Are you a Greyhound, Whippet or Lurcher owner? Come and have a seat on another 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 :o).

Share stories, advice and shopping tips!
AK Creations
Dog O Nine Tails
Doggy Bags Bakery
Kitsch Collars
Meggie Moo
Milgi Coats
Silver Peacock

Come The Day
Come the day I take that final bend,
Can I count on you to be my friend?
To see I?m treated just and fair,
It means so much to know you care.

For, what the future holds in store,
Now that I can race no more,
Should be addressed for every hound,
Who parts the punter from his pound.

Tell them I don?t ask for much,
A kindly word, a gentle touch,
Somewhere warm to lay my head,
A meal each day to keep me fed,
Not just life- but quality,
This is how it ought to be.

Do not see me swept away,
I long to live another day,
With peace of mind, tranquillity,
And those who care surrounding me,
So tell them all- you have that choice,
I beg of you to be my voice.

By Denise Dubarbier.

That's really :( mistlethrush, Nelly had clearly been abused and even after 8 1/2years she would still cower at things :(

I like a lot of those collars the Ceylon one, ruby, blue geometric and Madison :) Not really sure how it matches fur colour though!

Moose, he is toooooooooooooooo gorgeous. I WANTS him.

Thanks mistle, will go and have a look.

Very sad about your girlie's reaction last night. It's horrible to think what they may have been through before finding their forever home.

Peanut, paws off! He's mine I tell ya ... all mine! Actually, at this point, he'd happily go to anyone who has a pocketful of treats.

This afternoon we have started clicker training. Reinforced the sit and wait for treats and food and added in eye contact. He's a bright little thing, much faster than Lurcherboy at picking things up.

Magrat, I missed your post somehow.

No-one has a clue what his mix is, as he was found dumped at the side of the road with his sister at one day old - or possibly less. They were surrogated by another rescue bitch though, so although missing out on natural colostrum, were still able to benefit from natural milk rather than puppy formula.

He's 10 weeks old now and not as big as he looks in the pictures, although I think my impression of him is coloured by how underweight he is, as it makes him seem really fragile - and of course he seems really tiny compared to Lurcherboy. My Mum and PILs seem to think he's huge, but he wasn't any taller than the 10 wk old retriever pup he was fostered with. His sister was also super skinny.

We're feeding him up, but 2 hourly feeds is exhausting. Just like having a baby - he's either eating or pooing at the moment and I keep having a dilemma as to whether or not to wake him to feed him. I'm spending half the day following him around so I can divert him outside as soon as he starts to sniff/circle, so nothing else is getting done (he's asleep at the moment).

I've been trying to get him booked into the vet tomorrow to get him checked over, but haven't been able to get through on the phone at all today for some reason. He's lively, energetic, bright eyed, alert and full of fun and mischief, but he's sooo thin.

Looking at the records from his foster he was wormed with millbemax and panacur when he was at the centre, then had advocate after that, so don't think it can be worms. His stools are all over the shop, nice and solid one time, then liquid the next and everything in between and he is producing the most foul wind. [green] Fortunately he has decided the garden is the place to go, but I am being super paranoid and finding myself ripping up grass to clean up after him just in case.

Some of that could be to do with us transitioning him onto Canagan from the food his fosterers had him on though. The food he was on contained a lot of wheat and meal and I'm wondering if that might be the problem. If it is, the Canagan should sort it out, as it's grain free. Ultimately I'd like to get him onto raw food, but feel it's easier and safer to get him on top quality kibble until we find out what's going on.

Last night he woke at 1.30 am, 4.30 am and 6.30 am for wees and then dh got up at 7.00 and dumped dd on me (literally). I knew having a pup was tiring, but I'd forgotten just how intense it is at the beginning.

Moose - if it helps at all, I have had a night or two equally like that with mistlehound's upset stomach. When we got her it took a while to get her food on an even keel in terms of the outcomes - the smell was AWFUL. I'm going to have to get rid of the bag of Harrington's we won because of the impact of it on the atmosphere of the sitting room in the evening....

Jim Greenwood suggested that we should try to knock off a kilo - I think that she's probably put some on in the last 3 wks since I've been out of action, so its not really surprising (he didn't say she was fat, but that she would run more easily with a little less - you can still feel ribs and hip bones, but not too pronounced). I think she was an ideal weight when we got back from Northumberland when she had spent lots of time out walking and running and was too tired to eat her supper!

Whilst we were probably the people with the dog with the fewest issues at the class yesterday, I would go again to get the insight - it was absolutely fascinating.

Hello!! I'm hoping for some advice about an ex racer I'm fostering at the moment. I have a grey of my own but he is extremely easy going and was very easy to train I'm now realising. I don't want to post on the forum I usually go on because there might be potential adopters on there.

First: cat training - It has only been a couple of weeks and I think he's going to be OK but am looking for some reassurance/advice. He's fine when we're in the room but a couple of times when our backs have been turned even momentarily he is trying to get to her, and has pounced on top of her. He is muzzled of course, but I feel sorry for the cat she is old. He isn't particularly focused on treats, unlike my own dog who was a dream to cat train. We've been doing the method of rewarding him with treats when he looks away from the cat. Do you think he just needs more time, or any other ideas?

