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The doghouse

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

Pointy hounds thread! For new, old and prospective owners!

975 replies

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 24/11/2011 18:46

Share stories, advice and ask for help if you need it! There are a few resident hound experts (myself not included) in the doghouse, so, feel free to share! :)

OP posts:
batsintheroof · 07/12/2011 16:58

RE the homecheck question?

i think it depends from rescue to rescue. The rescues that I've volunteered at don't do much (these were all breed rescues). Unless a dog has been in foster it's quite hard to know what some of the more specific issues may be. If you want a greyhound that has been more fully assessed that the LGT can do, why don't to get in touvh with GRWE? Many of their dogs are fostered, so they can find you one that has proven to be ok with small children

MissBetsyTrotwood · 07/12/2011 19:13

I'm no expert and have no experience but it seems as though the only way to test is to bring the dog into contact with your daughter in the home environment and see their reaction.

I have heard that GRWE are really really thorough.

Our homechecker met our kids and talked to them about having a dog when she came around. We'd also walked Billy at the kennels several times and the staff there had seen the way he was with them and they him. Also, he'd been in the RGT kennel for ages, mainly because of his size and being black, so the staff knew him really well. However, our DSs are 5 and 3 so it's a rather different story.

Scuttlebutter · 08/12/2011 00:04

Spag, if at any time you are not happy with the way a rescue has handled the adoption process, then don't hesitate to go somewhere else. GRWE have a rock solid reputation. RGT branches vary considerably from branch to branch - anecdotally, I hear good and hair raising. Locally, I know people in the Welsh ones.

All rescues vary slightly in how they handle things after the homecheck, but they should be keeping you informed about the process and giving you realistic timescales. Generally, I'd expect the homecheck to clarify exactly what sort of dog will suit your family circumstances, and any special requests you may have (cat friendly, must juggle/fire-eat etc) - this then gets fed back to the kennelling co-ordinator who will be aware of all the various dogs who are in either foster or kennels, and would be suitable.

They would then call you with usually a shortlist of one or two dogs and would arrange a meeting for you and the family - sometimes this is at the foster carer's home, sometimes the dog will be brought to you, and sometimes it will be in a neutral territory such as local park, or even at the kennels themselves. A meeting is then arranged, sometimes with a trial walk, and sometimes with a second visit too. The rescue will be very happy for you to take your time about this decision. If the dog is being fostered, there may well be further consultations between the foster carer and the kennelling co-ordinator too. Eventually, a match is made and the adoption is go. Of course, sometimes if there are very simple requirements, and an easy dog this can be quite a quick process, but all greyhound rescues will be used to adoptions taking a while. You should also factor in that for many the people concerned are volunteeers so this may slow things down a bit, but even so they still should keep you abreast of things.

I'm sorry things didn't work out with Robbie, but I'm sure Operation Grab a Grund is only postponed not cancelled. Xmas Smile

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 08/12/2011 20:13

Oh it's definitely just postponed, what else am I meant to do with the 15kg sack of food, the large peice of vet bed and the bowls? Xmas Grin admittedly I could do with a new bedside rug and the vet bed is oh so soft and snuggly under bare feet!

I'm sorely tempted to give Robbie another chance, take it slow and let him and poppy meet properly and let him get used to her. Is that wise? I just feel so sorry for him, I don't feel like what happened on monday was fair on him at all.

scuttle what you wrote didn't happen at all! What happened was -
1, went to LGT stall, met robbie and fell in love.

2, rang up and arranged a homecheck and passed it.

3, went and took Robbie for a test walk.

4, Robbie came home, then left 30 minutes later.

When he arrived I was told he'd never seen a baby before and he's one of the few that have never mixed with small children (her GCs) before either. I find that strange though as he is one of the ones that always goes out visiting on the stall so you'd think he'd have seen small children before!

Thanks everyone Xmas Smile

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 15:54

Ok Jill from LGT just phoned me up, to ask if we still wanted him as there's a couple going over to look at dogs tomorrow evening, and I told her I'd like to give him the chance to meet DD properly etc. So we're going to go to their stall tomorrow and he can give her a sniff and meet her. Then if that goes ok we'll hopefully go over on sunday to do it again and then just keep introducing them till he's totally comfortable around her, at the kennels and at our house.

I really hope this works out, what does everyone else think? Is my plan stupid? Will it work? Xmas Confused oh god I just know it won't work Xmas Sad but it might?

lostinwales · 09/12/2011 17:52

I hope it works out for you Spaghetti.

Went to visit my pointy baby (6 weeks) today with DS3 (4years!) to let them meet each other, I'm not worried about the whippet as he is growing up with three small children but DS3 can be quite timid around dogs. Was a brilliant excuse for some cuddles though, three weeks until he comes home to us, I'm planning it like I'm having a new baby, staying in, early nights no exciting plans. A puppymoon!

