Home Checker

Dot at the Hersham kennels asked me if I would like to become a volunteer home checker for my area. Before a potential adopter can home a hound the RGT needs to be satisfied that its new home is greyhound friendly and secure.

It makes sense to have a body of volunteers to undertake this task. It would divert scarce resources to send RGT staff out across the counties to check homes which may or may not become permanent residences for retired greyhounds.

Well, what is the 'home check' for? Mainly it is to advise on potential 'hound hazards' in and outside the home.

What do we check for? Most importantly we check the garden and fencing. All fences, hedges and gates must be 6 foot tall, in good condition without any gaps at the bottom or between the panels. Greyhounds are agile jumpers and can clear smaller fence with ease if they think a prey, (cat, squirrel etc), is worth the chase. Needless to say this could result in a serious injury to the dog, not just the small animal. The rest of the garden check is simple. Any garden tables, shed boxes or play-houses next to the fencing which the greyhound can jump on to and over the fence should be moved.

What about the internal home check? This is also a common sense exercise. As we know, greyhounds are slender swift creatures. So we check that all members of the household are aware how easy it is for a greyhound to escape out of the front door. I take Alexa with me and, keeping her on the lead, demonstrate how small a gap they can whizz through to freedom and the open road. Its useful to take your own hound on a visit!

Laminate, lino and polished wood flooring can 'spook' a hound fresh out of kennels. Usually a strip of carpet or a rug with a non-slip backing works a treat.

Stairs can also seem daunting to our leggy doggies. Alexa demonstrated how easily she could climb steep carpeted stairs only to become a decrepit old lady needing encouragement and physical support to come back down again! In this home the living area was on the first floor.

Floor to ceiling windows and doors are another often overlooked hazard. Most hounds would spot something, charge towards it and crash into the glass. A simple solution is to place a 'vision strip' along the hounds line of vision. A really cheap option is to tape a roll of wall paper across the glass. More attractive options can be found in DIY store such as peel off plastic which looks like frosted glass. This can be removed eventually.

Bedding - don't our hounds just love thier beds!! In the early days a folded duvet and blanket makes a snug bed. I check that the bed will be in a quiet place out of any drafts or direct sunlight.
It must also have room to allow the dog to stretch out. If there are children living in or visiting the home, I would advise the owners to let this be the dogs 'bolt hole' and that it should be left alone to rest or just feel safe in an area of its own. In the first few days a greyhound can be stupidly tired with the newness of it all!

Once the house check is complete and I have talked over any issues and answered any questions, I phone the kennels and chat about the visit and any concerns or changes which need to be made. Once any changes have been made we visit again to make sure that the new home is ready.

There is no 'pass' or 'fail'. Any concerns are delt with by the kennels and not through me.

Our experience as owners is invaluable. We can offer to befriend a new owner and share our experiences sometimes giving practical advice. My home checker kindly become my mentor and was very supportive when my new greyhound needed an operation. She even came along to the vets with me!

If you'd like to become a home checker, please let Dot or Denise know.