I'm also worried by his reaction to other dogs. I was told he was fine with other dogs. He's not. He doesn't like it if they run up to him and has barks and snarls, and he went completely mental, rearing to get out of his collar at a couple of wee one who yapped at him. I don't know what to do about it and am resorting to trying to avoid other dogs, crossing the street etc which is not good. I have young dd and it is more difficult when I have her with me, which is unavoidable at least once a day. What if anything can I do to help him?

He is adorable otherwise, and is exceptionally waggy and friendly, including to dd. I want to do my best for him.

Bubble, I've pmd you.

Hi Bubblepuppy! My experience with cats has been either really not bothered at all or totally mentally after cats every time they were seen. I've never used treats just a firm no and pulling back but others here have much more experience of training than me. Is he aggressive towards the cat or wants to play? My dog will run alon with mine when they run out in the garden but he's not chasing, he wags his tail now when he sees them but was previously frightened of them. My first greyhound was never interested in my cats but would chase any cat out in the street, she knew our cats :)

Our current dog was very nervous of other dogs other than greyhounds when we first got him. He would change direction, hide behind me or move out of the way. We took him to a dog show which he hated but happy on a greyhound walk. We've walked him regularly and tried to encourage him to say hello not forced it at all. He's now keen to say hello to all dogs. I don't think avoidance is a good idea, although I understand your concern with your dd. perhaps make sure you encounter dogs on walks you don't have her with you. Peanut seemed to improve after a couple of walks walking with another dog rather than meeting one, both just wandering along chatting to another dog waked going in the same direction as us.

Do you get support from the rescue you are fostering through? Without posting on a forum you could speak to someone? Personally I think if he's not good with cats it's better to be honest or he will end up coming back and the same with other dogs. How is he with your dog?

mistlethrush, thank you for taking the time to pm me and is very interesting for future reference.

I've actually spoken to the rescue today and because of the business with the cat, they've decided to move him. It's partly because my cat is old and she is looking stressed. I'm partly glad this decision has been taken out of my hands, but feel really sad as well.

I think that's a very sensible route to take by the rescue, particularly given the age of your cat - and the fact that he is only a foster. I hope this doesn't put you off fostering another though.

The woman at the rescue was lovely to me about it actually. She was saying they would find us another more placid one, but we need to get some work done on the house anyway, so not just at the moment. Next one might be a forever, I'm not sure at this stage.

Hello again clever pointy hound people.

So I have seen a saluki x collie x deerhound in the local paper. She is 4months old, hasn't been accepted by the other dog, hence re-homing.

She's going to be big isn't she?!

My question is, assuming I can cat train her at home, how worried do I need to be about her chasing things outside the home? Is it an individual thing do you think? Or will her sight hound just take over when we are out and about. Mostly we will be walking in the woods surrounding our house, so it will be squirrels I guess, but will she be a jack russell chaser too?! Are these sight hound types the kind that generally need mostly lead walking?

Forgive me for my ignorance, I just want to be fully equipped!

The other alternative is a 2 year old poodle cross cockerpoo that needs a new home. From the sublime to the ridiculous!

Hi Sebastian- I really wouldn't rehome a dog from the local paper. You won't have any rescue support or behavioural assessment of the dog. Just look at some of the old threads on here to see how rehoming from the paper can end up. I'd go to a reputable rescue instead.

Yes I suppose so:( At 4 months she shouldn't have too much baggage though should she?

I guess I've only ever applied that school of thought to buying a puppy, puppy farms etc and dodgy ads where nothing is spelt correctly!

Yes you're right. I was thinking and I suppose I'd never know if she had a shunt or something would I? And that was why they were re-homing. Back to stalking the rescue sites! Thanks Margrat for making me think with my head and not my heart.

I think you don't know what experiences the dog has been through already. My old dog was a rescue who came to us at 4 months after being found at the side of the motorway just after Christmas. His brief period as a stray made him an awful scavenger for years afterwards.

If you go to a rescue, they will do behaviour assessment and match you to the right dog for your circumstances. They will also give you life-time back up, should your situation change or if anything goes wrong, even if this is years after you first adopted the dog.

Hi all

We are just about surviving the sleep deprived, poo and wee diverting puppy's first week.

He's really come out of his shell and has a very cheeky and mischievous nature. I'm finding it reassuring though, as he has tonnes of energy, despite being really underweight. He's been a real livewire today after sleeping through from 10.45 to 5.00 am last night.

We eventually saw the vet on Tuesday evening and she said he seems very healthy, despite his weight. She advised us to stop all kibble and put him on chicken and white fish, plus a probiotic paste, until his stomach settles, then start introducing the Canagan really slowly. (Still having some debate about whether or not it will be Canagan now though, after asking advice on LL.)

She's taken a stool sample to check for any nasties, but thinks it's most likely that as he relaxes into his new home and gets onto a good quality diet, the weight will sort itself out.

The good news is that, as soon as we stopped the kibble the upset tums ceased. He didn't poo for 24 hours and then it was completely normal.

