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.

We've officially adopted Lola :)

Haven't put her in her crate since yesterday morning and she's been very good!

Have learned she's quite rubbish at stopping or not running into me! I always tell the kids stand still and peanut won't run into you but that doesn't work with Lola!

I hope you don't get lurchered. Our last dog used to get frightened and run back to you and not bother to slow down - stopping by bumping into you instead.

That's a very quick decision on adopting and formalising it - congratulations on your new pack member! I hope to meet them both at Peterborough. (We took nearly 2 months to formally adopt mistlehound)()

Congratulations cinnamon - and Lola!

Fantastic news Cinnamon! So very happy for you and your family.

She's just such a lovely little thing mistlethrush, I can't imagine her not being there! ALL my minded children love her and so do their parents which is a huge relief. Her and peanut are so happy together it's lovely. And dh loves her but he tries to hide it! She was cuddled on his lap when I got home from my committee meeting last night . That's the only thing I feel bad about, she fits on a lap so she's cuddled up with us most of the time, peanut is so big he's usually on his own :(

CLearly you need a bigger sofa that Peanut can sit on and cuddle up next to you and you can have Lola sitting on your lap next to him....

So, harvest festival at school this morning. Dh took the dcs and I went down to the school at 9.05 to shorten the length of time Pip was left.

He started making a racket 25 minutes in - which is less then the normal afternoon school run and he's normally quiet for that. Then proceeded to wind himself up and get worse and worse for the next 45 minutes till I got back. He was full on screaming, barking and howling and in the end he even set off Lurcherboy, which is not good at all.

Good job we put a note through the neighbours' door last night, apologising in advance, explaining he's never been left that long and that we would be recording him and working on his training.

Can't believe we have the same problem again and am dreading the weeks of training and being trapped in the house it's going to take to sort it out.

I feel awful, it's my worst fears confirmed.

Moose - you've done it before. You know all the tricks. You can do it! (And at least you can now take him out regularly to the park ) - lots of short socialisation trips and more clicker training to wear him out...

I know, I know and I've calmed down now. I just felt so bloody awful when I got back from the school.

Ridiculous thing is I was delayed getting home because I was speaking to another mum about getting our two pups together for a socialisation session!

We've been to the park three times today already. First time was just after I got back from the school and first attempt at both dogs on lead at the same time. It went really well, until Lurcherboy (who was ridiculously excited at having Pip out in the park with him) shot off after a tiny yorkie/chihuahua type pup on the other side of the park. I thought the park was empty, as I didn't see them come in whilst focussing on Pip's leadwork.

I didn't panic - after all, he always comes back .... well not today. Little so and so shot across to it, fortunately realised it was a dog, circled it and came back to about my 4th call BUT THEN the little sod recalled, grabbed a treat from me, legged it and did it again! He never does that, his recall is usually really good, at worst he'll head off, get halfway there then come back. If I'd had my wits about me I would have realised I had my whistle with me and I'm pretty sure he'd be back like a rocket for that, because he's been sharing Pip's recall training.

Fortunately the other dog had a very laid-back owner, who was on his phone with headphones in the whole time. I apologised and he said 'ah don't worry about it, he was only playing'. So at least I didn't have an irate owner to deal with, but I was seriously unimpressed with Lurcherboy nontheless.

Still, Pip got to meet a beautiful silky, long-coated lurcher and an adult cockerpoo, both of which were really lovely with him and was also fussed by several lovely dog-walkers and a couple of children.

Went back later and he met a really sweet border collie. He adamantly didn't want to meet her, but eventually came and sat next to me while I crouched down and let her say hello.

He wasn't as keen on the chocolate lab, so we just sat a distance away and I shovelled treats in his gob while he watched her calmly.

He's not at all sure about other dogs at the moment, in fact, he's stressed enough to not take chicken off me when they approach, but at least isn't reactive and doesn't bolt or panic, so all the signs are good.

