Are you a Greyhound, Whippet or Lurcher owner? Come and have a seat on the new Pointy Hounds cushion!

[TheCunnyFunt]

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!
AK Creations
Bonnie dogs
GRWE shop
Our very own Scuttle's Milgi coats
Silver Peacock

Jake
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!
By Denise Dubarbier
:)

All in a 99% enclosed area tho. Had to stop taking him on the marsh as there were too many other dogs and it made him a bit edgy.

Paddy, I'm going to go against the grain here - I think two weeks is a very short time, and I wouldn't personally let my pointy off after that length of time. We've just let one of our fosters off yesterday for the first time, and she came to us just before the August Bank Holiday.

I'd endorse all those who suggest using a safe, secure off lead field for play, and practising recall. Have a chat with the rescue where you adopted or use one of the many lurcher/sighthound online forums/FB pages etc. Lots of greyhound charities offer use of a secure field, and many organise regular sighthound type playdates. I'm delighted because someone is actually organising these now in S Wales at an indoor riding centre - we can't wait! In the meantime keep going with the training, and don't think on lead means being boring - far from it. DH loves going running with a couple of ours and you can also start doing classes, plus things like clicker training at home. All these will help strengthen the bond between you and keep lurcher occupied and busy. You could also think about lure coursing - Lurcher Link have info on the regular events they run on their website/forum.

A little patience now could save a lot of heartache and worry in the future.

Thanks all. I will err on the side of caution. Tried runing with him the other day and will do again. He keeps getting under my feet so some training needed on that!

Will hunt around for somewhere secure near S London but if anyone knows anywhere do let me know

mind you he's still being very resistant to leaving the house and walking to the park at all so need to work on that first

What about this place? here

Depending on which borough you are in it may be worth contacting the Parks department or council pound. There may be a park near you with a secure dog area. Dogs Trust do a CityDogs service and often have a mobile clinic near us - they keep a list of local doggy info.

There are two near us; one's in the middle of Hackney and I have never taken Billy there. The other dogs and owners are... not ones I think either of us would enjoy mixing with. There's another closer to us with a wooded area that is (apparently) soon to turn into a 'family' area. I'd have thought the whole park was a family area but hey ho.

We often bump into the guy who runs the local pound on our walks (actually he's often being walked by about 3 staffies!) and he's very friendly and informative. He tells me he loves and hates his job in equal measure.

Scuttle I've had an awesome idea! I noticed that at Nottingham quite a few people wanted things in sizes you had run out of or didn't do small enough, so you could carry a tape measure, and an order book so the dogs can be measured there and then and the item can be ordered there and then!

We do! We took a tape measure and order forms to the show, and we had a big sign up saying "If what you want is out of stock, order and pay today and we'll post it to you FOC."

Do saw some beautiful black lurcher pups on the scruples site. I keep telling him we are NOT having another dog. We do not have space or time for another dog.

Should have read dp not do, stupid autocorrect on tablet.

I can't remember how long we had burp before we let him off, he used to coming running with me and loved it, well I ran he trotted!! One thing he does love is cycling. I have a bike lead, a walkydog lead (google it) and we have been miles with it, when we are on quieter lanes I let him off and he runs alongside me quite happy and stays with me. Occasionally we race and that's great fun for both bailey and I!

Oh See? I knew it was a good idea :o although am very I didn't notice/can't remember the sign.

Magrat does he want another dog?

I'm craving another dog, but a different kind. I'd love a dog like MILs spaniel who treats DD just like an adult, he drops toys at her feet and sits waiting for her to throw it. I'd love a dog to want to be her friend, at the moment she wants to be Sprockets friend but he ignores her, when she pats him he stands like a statue, not moving a muscle. It makes me slightly nervous as that's what he does when other dogs come and sniff him, he stands like a statue. I'd love to know what he's thinking and feeling.

Cunny, I think he's getting dog broody. It is not going to happen.

I know what you mean about Dogs treating the children like adults. Woody seems to think he is one of the boys and follows them everywhere, especially ds2. Jessie mostly ignores them (though is improving) and actually sniffled ds2 the other day and wagged at him too.

Just left Billy at the vet hospital.

Discovered an empty packet of Garibaldi biscuits in his bed this afternoon - he must have had them out of my 'out for the day' rucksack while I was out. I can't believe I a.) forgot they were in there and b.) left the bag on the floor in the hall, knowing how clever he's getting at getting into stuff.

I called the vet as soon as I made the horrible discovery and they were brilliant; phoned the poisons hotline straight away and called me back in minutes. Luckily their 24hr hospital is only about 15mins in the car and he was in within the hour. He's got to be in for 2 or 3 nights, made to vomit and on IV fluids to support his kidneys or liver, I can't remember which. He has to have blood tests tonight and every 72 hours thereafter until the toxicology stuff comes back clear.

Thank GOD we are insured. It'll be about 600 quid by the end.

Poor chap. I feel so bloody stupid. He's had a hard enough life already and I feel like every day we spend with him and he's in comfort and enjoying good food, lovely walks and lots of love we're making up for his lost time! He's going to be OK I think but oh dear.

Poor billy. It's so easily done, though.

I know but I still feel awful. The oddest thing was that he seemed fine; apparently the poisoning can become apparent after a few days though. I am such an idiot. I will never buy those sodding biscuits again.

Poor Billy! Like magrat says, it's very easily done. It's so easy to just forget. You're only human Betsey, we all do stupid stuff. Thank goodness for insurance!

