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.

Really hope she is cat friendly!

Fosterer said she'll hunt some down!

Dh started worrying if we can afford 2 dogs last night :( We really can't if things go wrong but otherwise it's fine. Nelly cost us a lot on a credit card as most wasn't covered by insurance because she was euthanised and we went for individual cremation. This month is always bad because I've had time off and our car tax and mot is due! October he will be more cheerful, I hope.

Are you not tempted by either of them Peanutpatty?

We're the same cinnamon. I feel so much better now we've finally got them both insured. It's a load off my mind, even if it is costing over £40.00 a month.

Things are ridiculously tight here this month, with our holiday, puppy adoption fee, vet bills, probiotics, daily fresh chicken at about £5.00 a day paying for puppy classes up front, 2 x primary uniforms, PE kits and shoes and 1 x secondary uniform, sports kit and shoes, plus ds1's school dinners and bond bill, car tax, van MOT and having to buy a new washing machine all in one month. We were already sailing really close to the wind after all the vet bills we had with Oldgirl's cancer and Lurcherboy's waterworks troubles from April through June.

Dh is beyond stressed about money and really grumpy as a result and I have to spend out tomorrow on the £50.00 left over from the stool sample bill, plus worming and first vaccinations (again).

End result is we've had to take a payment break from our Loan this month to try and pull things back a bit.

We really want to take the dcs back to Ireland for a few days at half term, as we feel it will really benefit ds1's stress levels, but it's not looking like we can afford the ferry fare, as it's no cheaper in October than it is in July/August. We use all our Tesco vouchers from the whole year to cover most of our summer ferry fares, but would have to pay full price at half term.

Having said all that, month on month it normally it doesn't cost all that much more having two than one. As long as you factor in costs for flea/worm treatments and annual vaccinations and get insurance (even if it's the lower limit for lifetime cover) you probably won't notice too much difference.

The killer for us would be the 2nd lot of dog walking fees... On top of all the rest of it - Its just not doable at the moment. We are, however, so lucky that DH has been working from home whilst mistledog settled in. I'm sure we could cope now if necessary if/when he does work away again - DS will just have to get up a bit earlier so we can both go for a walk on the way to school....

Sitting here right now I'm not sure I can cope with a second, think the fumes might finish me off

I kind of get to the point where I think we both work full time and what's the point if we can't have anything we want!

We use Tesco vouchers, I do online surverys/scan shopping/send petrol receipts for a vouchers for some other treats. My mum treats the boys a lot but it would be nice to it ourselves too. I babysit and do Bodyshop parties, when I can get them and dh works any overtime that comes up. It gets to me more sometimes than others but so fed up of struggling :(

I am massively tempted but we've had an unexpected expense to the tune of almost £300. Typical timing too. We've finally confirmed a week away in a few weeks time so realistically I need to leave "dog shopping" until then as it wouldn't be fair to any new dog to come here then be turfed out again. Like you I need a cat friendly dog.

Despitenthenabove I find myself looking at their photos A LOT! Matilda is also nice, prob bit big and bouncy for young children?

Moose, I know how hard the new school business is, you have my sympathies. DS1 went to secondary about 45 mins by bus and didn't know anyone going either. I was an utter basket case but he settled in really well and is now flying. He has got some amazing friends (although when there was a party last month talking to the other mums they are all ASD too! It was funny seeing them all interact, when I say interact I mean play Yu-Gi-Oh at the table in the pizza restaurant pausing only to bark something about computers at each other.) I think it's nice for them when they go up to a bigger school because instead of being the slightly 'different' one in a small primary they find there are lots of other lovely souls out there just like them. Once they've got over the bloody transport being different anyway .

Flo looks so elegant! What a beautiful hound. I wouldn't worry about size difference, whippety boy and his brother are hard as nails even though they look quite dainty.

Whippety boy was quite obviously in a huff with me yesterday I think he has realised that his baby sister is here to stay. Instead of snuggling up close to me in the evening he sat at the other end of the sofa and gave me haughty stares! I took him for a looooong run on the beach this morning though and he got to jump in the river and roll in something stinky so I think all is forgiven.

Out of interest how many of you have your dogs name on their tags? I was advised yesterday not to as it makes it easy for someone to steal your dog. Hadn't thought about it really just thought if he was found someone would be able to talk to him. Don't get a lot of dog stealing around here but I guess you never know!

Ours have theirs on, tbh Whippety boy would go anywhere with anyone who looked at him if they knew his name or not would make no difference.

Eeeek, DS2 just left for his first day at secondary school, totally cool about it. Although you know you live with a child with SN (DS1) when his little brother kneels down to tie his laces for him! How can he run amazing science experiments and be so clever and yet laces are still beyond him?

DS's first day back yesterday (Y4) was, apparently, 'brilliant'. And he was up, and had got himself some breakfast to eat by the time I got downstairs this morning - better than yesterday when I had to get him up and got 'I don't want to go!!!'

I have given up looking at the LL 'other hounds' section as looking at the LL ones is bad enough.

DS and I are going down to Kent for a week with my parents at half term - the cottage takes dogs, but we haven't decided whether to take her or not yet - if its really good weather we might well do, but if it looks unsettled she'll probably do better at home and we can go round castles in the rain.

