Greyhound, Whippet or Lurcher owner? Here's another pointy hounds cushion!

[EasterBunnyFuntStoleAllTheEggs]

Pointy hounds include-
Greyhounds (Grunds)
Whippets (Whippys)
Lurchers
Italian Greyhounds (Iggys)
Salukis
Afghans
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.

No, I don't think so, one of the other guys saw her go after one. He was impressed she caught it considering how far ahead he said it was so perhaps it wasn't the same one but probably tmi, it had wee coming out of it so I assume it was very recently dead.

Poor bunny. Least it would have been quick.

Must have been she wasn't out of sight for long.

She prob.shook it to death,it's what my Stan does so there's no blood or signs of teeth,there's a lot of mixies around here at the moment,& although I don't encourage him its a much quicker way for the bunny to go.

I did wonder if it could have had myxie as she managed to catch it, normal she looses interest before she gets anywhere near!

The dogs are so quiet today! Our run was very windy on the bike routes through the trees and I really had to concentrate so I wonder if there brains have been well and truly taxed!

Our last lurcher was hopeless and used to squeeze the rabbits to death - still quicker than the mixie that was the alternative though (or gassing). Mine LOVES to go walking early or late so that she has a chance of seeing them - she's done some fantastic running after them but not caught one yet.

She got me up in the early hours last night - it was either eating the cauliflower that we had decided was inedible for use (off the compost heap) or that she decided that she wanted to check that nothing in the garden was eating her bone...

Who was it that was after a cat-friendly lurcher? Currently one in LL whose visitors at the weekend didn't work out.

My doggies were so good this morning! We usually run Thursday am and their recall was fab! Not sure what the difference was as they can be quite naughty when we're running rather than walking but both came back tails wagging for a fuss and then off they went again. And now nicely worn out :)

Mine went for a late night (well, it was 7.30pm so late for her) walk last night and really ran the way she was bred for... It was lovely to see and she came back panting like a steam train. I think she pulled something a bit but she's find this morning so it can't have been too bad. Despite the bounding around hunting things, she stopped where she was and followed me (I called as we were on a very different route from normal) and did really well. Gradually summoning courage to take her out a bit later and hope that the witching hour doesn't completely turn her head!

That's great mistlethrush, mine are so hit and miss!!

Great to hear that your dogs as all enjoying themselves.

Blue is getting braver off lead. He is starting to venture away from me for sniffs and wees. The flip side is that he catches me up at a billion miles per hour. He has also started to occasionally jump up as he runs by me.

This morning he had a brilliant game of chase and catch me catch me with a staffxgsd. She almost looks bull Lurcher ish. She couldn't keep up with him. I was relieved that keeping him in a muzzle was the right decision as I saw him trying to nip her hindquarters . No growling whilst playing with her yet he growls at Pooch? Again not sure what his intentions towards her are, eg play plus a bit of trying to assert himself? I think if I do get to go on the dog training day with Lurcher genius JG I might take both dogs. The other dogs owner (who I asked if they could say Hi beforehand) bent down to stole Blue as he went full pelt motor biking round us and unfortunately Blue ran straight into and through his hand! I think it stung! Don't think Blue felt it.

What's everyone's plans this weekend?

Pip drives me crackers leaping on Lurcherboy and nipping his bum and neck. I avoid letting them off together because of it, but then he bucks around on the end of his lead as Lurcherboy zooms past taunting him. It's not just the nipping either, he zooms at Lurcherboy full speed, then can't stop and half-crashes, half leaps over him.

Both mine make the most horrendous noise when they're playing, all sorts of growls, grumbles and yips.

Our local park, which is always empty at the same time every day so my two can get some proper off-lead zoomies, was packed this afternoon (no fewer than 6 Labradors there when we arrived and more came along later) and Pip was obviously unimpressed by them invading his space. He 'wuffed' (rather than barked aggressively) at every single dog that appeared on the horizon. So I spent an hour reinforcing him watching dogs and being quiet. Someone had managed to drop gravy bones all around the usual walk as well, so in between 'quiet' cues I was having to say 'leave' all the time. Not my most relaxed walk ever. Yesterday, when it was bucketing down we had the whole park to ourselves and both dogs had a ball - we came home like drowned rats, but it was worth it! Pip wasn't keen to go outside to start with, despite having his new raincoat on, but soon forgot the rain when he found he had free run of the park.