Honestly, between him being ill, then the dcs being ill, then me being ill, all my plans for properly socialising him and getting him out and about loads were blown out of the water with us being cooped up in the house and now I'm back to blooming remedial training - which is always much harder than getting it right in the first place. That's what I'm p'd off about really I guess.

Trying to be less negative, I suppose he's fine with absolutely everything - except other dogs and being left, so at least I know what two areas I need to focus on.

We got a collie cross at 10mo who hadn't been socialised (and had also been very badly treated). We had to keep her on a flexi because if we let her off and then another dog appeared on the horizon she legged it - sometimes several miles, along the village roads - so clearly not acceptable. So, on her flexi, she climbed us, mud and all, in her desperation to get away. We took her to puppy training and she was the only dog under the chair / on a lap/ trying to get out of the door whilst all the others had a wonderful time playing.

Agility training helped her - because she worked out after a few sessions that none of the dogs were really interested in her - and that they were interested in actually doing the agility - which she became interested in doing too - she got not too shabby and really loved doing it.

To really sort it out we ended up with a puppy - turned out to be a collie terrier cross but looked a small funny looking thing when we got her - this was the thing that did it for her - having a confident dog that would do all the meet and greets so that she could skulk behind our legs and not get bothered.

Lot of words - but the point is that she was 10 months and didn't have the (OK relatively good in relation to socialisation) start that Pip had - at least he was out and socialising with one dog and seeing others. He's only young still - once he gets his confidence up he will improve.

Thanks Mistle, it does help to hear that other dogs have got past missing ideal socialisation. I'm very sensitive about it because of our fear aggressive boy years ago. Similar circumstances, in that he was ill (although in his case it was bone/joint problems in his legs) but was huge and far too heavy to carry everywhere like we did Pip, so ended up with limited socialisation. He was rescued from a puppy farm though and we were told several times that he most likely had a genetic tendency on the GSD side which made the FA more likely.

Pip does what your collie did. Waits and watches while Lurcherboy says hello, then kind of edges out and allows himself to be sniffed and checked over - not exactly loving it, but at least he's not snapping or bolting.

So, I think a few weeks of saturating him with friendly introductions and he'll come round. Then he'll be starting puppy classes as well and I know they have very well socialised adult dogs on hand there to help as well. I'm thinking of putting him through their good citizen scheme, as he's so bright, loves training and it would be good to challenge people's perceptions about Lurchers if he could do it.

All quiet on the afternoon school run, so feeling a lot calmer now. Spent the hour before I went out intermittently popping him in his cage, leaving the room, coming back giving him a big chunk of chicken, then leaving again, before coming back, more chicken and letting him out. We were up to about 12 minutes by the time I went to the school.

Also realised I have inadvertently been giving him signals when he's going to be left, as he has such messy kongs and treat toys that I've been taking his bed out and just giving him a blanket that get's chucked in the wash when I get back. Decided to forget about trying to keep his bed clean, he was in there already when it was time to go, so I just dropped the kongs in, pulled the curtains and left (realised he's fine at night when we go up to bed and leave him while he's awake and the curtains are closed then, so thought it might help).

Also did something I've worried about doing before. Just before I got back this morning, Lurcherboy started howling and as soon as he started, Pip stopped, so I left the kitchen door open with Lurcherboy in the bed under the table, thinking he would probably come in when he'd finished his kong. Got back and he was still in the kitchen, but neither of them had made a noise. Was only out for 25 minutes, but it's a start.

We really want to get Pip's crate into the kitchen, but first off, it's really too big and second, it's so echoey in there it makes things 100 times worse if they do howl in terms of bothering the neighbours. They've brought their caravan home this week though, so I'm hoping they'll be going away soon and we can do some intensive work getting him settled in there with Lurcherboy.

We thought that mistlehound was getting SA early on into getting her - it wasn't just being left though - it was if DH was out of the house, even if I was there.

Now we are able to tell her that she needs to stay and guard the house - she'll sometimes stay lying on her bed in the hall and watch us go out. Normally she's been on the sofa and slinks out of the sitting room grinning at us when we get back. She has smiley eyes even if she doesn't manage a full-on lurcher toothy grin.

