A new Cushion for Pointies!

[SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud]

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!
:)

Waves at Magrat

at dog ring. Are they targeting pointies? It happens a lot.

Hi Scuttle - I'm not sure whether they are targetting pointies, the trainers said two dogs from one of their other classes have been taken .

On a similar note, dp was walking our two the other day when he had to pass a lady walking an american bulldog (not pitbull) - she took one look at our two and said "I'm going to have to hold mine here, so you can get past, my dog is always vicious to sighthounds" - it seems she had rescued the dog, but it did make me wonder if it had been used in dog fights in the past.

Unfortunately there is a LOT of dog fighting in your neck of the woods, so I can well believe that about the thefts and about the AmBull.

My sisters best friend lives a few doors down from this one. :( it's barbaric, it really is, all in the name of so called "sport"

It is just awful. The thought of anything happening to my two just turns my blood cold. It would be so easy for someone to take one or other of them if I am on my own with dogs and one or other (or both) dc's.

when you think humanity couldn't shock you anymore I'm not sure I'm even going to ask what the connection with pointies is. I'm on the Whippet appreciation group on FB and someone posted a photo of what happens in Spain to the Galgos (?sp) dogs that are their version of hunting pointies. I can't believe people like that exist and I'm quite glad to live a sheltered life.

Scuttle to you have any washing instructions for Whippety's coat, he may have got it a tiny bit muddy today by rolling on a dead crab on the mud flats.

I bet there's lots around here. There are some lock up garages in the middle of the estate next to us and I often hear a lot of barking coming from them late at night. There are also a lot of dog aggressive dogs and I can only imagine that their owners encourage it for financial reasons.

I also worry about someone stealing Billy. I worry they might take him and find out he is financially worthless - then what? People often assume he was 'expensive' because of his size, muscle tone, shiny coat etc. He's a striking dog and in good condition and people don't realise how many there are out there just like him, waiting to be homed for a donation.

Those poor owners Magrat.

Mind you, we went to the park next to those lockups the other day and while the kids were playing (and thank God they were far away) my friend and I witnessed a drug deal. and Next to the kids' playground FFS. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same people who put their dogs out to fight and train their jaws on the swings in the playground.

Lost, they use pointies as bait for fighting dogs. Pointies don't tend to fight back, but try to run away very fast which increases the adrenaline in the fighting dogs so they become even more aggressive. I think this is one reason for not rehoming via free ads, as a pointy could become dog bait. It is so sad that such things can happen to such loving, gentle dogs.

Oh no...

Lost, yes, what happens to Galgos is vile. I know a few people who have adopted them along with UK or Irish greys, and there are several rescues doing sterling work in Spain.

I'm impressed by the rolling on the dead crab - he seems to like rolling on dead things - was it a dead seagull on Newgale?

Coat can be washed at 40 in a machine or hand washed, spun, either line dried (hollow laughter in this weather) or hung up, can be ironed if you are so inclined . I advise against using a tumble dryer because of the Velcro, but that is probably being over cautious.

Whenever our dogs are admired, by anyone I think is even remotely questionable, I always emphasise how old they are, that they are neutered, and lie shamelessly about the various injuries/ailments they are carrying ie make them sound like they couldn't catch an arthtitic rabbit, whereas they are in reality pretty fit, Andy is dead keen and is only middle aged. I also try hard to make sure we never leave them unattended (tied up by a shop for instance) - and also try not to leave them in the car. I dont' have lots of stickers on the car either.

Come up beautifully thank you Scuttle eh does seem to love rolling in dead stuff doesn't he?

Poor, poor good natured pointies, exploited even for there lovely temperament. That might explain why my friend found a young gentleman walking off down the road with her pup on a lead a few months ago

Amazing how much I got done today without the tour on

There have been a few instances of certain 'gentlemen' eyeing up friend's pointies as she and her dh were walking on the local common.

It is my biggest fear that gentle, soft, goodnatured Sam would be used as fight-bait

I now think the travellers that abandoned him were not such a bad lot - the alternative could have been far worse...

Sam loves rolling in dead things too - fish on the lakeside or a severed rabbits' head, both in the past month. Shudder!

Lost, I forgot to mention that the care instructions are now up on the website. Doh! It's almost complete so we should be open for business quite shortly. Your new pics are lovely too - I particularly like the one that shows off his "eyeliner".

I suffered from Tour withdrawal symptoms today. So I enjoyed the highlights of the first week this evening. Am looking forward to the mountain stages - there are some really good battles ahead I think. I am also doing some cross stitch while the tour is on.

I love the thought of you all avidly glued to the telly watching the cycling, surrounded by pointies. A certain irony (or something anyhow) in our lazy pointies watching such feats of superhuman fitness?

Billy and I watched Wallander the other night. He slept through most of it perked up when the bits with the dogs came on. So glad he's mastered the sofa.

We watched Wallander too Betsey, Sam slept through all of it!

If Bradley Wiggins isn't part Greyhound I would be very surprised. When they aren't riding bikes they are mostly asleep!

On the website you say Scuttle? How exciting, I will go and check it out.

Yes Betsey, I often think that too. It's actually very cosy - usually Boola is on my sofa and Andy is on the other one where he can really stretch out (and snooze/fart contendedly). I've got my stitching and a cup of herb tea on the go. To make things just perfect, the jasmine is in flower, and I usually have the door to the garden open and this wonderful smell is wafting in. Makes a change from greyhound arse. When there's a really exciting bit (or I'm overcome by Fabien) I talk to Boola . It's also quite odd since the Tour is pretty much the only time I will watch TV in the daytime - normally they can have their afternoon nap in peace.

Andy points out that as a retired professional athlete, he's entitled to watch it from the sofa, and says even Fabien hasn't got thighs like his.

I haven't watched Wallender - might need to catch up with it. We liked the Bridge though, especially the music, DH downloaded it from iTunes.

Ha ha great pic Lost. Definite similarities there!

We are big Scandi fans here. When Wallander finishes we'll be onto series two of The Killing. We liked The Bridge but not as much as The Killing. In fact, after 20 episodes of Sara Lund most other telly feels not so good imo! I like Wallander though Lock. My mum has a huge crush on Kenneth Branagh so it's compulsory viewing!

Sounds idyllic Scuttle. Our jasmine is also out but is down the end of garden. Everything's out in our garden but us! (And Billy of course.)

Linky Scuttle ?

:o

Breaking news. Had a lovely chat tonight with a friend, who is the SE Wales RGT branch (well, obviously not the whole branch but you know what I mean). DH and I wanted to explore long term fostering and she has a lovely eight year old girl who needs this. You can look her up on the database - she's Thatch Lass. If all goes well, DH returns tomorrow night and we could potentially go and meet her on the weekend.

I think the word SQUEEEE!!! works well...

The only downside I can think of is that I'm judging one of their shows in September so won't be able to reward her with the Best Greyhound in Show cup.

Squeeeeeee Scuttle, I will go and have a look ASAP. So just how long term is a long term foster with an 8 year old

Haven't watched any of the Scandi stuff, Betsey, I'm too much of an attention flitter to follow stuff with subtitles. Sounds really good though.

Nn change back to normal. My darling Fabien has quit the tour to go and spend time with his Olympic Games practice heavily pregnant wife. Roll on the games then.

Lost, you may be right!! At least the intention is there.

She's beautiful, so elegant. Good luck this weekend.

Oooh how exciting! Good luck Scuttle! Hope it goes ok, she is lovely, so dainty looking!

I just looked her up, Scuttle. She looks like a double of our lurchergirl, just larger. Her colouring and markings are the same and everything. Good luck!