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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

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:

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 20:14

No he definately wants a dog. He just doesn't know what type. Because he is clueless about dogs and dog breeds. He knows spaniels, dalmatians, the 3 mentioned above, greyhounds and "them big skinny hairy things like a GH but bigger". But other than that he hasn't a jeffing clue! But tbh, that doesn't bother me as the dog will be my dog as i'll be spending all my time with it.

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miacis · 21/10/2011 20:14

"He was worried greyhounds weren't 'doggy' enough. "

Ah but they are surely the ultimate doggers - just love that hang dog hound look. And no endless brushing - just an occasional rub over with a chamois

BridgetBust · 21/10/2011 20:22

OP - when you say your rabbit isn't allowed out I hope you don't mean the poor creature is confined to a hutch and a measley run.

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 20:38

Yes she is, but it's a big hutch (5ft and 2 storey) and her run is a big space aswell, 5ft x 2ft. I'd love for her to be able to have the run of the garden, but it's just not possible unfortunately. There's a lot of cats round here too.

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BridgetBust · 21/10/2011 20:41

Poor rabbit

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/10/2011 22:03

I know it's not ideal for her. I really do wish she could have the whole garden but she can't. I hate that she has to spend her life caged up. But it's a lot better than the outside loo where she used to live which is where I got her from.

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LordOfTheFlies · 21/10/2011 22:18

Don't understand "poor rabbit" TBH.
The size of cage sounds okay to me and it's not as though Bunny has been used to having Free Range then made to stay indoors. (Just like I wouldn't like a cat with garden access via cat-door to be suddenly cooped up indoors.But my mate had 2 housecats and they were fine as they knew no difference)

You would have to ensure the grey couldn't worry the rabbit, but if your hutch/run is fox and cat safe then it should be okay.
And the rescue will advice you when -not if- you get them to homecheck.

Sppok I managed to convince my cynical DH that we needed 2 guinea-pigs and he spent last weekend sorting their house.
It can be done. Beer helps!

DooinMeCleanin · 21/10/2011 22:23

Just show him this How can you say that is not cute or is too big?

I'd just like to point out I do not encourage dd2 to use dogs as beds. Dd2 was there first. The dog woke her up by barking at her in the way she does when your in her seat . Dd2 shuffled over to make space for her and the dog pushed further and further into dd2 that she ended up on top of her. Dog then sighed

stleger · 21/10/2011 22:37

If lack of fur is an issue, greyhound rescues often have lurchers who can be equally amusing! Dh decided we needed a greyhound, because they are 'elegant'. We took dd2, who was 12, to help decide. Somehow we ended up with a sheltie/whippet cross . He is mostly asleep, loves to race overweight labradors in the park, and also has the butterdish gene and ability to reach for it. His nose is also intrusive, and he will lick your legs if you have a shower while he is around....so these are sighthound things! I'd still love a greyhound. I'd be a bit concerned that any dog would menace a rabbit though, but I do know people with two lurchers, two ferrets, and a small furry family. There are logistics involved in who goes in the garden when.

LordOfTheFlies · 21/10/2011 22:42

Dooin if thay greyhound farts- which is not beyond the realms of possibility- do you think that cushion will be any kind of defence for your DD?

Scuttlebutter · 21/10/2011 23:01

Bloodredrubyblue - THANK YOU! That's so thoughtful. So lovely to see a pic of my lovely butter dish that was (sob). May very well be tempted to Ebay in the morning.

MBT - huzzah!! Am so pleased for you. Keep us informed and updated. We want regular pics and stories of missing kitchen apparatus.

StLeger - love the "butterdish gene" [hgrin]

Spook - take heart - Operation Grab a Grund is under way - in six months I'll wager your sofa will not be your own and a pointy nosed person will be sharing your life. [hsmile]

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 22/10/2011 01:22

Operation Grab A Grund :o ha! I love it! I shall start chipping away at him first thing sunday morning. He's working all day today so is likely to be v.tired = v.grumpy.

Dooin that picture is adorable! Dogs are just so hilarious sometimes!

Thank you for all your input everyone. I shall use this thread to keep you all updated on my progress!

Scuttle, I sincerely hope that in 6 months time my sofa will no longer be mine!

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Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 24/10/2011 10:26

It's like trying to get blood out of a stone. Now he's saying he doesn't want just any old unpredictable dog around DD. That's why he wants a puppy, so it grows up with her. Although he did say if i wanted a greyhound i can move out. That's not quite what I had in mind though. I have a feeling this is going to take a loooooong time.

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DooinMeCleanin · 24/10/2011 10:36

I can see his point. We brought Whippy up from being a puppy. She is very predictable. She predictably snaps at you if you try to move her from where she has chosen to spend the night . The dc are not allowed to move her or train her owing to the snapping.

The grey otoh has never so much as bared her teeth at anyone. I'd never let dd2 sleep with whippy the way she does with grey. The grey is also very predictable. If you make her walk further than she wants to or make her go out in the rain she predictably huffs and sighs and dawdles. She could put Kevin the teenager to shame with her sulks

Bringing a pup from scratch gives no guarantees as I am sure you know. Would DH speak to the rescue/a trainer/a doggy person about this?

GooseyLoosey · 24/10/2011 10:44

If you go for a greyhound, do be aware that they are not all lovely gentle dogs (although most are). If any of you have any tiny niggles about a particular dog, I would suggest that you have a look at a different one. They do have very big jaws so even a snap can result in injury, this means you do need to make sure that you get one you can trust.

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 24/10/2011 10:49

I'm hoping that I can persuade him to take me up to morrisons on 19th or 20th november, as that's when LGT next have a stall in our town. I just need to think of an excuse to go up there and then go 'Ooh look! The greyhounds are here! What a coincidence :o ' then hang around and have a chat. But DP can be immensly stubborn when it comes down to something he doesn't want. He hasn't even let me argue my case yet, he just keeps telling me he "closed that book and chucked it in the fire". He's not usually this much of a knob really.

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Scuttlebutter · 24/10/2011 12:42

Spook, take a look at the Greyhound Rescue West of England website where there are some absolutely adorable lurcher pups. And the charity doesn't just cover the SW - they cover most of england too. That would tick all the boxes for both of you surely?

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 24/10/2011 12:58

Hmmm, could be worth a look! Thanks scuttle :)

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Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 28/10/2011 10:17

Still no progress here :(

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PurpleFrog · 28/10/2011 12:40

Spook - we got our lab as a puppy last year. A lab - you know, one of these wonderful child-friendly, bombproof family dogs. And he was an absolute nightmare with play-biting for the first 2-3 months. I'm just glad my dd was 12 at the time and could cope with it!

(He's 16 months now and IS a wonderful child-friendly, bombproof family dog..... but still a tad bouncy and over-enthusiastic!)

Original poster

SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 28/10/2011 15:33

Exactly purple that too is another reason I don't want a puppy, they're just too much hard work, I'm not ready for another (metaphorical) baby! I want a dog who has been there, done that, got the t-shirt and is just happy to laze around, and who is extremely tolerant of young inquisitive children!

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SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 10/11/2011 12:44

Oh my gosh I never thought I would be posting this so soon! But. . . . .

DP HAS AGREED!!! I don't know how or why, but he's suddenly agreed to look into getting one :o i'm so excited!

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 10/11/2011 12:46

Oh my gosh I never thought I would be posting this so soon! But. . . . .

DP HAS AGREED!!! I don't know how or why, but he's suddenly agreed to look into getting one :o i'm so excited!

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