We're off to a VW show this weekend. There will be tonnes of on-lead friendly dogs there, so it's a great place to socialise Pip. Hoping he'll get so bored of seeing other dogs all around by the end of the day that he'll start to relax. We usually only go for the afternoon, but plan to spend all day there for that very reason. If it all gets too much for him I can always take him back to the camper and we can hang out there while dh and the dcs go round the rest of the show with Lurcherboy - he loves it there.

Have you anything planned Peanut

Moose what raincoat have you got? Blue needs a spring/summer type one as it won't be long before the one he has will be too hot for him. When you spot other dogs do you put back on lead, avoid, ask if they can meet? I'm not always sure what to do but that is mainly cos I worry about the other dog walker getting properly lurchered.

Nothing much planned this weekend. Got a friend popping over tmw afternoon for a quick visit and that's it. Might see what MIL is up to and if she wants to go out on a dog walk.

I took the dogs up the local rec this evening and the place was heaving with canines. These light evenings brings the entire local dog population out. There was one huge group of old biddies mature ladies pootling along witha variety of dogs all hammering or slow coaching it around so we avoided those. Then random dogs kept popping up so we zig zagged our way round. Blue didn't get much offlead but when he was offlead I kept his attention by randomly chucking treats ahead, to the side or at my feet which seemed to work and I say his name each time so I'm hoping this reinforces that me saying his name means something good is about to happen and he should check in with me. Least that's the theory. After about 15mins off lead I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and we did 40mins on lead all round the local houses. Pooch was panting a fair bit! Guess it's a bit warm out.

Sorry, laptop ran out of power and the dcs had the charger for the other one while they played blooming Minecraft.

Same lady as before on ebay, seaside fabric with a red cord lining - he looks fab in it and we've had loads of positive comments about how funky it is. I wasn't sure about the fabric from the image online, but it's much nicer in real life, lots of dark navy to offset the red. The cartoon images on it are very similar to my dh's artwork too - so he's really pleased with it too.

Re meeting other dogs. I reattach his longline when I spot dogs and try to spot them before he does, which isn't always easy, as he's hypervigilant. I have to put him on the lead or he bolts away from them and might head for the road. He only 'wuffs' (wouldn't really call it a bark) when they're a distance away, once they're close up he's nervous, but wants to say hello. I think it may be because he can't read their intent from a distance, but once they're up close he can see they're friendly.

For on lead meets I usually let Lurcherboy say hello first, then see if Pip wants to approach, if he does I keep him on a loose longline and let him go forward. More often than not he says a quick hi, then legs it back behind me. I usually judge which dogs/owners to approach based on their handling and the dogs behaviour, iyswim. You get to know which ones to avoid.

When I'm just walking Lurcherboy, I call him back to heel when I see another dog and gauge what the other owner does. If they put theirs on the lead I do the same or keep him at heel, if they let theirs run all over the park I wait until I'm close enough to ask if they can play and let him go. He's not a typical Lurcher though, in that he does run fast, but tends to go in big circles and check back with me every couple of minutes. He's never Lurchered anyone because he's pretty careful and stays aware of what's going on around him, but he's got a chunk of collie in his mix which I think explains that.

I don't let him play with very small dogs, purely because he's a great big dollop and doesn't realise how solid he is. Also he can get very excited when charging about, not in a prey kind of way, but in a tongue lolling, fruit loop way, which sometimes worries other owners, even though he's daft as a brush.

Re your walk. On-lead exercise is harder work and build stamina and fitness much better than off-lead, so Pooch was getting a real workout. Your method of keeping his attention sounds good. I do something similar with mine, but they come back to me for treats when I make a certain sound or call their names as both are hopeless at finding things with their noses.

That seaside lining is rather fun! Like that a lot. Blue is only 24in neck to tail so Pip is much bigger than Blue. I will have a nose around her shop. Would the corduroy lining not be a bit warm?

Hit post too soon!

