Tag Archives: greyhounds

Don’t call them lazy

Posted on May 8, 2018 | 1 comment

Izzy and I do a fair amount of volunteering for our local re-homing group, Greyhounds as Pets. In describing the greyhound, I often hear the term lazy used as in “they are very lazy dogs and like to sleep most of the day.”

The Oxford dictionary defines lazy as “unwilling to work or use energy.” I don’t find Izzy unwilling to expend energy; she’ll happily join me for walks twice a day (except when it is raining heavily and then she needs some encouragement). Often she will instigate play time herself – typically in the evening after dinner – when she zooms around the house with one or more of her toys. Yes, she plays for about 5-10 minutes, but she does play.

And in my mobile service, she often accompanies me in the car to meet and greet clients. (Yes, she also sleeps in the car but the point is – she is always happy to go in the car and usually bounces into the garage before I have time to clip on her car harness.)

The synonyms for lazy include slothful, inactive, idle and slow-moving. These terms remind me of the stereotypical fat person whose preferred activity is sitting on their sofa eating junk food and drinking.

Like Homer Simpson.

And greyhounds are definitely not slow-moving when they decide it’s time for a zoomie.

Izzy is certainly not fat, either. She’s a svelte girl who has maintained her ideal weight for the 3 1/2 years that she has been in my life. Most of her greyhound friends are equally as fit.

So I think we do a disservice to the breed by calling them lazy because lazy has many negative connotations. No one enjoys working with someone who is lazy and doesn’t carry their weight, for example.

Instead, I propose:

“Greyhounds are discerning in what activities they choose to undertake.” (A sign of quality and taste!)

and

“Greyhounds are energy-conserving.” (A dog that is kind to the earth and sustainable!)

Greyhounds – don’t call them lazy.

I'm not lazy

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog breeds, Dogs

Tagged greyhounds, Homer Simpson, lazy, Oxford dictionary, svelte

The Dogs of Avalon – book review

Posted on February 3, 2018 | 2 comments

Inspired by her adopted lurcher, Lily, author Laura Schenone started to research the background story of Irish sighthounds that were being imported into the United States for adoption.

Her research reveals the story of Marion Fitzgibbon, who witnessed firsthand the appalling animal welfare problems in her native Ireland and started to take action. Marion’s story starts small, as most animal welfare initiatives do. But her dream and her passion builds as she finds friends who are willing to work alongside her and to help find shelter and fostering options for rescued animals.

The dogs of avalon

She eventually becomes the head of the Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty Animals and she is experienced enough and with enough authority to tackle the greyhound racing industry. This includes conducting an undercover investigation into facilities in Spain, where many of the Irish greyhounds were sold to live in appalling conditions.

In Ireland, very few people were willing to adopt the greyhounds that their country’s highly subsidized racing industry supported – and so many were sent to the United States which is how the author’s Lily came to reside in New Jersey.

And for a time the book focuses on the USA greyhound racing industry and the groundswell of support to help shut tracks down. I actually found this part of the book to be its weakest – diverting from the Irish story. The cause to shut down the Wonderland track in Massachusetts is covered, for example; but not particularly clearly in my opinion. (I grew up in Massachusetts and Wonderland is a stop on the Blue Line of Boston’s subway system.)

Like all true stories of animal welfare organizations, there are many cases that are not easy to read. But that is the reality that we must face when acknowledging how people and industries view the rights (or lack thereof) of animals and the history of how man has treated animals.

As a greyhound owner myself, I could never have passed by this book. It’s a solid read for greyhound lovers, all dog owners, and anyone interested in animal welfare.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog books, Dogs

Tagged greyhounds, Ireland, sighthounds, The Dogs of Avalon

A date in the red zone

Posted on January 8, 2018 | 2 comments

Izzy has a boyfriend named Bergie who lives across town from us. Bergie is approximately one year younger than Izzy, but from the day they first met on an organized Greyhounds as Pets walk, it was clear that these two really enjoyed each other’s company.

