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
:)

DS would love to do some showing I'm sure (he's a real show-off - he's 7.5 at the moment). I'm not sure that foster dog is going to be the easiest dog to show... just because she seems to go on and on so far! For her height she really is very long. And with the length seems to have an inability to communicate between her back legs and brain to go into a sit.

However, I was very pleased with her last night - a whole lot of strange people came (3) and then we all got string instruments out and ignored her all evening. She would have ideally liked to spend the evening going between people and lick them in turn (especially the one that didn't like it) but I managed to block her from getting into the centre of the room most of the time - and she settled down reasonably quickly. She didn't complain about the noise either (which our last lurcher did - very vocally).

Whilst she is amply provided for in length and loving, and big paws, she does seem strangely lacking in a decent bark - perhaps she will manage to develop one a bit better (whether we'll ever get her to bark at strangers coming to the door instead of treat them as long lost best friends is another question) with a bit of practice -because she is still extremely quiet (vocally - she can make a real noise chasing her treat ball around).

Oh dear, Mistlethrush, when I read about your musical evening, the first thing that came into my head was the wonderful Ealing comedy The Ladykillers .

Honestly, though, junior handler classes at fun dog shows are brilliant - our nephews love them. And I adore them too - you generally have an anarchic selection of dogs and small children, mostly with the dogs shepherding the kids round the ring, and the DC doing random things like suddenly taking their clothes off or wandering into the middle to pick their nose. So a child who can basically steer nicely round the ring and has a dog who'll stand for a bit is on to a winner. Our darling old Boola would quite often lie down and go to sleep if it was a big class. And our nephews would be genuinely so chuffed if they came home with a rosette - our middle nephew now has a nice little stash and has them pinned up on his bedroom door. Unfortunately, I am hopelessly soppy and embarrass everyone including DH, nephews and dogs by wanting to hug and possibly even being a bit moist in the eye (horrific for small boys!!).

Scuttle I love looking at your FB pics of your nephews showing Boola, the ones where he's just decided to lie down leaving a bemused looking boy at the end of the lead always make me laugh :) he was such a handsome boy.

Hi I wonder if any pointy owners can help . An elderly couple who live near us have rehomed a greyhound from the RSPCA , he's lovely but becoming increasingly lively as they don't feel they can let him off as they don't think he'll come back . I suggested a long line but I think they are a bit worried about being pulled over . Is there anywhere near Maidstone, Kent where greyhound owners can take them that's properly enclosed ? Or a pointy owners group that could give them some better advice ?

We're not allowed to let our lurcher off at the moment because she is fostered at the moment - unless its a secure area - we have some tennis courts near us we can go and play frisbee in which she loves.

How much walking is he getting? Friends who have greys regularly take them for no more than 30 mins - and sometimes the dogs refuse to go that far!

Hi Floral, a quick google threw up Kent Greyhound Rescue here - they run regular monthly and weekly greyhound walks, and their kennel also runs obedience classes for greys - more details on their website via the link - both of these would be great for the newly adopted grey, especially as he is living alone (greys are very social and love meeting up with other pointies). This rescue would also be a good place to ask about secure off lead environments/playdates etc. The RGT have a branch at Sittingbourne - there is a racetrack there (where one of our own dogs raced, coincidentally) - they also run regular events such as walks etc and would be worth a call. link

The obedience classes or clicker training would also be good for the grey as they engage their brains (and there's not usually very much - we are not talking Border Collie levels of intelligence here). Clicker training might be great fun. With the walking, sometimes it's fun to mix it up by doing different routes regularly, or breaking down an hour into two or three shorter walks. Ours are always shattered after going to playdates/walks/events/shows etc. - they love the socialising but it does tire them.

Yes, Cunny, we still miss him terribly, and I know the boys do too. But like you say, we have such happy, gorgeous memories of him.

Thanks I will let them know , might be just the thing for them. I'm not sure how experienced they are , I've never seen them walking anything else and they've only had him for a few weeks

My sister used to live in Sittingbourne, her DH is from Kent :)

Feeling a bit odd as I write this - Norty Minx has made away with one of my slippers so I only have the right one on, and my left foot is getting a bit chilly. Both DH and I have searched and can't find it.

It's one of those sock type ones from Tesco, with a sort of Fair Isle design, and a fleecy sort of lining and two pompoms on the side - I think it's the fluffy lining and the pompoms that are the temptation, as she's run off with them before for a bit of a nibble.

