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The doghouse

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

A new Cushion for Pointies!

986 replies

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 22/04/2012 20:44

Pointy hounds include-
Greyhounds (Grunds)
Whippets (Whippys)
Lurchers
Italian Greyhounds (Iggys)
Salukis
Afghans
And any others I have forgotten. If you are a new pointy hound owner, an old and experienced owner or looking into getting one of these fabulous creatures, come and have a seat (that's not taken up with a hound).

Share advice, stories and shopping tips!

I didn?t really want you,
I wasn?t really sure,
And I?ll admit I had my doubts,
When you first came through that door.

Not small, or cute, or fluffy,
With big, soft puppy eyes,
But tall, and thin, and bony,
With bald, pink, bulging thighs.

You weren?t the kind I had in mind,
Not in any way,
?Perhaps it would be better if I took you back today,
Before we know each other,
It really won?t be kind,
To keep you here for one more day,
And then to change my mind.?

But against my better judgement, I decided you could stay,
And quickly I discovered you were kind in every way,
Your gentleness and patience, they really stole the show,
?Why these dogs are wonderful, I must let others know!?

For you?re my gentle giant,
Who just needed the chance,
To show us all what you could be,
To wipe away that history,
And dispel our preconceptions, which put us all to shame,
And so we come to know and love,
What lies beneath that frame.

And now I?ve come to understand,
What I missed right at the start,
That greyhounds need that great deep chest,
To house their great big hearts!
:)

OP posts:
MagratGarlik · 12/06/2012 23:11

I have no name suggestions though, sorry. Whippetty already came with a name that fit, whilst we changed lurchergirl's name to "match" his as a pair from a cartoon Grin.

TheCunnyFunt · 13/06/2012 02:22

Congratulations Wombat! You have the honour of being our very first Iggy owner!
I will return tomorrow woth some name suggestions :)

BehindLockNumberNine · 13/06/2012 07:32

Hi Wombat :-) How exciting!! I am fascinated by Iggy's, I know absolutely nothing about them.

She sounds beautiful!

I have just described her to my dd (age 9) and asked for a name suggestion, she came back with Skye (she specifically stated 'with an e on the end')

Smile

Welcome to the cushion and please post pics as soon as you have them as I would love to see her!

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/06/2012 08:00

Welcome!

Ooh, exciting. I have never seen one irl. No advice, just cooing and excitement from me, sorry. Grin

LostInWales · 13/06/2012 08:13

Iggy's sound gorgeous . My retirement plan is a grey, a whippet and an IG in complimenting colours Grin

We were away camping for the local pointy's show but my friend went and was a bit disappointed, we live in a big farming area and she got lots of funny looks for her Silver Peackock collar, clean dog and lack of knowledge of lamping Grin. It was mostly Bedlington/Whippet crosses as they are best for catching bunnies and rats. Sometimes I realise I'm quite a townie.

I've seen your link (was going to say ring but that doesn't have quite the right image in my head) Cunny, very pretty indeed.

TheCunnyFunt · 13/06/2012 09:25

Oooh I like Skye!
Lola
Ruby
Bella
Alba (italian for dawn)
Darcy
Misty

TheCunnyFunt · 13/06/2012 09:27

Thank you Lost :)

TheWombat · 13/06/2012 09:29

Thank you everyone Smile.
I feel very proud to be the owner of the first MN iggy! I do have some photos so will post them as soon as I figure out how. She will be coming home in mid August at 12 weeks, we are all very excited. Smile

DH and I love whippety types but decided an IG would be a better size for our chilled and dog-loving Bengal cat. We spent aaages finding a breeder we liked - it seems IG pups arent born every day...We have never owned any pointy dogs before though so I'm very glad I found this thread! I see that cuddly toys are on the shopping list - do you know where I can get some 'robust' ones?

Also on the shopping front - what kind do lead / harness do you find works best for pointies? In the past we've used chest harnesses on our little dog to avoid neck pulling - do these work for pointy hounds, can anyone tell me?