Mistlehound sounds like she's so full of character.

Lurcherboy has really expressive eyes as well, you can always tell his mood from them - they smile when he's happy and look so sorrowful when he's sad.

I really thought he'd have been in the living room on the sofa when I got back - I was gobsmacked when he was still in his bed in the kitchen.

Oh, Moose, I'm sending you a very large virtual gin - it certainly sounds deserved. This is sometimes one of the things taht is so frustrating about having a dog with "issues" - there are days when there are lots of other things going on, and having to deal with the dog is just the last straw.

We had a day like that last week - I was snowed under. We were doing mountains of prep for the GGG and I was trying to get the house tidy as the ILs were kindly coming to dogsit the two boys. Feeling super stressed, and then one of them decided to wee lavishly on the dining room rug. I just wanted to burst into tears, as it meant MORE bloody washing, cleaning, etc on top of the mountain of other stuff.

On a more positive note, though, we had a lovely walk this morning. There were lots of squirrels in the park so lots of chasing and sniffing of molehills. It brings such a smile to my face to see them zooming about having fun.

We have two 2 seaters mistlethrush so when I'm on my own peanut sometimes shares with me but when dh is home he doesn't fit, although he's tried!

Sorry to hear things haven't gone so well moosemama :( It sounds as though you already have lots of plans and strategies and I'm sure you will conquer it sooner rather than later. Glad to hear you can go to the park now though :)

I know what you mean scuttlebutter, walking the dogs give me so much joy! Even after a horrible day I can't help but smile at them running around like loons and sniffing in a weird zigzag pattern.

Thank you Scuttlebutter, that sounds like exactly what I need this evening, (good job it's virtual though, as am still on flipping antibiotics). To be fair though, the day did get better and we ended up having a nice afternoon, so it could have been a lot worse.

The Gods smiled on me in the end. Ds2 was invited to a friend's house to tea and to meet their puppy so didn't get home till nearly 6.30 and ds1 doesn't get home till 5.00 now. So, just being myself and dd we opted for a cuddle in front of her favourite programme, then baking chocolate brownies, which was lovely. We don't get much time on our own together now she's in Reception and I miss it.

Getting out with the dogs for a couple of walks really helped get things back in perspective. Lurcherboy was ridiculously excited to be out with Pip and it was so lovely seeing Pip's delight at finally being able to sniff every blade of grass and chase every leaf.

It's funny how dogs can be both the best and worst things in your day all at the same time isn't it?

I have just finished washing and drying all of Pip's bedding after resigning myself to him smearing it with extremely stinky Fish4dogs salmon mousse while I'm on the school run every day. He is highly unimpressed, obviously preferring it to be stinky and is now sleeping on top of Lurcherboy in the middle of the living room floor instead.

Also, my neighbours have gone away - yay! So we have all weekend to do lots of being left alone type training and hopefully find a way to get his crate into the kitchen. I thought they were both retired, but dh says the wife still does a bit of p/t teaching, so I'm wondering if they're taking advantage of Tuesday's strike to grab a long-weekend, in which case I will have 4 days to work on getting him to settle when left.

I know what you mean about the highs and lows of dogs. We were having a lovely walk until Pooch found the only puddle in the whole entire park and remerged covered in silty mud. I won't mention the fox poo the day before. I didn't have towels in the car that day

Just bought Pip a new collar. He has to have a flat collar, rather than a houndy martingale for puppy classes and actually his ears are too big for a flat collar to slip over anyway so that's ok.

Took ages to choose because dh and I couldn't agree on any - and we've looked at hundreds - but in the end we both agreed on Spins and Twirls - 7th collar down on the list). It picks up the tones in both his guard hairs and eyes, so fingers crossed it will suit him.

I've paid for one of those slidey name tags, engraved with the legal requirements, to be sewn into it as well, so now I can get him one of the nicer enamelled dangly tags to set it off.