On the positive side though, she and I will be starting classes when the next "batch" of classes begins for dog training, which is the first week of December. Trainer only uses v positive methods, knows greyhounds (also knows the lady who runs the rescue Norty Minx is from which is nice) and encourages us to do clicker training. I can't wait!

Just thought I'd update you guys on our efforts to adopt a pointy after all your great advice.

As you know, we'd found a Podenco we loved the look of and were just awaiting a phone chat and homecheck. Found out yesterday that he's gone to someone else as apparently they'd tried to contact me several times to arrange the chat and had been unable to get hold of me

I've had no voicemails, have hardly been out this week as have been ill and they know I'm contactable by email as I exchanged several, asking questions about doggie / adoption process.

Am gutted.

Have enquired about another dog and am awaiting a reponse with further info re him (my DH is set on a Podenco since I showed him the breed) but it doesn't feel the same (I know I shouldn't have got attached to the other doggie so early in the process, but he just felt right).

Oh dear Scuttle :o I hope it turns up soon! I have heard that these interior designers sometimes have 'quirky' styles
The training classes sound like fun, do you think she'll respond well to training or will she just do what Sprocket does when you try and teach him anything which is stare off into the distance with a kind of sleepy/glazed look, or just wander off to bed for a nap?

Oh Cheddar how disappointing! But don't worry, it could be fate, he may have been totally wrong for you and your perfect dog is still out there :)

The same thing happened to us except he actually made it to our house! The rescue lady brought him round, she had the adoption papers but he was too interested in DD, don't think he'd ever seen a baby before. He even tried jumping over the back of the sofa to get at her! He lasted half an hour before she took him away again, I was heartbroken because both DP and I had really fallen for him. It was another 2 months before we finally got Sprocket! He had previously lived with small children, one of which was ASD, so when the rescue brought him to meet us, they left him here :)

Several Podencos here, Cheddar

Yes, look up SOS Animals UK, they have website and are on Facebook.

Sorry to hear about the dog Cheddar - however, our foster dog wasn't the first that I'd seen and thought 'that might be the one' - and she's getting more gorgeous and 'right' by the day. Whilst, at first, she didn't really seem to pay that much attention to me (or anyone) she's really starting to listen and respond and understand the dynamics of the family. We wouldn't have met her if we'd gone for the first one...

We have found my slipper! Hurrah! Norty Minx had hidden it in the garden . It was a bit damp but otherwise unharmed. Now in the airing cupboard drying off.

Cunny, I think she will respond to training actually - she is very lively and curious, and enjoys food, which is always good as a motivator. I'm sure I'll be tearing my hair out at times, but I'm also really looking forward to it.

Clever Minx...next time, hide it under some leaves

I have today, sewed one arm on kitty, DD1's bedtime toy. I have performed a right leg amputation on DD2's bedtime dog. I have also had to do a bib removal and neck repair on DD3's bunny.

Paaaaaaaatcccchhhh!!!!!

DS has, strangely, started to shut his bedroom door (having been asked to do so for years) ever since we got foster dog and she showed a keen interest in his 'treasure' box under the bed... and in a soft toy in a pet shop (she's not seen DS's yet!). He also has to have his bedroom door shut at night - because otherwise foster dog is keen on leaping on top of him (asleep, in bed) from the bedroom doorway (a good 6' away) which didn't go down too well with DS.

Glad you found it Scuttle, I'm also pleased to hear Norty Minx is back up to her old norty self after her op. By the way, how's she doing now? Are the stitches all out?

Oh dear Lougle how are the patients recovering?

What is everyone getting their hounds for christmas? I was thinking a few ears, a bag of feet, a squeaky toy I've already bought and a new cuddly toy.

Oh and my mum is coming over for tea christmas day so while we're eating Sprocket can have a nice juicy beef rib,

Ours will be getting a new collar and a properly fitting coat and probably some biscuits wrapped up in a paper bag so that she can unpack them herself.

BTW, there's a chance to get a model of your dog by Eve Pearce without the normal commission required - and help raise funds for pointy hounds: here

Those sculptures look fab!

I am sooo excited! Taking Sprocket to an off lead field on wednesday and my friend is taking her whippet, they are going to have so much fun!!!!

Those sculptures look fab!

I am sooo excited! Taking Sprocket to an off lead field on wednesday and my friend is taking her whippet, they are going to have so much fun!!!!