We've taken him out and about for a few socialisation sessions and he's doing great. Starts of shaking but is chilled out within a few minutes. I'm pretty sure it's mainly down to Lurcherboy being such a laid back chap. We sat outside a cafe with them yesterday and they were both so well behaved. We met some other people who had a little lurcher girl exactly the same colour as Lurcherboy, but smooth coated and they were instantly in love with Pip, but just as taken with Lurcherboy.

He's learned to sit and make eye contact for treats and food, is doing well with down and comes really fast when called in the garden (well he would, given that I am the purveyor of yummy fresh chicken treats). He's also learning to 'leave' which will be a relief to poor Lurcherboy, who just stands there looking mournful and lets him hang off his beard and ears.

We're also on day 2 of no indoor toiletting, which is awesome. He's a clever little button and picks up clicker training much faster than Lurcherboy does.

I'd forgotten just how full on this puppy lark is. Had a total meltdown at dh the other day when I hadn't had more than an hour's consecutive sleep in three days. Feeling much better and more in control now though.

When I hear your experience, I'm so glad mistlehound was 2+... although the housetraining did take a bit longer - but she did have to be retrained from thinking 'inside' was the most appropriate location.

Glad his stomach is settling - in terms of progression, as he is so low weight, I would err towards a really good puppy food rather than an adult kibble at least to start with.

Sebastian - very sensible decision I think - a reputable rescue is definitely a better option. Our first dog was 7weeks old when we got her, and we had seen her in the rescue before then (this was a lot of years ago ) and she was frightened of men for the rest of her life - so it must have been sometime in the first 5 weeks of her life that made that impression. I think a wolf-hound/saluki could be 'interesting'... Salukis don't seem to be renowned for their recall - and both breeds seem to be a bit on the 'needing their own space' type of dog rather than a cuddle monster (which is more what we were aiming for).

The thing is, the Canagan kibble has the same composition as most of the puppy foods, minus the grains you get in things like JWB.

I am considering all options at the moment and will discuss it with the vet again at his follow up appointment.

Unfortunately he's just done a half solid and normal, half liquid poo, so we still have a long way to go. Just hoping there's nothing underlying it all. Vet said lots of pups are loose in the first week in their new home, due to stress, so there's a chance it could just be that, but then again, that doesn't explain how skinny he was already. Mind you, if he'd stop eating just about everything he finds in the garden it might help.

Finn is deerhound/saluki x greyhound collie and he has a pretty good recall for a lurcher. He was even better when he was younger and we spent a lot more time training. We used to walk with a collie pup the same age and his owners were constantly moaning that it wasn't right our sighthound pup had a better recall than their collie. He's also a total cuddle monster, but I guess a lot of those things could be down to the collie in his mix.

When we were on holiday people kept asking if he was a wolfhound cross but he's nowhere near big enough. He's solidly built but not all that tall.

Moose, what breed is your new pup?

I've been trawling the rescue sites, EGLR have a couple of lurcher pups, and a local rescue also has one of a few left, plus a four month old who looks quite sweet . Am now un-decided whether to go for a puppy, and do the newborn thing, or go for a rescue of about 1ish. Am leaning towards a lurcher, but also saw some springer x collie pups who were adorable. Typical rescue though and won't rehome any dog to a home with kids under 5. Limits our search somewhat.

He's a lurcher of some sort Sebastian. No-one knows his mix though, because he was dumped at one day old, so we don't know what either mum or dad was, iyswim.

Pics on profile if you want to see him.

ELGR are fantastic, they assess each home on it's merits, don't have blanket policies and seem to actually prefer pups, rather than older dogs to families with young children ... and they have some lovely pups in at the moment.

My boy was 10 weeks on Saturday and as you can see, it's pretty full on. An older rescue would avoid this intense initial period.

Sprollies are a major undertaking. Two high energy breeds with major exercise and mental requirements. I've had dogs for over twenty years, everything from GSDs to Border Collies and I don't think I'd go for one. There's a reason there's often a lot of them in rescue centres. They really need obedience and/or agility homes to keep them fit and happy, both mentally and physically.

Lurcher Link have a litter of puppies that will be ready towards the end of September. They are another fantastic rescue that rehomes nationally, assesses homes on their merits and don't have blanket child-age policies. Lurcherboy came from Lurcher Link and so did mistle's mistlehound.

Small tip. If you do want to go for a pup, rather than an older rescue, it helps to get on FB, as they tend to get posted on there as soon as they come in and often get booked up before they ever go public.

Just read that back and it sounds like I'm doing down the rescue centres by saying "typical". I don't mean that at all, just that its frustrating when you see a dog you could offer a lovely home too and there is a no kids policy:( I get why they do it though. Sigh.

Might have to broaden the search and look at other breed specific rescues. I quite like it in here though! If I end up with a lab I'll pretend it is crossed with a greyhound....

Thanks moose:) I'll do that.

We have always had border collies (growing up) and I wouldn't choose a purebred now, much as I adore them. I have a large garden, and we walk a lot, but really want a happy hacker rather than agility etc. So many things to think of!