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 18:10

Thanks lost, I bet you can't wait to get your pointed puppy home! Does he have a name yet? Make sure you post some piccies!

Xmas Grin @ puppymoon

lostinwales · 09/12/2011 18:54

Will this work DS3 and DS4 Grin He's called QuickSilver (well Silver for shouting on the beach!) as he's silver-blue colouring and, well, a whippet so he'll be quick!
(I know the link has my name on it but I'm not very private about my MN use!)

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 19:02

It won't let me view the page, it says 'The content is currently unavailable' Xmas Hmm stupid facebook. It always does that to me!

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 19:04

Fab name by the way, his colour sounds gorgeous!

lostinwales · 09/12/2011 19:05

Probably my super high privacy settings which I care not about when I'm trying to show of my PFB Grin

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 19:09
Xmas Grin
lostinwales · 09/12/2011 19:10

try again

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 09/12/2011 19:16

Oh he's beauuuuuutiful! I love his colouring! He's going to be a heartbreaker with the laydees when he's older Xmas Grin

lostinwales · 09/12/2011 23:38

Thank you, sorry babysitter arrived as I posted so I've been out all evening. I presume you mean pointy junior not DS3 Grin. Because we had our name down first for the litter I had first choice of dog but I asked the breeder to choose for me as I reasoned I would love my dog because he was mine whichever colouring. I think she chose me the most gorgeous anyway!

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 10/12/2011 03:47

DS3 is a cutie too, as are all your family! I've nosied at your pics on here :o they have gorgeous colouring too :o my mum would give her right arm to have hair that colour naturally!

batsintheroof · 10/12/2011 09:15

lostinwales love the pup!!

Spag, I don't think you're being silly at all. The rescue guys will be able to judge Robbie's reaction. Fingers crossed for today.

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 10/12/2011 10:08

Thanks bats Xmas Smile

lostinwales · 10/12/2011 10:57

Hope it goes well today, I think you are brilliant and lovely to be willing to persevere, I hope Robbie realises how lucky he is and behaves accordingly Grin

Thanks for the lovely comment about the boys too, I do have a soft spot for red heads, DH didn't have a chance once I got him on my radar Shock. Can't wait to get my pup home, feels really odd going to see him and then leave him behind, can't wait until he's properly ours, it's going to be hard not to spoil him at first!

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 10/12/2011 14:32

Nawww Xmas Blush shurrup Xmas Grin

Your family are all lovely, you must be very proud Xmas Smile I bet you wish pointy pup could be home for christmas though don't you? I reckon he'd love wrapping paper Xmas Smile

Anyway, they've decided Robbie is only suitable for homes with DC over 8. He took a snap at Jills 18mo grandson before I got there Sad. I'm disappointed about Robbie, he's such a handsome lad, but they've got a brindle and white boy arriving on tuesday so she's going to child test him and let me know how it goes. He apparantly has 4 white socks, chest and face, and his name is Socks Xmas Grin

lostinwales · 10/12/2011 18:42

Doesn't being sensible about something feel really annoying sometimes Grin. Well then, fingers crossed for socks. There was a brindle and white puppy yesterday and he was absolutely gorgeous, I had to drag my friend away before she kidnapped him Grin. We can already see ourselves back there in 12 months because one pointy hound doesn't seem enough. I have been toying with the idea of having a greyhound, whippet and italian greyhound, how cool would they look all out together! I wouldn't really but... Anyway if we get another dog after this I will definitely look at rescue dogs, I feel a bit selfish getting a puppy from a breeder when there are others but it's the best fit for us at the moment. Always room for some more when we have the hang of it (don't tell DH Wink)

SpaghettiTwirlerPrancerVixen · 10/12/2011 18:53

Xmas Grin I love the fact he's not even home yet and already you think he's just not enough!

While I was stood at the stall a whippet walked past, and all the greys just stared, you could just tell they were thinking " Confused WTAF is that? It looks like me, but it's tiny!" was hilarious Xmas Grin

OldMotherDismass · 11/12/2011 00:03

Ah, lost, I saw a couple walking once with matching greyhound and italian greyhound. They were both the exact same colour-scheme as our whippet. It was nice to see all three dogs, the same markings, colour etc in different sizes Xmas Grin.

Spag, we've had the same response from greys to our whippet (who we suspect may be whippet x grey). Apparently to see greys and whippets running together is wonderful.

lostinwales · 11/12/2011 00:11

www.italiangreyhoundrescuecharity.org.uk/sei/s/3732/33.jpg apologies if this doesn't work as I'm on my phone but how lovely do these guys look Smile

OldMotherDismass · 11/12/2011 00:21

I must say, italian greyhounds are beautiful. They are also such an unknown breed, that as a whippet owner, I wonder whether some fellow whippets are IG's (my whippet is on the big side, I must say).

OTOH, I'm thinking of a bedlington terrier to go with our whippet. Does anyone had any expert advice?

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