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The doghouse

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Original poster

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

986 replies

TheCunnyFunt · 13/06/2013 10:18

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.

OP posts:
cinnamongreyhound · 17/08/2013 17:18

Retired greyhound trust. We visited on the Sunday and spent time with our dog, home checked weds and picked him up Saturday.

Park run is fab!! Our local one started 23 weeks ago and I've run it 10 times, missed 2 and volunteered the rest in that time. Prefer to run but feel I should help out too :)

Scuttlebutter · 17/08/2013 17:32

Rescues vary with homechecks - some will do a homecheck before a specific dog comes in for you, others will wait until a particular dog has been matched and they are sure you are a serious would be adopter. Unfortunately there is quite a high "drop out" rate between homecheck and adoption if you do the homecheck before matching, and rescues tend to want to make best use of their volunteer resources. A lot of rescues will insist (rightly, in my view) on a second home check even if you have adopted from them before.

Scuttlebutter · 17/08/2013 17:34

Cream tea for breakfast! Wow - don't think I could manage that. DH does Park Run sometimes with one of our hounds at our local NT property. Smile

cinnamongreyhound · 17/08/2013 18:40

Even though we've only had peanut 8 weeks scuttlebutter? Not a lot can have changed in that time. I understood when they did one this time as I hadn't adopted from them for 8 1/2 years!

I was up at 7, walked peanut, had a cuppa at parkrun 8.15-10 then processed results so it was more brunch Wink

cinnamongreyhound · 17/08/2013 18:42

Even though we've only had peanut 8 weeks scuttlebutter? Not a lot can have changed in that time. I understood when they did one this time as I hadn't adopted from them for 8 1/2 years!

I was up at 7, walked peanut, had a cuppa at parkrun 8.15-10 then processed results so it was more brunch Wink

Scuttlebutter · 17/08/2013 22:28

You could have changed job, altered the garden, got pregnant, separated from partner, etc. etc. At this time of the year, it can also mark watersheds like DC starting school, changing routines etc. Also, there's the issue of seeing how existing dog is settling in, routine etc. which can often dictate what sort of dog would best suit the set-up. I'd see it as the sign of a good rescue that really wants to make sure they get the right dog in the right home.

Cream tea for brunch - that sounds more manageable. Grin

cinnamongreyhound · 18/08/2013 10:35

That's fair enough, I guess with the number of people that don't go through with adoptions or return dogs they have to be careful. It's something I really dislike although the people who did our were lovely and it was really like a chat over a cuppa but you still hold your breath the hold time hoping they think you're suitable! It's very expensive in terms of volunteer time though I would have thought so I can see why it's skipped. A lady I was next to in the ring at the show was saying she just had a reference from her vet for her dogs. She has a lurcher and greyhound and is fostering a lurcher.

moosemama · 18/08/2013 11:59

I was so ridiculously nervous for our home-check cinnamon. I basically cleaned the whole house from top to bottom the day before and was still going strong when the lady arrived in the middle of the afternoon the following day. Blush

Totally unnecessary, she had a quick walk through the house, then went to the garden and we stayed out there to talk. I was almost willing her to go back inside and check out my nice clean house! Grin

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2013 20:51

Hi all! Congratulations on the new arrival moose! He's gorgeous! You don't want to keep him do you? :o

I'll read up on the thread when I get on the computer tomorrow.

LGT where I got Sprocket from now don't do homechecks or ask for an adoption fee for existing/previous (owners who've had dogs off them but the dog/s has passed away) owners. So if I wanted, I could ring them up, say I wanted a child friendly hound that was happy to live with another hound, meet a dog, let Sprocket meet the dog, then take it home. Could probably have one by midweek if I wanted to!

OP posts:
Mitzi50 · 18/08/2013 20:55

Hi.. I am in the process of possibly adopting an ex racing greyhound from a rescue centre. The centre have been really helpful but I would like to hear others' experiences of greyhounds and small dogs (a JRT). They have recommended getting a boy as we have a girl. We went today and walked a lovely gentle boy -apparently he is fine with the JRT on their yard. We are taking our little dog there tomorrow to see if they get on.

I am a bit in love with him already so hope it works out. Apparently, he came in with 6 other greyhounds who were starving and quite neglected

moosemama · 18/08/2013 21:06

Ha ha! Thank you Cunny. You're not the first person who's asked that. Wink

Pip has had a busy socialisation packed day today. Been to PAH, an ice-cream cafe/parlour, walk (carry) through a touristy village, quick trip to a retail park, then a whirlwind visit to the ILs. He's absolutely shattered, but in a good way. Smile

moosemama · 18/08/2013 21:30

Just put two new photos on my profile.

