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.

Isis, he probably just needs time to settle in and get used to life in your home. Perhaps try getting him used to being in another room for short periods while you are still there - maybe in the next room - and also to you moving between rooms without him following every time.

You could try leaving him with a tasty chew or stuffed treat toy, like a kong every time you go out of sight, so he starts to associate you not being there with something nice.

It's very early days for him to be left for anything more than a very short time and he'll more than likely need you for security to begin with.

I don't have experience with Greyhounds personally, but hopefully someone like Scuttle, who is really experienced will be along to offer more breed specific advice shortly.

Congratulations on your new family member.

Isis - don't tell him off - he won't associate being shown the shreds with chewing the bags up - he might look as though he does, but that's just him trying to appease you probably. I also recommend what Moose has suggested - tasty things to chew - or even things like a treat toy with some of his normal kibble (if that's what he's eating) in it so that he has to work at getting it out.

Also work on the separation - can you get a dog gate (or even a child gate) so that you can leave him in there but he can still hear you in the house - just make it 2 mins or even 30 secs to start with. Also lots of putting coat on and picking keys up and then sitting down to watch TV for 5 mins, up, out of the front door for 30 secs and back in - so that he gets used to you going in and out and doesn't notice the cues to you leaving.

Thanks all. I've got him some bones with marrow to chew, would you only give them when you're not there or would that just draw attention to it? I will start getting him used to me going in and out. The only time ill have to leave him for more than a short time is at night. I have very steep stairs and he doesn't seem to be able to get up them! Would you encourage him up and let him sleep in your bedroom? Worried I might not be able to get him back down again!
Oh, but I do so love him, though! He really is lovely

If you don't want him up there, don't encourage him up. I wanted mistlehound to sleep in the hall like our previous dog - who was allowed up but had her bed in the hall - but mistlehound was definitely not happy with that solution and sleeps in our room. But she doesn't have any problems with stairs and isn't greyhound height.

Peanut took a good few days to climb the stairs without encouragement and a week or so to be confident with them and our stairs aren't steep. It's up to you, if you're happy/want him up there then encourage him it will definitely make nights easier. We used to shut our previous dog in our shower room (very large) as she liked to be in a small space. Peanut cried the whole night the first night in there so we decided we'd give him a try in our room as we were happy for him to be there just didn't want him on our bed. He stayed on his bed all night so we were all happy.

As far as I understand it you have something that's a special treat when you're not there so that they have something to look forward to and then remove it when you're home. Peanut loves pigs ears and the knuckle bones from the pet stall on our local market for chewing on. Lola hides any treats that she can't eat quickly and never eats them, don't know if she doesn't like them or is too worried about them being stolen but she did it even when she was shut in her crate when peanut couldn't take anything from her.

I'm not particularly bothered about him being upstairs, I don't think he'd wee or anything, which would be my only worry, just I am really not sure if he could get back down if he did make it up. I think I'll leave him to it and if he decides he can handle it by himself then fair enough! I've left him downstairs with a huge bone while I'm putting dd to bed and haven't heard any whining so hopefully he's too busy gnawing to get up to mischief

That's right cinnamon. Ideally you have something they only get when you are out, so they start to look forward to it. My two can't wait to see the back of me when they see the kongs come out (just wish that would continue when they've finished scoffing them ).

You can however get him used to enjoying a kong or whatever treat you choose in your company first, so that he already associates it with being relaxed and then start only giving one to him when you leave and removing it as soon as you return.

Keeping exits and entrances low key is also important. No sad, prolonged goodbyes or effusive reunions. Just give the treat then leave and when you get back say a casual hi, then ignore the dog for a few minutes. I don't go into the kitchen with mine for at least five minutes after I get home - longer if I've been on the school run and have book bags and letters etc to sort out. Then I go in, remove the kongs and open the back door for the dogs to go out, make the dc's snack and give it to them or make a cup of coffee if I'm on my own, before giving the dogs a fuss.

Mistle's advice about doing all your usual exit routine stuff (hair, make-up, keys, handbag, coat, shoes etc) randomly and intermittently and not actually leaving, is excellent. I had to do a tonne of this to desensitise Lurcherboy to me leaving, as I hadn't realised how much of a routine I was in and he could spot I was going out practically before I'd made up my mind I was going.

Cinnamon, Pip hides his antler chews by burying them under the living room dog bed. Then occasionally he sticks his head under there, barks at them before charging round the room like a lunatic and barking at them some more. He's a weird dog!

Isis, sounds like he's settling a bit already if he's been quietly eating his bone while you were upstairs.

He loves his bone, so hopefully that will be a solution. Going to get a kong as well, they look fab. I was upstairs for over an hour in the end, and he was perfectly happy on his bed with his bone :) I took it straight off him when I got down and he was fine with that. I knew they were gentle dogs but I'm really bowled over with how lovely he is. I am gushing but I really am in love! I was a bit worried he wasn't eating enough (he's skinny even for a greyhound so needs feeding up) but this evening he's been really interested in his tea so I reckon he's feeling more and more settled. Thanks again for all the advice

What do you put in the kong, just any little treats or does it have to be a special kind?

Mistlehound is currently asleep in her thundershirt. We have had fireworks popping at a distance on and off all evening. We have acknowledged that they've been going off, and giving her a treat and she's been settling down again. We shall see how things go with the fireworks... but its looking fairly positive at the moment. Of course, don't know whether its the thundershirt or the treats - but, frankly, if she's feeling less concerned its good.