Blue is a typical lurcher and does manic zoomies. He also bundles other dogs off lead and I think to save us getting a reputation and for everyone's safety I should keep him on lead when it's busy. I fear that I will never be able to let him off lead at our favourite walking place as it's so popular with lots of people, dogs, children, bikers, runners, dog fearing folk etc. I have yet to actually walk him with another dog off lead other than Pooch. We tend to bump into people eg Lurcher Man and stop to have a chat whilst the dogs go zoomie crazy round us and then we part ways so I'm not actually sure what he would do on an actual walk. I wonder if he would settle and then have sporadic crazy moments of chase etc?

There's no way I could call mine to heel if there was another dog, if they see another dog they are off To say hello, hence they are mostly walked on a lead. They are both quite nippy and very growly when they play to the point where they worry the children but they love it and have so much fun together!

Lola and I did our first half marathon today, she was so good, coped well with being in a big crowd at the start, followed all my directional instructions and trotted along happily. There were 5 drink stations and she drank at each, I also poured water on her which she hated but I didn't want her to overheat. Peanut came with us and stayed with dh, he said he loved watching all the people and when he saw us tried to get through the tape to meet us :) they both got lots of fuss and I had several people asking about running with dogs and amazed she'd make it all the way round, also had the what seems to be compulsory rude person who has issues with running with dogs who complained the somehow Lola and I would slow him down!!
She's never done hm distance all on the line but to enter you have to agree to keep them on a lead at all times. Poor little girly was sick 3 times on the way there, despite us not giving her breakfast until we arrived (arrived in plenty of time before the race so she could digest it) but she'd stolen cat food!

Congrats on the HM!! The rude idiot clearly a bit dim. I can't figure out how you would slow him up? Unless you were expecting him to carry you up the hills!

Had a lovely 3hr walk yesterday. Blue had to stay on lead as v popular walking spot and lots of people/dogs. If I knew he'd trot along and go off for the odd sniff and play then it would be ok but I couldn't risk any lurchering. I did spy two solo Salukis off lead and I was envious. Blue had a moment whilst the minis were having ice creams. Two standard poodles were playing off lead and he wanted to join in. Cue lots of leaping, growling and tail wagging and lots of looks from strangers. I didn't even bother trying to explain he wanted to play as I think his lunging and muzzle combination wouldn't have made my explanation seem true! Didn't help that Pooch chucked her twopenneth in. Must have looked a right sight.

Blue has randomly vomited this afternoon. He went to the back door and asked to go out. Good lad. Much easier hosing it off the decking. Wondering if it was the dog biscuit he had earlier as a treat?

Mistlehound did lots of leaping whilst on the lead - I thought she would be mega playful with other dogs when let off. However, unless its a pointy or a terrier she has a tendency to avoid them and mooch along doing her own thing. I don't think that she can 'read' other dogs terribly well - probably only socialised with other lurchers and terriers based on her attitudes...

Mistle - they do "know" their own kind don't they?

Blue gets compliments from a fair few people that we meet. His leaning and smooching into them probably also is a persuading factor. I took him somewhere new today and let him off the lead but chose my moment carefully so as not to set myself up to fail and he was such a good boy. Only one moment of "stupid woman shouldn't have taken him off the lead" was when the youngest mini was heading towards water at speed. So I had to run after him which sent Blue into excitement overdrive and then when mini hit the deck due to tripping over his own feet running downhill I thought Blue was going to jump on him. Luckily he didn't! After that he was as good as gold. Stuck him back on the lead before we hit Squirrel Central though.

Sounds good peanutpatty! We rarely meet people when we're out but the combination of a large greyhound and loonatic whippet does seen to terrify people when we do!

Gutted! Ordered a raincoat for Blue. Made to measure and it doesn't fit one bit . Now I'm panicking that I'm stuck with a pointless coat. Literally.

Did you get it from the same seller as me Peanut? If so I've had four coats from her now and they've all been fine. Have you contacted her?

Yes Moose. I've sent her an email with a photo. I'm worried I've made a mess of the measurements but don't see how I could have? I'm also worried cos I've two other coats coming from someone else and now I'm wobbling about whether they will fit.

I feel terrible for recommending her now, but I've genuinely been really pleased with the ones I've had off her.

Hope it's just a mix up - maybe she posted the wrong one or something - and you can get it sorted out ok.

Three coats! He's going to be one well dressed lad - have you started on the collar porn yet?