Skye is definitely on our list, so please say thank you to your DD BehindLockNumberNine. Other possibles are:

Juno
Blue
Mia
Pixie (her KC name will be Pixitail something).

What do you think of these?

Thanks again for the lovely welcome Smile.

TheWombat · 13/06/2012 09:31

Cunny I very much like your taste in names and am frantically adding to our list! Alba is very pretty...

TheCunnyFunt · 13/06/2012 09:39

Ohh Juno and Pixie are lovely too! Wrt lead etc, my greyhound just has a martingale collar. It's ok getting a harness but in winter it could be awkward when the dog is wearing a coat.

Charity shops for cuddly toys! You can pick up some very cheap ones, so when they get destroyed you haven't wasted loads of money on supposedly dog proof cuddlies :)

Scuttlebutter · 13/06/2012 11:29

Lost - Arf at your "when worlds collide" moment at lurcher event Grin

Wombat - Welcome!! Can't wait to see the lovely new Iggy. Alba is a gorgeous name. I like Bella, or how about Allegra? Following the pixie theme how about Sprite, Kelpie or Titania (could be shortened to Nia)?

If you're at all crafty you can make very nice chewy, pully toys from fleece strips cut into ropes and plaited.

CMOTDibbler · 13/06/2012 12:06

Scuttle suggested I come over as we are at the stage of thinking about adopting a rescue greyhound. All suggestions about life with one much appreciated Grin

Scuttlebutter · 13/06/2012 12:59

Welcome!! Just occurred to me , with you and Magrat here, we are now accumulating a fine collection of Discworld characters. Personally I'm convinced that Angua looks like a big deerhound x lurcher when she is in her were-form (so therefore a part time pointy) and am also further convinced that Vetinari's dog is probably some sort of whippy or very small greyhound (based on the fact it sleeps a lot, is elderly and has v toxic farts Grin).

And of course as a pie manufacturer, you will have no problems with getting hound's attention!!

Is there anything you particularly wanted to know, CMOT? Smile

TheWombat · 13/06/2012 13:13

I think I have managed to upload two photos, just in case any of you feel like a squee...Smile

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/06/2012 13:19

arf @ Lost seeing Cunny's ring. And at the dapper whippy with all the tough dogs!

Welcome CMOTDibbler! I can only say life with my hound is lovely. He's currently destroying a piece of buffalo hide (rawhide?) from a new pet shop DS2 and I came across today. As it's as long as my arm it's going to take some time.

The contents of his bed this morning including him were:
3 x Hot Wheels cars
2 x DSs school shoes
2 x DSs sun hats
1 x pair sunglasses
1 x Pirate hat
1 x pair of my nice H by Hudson boots.

Nothing chewed, just arranged neatly around him. Teef.

We met an elderly chap yesterday who told me he used to race and train his old grund who lived until 15 on a diet of brown bread and dripping. And said dog's name was SATAN! Grin

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/06/2012 13:20

DARN that's cute. Smile

CMOTDibbler · 13/06/2012 13:28

I've always thought of Vetinaris dog as more westie like tbh. But Angua is def a deerhound.

My main concern is about our current cats. One is vvv confident with dogs - weirdly he is actually friends with a black lab, and the other two aren't shrinking violets. But what can we do to help everyone adjust ?

Also, I wfh, so if I'm around the dog will have access to the garden all the time, with a walk first thing, lunchtime, evening. If I'm away, dh can work from home part of the time, but sometimes dog would be on their own 8-5. We have a secure garden, so would they prefer to have a cosy bed in the conservatory and free access to the garden, or be indoors with someone visiting at lunchtime to let them out ?

LostInWales · 13/06/2012 15:27

Cool, somewhere there is a great venn diagram showing pointy hound appreciation/Pratchett reading/MN'ers Grin.

CMOT I know very little but from being on this thread I think the rehoming people would take your needs/cat/child owndership into account before matching a dog with you.