We make an effort for them to have dates on a regular basis; one of their favourite places is the red zone – this is an area in eastern Christchurch where homes were demolished after the 2011 earthquake; the residents were bought out by the government so they could relocate elsewhere because the land is unsuitable for building. There are a few locations in the red zone that are fully fenced, allowing greyhounds the opportunities to do zoomies in a safe environment.

Bergie

This area of the red zone is very sandy (which is why it isn’t suitable for re-building). It is, however, very good for digging holes. Bergie likes to dig holes for Izzy and she likes to watch…

Bergie digs a hole for Izzy

And greyhounds generally like to do zoomies (short bursts of running). Here is Izzy chasing Bergie:

Izzy is now asleep in her bed after having a great day with Bergie. (I think their next date will be at the beach – Izzy loves the beach!)

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

2 Comments

Posted in Dogs

Tagged boyfriend, girlfriend, greyhounds, mates

Play date

Posted on June 10, 2017 | 1 comment

A change of scene, play, and social time with other dogs are all important to the emotional health of our dogs.

Izzy, for example, has a boyfriend who lives on the other side of the city. His name is Bergie and they have a special relationship. I can’t even remember when it started; they just met at greyhound walks and bonded to each other.

So, it’s important to his owners and to me that we make the time for them to see each other. This week, they finally managed to have a play date after being severely rained out of one date and then missing another chance to see each other when, again, the rain and cold interfered with the monthly farmers market display for Greyhounds as Pets.

On this date, Bergie decided to impress Izzy with his hole digging skills…she took a front row seat!

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog care, Dogs

Tagged +, enrichment, greyhounds, play

The Great Global Greyhound Walk

Posted on June 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

The Great Global Greyhound Walk has become an annual event since 2014 to raise the profile of adoptable greyhounds. (The event was started in 2010 as the Great British Greyhound Walk but interest soon went global.)

Groups from around the globe organize walks with their hounds to show them off to the public and to raise funds for greyhound adoption.

This year, the date is this Sunday – 11th June. If you follow the Walk’s website, there’s a searchable database to find the walk closest to you.

Check out the map while you are there – this event is truly global.

As Izzy is a greyhound and we volunteer for Greyhounds as Pets, you can guarantee that we will participate in our local walk in central Christchurch.

Interested in knowing more about bringing a greyhound into your life? Why not come out on Sunday and meet lots of hounds and their owners. Owners love to talk about their dogs and their enthusiasm is infectious. Bring your spare change and make a donation, too, so more hounds can find a forever home.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in animal welfare, dog adoption, Dogs

Tagged adoption, greyhounds

Izzy’s racing career

Posted on March 25, 2017 | Leave a comment

Izzy is a retired racing greyhound. She won 6 races over the course of her 2 1/2-year, 74 race career.

As a salute to my ‘little winner’ who is now a much-loved pet and helper in massage classes, here is a montage of the finish lines at her races and one photo of her in her preferred career…

Izzy winning on 10 Dec 2010 Izzy winning on 25 May 2011 Izzy winning on 1 Jun 2011 Izzy winning on 3 Aug 2011 Izzy winning on 7 Nov 2012 Izzy winning on 19 Dec 2012

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in Dogs

Tagged greyhounds, racing, retired racer

The Greyt New Zealand Caterpillar Craze

Posted on July 4, 2016 | 6 comments

As you know, Izzy is a greyhound. And as a devoted greyhound owner, I belong to several Facebook groups dedicated to greyhounds. One is the Greyhound Collective, based here in New Zealand.

Early last week, a fellow owner posted that their hound loved their large stuffed caterpillar from The Warehouse (the New Zealand equivalent of Walmart) and – coincidentally – they were available at the annual toy sale for 50% off (so $40 compared to $80)…

The caterpillars being sold by The Warehouse are 250 cm long

…and so started the Greyt New Zealand Caterpillar Craze!

