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!
:)

Sorry haven't looked upthread but can someone tell me when greyhound moulting season will be over? Yesterday I swear the pointy had more loose hair on her than she did still attached to her skin :o

Here in sunny Hackney his Lordship went through a MINGING stage about a month ago. We bathed him and that seemed to help the process. He looked a proper state, especially as we did his flea stuff then so he had two yucky greasy looking patches too. Through it now though and back to looking as sleek and otter like as ever.

Found you!

Betsey - I am in Hackney too ......

I'm quite a lot further up north! That's probs why I'm experiencing delayed moulting. Spag, is your pointy shedding atm?

You're in Lincs too aren't you Bats? Sprocket moulted for about 2 weeks a short while ago, then had a rest, now he's moulting a little bit more although not as much as the first time around.

Yeah, this is my first spring moult so it's all new! (Can I have a badge of pride). It's far worse than the autumn moulting season.

Cor, we're out next the Marshes. It feels a bit like frontier country sometimes and it's dog heaven out there on the 200ish football pitches and around Wick Woods. There are a few greys around here and here is where our chap comes from.

Johanna Beumer (who owns and manages the kennels) is a bit of an institution around here.

That looks a lovely rescue MissBetsy. I like Denzil the second!!!

Well we only got Sprocket at the end of january so this is our first moult with him!

Owl and Duchess are my favourites. Denzil the first was the most hilarious dog I've ever met. His face is just... wonky! We'd adopted by that point so it was too late but we were in luff with him and looked at his funny photo for a long time afterwards when we needed a laugh.

They have been lovely and very supportive and the dogs can go back for boarding if you need it. AND, ime, the loveliest thing about them is they have open Sundays where you can just go and walk a dog. We go up every so often and walk our fella with another dog! A fair few families just go up for an outing to walk a dog, even if they don't own one. It's out in Epping Forest too, so pretty.

I'm sure your moult will be over soon and her sleekness will emerge again!

Oh, Louie is absolutely beautiful. You are just down the road from where I used to live (Leytonstone/Walthamstow area).

We're moulting here too. I keep finding great tumbleweeds of hair even after I have just hoovered. I think they are a bit later this year as it has been so cold and wet. I keep expecting them to grow flippers - our walks are more like paddles at the moment.

Spag, how is Sprocket's paw healing? Andy sends his best wishes, and hopes the collar of doom wasn't necessary.

Sprocket's paw is fine now Scuttle, thanks for asking! He hasn't hopped or licked it since the day I took him to the vets :) so happily the dreaded collar of doom wasn't needed! The way he was bouncing around last night you'd be forgiven in thinking there had never been anything wrong with it whatsoever!

When I was being sold on the idea of a whippet I was told they didn't moult. I was also told they didn't like getting muddy.

Whippety boy has has his first go at camping . I think he was a bit confused as to why everyone was sleeping all around his crate but there were two other friendly dogs and a meadow to to run (and run and run) in so he was happy. One of the other dogs was a golden retriever puppy (I think) who was about his size but the couldn't have been more different. Whippety was doing the 'look, look at me, run, run with me, come on run run run' and the poor dog did his best but mostly sat there with his tongue out looking confused and tired .

He was microchipped last week and when they weighed him he's 13.6kg already, he's not chubby at all though, you can see all his ribs. I need to buy a tape measure today so I can find out his measurements, I think he's quite big for a whippet. He's going to get a shock next month when he not only has his testicles removed but starts getting a bit less food!

Glad sprocket's paw is alright, poor boy.

Whippetty hates getting muddy (or wet) - he even delicately steps around each puddle and only went in the sea once last year on holiday (before he realised it was wet! He's lovely, but not the smartest).

Your whippet is the same weight as mine, Lost. Mine is not overweight, but he doesn't need to gain any more iykwim. I think he's quite tall for a whippet though (22"). Still he looks very delicate next to lurcher girl.

I'm also pleased Sprocket's paw is OK.

Our whippet has only ever reached 10Kg post Xmas stuffed! Hence my concern when her weight dropped as low as 9kg (approx 18lb). I'm sure there must be a bit of iggy in her ancestry as she's so delicately built. Her collars are ony 9".

Copious moulting is far too unladylike for her too. A quick wipe down with a chamois leather is the most she ever needs, and a quick wipe over her paws with a damp flannel.

I make a home made balm that I used to use on my son's bum when he was in nappies and now very occasionally use on the dogs paws.

