Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Help me persuade DP the dog for us is a greyhound!

73 replies

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 18/10/2011 20:16

I have come to the conclusion that a retired greyhound would be the perfect dog for us, but DP isn't keen, infact he told me to fuck off when I first suggested it. I'm going to keep at it and i'd like you guys to help me persuade him!

Our situation : we have 4 month old DD (not planning on getting a dog till early next year, so she'll be 6+ months), and a rabbit who is never allowed free reign in house or garden (2 open fires and a veg patch means she can't come out). And i'm planning on not returning to work after mat leave, but if i have to go back it's only 2hrs a day in term time (i'm a school dinner lady) and DP works FT.

OP posts:
SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 03:30

You are all making me even more determined now :o

Shock pyjamas for dogs, who would've thought it!?
Ours probably wouldn't need jammies, our house is warm all through winter as we have a woodburning stove and an open fire. We keep the stove going 24-7! And it summer it's usually warm too.

What is the fur loss like?

I'm intrigiued to know more about this dish!

OP posts:
DejaWho · 21/10/2011 11:09

Nancy doesn't really shed much at all... compared to the cat and other dog whose hobbies are eating, sleeping and shedding fur... poor girl's also still got a baldy arse to add to her woes! She doesn't, however, have pyjamas (despite me wanting to buy her a nice housecoat) since she seems to spend half the night lying on the bottom of our bed having snuk up there when we nod off and ending up with half the duvet on her.

They really are hilarious dogs - mine is in no way shape or form calm, but more completely bonkers. Think that's a prerequisite for being an animal in this house though - insanity.

They don't half counter surf though - mine is obsessed with bread to levels that you'd think it's crack cocaine or something - you make your work sarnies and go to get filling out of the fridge at your peril cos she'll be off with the bun in seconds. She also, since she cracked this "sit" thing, thinks that if you have anything she wants and she does a sit - it's automatically hers hand it over - so you get this beautiful little sitting hound (lots don't sit - she does it quite naturally) with a very stubborn determined little look on her face staring right at you... she's also utterly tiny for a grey as well - only about an inch or so taller than my collie-sized dog - doesn't stop her hogging the entire sofa.

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 12:21

If you get a dog from LGT near us they give you a special GH collar and lead, house coat, walking coat and i think there was something else too.

There's a woman round the corner from us who can be seen every winter walking her 2 GHs, both wearing thick coats and fluffy scarves (that match the coats, naturally) :o

I'd love something that could clean worktops for me, they're such a PITA to do! :o

OP posts:
DejaWho · 21/10/2011 13:04

Unfortunately it's been and gone for the year - but if you need to keep tactics up next year, I'm guessing from your talk of Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust that Nottingham racecourse's Great Greyhound Gathering might be get-to-able? Well worth a visit to - ridiculous amounts of collars to buy, even the big houndy websites have stuff that they don't have online (I got a beautiful AK creations collar that's no on their site and gets a load of comments on it) and hundreds of lovely lovely houndies to fuss over (and my imposter infiltrator not-a-hound). Plus greyhound obedience to watch (this one did make me laugh at the idea of it) and assorted other stuff.

Mine gets some comments when I roll the neck of her coat up so she's wearing a hoodie with just her nose and eyes peeking out (got to keep those ears warm ya know)!

Worth looking on the trust website as I know our local one tend to put forthcoming events, even if it's just meet and greet the lovely hounds in X high street, on there so you can "accidentally" plan to cross paths Wink

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 13:15

Do you know I just went on LGT website totally intending to see when they were in our town again and I forgot [hhmm] they give you a collar and lead, a coat, a muzzle (just incase) and a book about greyhounds. When they come to do a homecheck they bring their dog with them so you can get a feel of how much space they'll take up etc. Ooh I'm getting myself all excited and I haven't even managed to convince him yet!

OP posts:
SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 13:21

They're not coming till 19&20th november! And they're going to a shop we rarely go to. I'm going to have to think of an excuse to go up there!

OP posts:
Bloodredrubyblue · 21/10/2011 13:21

I know a woman who has two retired greyhounds and she said they are they are more like a cat than a dog. Food/sleep/warmth are their priorities.

Scuttlebutter · 21/10/2011 13:52

The sad tale of Scuttle's butter dish......
For alll those who have heard the tale before, just skip.

Gather round me hearties while I tell a tale that will thrill the marrow of your bones and wobble the wax in your ears. Or something.

Shortly after leaving home at the age of 19, I purchased a butter dish. It went with the china set I was gradually purchasing - a pattern called Bristol Blue from BHS. I gradually bought various bowls, plates, serving dishes etc. and was (and am still) very fond of it. In fact, enjoyed my toast and marmalade this morning on one of the plates. Through a huge number of flat and house moves, the butter dish came with me. I've lived all over the UK, in a large number of addresses, much to the annoyance of friends with limited space in their address books. I eventually met DH while living in deepest Devon and we got married and set up home together, overlooking the beautiful landfill site where I worked, and still as a the proud owner of my lovely butter dish. The years rolled by, and we ended up back in my homeland in beautiful Wales. Now our happiness was completed by the addition of some adopted greyhounds. Cue entry of loveable woofs. We quickly learned the importance of the clean worktop.

Then, on a cold and stormy night, I decided to leave the little darlings alone in the house while I went out a-pleasuring with a colleague to listen to a popular beat combo by the name of Hayseed Dixie. While I was out listening to the joys of songs about drinking, shooting and F**ing (cos those are the only sings worth singing, according to HD [hwink]) I relaxed safe in the knowledge that the kitchen was clean and tidy and the butter dish had been placed on top of the microwave which was sitting on the kitchen worksurface.