Now excuse me whilst I squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all the way to school, Wombat that dog is so cute it should be illegal.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 13/06/2012 15:49

I think our chap would prefer a visit; in kennels I think they spend quite long periods of time 'in' iykwim so their toiletting skills seem pretty good. It's not the loo he needs so much as company and a walk. We've found a lovely local dog walker who we buy in when we need her.

MagratGarlik · 13/06/2012 22:39

I don't know why, I always thought of Vetinari's dog as being a terrier of some kind, but probably a JRT. Agree Angua is def a deerhound though. We met two of those recently and they were so lovely, calm and scruffy in a lovely way (I think actually if dp were a dog, he would be a deerhound).

Anyway, CMOT, welcome!

LostInWales · 14/06/2012 13:48

Wombat do you think you could go and take some more photo's of the puppy? I have never felt so ridiculously squishy in my life before Blush. I think we're at least going to need a day to day photo diary when he comes home.

Always thought Vetinari's dog was a scruffy terrier type too although now you mention the toxic bottom I might have to think. Angua's hair was a little more luscious than a deer hounds too, she probably has amazing conditioner.

CMOT why did I always think you were a radiographer then, I'm fairly sure that's one profession you can't work from home with Wink

We are having the day of poo here today. Whippety went up to his brother's house yesterday to play in the (horses normally) field and must have eaten at least 2x his bodyweight in horse poo. He has done 7, yes 7, massive poos since last night, thank goodness the horse is regularly wormed.

BehindLockNumberNine · 14/06/2012 16:05

Hi Cmot Smile

I have no idea what you are all talking about, that must be a film/book/tv series that has passed me by...

But that Iggy puppy is the cutest, tiniest, sweetest thing ever! I think Do0in thinks her whippy is in fact an Iggy so perhaps she can offer advice if you need anything Iggy-specific?

We met two lovely pure bred whippets on our walk yesterday evening, Basil and Cybil, both blues. They were gorgeous!! And, comparing them side by side we all agreed that Sam is at least 95% whippy, he was very very similar to them. Sam had a great run with Cybil before collapsing on the field in a heap. Basil stood and watched them. He is eight and apparently running like a lunatic is beneath him now...Grin

I am very pleased to report that Sam's cut is now virtually scabbed over and looking clean and tidy. Phew, pleased that the decision not to have him stitched was the right one... (I was fretting)

Still unable to see Cunny's ring. Feeling left out but am sure it is gorgeous!!

Am on here hiding; ds brought two mates back home with him from school (Ds is 12, mates 12 or 13). They are in the front room, with the curtains shut, playing on the PS3. And it is a bit pongy.... Teen boy, yikes!
Dd and her best friend have taken refuge in the garden (with the rubber tyre horse swing called Tonto - it is getting a thorough groom before they are entering it into a tack and turnout competition Grin)

MissBetsyTrotwood · 14/06/2012 18:27

Basil and Cybil, what superb names. Glad Sam's all healed now.

TheCunnyFunt · 14/06/2012 19:15

Basil and Cybil :o aren't they Fawlty Towers?

That iggy pup is gorgeous! (Wasn't there a singer or something named iggy pop? :o) also a good idea for toys, an old tea towel, rolled diagonally then tie a knot in each end.

Welcome CMOT, life with a grund, well, I hardly notice Sprocket most of the time :o he sleeps that much, but when he is joining in, he's clumsy, follows me like a sheep and generally gets in the way anywhere he goes, he tends to stand there in a narrow gap right infront of you so you can't get past when you're in a rush (almost weeing!). So yes, he's a complete pita but I wouldn't be without him for the world :)
Life with a grund in one word : Wonderful.

CMOTDibbler · 14/06/2012 19:21

LostinWales - I'm a radiotherapy physicist, but I work for a manufacturer, so am home based, venturing out to hospitals etc.

Basil and Sybil are ace names. Some discussion here as to what a putitive dog would be called. Our cats are all called after physicists, pony has a poncey name, and ds will not get to name anything I have to shout in public.