Are you a Greyhound, Whippet or Lurcher owner? Come and have a seat on yet another 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 stories, advice and shopping tips!
AK Creations
Dog O Nine Tails
Doggy Bags Bakery
Kitsch Collars
Meggie Moo
[[http://www.milgicoats.co.uk/ 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.

The breeder and our vet has suggested a puppy would be better for us as it can be trained from the outset that the cats are not playthings. We plan to have the pup on a lead when we first get home with it and allow the cats to approach when they feel ready. Just wondered if anyone has done this and could pass on any tips!

What about Neala? Which is an Irish name meaning "champion", or Keva which means "beautiful"?

I've done it twice recently with adult dogs, I'd recommend locking the cats in for a few days. We have a stairgate because of my work so cats could be upstairs and dogs down. Dog muzzled whenever left alone until we were sure it was ok and first introductions on lead. You'll get an idea quite quickly how it's going I go :)

I like Betsy from you ds's suggestions. Mistlethrush is good at this, know where to come of I need name suggestions

Oooh I like Neala too :)

How do you pronounce 'Neala'? Is it just Knee-la?

I like that. She was quite a good runner according to her stats so maybe it's appropriate.

I like Betsy best from DD's selections. I have vetoed many more including Abby, Lucy, Rosie, Padme and Hermione.

Thank you cinnamon.....we planned two weeks with the cats indoors. To be honest, they will like that as pup coming in feb (all going well) and they don't like the cold one little bit. They're happiest snuggled up beside a radiator, so a couple of weeks indoors won't be a hardship to them! Plus, I'm sure they'll get lots of cuddles and tuna to help things settle down.

How old were your cats? Mine are 12/13 so not ancient, but definitely not up for playing etc with a pup. I'm really hoping that they will show the pup who's boss and then carry on as before.

We've been considering this for over a year now, got as far as home checking and approval from a greyhound rescue but after a lot of discussion with the rescue and our vet, we think a pup would work better for us. I'm happy to put in the work, and I also work from home so have the luxury of being around as much as necessary to supervise, train etc.

The breeder we are talking to is lovely, she's been so helpful and honest with us. We have a really good feeling and connection with her, so we trust her when she says there should be no problems once the initial dust settles.

Cats are 3, 10, 12 and 14-16ish as she was a stray! They've been living with a dog who we lost in may but that didn't seem to help, we're totally freaked out! Didn't take long before they realised all was ok but with our second dog I kept them in as the more they see each other the quicker they settle I think as long as its positive exposure. Definitely better with our second dog which I put down to her beig smaller so less of the threat?

We had several cats when we got our puppy. She's not a pointy tho. Our first introduction involved the pup being very excited she had new litter mates as she went bounding over wagging hello. The cats legged it! We then put a cat in the travel basket and did introductions that way. Made sure they had their own space and kept introductions short, sweet and regular. Also progressed to putting her on the lead and using treats to call her away from the cats etc. Out walking she knows which cat is ours but would chase others if off lead. It can definitely be done!

Also don't go for a really long name! Something snappy for if you need to yell it quickly, but that's my opinion.

Shall look at Annie thanks everyone. Reckon we will be recommended to get a dog tho.

Yes, Nee-la (disclaimer, not Irish).

Annie is adorable isn't she? What do you make of the grumbly introductions? Would walking her be difficult do you think as a result? Bearing in mind I usually have small children with me. The cat and child side of things is very encouraging plus she is a beauty. Plus the fact she loves a jog makes her very appealing.

Peanut, the best thing to do would to pm the current fosterer. He's had her twice now - he's not going to want her to go to the wrong home another time so will not paint the wrong picture of the home she needs. Actually, its one of the things I really like about LL - they don't say 'yes, this dog will be fine for you' and land you with something completely unsuitable - they will say 'your home is possibly suitable for this dog or that dog, the one you've shown interest in is not suitable because...' (we had this). Stanley is also looking for a new home again - he's been living with small children - the older bitch is not getting on with him - he's lovely but rather full-on.

I've done as you've suggested and bored him with our life story. Now to wait. I'm not going to be offended if he says no. Deano also looks lovely except I don't think he will be a running companion which is one of my our main criteria.

