be left on your dog when they are unattended in the house as if the collar becomes caught on anything it will tighten around the neck and can cause devastating consequences.
Finding the right harness for your dog is important to keep them safe.