I slept on it overnight and then decided Izzy should have one. I ordered it online and then emailed my friend Marie “I’ve just bought Izzy one of those caterpillars.” Marie wrote back “So did I, for Ben” Gosh, I thought – we are good dog mothers…

And then another one and another one posted on The Greyhound Collective. Their hounds were also reveling in their new colourful friends. It’s been like that all week (and the sale is still going). More and more New Zealand greyhounds are loving their warm and cuddly friends. It’s winter here and greyhounds feel the cold. A caterpillar makes a greyt friend on a cold winter’s day…

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So enjoy these snaps of our Caterpillar Craze…can you spot Izzy?

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in Dogs

Tagged caterpillar, Facebook, Greyhound, greyhounds, The Warehouse, Walmart

The benefits of stretching

Posted on February 23, 2016 | Leave a comment

Vera does her morning yoga (photo by Jenny Hamilton)

I remember watching a yoga video years ago where the instructor described the act of stretching as ‘making space in the joints.’

As a canine massage therapist, I think stretching is essential. It lengthens muscles in a controlled and safe way to ensure good range of motion in the limbs and it helps to maintain blood flow to essential soft tissues.

As our dogs age, or when they are injured, then often need help with stretching (the same is true of people). That’s where professional massage comes in – someone to help warm and stretch the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Owners can also learn to stretch their dogs; it’s something I include in special massage workshops for greyhound owners. I’ve found that greyhounds, with their sleek builds and racing instinct, often tighten up when in a pet home or when they don’t get regular off-lead exercise.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog care, Dogs

Tagged canine massage, dog massage, greyhounds, stretching, yoga

Corporate sponsorship

Posted on October 18, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m regularly approached by charities for sponsorship of shows and other events. I’ve been trading since 2007 and, eight years on, I have developed a sense of what I will and will not support.

Let me explain.

Sponsorship, from the smallest company to the largest, must match the goals and values of the sponsor and the receiver. Where there is a mis-match, either one party or the other loses out.

Dog shows, for example, are often looking for products for their prize packs. It’s an ‘easy win’ for a large company to provide bags of food and get their name onto a show program and in front of dog owners. The recipients of these prize packs get something for free and there’s little loyalty involved. They may never buy from the company involved again and the large corporate sponsor doesn’t mind because their goal was simply name recognition.

The same is typically not true for products and services provided by smaller businesses. These businesses need something reciprocal in order to grow and to afford sponsorship in the future. These businesses may donate to a cause one year, but if they receive no response from your members during the year, they are unlikely to consider sponsorship of benefit to them.

For my business, as an example, I am looking for an on-going link to the groups I support. I am happy to provide my time and services if I feel that people will direct their business to me in the future. I have a keen interest in helping rescue dogs, for example. I get great personal satisfaction from helping dogs in need and when they are adopted, some come back to me as clients.

I rent space from a local training club, for example. They give me a good rate but in return they get advertising by me bringing other dog owners to their property. I also acknowledge their support when promoting the workshops I hold there. Win-win.

This weekend, I sponsored a garage sale. I did all of the promotion for the event and took time out of my business to seek donations of goods from my clients and from like-minded businesses I deal with. The benefactor was Greyhounds as Pets (GAP), a charity that works to re-home retired racing greyhounds.

I believe in this cause because my Izzy is a greyhound who came from GAP just over a year ago. But, more importantly, I get support from the other volunteers in this group. They recommend me to friends, buy products from my company, and some have registered for a special massage workshop for greyhounds that I am holding. It’s another case of win-win.

So my plea to rescue groups and other charities is to think about the owner-operated businesses in your area. What can they do for you but also what can you do for them?

Corporate sponsorship is a different model when dealing with a smaller business and it’s based on relationships. Please don’t approach us for ‘free stuff’ without offering anything in return.