Melt 1/2 block lard or trex (I use trex or other solid block veggy fat for human use).
add a couple of teaspoons of honey
add 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.
Stir and cool

Pour into a jar when cool enough and allow to chill overnight in the fridge. (I use an old wide necked smartprice peanut butter jar).

Smooth on paw pads/nail cuticles and any rough patches of your dog's feet occasionally as needed. You only need a teeny tiny bit.

Normally I only use it in winter. ( I riinse her feet after walking on salt gritty roads and then apply a little balm.) This constantly wet weather has meant I've felt her tootsies could do with a little extra tlc once a week when I check her nails.

It can't be any better for dogs than it is for us to have constantly soggy feet, so I'd be interested to pick up any tips others are using during this relentless wet weather.

Also got a great tip for anyone who cooks tripe up for their dog off a friend last night. Ask the butcher for the light type of tripe NOT the dark and add a little vinegar to the pan. The addition of vinegar goes some way towards reducing the foul stink!

I think there is quite a big variation in the normal weight for whippets, bochead. According to wikipaedia, 7-14 kg is a normal weight range.

I made the mistake of letting my two have some cauliflower in their food earlier. I now have a pungent smelling grippet lying at my feet. I'm hoping it will stop raining soon so that I can take the stinky pair out.

Tee hee, I know what you mean Magrat, my boy had sardines and some boiled egg yesterday, you could have cut the air with a knife in the evening [watering eyes emoticon]

I'm always surprised when my pup is so big, his mum is so tiny and delicate I really thought he would be too. As it happens he is 2.5kg heavier than his brother. He's just turned 6 months though so he won't grow much more now will he?

bochead you are such a caring whippet mum, I have to say I have never given a minutes thought extra to his paws, quick check over once a week so he's used to me prodding him and that's it.

Any poo hints though (a constant theme with me ). I cleared the garden on Tues and this morning picked up about 10 different poops and he did two on the walk this morning. When he has had a good run or play with his brother they are nearly liquid other times good and solid but I despair, I don't like letting the children out into the garden. He has Nature diet trays, raw chicken wings, occasional left over veg and a weekly bit of oily fish. Am I giving him too much or is he allergic to something? He has no wheat/gluten, I'm at a loss.

I usually stick with a non-fancy greyhound kibble cos of the poo factor lol! Once you find a brand that suits it's just easier. (current weight gain programme excepted)

I'm just too darn lazy to deal with the "poo variations" that a BARF diet would involve, and don't want any nasty sloppy suprises on the school run

Sprocket's turned back into a food snob again. When he had his anti-inflammatories I had to put gravy/sardines over his biscuits along with the meds so he would take them! Now he's finished them he won't touch just his biscuits anymore so now I'm back to putting warm water on them to pretend it's gravy. I don't like him eating biscuits with liquid on as he just laps them up and swallows them. He doesn't actually chew them.

It's Spag here, just name changed 'cause I fancied it :o

Wow this thread moves fast - will have to catch up properly later...

Nice new name Spag Cunny!
Pointies can be awful food snobs can't they... Perhaps that is another reason they are hard to keep weight on??

Sam weighed 16.9kg the last time we had him weighed (3 weeks ago). The vet has said if he can stay between 16 and 17 then he is doing well. When he was ill he dropped to just under 12kg

Glad to hear Sprocket's paw is better Cunny and Bochead thank you for reminding me about tripe. That might suit whippetyboy

Right, off to read all the other pages...

I can relate to the 'sloppy surprises'! Bill settled down for a poo right outside the local Children's Centre today. You can imagine how many cats bum mouths I got for that, despite producing my poo bags with a massive flourish so EVERYONE could see I was PICKING UP! Thank heavens it was a roller not a splatter.

Poor old Sam Lock. Good to hear the weight's back on again.

I have had a chortle at your new name Spag!

Betsy, the weight is on, it is keeping it on and keeping his digestion working well is the tricky bit...
He seems to have stabilised on raw minced chicken with a teeny bit of mushed veg mixed in and two chicken wings per day. If he does not get the chicken wings he will go mushy...
Back to adding a small scoop of slippery elm tree bark with his evening meal as last week his stools went very sloppy again and the mucus was returning...
I have resigned myself to a life-time of poo-analysing.... Good job I love the daft dog

These dogs eh?

It is a good job they are so hugely loveable. On paper, I shouldn't love the goofy hound so much but I do. He has just done another fart though (I heard a hiss and a little pop) so that is my cue to leave quickly, get off MN and attempt some RL stuff like cleaning up the kitchen!