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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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

999 replies

WhenSantaGotStuckUpACunnyFunt · 16/12/2013 19:32

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
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:
Thread gallery
20
cinnamongreyhound · 27/02/2014 13:53

We took peanut to meet Lola when we did. Collected her separately, took them for a short walk together and then remained close while they explored together. They got on so well when we went to look at her we didn't worry too much and we've had two spats since August, both over food when one had something and the other didn't :(
Since scuttlebuttersaid about being strict when we walk I am and they are very good at not getting tangled unless dh gets involved! He takes the p big style when I give them directions, but I also do it when we are running and they have learned whatever he says Angry
We can never fuss one without the other! And peanut is very protective of Lola when we're out and they're both on leads.
It's lovely and lots of fun but expect to regularly be in a dog sandwich!

PeanutPatty · 27/02/2014 14:20

Strict in what way?

mistlethrush · 27/02/2014 16:04

We had two dogs when we started with one colliex who hadn't been socialised properly and it led her to be very fearful of other dogs - to the extent she would turn tail and run home (even if a mile or more from home, along the road) on her own - or on the lead would climb up us to get out of the way. A trainer we had suggested it might help to get a puppy - so she could get used to it when it was young, and so that the other dog could take some of the 'heat' out of other dogs approaching.

When we got a puppy (also rescued, funny looking 4 mo ) she started out refusing to be in the house if the puppy was in - or out if the puppy was out - on day 3, the puppy was going down with kennel cough so a little less bouncy and she saw me chasing the puppy around in the garden (game) and thought it might be quite a good game (only if she was chasing to start with). Within 2 months she tollerated the puppy most of the time - although would grump if the puppy 'touched' her when they were nearby. Within a year they could both be asked to sit in the footwell of the passenger seat for journeys (sometimes had to be told to come out of the back of the car and go and sit down there as the two of them would be 'chasing' cyclists and anything else remotely possible to chase from the back of the car, very vociferiously and energetically, when being driven along).

2nd dog DEFINITELY helped first dog - first dog ended up simply skulking behind our legs if there was another dog and dog 2 did all the meeting and greeting (and telling to sod off quite a bit too)(she was a very feisty collie terrier cross in the end... nightmare combination!)

moosemama · 27/02/2014 16:53

It's been very different with Pip than it was with my previous dogs, but I think some of that has to do with Lurcherboy still grieving for Oldgirl and being used to living with 2, then 1, old ladies as opposed to a crazy pup.

The most I've ever had at one time is 3.

First time we had two was when we introduced our first Lurcher to our rescue GSD. GSD had spent every moment since we rescued her with either myself or dh (then bf) but took us taking in a frankly bonkers 16 week old Lurcher pup in her stride. She took on the role of matron and taught the pup good manners and how to live in house.

When the GSD passed away we took on our rescue GSD x Boxer boy. We got him at 8 weeks and he was as big as our Lurcher girl by about 12 weeks. Lurcher girl was lovely with him and it gave her a new lease of life having him around (she wasn't old, but she was grieving for GSD).

Sadly Lurcher girl got hit by a car after escaping my Mum's garden while she was dogsitting, so GSD x Boxer boy was on his own for about 10 months and coped admirably with it. (Bear in mind he was the boy that had severe fear aggression towards other dogs and new people.)

We were on a waiting list to get a Soft Coated Wheaten puppy and had to wait almost a year, as we wanted ours to be undocked.

Our hearts were in our mouths when we brought her home. We set up an indoor run in our sitting room and introduced them through the bars, with GSD x on the lead. He was fascinated at the tiny bundle of fluff and she adored him from the second she clapped eyes on him. We kept them apart, other than short introductions through the run bars for the first 48 hours. Then started having her in our arms and him loose, so he could approach and retreat as he felt he needed to. We needn't have worried. He was absolutely in love with her from the getgo and to our surprise started throwing playbows and paw swiping her. We spent a couple of hours with dh, myself and our best friend (who adores dogs but can't have one himself and was GSD x's best buddy in the whole world) lying on the floor with the two of them, rewarding GSD x boy and encouraging gentle play. From then on they were inseparable. He would let her lie on his back and bite his ears and jowls and hang onto the end of his tail as he dragged her the length of the living room! Grin

A year after we got our SCWT girl, we took on Oldgirl (Belgian Shepherd x Border Collie). She had an extremely bad start and was a mess with severe ear infections in both ears, a skin condition and a broken tail. By this time we had a through lounge with a BabyDan room divider across the dining room. We kept her on the living room side for two days and let GSD x boy have the freedom to approach and retreat as he felt the need, but again we needn't have worried. They said a few hellos through the bars and both kept inviting each other to play, so we opened the gate and they had a ball. Oldgirl as a 6 week old tiny bundle of fluff and teeth - with attitude. She used to literally hang off his jowls with her needle sharp teeth, while he walked around the room and would charge the length of the room, leap on his head and chew his ears - and he loved it.

Those two were inseparable and when we lost GSD x boy to fibrosarcoma at just 7 years old Oldgirl went into a deep depression. Sad She became very withdrawn, didn't want to play and developed lots of anxiety driven behaviours that we worked through with her.