I've always put my dogs' names on their tags. Frankly, if someone is close enough to read the tag, they've already got the dog anyway. Same as LIW as well, all of ours - except perhaps Oldgirl - would go with anyone anyway, regardless of whether or not they knew their name. Oldgirl was a one woman dog really and tended to ignore other people, but if there was a frisbee or tennis ball involved, she was anybody's.

LIW, we bought ds slip-on Kickers - laces are still a no-no in this house. Hope your ds has a brilliant first day. Ds1 has gone for his two hour induction. He was positively green with anxiety yesterday and this morning, but dh has just text to say he went in absolutely fine. I'm sure he'll be ok one he sees the boy he made friends with at transition day again - they have a lot of computer games in common.

Mistle, glad your ds is enjoying his return to school. Ds2 is the same and has a really good school trip tomorrow so can't wait for that.

Dd starts Reception tomorrow.

Off to the vets in a minute to finally get started with Pip's re-vaccination schedule. (Need to wake him up and take him out for a wee first though.) Dd is coming too, which will be interesting. I've never taken a dc to a vet appointment before.

DS used to come quite often for mistledog's appointments, so he's used to it - I've only got the one (DS and dog) though so it might be easier. I think we did raise a few eyebrows when I weighed DS on the scales after weighing mistlehound last time we went in

We don't have mistlehound's name - our surname, phone no, mobile, and 'chipped' Would ideally like 'chipped and spayed'.

All done. Vet is really pleased with him. He's put on 2kg since he came to live with us and she now thinks he looks lurchery thin, rather than emaciated.

He had his first vax today and we go back in two weeks for the next one.

That's good moosemama! I almost always take mine, ds1 has never been a problem ds2 was horrible on Monday as he is every day at the moment.

Ds1 went back today to yr2 and didn't even say goodbye, leaving teary mummy in the playground! I think it helps that three of my minded children went in with us so were all chatting and no probs. My littlest one going to school went with her mum for her first reception day but from Friday ill have ds1 and 4 minded children in 5 different classes four days a week. Love school holidays!!

Peanut has managed to cut his leg on my buckle getting over excited when we came home. I've put a plaster on it just so he didn't spread blood all over the place while I sorted the kids lunches and ill have a proper look in a bit :(

Meant to also say what do you mean bad enough looking at LL dogs mistlethrush? Too tempting?

Yes. Too tempted. Too 'I wish'. Colin would do very nicely at the moment I think.

Never mind. mistlehound will be entering the brace competition at Askern with her kennel mate from when she was in the barn. We're giving it a trial run at Askern to see how they go down together (I know they're absolutely fine next to each other - they've seen each other regularly at racing and always greet each other before getting distracted by the forthcoming racing) and if they seem to be a popular pairing, we might also try them at Peterborough together. Whilst they no longer live together, I think that there is sufficient justification (if there needs to be - I have absolutely no idea!).

Cinnamon - I've heard 'vet wrap' highly recommended as a store cupboard medical supply. It sticks to itself but not dog hair apparently... Hope the cut mends very quickly.

Vet wrap is awesome. I use it on my horse and have used it on the dog. Be careful not to wrap it too tight.

Our dog is currently tagless! Need to get her a new one. It will have two mobile nbrs on it and probably "chipped" too. She's so soppy she'd probably go off with anyone.

I'm going to get one of the posh ones from the vet next time I'm there. mistlehound's is already wearing thin and we've had it for less than a year. this is the company that makes them and they look solid.

I've seen that blue dog bone one at pets at home mistlethrush. I love Colin too, such a cutie :)

Its the enameled ones I like - the daisy I think might be suitable... or the dog paw print. I mean, we have spent money on the collars, the tags might as well look up to scratch. The tag we have now is from PAH - one of the 'engrave in the shop' ones - engraving hasn't lasted as well as the one we sent off for in the post from the vets.

Nelly had hers from the local shoe repair man and had the bumpy bits of the bone worn out at the top but was fine. Peanut hasn't had his long enough to judge, I want to change it as it doesn't match his new collar . I was worried they would be too small, we have a lot of old people around here be nice if they could read the words on the tag if they found him!

How is Peanut's leg cinnamon? I love Vetwrap. I even used it to stabilise my ankle when I injured it last year as I could get it in funky colours compared to the human version, which only comes in blue or white. I had it in fuschia, purple and black and was very tempted by some of the jazzier neon leopard prints etc, but decided it was a step too far!

I've had a massive first aid kit, ever since I did the Canine First Aid element of my course. We had to have a master kit, which was a huge toolkit, full of everything including stuff for making, emergency leads and muzzles, temporary splints and Robert Jones Bandages etc, a medium/travel size version and a pocket one. I've just kept them stocked ever since.

mistle, I looked at those enameled ones, but they can't fit much on. I used to always buy from a company called Identitags, when the company was very small with great personal service. They used to sell webbing collars with the sliding brass tags actually stitched into them. Lasted the whole of my Wheaten's life and she was nearly 14 when we lost her. Then I just used to get a pretty one with basic details on to make her look pretty.

I'm thinking of using Pettags as they seem to get good reviews on lots of canine related sites.