DP did this once, he left his workbag on the floor with his lunchbag in with a full pack lunch in it, Sprocket helped himself to the pack up, for reasons known only to himself DP still left the bag plus lunchbag on the floor, the next day Sprocket helped himself to the lunchbag :o

Oh my goodness! Sending big hugs to Billy and to you. You must be desperately worried. Please don't blame yourself - they are such clever buggers when it comes to getting into stuff. And also thank heaven that you found out so quickly and acted so responsibly. We'll be thinking about you. xx

DH got back from work at 7ish (he'd been away and just flown back home) and luckily the kids were playing at my neighbour's. She kept them while I whizzed him in. To tell the truth he could have had the biscuits at any point from about lunchtime onwards today.

We're sitting on his stinky sheepskin and missing him lots. I know he's in the best place so there's nothing I can do now. Vet was lovely and said he thought greyhounds were hero dogs for being so lovely after all the hard work they do for humans. I bet he says that about all the dogs but it was nice to hear.

The old timers around here send their dogs to that hospital - I mean the elderly owners with elderly dogs who've had dogs their whole lives and they really rate it.

Keep them crossed for him. And no lasting damage.

Tried to leave two posts last night but each time I pressed post message my mn page shut down!!

Just wanted to send a (hug) to you and yours Betsey, what a scare. Am confident Billy will be just fine though, fingers crossed he will be home with you very shortly!

These dogs are very crafty at getting into things they should not; our old Cocker Spaniel once ate his way through over half a 2.5kg tub of Haribo Tangfastics - yikes! And the day he ate some balloons and they would only half come out of his backside and I had to pull them out gently
And the day he ate some colouring pencils (only the inner though, he discarded the woody outer) and his poo came out multicoloured!!

Will be thinking of you and Billy xx

Thanks Lock. He's in for the next few days and on a drip to support and flush through his kidneys. He's also still having the charcoal to get any last bits out of his system.

I called this morning and the vet who's looking after him was on a home visit so she rang me back; he's doing fine and is up, about and chipper. She also said that he was relaxed in his kennel, which sounds like Billy, happy to bed down anywhere! We're still waiting on the blood results. They will show the toxin reading for last night and will have to be repeated 72 hours later and be clear before he can be released. We might not get him back til the weekend, possibly even later.

We're going to see him tonight after we get the kids from school. Luckily DH is working from home today so we can all go together. I was a bit hmm about taking them into the hospital but I think it would be a good experience for them, especially as things seem to be working out OK. Also, as visiting hours are 3-6 I won't be able to get in Thursday or Friday as I'm at college.

I'm pleased he's doing fine Betsey, you must all be so worried about him. I bet he was pleased to see you!

Lock I am sorry but I couldn't help but pmsl at multicoloured poo :o it reminded me of the MNetter whose dog ate tinsel and had lovely sparkly, festive poo for about a week or so around christmas :o

Well this is turning out to be a really shit week. Found out 2 lots of awful news last night, my cousin possibly has cancer again, she has a tumour on her liver and she had tests yesterday to see if it is cancer or not. She is only 13 and this is the 4th time she will have had it :( and also, my brother attempted suicide on saturday night, took an overdose of his anti depressants, (22 tablets) and drank 4 cans of lager. He left our grandma a message and she called the police (but not an ambulance? ) but he's ok now, back home and carrying on as normal.

The weird thing is, I knew he was going to do it. I know it doesn't make sense at all but I had a random thought pop into my head last week "Davids going to commit suicide" and I didn't think anything of it because I know he's having such a hard time (separated from his wife, no job etc) and I'm such a pessimist and always see the worst in every situation. So I thought that my thought was just me being stupid and pessimistic. Turns out it was true :(

Oh no Cunny what horrible news. I'm glad he contacted your grandma and thank goodness she got the message in time. I hope the MH team in your area are able to serve him well. This time of year can be so hard - the nights drawing in, Xmas approaching.

Your cousin's a toughie, isn't she? Is she the one who was bullied at school too? It may be benign right? I'll be crossing everything for some good news.

xx

Oh Cunny, what a lot of bad news at once. Glad to hear your brother will be ok, I hope he will get the help he needs as soon as possible.

And I am so so sorry to hear about your cousin. Such a young age to go through so much! I hope she can fight this yet again, she sounds like a wonderfully strong girl to have coped with so much already

Sam had a bit of an accident this morning. I had taken him for a walk early this morning before work and he was off-lead on the lye. He saw a squirrel and gave chase. He was so intent on chasing this squirrel he misjudged his way past the wooden posts which border the footpath and ran full pelt into one. His leather collar is sporting a big crease and scratches, that is how hard he hit this post! He has taken a bit of fur off his neck and given himself a massive green smudge from the algae on the post. He also has a small cut on his rear leg. But I think he has badly bruised himself (his shoulder area I am guessing) as he is limping and whilst happy he squeals when you pick him up.

I was all set to take him to the vet at lunchtime but when I got home he was brighter and he even attempted to chase a squirrel on our lunchtime walk.
He is still hesitant negotiating the stairs and won't jump on the sofa / bed.

Oh and then this evening he bumped his head on the dining table whilst we were laying the table ready for dinner.

Sigh.

He is too daft for this world!

There are some sorry looking dogs in the animal hospital. Billy wasn't too happy - looked a bit groggy and completely miserable but that may be to do with the fact he's not had anything to eat or been walked too much because of the drip. He brightened up a bit when he saw us but not much.

Hopefully we get bloods tomorrow. If all is going well, home on Saturday, maybe.

On the upside, the boys loved it and it definitely helped them to see where he is. DS2 was not at all happy to leave him, and we had to drag him out but eventually he understood. It's hard to explain to a deaf child with a severe language delay why he can't take his dog home when there's a very very friendly golden retriever licking his good ear!

And poor Sam! If he's chasing squirrels it can't be that bad!