Thanks Cinnamon and Peanut, I hope it works for us too! Our cats would not tolerate being in a basket and introduced to a pup - if we did that, I fear the first introductions would be too negative for the cats and we'd never get there. We planned to come in to the house, with the pup held but on a lead and let the cats come to us to investigate. Or scarper upstairs ha ha.

Dog is going to be crate trained, so won't be sleeping or eating in the same place as the cats which I hope will make it less of a threat to them. We have one very bold cat who I know will put the pup in it's place, and one nervous scaredy cat who will take longer to come round. Neither of them totally freaked when we had a large greyhound come visit us - they just stood and stared with tails like bog brushes when I thought they'd have fled upstairs. They were very interested in the dog's scent once it was gone too, sniffing the rug where it was sitting etc.

Argh I wish I had a crystal ball to know that this will be ok!!!!!

Eddie, I would have thought that a puppy would be the best bet.

Peanut - I did exactly this with my initial 'information' that I sent over - I doubt that the homecheck actually filled in anymore apart from the state of the fencing and the garden!

My little shadow is very happy to have me back - but doesn't want to let me out of her sight! I've quite enjoyed being able to go to the loo without the dog joining me...

Peanu asked to go out for a poo, yay!!!!!! Proper little cry at the back door, so proud of him

THat's more than mistlehound has managed in a year - but she is VERY quiet in the house unless she's asleep!

I think he's feeling more confident as he barks when someone knocks, he has a big bark!

Oh my goodness that was a horrible dog walk! Lola went and sat under a tree!

Yesterday I took them for their normal walk then I took Lola with me for a run, we did 12.5 miles and then we went on a local fungi walk for 2 hours, she NEVER tires! Dh said peanut cried when we left for out run, he'd never do 12 miles so it's kinder to leave him home :)

Some dogs really are like Duracell bunnies! Impressive mileage Cinnamon and Lola! It's hard to leave one behind but also quite good for them too.

Perhaps DH can be encouraged to do something 'special' just with Peanut when you go out for a run? Some clicker training or playing? Even a short walk on his own? I know that our old mistledog used to really appreciate being taken out on her own, not with DS - it meant that it was just the two of us and I was going specially for her I think.

Mistlehound has managed to put on weight over the week I've been away - I don't know what DH was doing. Wet weather can't have helped.

If someone knocks at our door she slithers off the sofa and sidles up to the front door, wagging.

Nelly used to go and hide if the door went!

Could ask dh, they were snuggled up on the sofa when I got home . I just felt really bad that he cried :( we're all going tonight and will do 4-5 with other dogs which he can manage. I'm impressed at how his fitness has improved since I've been taking him running.

Had fab dog run tonight, had a new dog with us peanut had a grumble but then was fine, her and Lola had a few moments that I wasn't sure if they were playing or disagreeing but all fine after first mile. Peanut did 6 miles, very proud of him, think the cooler evening really helped him as he didn't do the come in and wander round panting not wanting to lay down :)

Feel very jealous of the running - and that you're not nearer so that you could take mistlehound out too! DH has managed to overfeed her the week DS and I were away so she's a real podge at the moment.

Have had response about the LL dog, the fosterer has no concerns about the household and all our elements. Main issue is meeting other dogs and recall. Have had a long think and I'm still going round in circles because as long as she is introduced to other dogs in controlled way she is fine, which is ok if it's me walking on my own or the entire family are waling together but I'm not so sure I am always going to manage it when I have the DC with me and I've a combination of children heading off in one direction and/or trying to climb a bench and I have failed to notice a dog aproach us. Fine if other dog on lead but most dogs here are off lead. All opinions very welcome.

We thought we might have to keep ours on the lead all the time (although it turns out we don't) - I wonder whether you could consider only having her off the lead when you could see everything was OK and the children were more easily herded - then putting her back on when the children need rounding up more?

How often do you walk with just you and the dc peanutpatty? Does he think she will improve over time with new dogs? I do know what you mean, mine kind of wander behind and moan for me to wait but if I need to concentrate on the dogs I do but it's not in a place I can't see them or that they can get lost or near a road. I know what you mean about other dogs off lead but do you often get approached at the moment? Lola was ambushed while we were out running Sunday and although she's a toughie you can see she was a little but unsure. She was on the lead and there were three of them, one who was very young bouncing around her. Only you know what you can handle, perhaps discuss it with dh but do why you feel is right, you don't want to dread going out for a walk but if she will fit in with your family then that would be great :)