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

[TheCunnyFuntIsAGrittersWife]

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).

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GRWE shop
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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
:)

Hi all,

SilverSky, whats a ParkRun?

Lurcherboy hasn't been left at all this weekend, as there's been someone around the whole time. Neighbours came out when we were on the drive yesterday, but literally scuttled to their car and drove off at speed.

On the upside, as a result of us not leaving lurcherboy alone, my dcs have been in and yelling/running/creating havoc all day both days, which I am quite sure is a lot noisier and more annoying for them.

In fact we have had some quite spectacular screaming in the garden this weekend, as ds2 fell over backwards and hurt his back, neck and head and then dd somehow managed to run into the corner of a wall and give herself a corking shiner. So, hopefully they'll think about it and realise that - on balance - it's quieter when we go out!

Lurcherboy is a bit off today - he's been sick, but is on antibiotics at the moment, so I think it's that. Have given him some probiotic natural yoghurt, which he lapped up and he hasn't been sick again. Will just do a short lead walk later I think, as neither he or me seem up for more today.

In fact, I've spent today lazing about, messing around on the net trying to find something for various people - who are nagging - to buy me for my birthday. I hate making a fuss around my birthday and never know what I want. I'd really rather it would just pass by without anyone noticing, but they always have other ideas. I did try asking for stuff for lurcherboy, (thundershirt, treat balls etc) but was told no. Then I wanted a 'Shark' steam cleaner to eliminate all the bucket lugging I have to do when mopping the floors - but again - no. (Apparently that's for the house, not for me, even thought it would make my life sooo much easier. ) I've ordered myself a pile of dog-related books from dh, need clothes but don't want any until I've lost some weight and that's about it. I just don't do 'stuff', iykwim.

I was planning on spending the day doing a stack of housework and gardening, but woke up feeling like I just couldn't face it today. It's been a busy, stressful few weeks, I'm knackered and I have ds1's dreaded SEN Statement Review to prepare for and handle this week, so need to conserve my strength.

It's an organised 5k event held weekly all over the UK.

It was about an hour mistlethrush, I thought that was long enough but if longer is recommended then I will leave it longer in future. It's literally 5 mins from my house :)

Yes SilverSky, they are allowed and there was in fact a lurched there on a canicross belt and lead. They beat us by about 6 mins!

moosemama parkrun is a free 5k run held all over the country at 9am every Saturday. You register print a barcode and they scan it with your finish position an you get a result at the end of the day. Really friendly and for all abilities, ours is only new and had usually 30-40 people. Fastest is usually 16-17mins and slowest around 40 mins most weeks so you can see the range of people who attend. Lovely start to a Saturday :)
My birthday list usually includes music, jewellery, books and things like a spa day (which I never get!!!!!) or some other pampering.

Billy snapped his lead yesterday! The one we got with him broke within two days so I was using Nellys extendable one but on a fixed length as they don't recommend using them but I hadn't been told that when I got her. I said to do yesterday that it may not technically be strog enough as t had a limit of 25kg and he's 30+kg and 2 hours later he was outside with dh washing the car, he saw a cat, ran and it snapped! We've also bought him an indestructible ball as he's popped 4 balls already and he went totally mental! I ended up taking it off him as he was so worn out and limping on his front leg but still going mad. I think it was just heavy as it ran over my toe too as he's fine now.

Been reading about cats and think I may have to lock them in, they only come in when Billy shut upstairs so I have no chance to get him used to them. Thinking if just shutting the stair gate and letting the cats have upstairs and billy down just so they belong more and we an start training him. He's much better out in the street now apart from when he snapped his lead yesterday

I should have Nelly's ashes tomorrow, my mum doesn't think I should keep them. I think I will for a bit and perhaps forever, will be nice to take her to our local pond where we used to walk as its a lovely peaceful place.

Well, after changing things a bit this morning. First of all, dh took ds1 - who needs to be in early this half-term, so I would have been out longer if I'd taken him - and I waited with the other two dcs to take them at the last minute.

Ds3 and dd were very good helping me by going in and out of the hall door several times, then I left them in the hall and went in and out a few times on my own, then - bless them - they stood on the doorstep holding hands while I went in and out the front door a couple of times and then I finally shut the door quietly and we left.

I also remembered I had some Dorwest Scullcap tincture, so dh gave him some of that as soon as we got up and I only loosely stuffed his kong with a bit of peanut butter smeared and some loosely packed cheddar that would easily dislodge. Oh and I used DAP spray on his bedding while he went out for his morning wee. (He gets suss if he sees me pick up the bottle. )

I also abandoned ds2 in his queue as soon as the whistle went and walked swiftly back - so I was gone just over ten minutes in all.

Got home and left the kitchen door shut for ten minutes while dd and I chose a photo for her to take into school today and listened to the recording AND ..... not a peep. Not even a little whine!

So, we need to keep doing more of the same until it becomes habitual for him and then start gradually extending the time he's left. Fortunately with 3-4 school runs a day, there's plenty of opportunity for reinforcement.

I think it helps that I was very hands off with him at the weekend. Had a looong lie in on Sunday and he was out in the garden with dh and the dcs when I got up, so he didn't actually see me until the afternoon, then he was hot, so couldn't be bothered to trail around after me. He actually chose to sleep in his bed in the kitchen instead of on my feet while I was watching tv last night.