Isis - a greyhound, even when at pet weight, will still have ribs showing - and possibly even pinbones showing a little bit. Compared to a lab, he will always look skinny. However, if he's at racing weight, yes, he could do with putting a bit of weight on! What are you feeding him?

Kong - mine doesn't 'do' kongs so its not possible for me to recommend her favourite. I have seen it recommended to use some of his kibble (if he's on kibble) and mixing with natural yoghurt or peanut butter and then freezing it.

Peanut butter or I bought a can of spray liver flavoured I think that was in pets at home by the kongs :)

He has his 3 lower ribs plus a fair bit of spine and his pinbones showing quite prominently. I'm feeding him what the RGT recommended, a litre of dry food (the one they use at the RGT) plus one tin, plus treats, plus bits of leftovers from our meals, little bit of egg, meat, tuna, watered down milk, and he's had some quinoa this evening which he seemed to enjoy! I split his main food, the dry plus tin, into a morning and evening meal and just tip the scraps into his bowl when they occur.

oooh, peanut butter, that's a great idea, Cinnamon!!

Isis, I stuff my dogs' kongs with a dessert spoon of peanut butter (you can use pate or philadelphia or anything sticky) smeared around the inside, then the bottom half with their usual kibble, followed by a layer of cooked chicken, followed by some more kibble, then a plug of either more peanut butter or philadelphia or some fish4dogs salmon mousse.

Basically, anything your dog likes to eat and doesn't upset their stomach can go in their kong. You can google Kong recipes and loads of ideas come up.

If you freeze them they take longer to empty, but my two ignore frozen kongs, I assume because they don't smell as tasty.

Some people say that a fit sighthound should have the last 3 ribs showing and visible hip pins. Pip seems to be like that regardless of how much he eats. He's currently eating the maximum amount of his kibble, usually for giant breeds and is still a skinny little thing.

Mistle, sounds like the firework counter conditioning is going really well.

I'm dreading the big display at the local secondary school tomorrow night. Then we have the one at ds2 and dd's school across the road on Friday. Pip hasn't been bothered so far, but those displays are always really loud.

Sounds positive mistlethrush. We're staying home tomorrow when our local display is on and going the one in the next town 6 miles away when hopefully it will be quieter at home.

Wow, you put loads in moosemama! I don't give peanut one anymore, now there's two of them he's happy to sleep while we're out no more pacing :)

Moose - can I suggest the treat and distract if he doesn't seem too upset about them? Immediately takes away mistlehounds attention from them (at least when she's wearing her thundershirt).

Isis - what kibble are you using? I would also be cautious of milk - we can't give our current one much without adverse effects.

What kind of effects, upset tummy?

Also, what is a thundershirt?!

thundershirt

Mistlehound doesn't like fireworks at all, so this is a hopefully way to give her a bit less anxiety.

Yes, milk gives her the squits if she has too much.

I have to really stuff them cinnamon, because Pip starts yelling the minute he finishes and he can finish an XL kong plus 2 mediums and a treat dispenser in under 40 minutes. The longest he's lasted is an hour and that's with several kongs plus a treat toy. Lurcherboy just gets a smear of peanut butter and a handful of kibble from his daily allowance in his, because he seems to gain weight quite easily now he's middle aged.

Mistle, Pip hasn't even appeared to notice the fireworks we've had so far. Will definitely try the treat and distract method tomorrow though if the big display bothers him at all. I tend to find getting him to do some trick training helps distract him, so will probably combine the two.

Isi Thundershirts are dog coats that are based around body-wraps used for anxious dogs. They really seem to calm some dogs but don't do a thing for others. We tried one for separation anxiety with Lurcherboy, but it didn't work for him.

Cross posted.

Isis, just reading yr posts. It's great that he is settling in so well, but do remember he is still in a transition, so give him time, space and not too much fuss in the early days. Be VERY careful at the door - the first few days are when escapes often happen. He still doesn't know your area and won't yet have solid recall with you, so is vulnerable. Make sure that ALL family members are very strictly drilled on the importance of keeping doors shut.

Go gently with the diet, don't rush into any changes straight away. Chewing is actually a self soothing activity - it releases endorphins for dogs which is one of the reasons they really enjoy it (apart from the nice things in the Kong).

We don't give ours milk - it doesn't generally agree with them and tends to make poo runny. You'll quickly find htat virtually every greyhound owner can talk for hrs about their dog's poo!

Seeing three ribs is quite normal and there's a fair bit of variation anyway between dogs as to their shape/boniness. We have four who are all on the same diet and we have four quite different shapes, though they are all healthy and look beautifully shiny. I work on the basis that it takes around six months for a grey to get their pet condition absolutely right as it's a mix of diet, and exercise - it's not just about weight. You are aiming for a fit, well muscled dog (obviously not at racing levels of fitness) with a glossy, soft coat, shining eyes and excellent condition. Initially, post adoption, it's quite normal for them to drop a bit of weight with all the changes in diet, routine etc. - don't rush into piling this back on - it will come in time by itself very nicely. Also don't forget the importance of worming regularly - essential.

Thank you scuttlebutter. The door opens into our little, enclosed garden, so if he did get out he wouldn't go far, but I will remember not to become complacent.
Last night I moved pretty much everything he could possibly get his teeth on but left a bag of flour with just a little bit left in it, where I knew he could get to it, then left him with his bone. Didn't hear any whining or pacing and in the morning I came down to a lovely, tidy kitchen, a happy greyhound and a worse for wear bone :)

Mine both have cereal with milk for breakfast as that's what peanut was having when I got him, they get very excited over breakfast, no sure if it's because it's the first meal of the day or because they like the cereal, usually weetabix.