Poor old Lurcherboy - Pip has discovered a new toy!

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2013 21:42

We went to a show today and ended up leaving early so I didn't get to know the results of the recall competition. Just had a message off the LGT lady to say she has Sprockets prize for winning slowest recall with a time of over 14 seconds! Blush How embarrassing :o

OP posts:
moosemama · 18/08/2013 21:48
Grin
cinnamongreyhound · 18/08/2013 22:36

Yay for sprocket Wink

I have messages the lady for homing in the south on LL today and she is arranging a home visit, eeek!

sebastianthesingingaubergine · 19/08/2013 07:28

I also emailed LL over the weekend to arrange a home visit. Am now thinking the fence isn't going to be high enough though, and we can't really change it as we are renting:( We are surrounded by woodland, so one glimpse of a squirrel and whoooosh!

Heidi's pups are on too, too cute.

sebastianthesingingaubergine · 19/08/2013 07:29

Ha ha Sprocket! I bet he is very proud:)

brunette123 · 19/08/2013 12:38

hello I have had greyhounds for a number of years - currently down to one who is fantastic with all other breeds and happily can go to day care if I am going out (though I do not work). I would like a second and have had one on foster but she is not good with other breeds - I took her to daycare just to meet the other dogs - there are 4 others and she went for the 2 small ones. I like her alot but not being able to use daycare is an issue as my boy loves it and I prefer it to leaving him/them alone with just a walker popping in and the day care lady does boarding too. What would you say would be the chances of me taking her to training if I do adopt her in order to get her chilled out with other breeds? Not been in this situation before - guess I was lucky with my previous greys
thank you in advance.

Scuttlebutter · 19/08/2013 14:15

Hi Brunette, there's a great deal you can do, to gradually acclimatise them to other breeds and get them used to meeting other dogs out and about, though they will probably alway be most comfortable with other pointies.

However, if she has a very strong/high prey drive, you will always need to be careful when she is around very small fluffies like Yorkies etc - that is simply going to be too tempting for her. A few options - keep them separate,put in a baby gate and make sure she is muzzled. I would also discuss this with your rescue - they may wish to comment/make suggestions as presumably she will be adopted soon? It may also be that this is not the right dog for you to be fostering - a home without the pressure of boarding/socialising might suit her better while she gets used to other dogs.

brunette123 · 19/08/2013 15:50

Thanks. She has been in a home before but was taken back to kennels not sure why. Day care lady has baby gates and she can jump them. I suspect she will never really be ok which is a great shame - to be fair I do not use day care very often - only maybe once a month but I live alone and occasionally do go out for a day. She is a super loving girl but even on the lead can be very wilful and you know how they can jump quite high. Its like they have 2 sides - a lovey dovey chilled out butter wouldn't melt side and the wild possessed side. Thanks for your advice.

PeanutPatty · 19/08/2013 16:01

We met a grey in the woods last week. As soon as I spotted them I knew he was a Yellow Dog cos the owner tensed and started pulling his dog to one side and he seemed anxious. He was on lead and muzzled and I called my girl back and I got Talking to the owner and told him about the Yellow Dog Project. His grey hates other dogs and blimey ie never seen such an agile dog. He was easily jumping as high as his owners head, say 6ft? The dog was jumping and turning himself inside out and was clearly unhappy about my dog. It was a short convo as I didn't want to stress his dog out any more. The guy seemed interested in the project so perhaps he might get a bandana which would make his walks a bit less stressful.

brunette123 · 19/08/2013 16:06

Thanks for that but I think I may be best with either a different breed or at least a different grey - walking two on my own and am not that big I have to be able to control them and feel confident plus my current dog misses out on socialising as I have to keep them both away from others - ah am very sad but probably know what I have to do.

PeanutPatty · 19/08/2013 16:20

Brunette - there WILL be someone out there who is perfect for that grey. Don't feel bad. You are doing the right thing and putting the dog's needs before your own.

brunette123 · 19/08/2013 17:06

Thanks PeanutPatty - great name btw

Scuttlebutter · 19/08/2013 17:25

Absolutely agree with Patty - you have already done her a huge favour by fostering her, and giving the rescue all the information and updates on how she is. Smile

There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing the right dog for you and your lifestyle, and the right owner is out there for her. Good example - our lovely bonkers boy - really doesn't like/do children. He'd be thoroughly miserable in a home with DC - with us two adults he is as happy as Larry, gets spoiled rotten and copes very well with the occasional visiitng family children.