I know it's a good thing really, but it makes me that we can't be as close as we used to be - although I do know it's best for him, if it means he's not going to be feeling stressed and anxious when I leave.

I saw Mrs Next-door Neighbour out of my window this morning, when she was putting the bins out at 8.45. She looked like she'd only just dragged herself out of bed - yawning, eyes barely open, still in pjs and dressing gown - so obviously they are late sleepers and that's probably what prompted the stroppy note, as I was at the school from 8.45 for an hour, two days in a row.

Feel less stressed about it all and hopeful we can eventually reach a point where lurcherboy is happy to be left again.

Second school run done and just one indignant "Mom" moan about five minutes in and that's it. He's quite talkative anyway and regularly says "Mom"

You didn't mention that moose! Definite scope for post - it note on the door from that!!!

Dh has some A1 (flipchart sized) post its at work. His team were daring him to stick one on nextdoor's front door on Friday.

Ooooh go on, do it! Do it!

(Preferably with 'you woke up the children AGAIN with your drunken laughter, after 10pm' in large letters that can clearly be seen from the road

[Grin] love it!

try again

Now THAT I would love to see :o

Sprockets sneaky dog collar is finished, ready for me to bully ask DP nicely to buy me it.

And this is his new collar for shows that my mum has bought, isn't it beautiful? It sparkles in the sun!

Do you think that DH will agree? I like the purple one in particular.

How did you all acquire your dogs? Paid for KC pups? Rescues?

My experience is a rescue from a friend as the Cavvy X was scared of their German Shepherd when I was a kid. Our current dog we got from a KC breeder as a pup.

I don't know, I really hope he does Mistle! He said yesterday that he's gone over budget on me. I said I didn't realise that there was a budget. To which he replied, there wasn't

Silver, Sprocket (Greyhound) is a retired racer. He came from a rehoming organisation. The place we got him from get narky if you call them a rescue

Lovely collars Cunny, I especially love the purple one!

I treated Sam to the 40mm version of this one a few weeks ago. It is gorgeous and the gold thread sparkles beautifully in the sun. It is his bit of Royal Bling!!

Silver, our Sam is a whippety lurcher, he came from a retired-greyhound trust who also take in any other sighthound in need. He was found as a stray.

Lock, the purple collar came from Kitsch collars! It's Tivon, in the 2" Greyhound section. They do some gorgeous stuff don't they?

The purple collar is lovely, Cunny.

Silver, our two were from the RSPCA and Dog's Trust, respectively.

Oh and our whippy was handed in to the RSPCA when he was 12 months old because his owners had a baby . Our lurcher was found as a stray in Ireland.

Our lurcher came from a lurcher rescue - she was on her third visit to the pound but this time wasn't collected so the pound contacted the rescue...

Oh - and if we're sharing collars, we've got golden peacock and valencia

Ours came from a local greyhound rescue, a long term foster called the Twilight Dog scheme from local RGT branch, and two very unexpected fosters who were only supposed to be here for a short while but are now long term stayers via another local rescue.

Silver, most greyhounds here will be ex racers - there is only a tiny population of showing greys. Some Salukis might be from KC breeders also whippets, but lurchers, and other longdogs/sighthounds will obviously be more often from working backgrounds and from rescues (or rehoming organisations !)

I am getting serious collar envy. Lurcherboy has a leather one from this guy. He has the celtic design in dark brown. I can't justify any new collar purchases though because it's so well made and hardwearing.

Silver, our boy came from a rescue - well via my sister who adopted him first, then split with her partner two weeks later and moved in with me, which is when he adopted me!

I've had 6 dogs since I've been with dh (26 years! ).

• First was a real rescue, in that we found her half dead under a bush, after she'd been spotted tied to a tree in the local woods. It took a lot of effort and £££s to get her back to full health. She was an enormous long coated GSD and an awesome dog in every way - so hard to believe anyone could treat her so badly then abandon her like that.

• Second came from a hopeless local rescue that didn't do any homechecks etc. I have since found out she was actually a lurcher, as she was a sheltie cross whippet.

• Third was my boxer x gsd - a big bold and beautiful boy and a really special lad. We did the stupid thing and bought him to save him from his truly awful backyard breeders.

• Fourth was our first and only KC pedigree, in the form of my Soft Coated Wheaten girl

• Fifth was oldgirl, my Belgian Shepherd x Border Collie who we adopted via a rescue that only has dogs in foster and no kennels. We lost her to bone cancer in April this year.

• Sixty and finally was Lurcherboy, who was anything but planned for, but has fitted right in, stolen our hearts and engendered a huge love of pointy dogs in the process. .

Plan, if we can get lurcherboy over his current separation anxiety blip, is to adopt a lurcher pup sometime around/after September - the house is too quiet and lacking in fur coverage with just one hound in it.

Ps. 15 minute school run this afternoon and nothing but the sound of silence from lurcherboy again.

I am loving all these gorgeous collars! We bought a new one for Mick at the Greyhound Extravaganza, from Hill Cottage Hounds. It's sort of red and medieval looking, with a subtle gold thread running through (got to have an injection of bling). Now thinking about one for the Norty Minx - seen one I like on the Meggie Moo site. There are just so many beautiful collars around now - it's fabulous that there are so many good companies making such nice hound stuff.

Six not Sixty Imagine that sixty dogs in 26 years!