Actually, I've spent a fortune on him this morning, as I've been waiting for payday to come around so I could buy his harness, longline and collar. So now he has a Perfect Fit Harness, 10m longline and new collar all on the way. Having palpitations at how much it all cost, but dh didn't bat an eyelid. Think he's just relieved he got the new job he went for at the beginning of the month!

Help! Ordering collar for Lola and need some votes for patterns, dh doesn't care so won't help.

The choices are these, this, this or this

Your one for Pip is lovely moosemama and yay for your dh's job, must be a relief for both of you :)

Is this the show in Peterborough? Trying to find details!

Think I like the second and third links best in that order, but I'm no help, it's taken me weeks to choose Pip's and I'm still doubting my choice.

This is the LL section for all things Peterborough and I've just had a circular email from Kaye that should have gone to all members.

Really disappointed we can't go, because not only could I meet you lot, but it would be so good for Pip.

I am sitting here listening to fireworks, full blast. Most annoying, but am trying to get Pip used to the sounds before they start up for bonfire night. I've already noticed he's not keen on the screamy ones.

We are really pleased about dh's new job, but I'm less pleased that he's probably staring in November and won't be allowed to take leave for 3 months, so that means very little time off over Christmas. Ds1 has a month off and I will be tearing my hair out by the end of that. Really need to get Pip over his SA so we can get out of the house.

Dh on the other hand is over the moon, as he hates his current job, it's a very prestigious company, quite alternative and definitely looks good on his CV, it's 12 minutes from ds1's new school and he will be working with several of his mates.

Just took Pip to the village, then picked up Lurcherboy and went to a local park. Lurcherboy was a right pita again. We didn't take his flinger and he barked at every other dog that had a ball. Then, when we were sitting by the play area a Miniature Schnauzer pup (about 7 months) that belongs to some girls from ds2's year came up to us and stood there staring at Pip, so he barked at it. Just one bark, then turned his back and sniffed the ground (calming signals) but then stoopid Lurcherboy jumped up from where he was dozing and barked too - although he had no idea what he was barking at. Schnauzer wasn't bothered in the slightest - all three were on the lead and well away from each other - but it stressed me out, as Lurcherboy has a deep houndy bay and sounds quite scary even when he's being friendly and I don't want him getting a rep at the school for being aggressive.

Fortunately there was a lovely lady there with her JRT x ? (poss Maltese) and she approached us and asked if her dog could say hello, which was lovely of her. Her little dog was so sweet, she said hello nicely to Lurcherboy, then lay on her back and exposed her belly, so Pip was brave enough to approach her and sniff her nose. We had a bit of a chat about him being a pup and delayed socialisation etc, then he went back to say hello again. First time he's voluntarily approached another dog

Should've seen his eyes when a Great Dane walked past though!

Cinnamon - that's where it is - and that's what's happening at the same time. It will be good to see you there - if you haven't found me by then, on the Sunday I am one of the ring stewards . Moose - we'll have to sort something another time.

Moose - good choice of collar - that sort of colour suits mistlehound. I'm going to see if I can try her with a turquoise one - having seen how they suit another tan dog... although we do have the added issue of the scruff...

Thanks mistle. Turquoise was one of my other colour options.

Have you seen the new thread in chat for Kaia pup? She is the spitting image of Pip, but for her wider facial blaze and darker guard hairs - it's uncanny. I can't help thinking they are probably related, given they're the same age as well. Wondering if Pip was perhaps dumped by travellers heading across the UK via Wales. Perhaps the bitch was in whelp and they dumped them as they were born or maybe they just kept the ones they thought they wanted and dumped the rest as and when they made their choices.

Yes, she is very similar - and different litter mates are different in any case - did you see the photos of the brace at Askern (mistlehound was in it with the dog that she shared a kennel with in LL's care and they looked lovely together and were completely relaxed about being together so close) - the bitch was rough haired and the dog is smooth, but they are both stunning merles.