Ultimately the only thing that snapped her out of it was taking on Lurcherboy a year-ish later - and she and he were inseperable from day one - hence him also grieving badly when we lost her last year.

When we got Pip Lurcherboy refused to even acknowledge him for the first couple of days. It was as if was saying 'What puppy? I can't see a puppy.' and concentrating on deliberately ignoring him. He was clearly disgusted with us for bringing home a small, furry, upstart and did a lot of grumpy grumbling (not at Pip, just flopping in his bed with a grouch mutter Grin). I think it was about day three before he decided to investigate the new addition, but every time he tried to play with him, Pip got all worried, screamed and hid. Hmm Pip would approach him for comfort and Lurcherboy would tolerate him getting in the bed with him, but clearly wasn't all that chuffed about it.

Since then it's been a gradual development of their friendship. The biggest leap was when Lurcherboy realised Pip was finally big enough to chase around outside with and when they were finally allowed off-lead together on walks. It was as if the penny suddenly dropped that having Pip around might have some fun benefits. Grin They have an absolute blast chasing each other and I think that's been the biggest success where bonding is concerned.

So, definitely not love at first sight for these two, but I feel they have been slowly, but steadily forging a strong friendship.

With Pip we tried to keep everything as normal as possible for Lurcherboy, so crated Pip in the Living room for the first month or so, so that Lurcherboy could still have his space and somewhere to retreat to when he'd had enough (his main bed is in the kitchen and we have a gate on the door which he can jump but Pip can't).

Almost forgot. With our first Lurchergirl, we introduced her and our GSD girl in my Mum's garden (which was neutral territory) and that's the recommended process. Either introduce for the first time on neutral territory or go for a parallel lead walk. We had to do things a little differently with our GSD x boy because of his fear aggression though, so his introductions needed to be done via a barrier of some sort - just in case.

moosemama · 27/02/2014 17:02

Massive post, but those our my experiences of introducing new dogs to each other.

Re walking and owning multiple dogs.

  1. Do walk them separately as well as alone, so they both get 1:1 time and time alone.

  2. Use separate walks to teach loose lead walking, then work on walking them together in the garden etc, before taking them on the road together on your own. (Teaching a cue like 'with me' or 'steady' is really useful for when/if they decide to play let's see who can be the leader. Hmm) I don't recommend lead couplers, as I prefer to have complete control of each dog separately.

  3. Feed separately initially and work up to feeding them in the same room - we fed Lurcherboy in his normal place and Pip behind the dog-gate until we were sure they were ok together.

  4. Give them a selection of beds to choose from, rather than one each.

  5. Clicker train separately and together, working on getting them to respond to 'name-cue' individually. It helps develop individual control when out and about. Kikopup has a video on this on youtube.

Sure there's loads more, but that's all I can think off of the top of my head.

Miriama · 27/02/2014 20:52

Does a Pointer Lurcher Cross count? Johnny is a 5 year old Serbian rescue dog, who has been with us for about a year. He is a lovely boy, big personality and very handsome... We also have a non pointy hound another Serbian rescue puppy who is English Setter Spaniel cross, As you might imagine these two need a fair bit of exercise to stop them going loopy!

mistlethrush · 27/02/2014 21:01

Probably a lot more than most of our 'straight' pointies!

PeanutPatty · 28/02/2014 14:53

We've found a pointy and all being well should be with us next week.

Mixture of excitement and anxiety and excitement and WHAT WERE WE THINKING type stuff.

Wondering what to do the first night - let them be together or keep them seperate?

CMOTDibbler · 28/02/2014 14:56

Oooohhh, how exciting Peanutpatty. What are they like?

PeanutPatty · 28/02/2014 17:36

CMOTD, it's a He and a young GreW. From what we have seen he is very sweet and a bit of a big baby despite being 3. He got on well with our Pooch. I'm hoping and praying that he he is kind to us pointy virgins. I know it's probably going to be a huge learning curve. He is so sweet. Craves affection and genuinely seems a nice guy. MrPP is totally smitten. Who woulda think it?

What do we do when we have to leave them alone together (eg when we do the school run/overnight whilst we sleep etc)? One in one room, one in the other or together?

Can someone tell me about insurance? Where? When? Is he classed a lurcher or a GH X?

cinnamongreyhound · 28/02/2014 18:01

Strict as in stopping them keep crossing over leads and getting a horrible mess Wink

Congrats peanutpatty!!!! That's great, what colour is he? I didn't do anything special with mine, although Lola had a crate when we first got her so was in there the first few nights and times left. Personally I didn't want one in my house so started leaving her out and found no destruction when I returned so gave the crate back. They had one falling out and I knew as soon as I got home that she was frightened, for a while after we shut the stair gate so she could get upstairs but he couldn't but it didn't happen again until 2 weeks ago when dh fed Lola and not peanut! Others will have more experience than me I'm sure.

mistlethrush · 28/02/2014 18:05

Insurance wise if you can put him down as a x breed, that will be less expensive on the insurance (but your vet will have to agree with you that he's a cross breed). I think he is actually classed as a longdog - but I bet the insurance won't have heard of that!