Pause for dramatic emphasis. Little did I know that when I returned home I would re-enter the kitchen to a scene of utter devestation. A guilty greyhound. Half a pound of best organic butter gone. And, lying on the floor, smashed to smithereens, my beautiful butter dish. I got out the dustpan and brush and swept up the pieces but repair was out of the question - the hard floor tiles had smashed it completely. And of course by now the china range had long since been discontinued.

Eventually DH bought me a lovely, very cheerful Cath Kidston butter dish, which now lives on the kitchen windowsill, well out of the range of any marauding beast. But I still miss my lovely blue butter dish. Let the moral of this tale be - if you have a grund, keep your powder dry, your kitchen clear and your butter dish hoisted.

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 14:49

[hshock] Oh what a sad tale! the wax in my ears has been wobbled and the marrow in my bones has been thrilled. . . . .

OP posts:
LordOfTheFlies · 21/10/2011 15:01

[hsad] .It would bring a tear to a glass eye as my Dear Old Dad says.

Bloodredrubyblue · 21/10/2011 15:53

Scuttle - a replacement for you

With love and hugs.

Bloodredrubyblue · 21/10/2011 15:54

Dagnamit it is out of stock Angry

Bloodredrubyblue · 21/10/2011 15:57

try this one

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 17:52

Ooh that's lovely!

OP posts:
MissBetsyTrotwood · 21/10/2011 18:20

Aaahhh, don't mean to cause trouble or owt but we reserved a beautiful black boy today. Just went straight up to DS1 he did and gave him a nuzzle. And we lost our hearts...

GoodnightNobody · 21/10/2011 18:25

My Grandparents took on 3 retired greyhounds, one after the other . Without exception they were gentle, relaxed and very loving. They were great around children.

If I had the room I would have a greyhound.

miacis · 21/10/2011 18:33

Hey MBT - we need more info than that - age, history etc

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 18:47

MBT [henvy]

OP posts:
MissBetsyTrotwood · 21/10/2011 19:03

He's 3, he only raced twice, (Hendon I think) good around other dogs (caution exercised obv with small ones) and really relaxed. He seemed confident - he approached us - but really calm and affectionate!

We've walked a few greyhounds at various kennels and this seemed the nicest place. The staff knew our requirements (good with small children) and had several dogs ready for us when we arrived. We also saw another dog who had been adopted from there being brought back for a weekend stay while the owner went to her daughter's wedding. The owner was really positive about the kennels and the aftercare they offered.

They let us look at others but I think we all knew our fella was the one for us quite quickly. He walked well on the lead but didn't seem as keen as the other dogs we'd walked. A pheasant sprang out in front of us and he was pretty 'meh' about the whole thing.

We do have issues with visiting cats in our garden (as I posted in another thread) so I think we'll keep him muzzled out there for a while to be on the safe side. They all scarper as soon as the door's opened so I think they'll get the message soon enough.

The fence is mended... home check week after next. The home checker lives about 15 mins walk from us so I hope she's up for some new friends!

And OP, DH went soppy as soon as we started walking him. About 10 mins in he just mouthed 'I like this dog a lot' (we didn't want to get the kids over excited) and has been telling everyone about him since we got home.

I feel excited and nervous all at the same time. [hsmile]

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 19:14

Oh i'm so jealous :( s'not fair! Why does DP have to be such an unreasonable git?!?

OP posts:
MissBetsyTrotwood · 21/10/2011 19:20

Listen, DH was intent on a border collie. For ages. Which would have been totally not right for us at all. He was worried greyhounds weren't 'doggy' enough. Now he's smitten.

Can you get him down to a kennel - weather looks alright for a few days - and see what he says? Take one for a walk? Good luck!

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 19:41

I'm going to go with the 'I don't want a puppy, I already have 1 baby to look after' line first I think. He's busy all this weekend so we won't be able to go anywhere.

The thing is, he want's absolutely ridiculous breeds. St bernard, a rough collie, an old english sheepdog. Or in DP speak, a beethoven dog, a lassie dog, a dulux dog [hhmm].

MBT your dog-to-be sounds lovely, I really hope you'll all be happy together :) and that he turns out to be a fab worktop cleaner :o

OP posts:
SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 19:44

When do you get him home?

OP posts:
LordOfTheFlies · 21/10/2011 19:49

Spook is your DH anti getting a dog (ie any dog) or just greyhounds?

If it's all dogs, then you've got your work cut out. If it's just greys, then you can work on him. Greys are IMHO the perfect dog.

Unfortunately, my DH doesn't like dogs, my DD is terrified of them and I work 3 days.
So we are never going to be a dog family and I don't think it would be fair to make an animal compromise to fit with us, it wouldn't work.
DS loves dogs, but he's 12 so when he leaves home (age 35 Grin ) that's one dog walker gone.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 21/10/2011 20:06

My DH works nights and weekends, so it will be in a few weeks I think. Home check won't be until week after next as we wanted a day when we were all here and then I'd really like it if we could all go and fetch him together too, so that will be a week or two after that.

The kennel and home checker seemed OK with that though.

I'm sure you'll get there in the end. My FiL is no dog lover and he's pretty pissed off we're in the process of adopting our boy. Mind you, when DH was a child his puppy chewed FiL's shoes one night and he beat her with them Sad so I won't be leaving our chap there!

I think the only way is to meet them. Play the long game!