I would see how they go re sleeping - ideally if they are getting on well I would put them in the same room as your existing dog will reassure him rather than being shut on his own in a place he doesn't know... Although if he's been an only dog before, perhaps he will be absolutely fine with that. (My lurcher decided that she wanted to sleep in our room... well, actually on our bed but that wasn't acceptable and she slept on a mat beside me which has gradually moved across the room so its easier to get out of bed without tripping up!)

PeanutPatty · 28/02/2014 18:53

He's Blue. I'll refer to him as BlueBoy I think.

Any tips on insurance companies to use/avoid?

I think I will let them have downstairs to roam together and see what happens.

As he was an only dog before I'm hoping that walking them separately will be straightforward and they won't turn into clingons. It will make life so much easier if one can be left behind eg vet vists and stuff.

moosemama · 28/02/2014 19:10

Ah - lovely news Peanut, so pleased you've found your pointy boy at last. Grin

Mine are with PetPlan, as I've always used them in the past with no problems and their premiums don't tend to shoot up annually - at least until the dog reaches 8+. They also cover teeth and cruciate, which a lot of companies don't if you check the smallprint.

I had a huge battle with them at first, as they wanted to charge more for mine as they were Lurchers. Ended up speaking with their underwriter people (via a go between) who agreed that my two could be classed as crossbreeds as they are of unknown parentage, probably involving at least 4 or more breeds. We have classic lifetime cover, £7,000 per year and £2 million third party cover and it comes to just over £40 a month for the two of them.

Mistle, just been trying - unsuccessfully to persuade dh to take us to the 12th April race/show day. He says it's too far. I then pointed out that he'd agreed we'd could go to the show in May and he got really stroppy about how far it is. Hmm So, I've looked into the possibility of camping overnight nearby or booking a Travellodge room and now he's dithering around trying to find another excuse not to go. Honestly - men! Angry

mistlethrush · 28/02/2014 20:44

I had a check.. there are several pet friendly hotels in Doncaster - lots associated with the racecourse - that would be pretty handy - not right next door - but not going to take long to get there.

You're going up to Halifax in May? We're away on holiday - coming back that day, not sure I'll make it back in time which is very annoying.

moosemama · 28/02/2014 21:32

The problem doesn't tend to be pet friendly - it's family of 5 (without having to book two rooms) friendly that's usually the issue.

Not sure if we're going to make it in May now - dh is being particularly grumpy about it, but I'm hoping there's time to talk him round.

PeanutPatty · 28/02/2014 21:42

Men! Angry

cinnamongreyhound · 28/02/2014 22:06

I was going to say I thought moosemama had some insurance experience. For insurance make sure it's lifetime or if they get a condition it ceases to be covered on renewal.

Ours sleep in our room on their own beds at different sides of the room, pretty much the only time they sleep on their beds!! I never walk mine separately, not enough time in the day for that! Plus the one left at home would cry, what's the reasoning behind separate walks?

MegBusset · 28/02/2014 22:06

Hello, I'm on the verge of rehoming a deerhound/lurcher x. Can I join this thread?

cinnamongreyhound · 28/02/2014 22:07

X-posts MegBusset, welcome :)

mistlethrush · 28/02/2014 22:13

Hello Meg - your lurcher sounds interesting!

I would definitely walk them together - our two collie crosses loved being walked together - they raced each other - although we used to have to start them off (they would have loved racing!!!)

Moose - I had a family room in Peterborough just in case DS and DH joined me (it was only £5 more) - there was a large double and the two singles were adjoining (it was effectively one bed from wall to side of bed) I would have thought that you could get 3 in the double and one each in the singles.

cinnamongreyhound · 28/02/2014 22:21

A lot of the time you can fit three children in but they don't let you! My friend lied about her daughters age for ages and had a travel cot in family rooms that they folded up while there but she's now nearly six and can't get away with it. I see why they do it to stop people ramming loads into one room but if you have two rooms dh and I have to be separate and I'd hate that. My two share a bed by choice at home and when we have dss he sometimes joins them so a double bed for three or the little ones top and tail in one single bed is totally doable. So many penalties for not having a perfect 2adults and 2children family, often costs more for 2 adults and 1 child than a family ticket but they can't buy a family ticket (had that problem before we had ds1 and 2 as dss was already 6), it really annoys me!!!!

Anyway back to dogs!! Lovely to hear about new ones Grin

mistlethrush · 28/02/2014 22:29

I'm sorry I can't sympathise with you on the family size Cinnamon... We were planning to be a two child family but just have one.

When I went down to Peterborough, Mistlehound decided that the spare bed was actually a sofa - as I was sitting on the bed and watching the TV, can't really blame her - so I made sure that things were well covered up and she had her bed on the bed next to me Blush. Given I had plenty of throws - and she had her bed there was no evidence of this when we left!

cinnamongreyhound · 28/02/2014 22:31

That's what I mean, you are penalised in places too by being a three person family.

mistlethrush · 28/02/2014 22:34

(Yes, but we didn't 'choose' to be a 3 person family....)(but not going to fall out about it)

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