Kirislin

I wrote this almost 2 years ago & sadly things have gone from bad to TERRIBLE! This dog is now a real danger & my friend has alienated herself from everyone, even me & we have been mates for about 33 years. Her husband died about a year & a half ago & she uses that as an excuse for spoiling the dog. It's not true, she was already spoiling him. Since I wrote this he has bitten me on the leg & become a total monster. She has been asked to leave her dog training school because she wouldn't abide by the rules, the dog attacks other dogs, even puppies. Another friend tried to get her to leave the dog for the first time in its life & go for a walk around the block. Not a good idea, the dog, not surprisingly got frantic & broke into her house, then dug a hole in her carpet at the front door, trying to get out. I feel so sad for her & the whole damn situation but she has caused it herself completely. I cant get through to her, I suggested yesterday that she should muzzle him & she exploded & said 'he's not that bad' how bad does he have to be I wonder? I had a massive bruise from where he bit me & even now 8 months later there is still a scar & skin discolouration where the bruise was. She has never even asked me about it. This is just a tragic story & I am powerless to do anything, I dread the final outcome. Linda

I doubt that would happen for the very reason you mention, It might sway some people from buying them if they realised the work involved. Pet shops prey on impulse buyers. They breed cutsey little fluffy puppies to be just that, & the last thing they want is someone giving it some serious thought about what's involved because if they had any sense they wouldn't buy one. I am generalising here but that's my theory. Linda

I used to share a house with a girl who had an enormous & magnificent tri colour rough collie. She used to spend about 5 minutes each evening giving her a quick brush. That's all it took & the dog had the most luxurious beautiful coat. We have a little sheltie who comes in each week for a hydrobath. I dont think she gets brushed during the week & we spend probably about 15 minutes brushing her. She looks lovely. I think if these dopes who buy coated breeds would just make it a habit of either brushing the dog themselves or taking it to someone who will do it for them at least on a weekly basis the poor dogs would be a lot happier. Of course I realise this will never happen but wouldn't it be nice if it did. Linda

Ugh! this is one of my pet hates. These poor dogs are basically bred to look cute as puppies in a pet shop window. It never occurs to the fools who buy them that to keep the dog happy it will require grooming for the rest of its life. I see the most miserable matted filthy flea ridden dogs come into the shop & the owners say things like "just give him a bit of a tidy up. dont cut too much off, dont make him look silly" Of course the poor things are so matted it's like felt & you have to take the whole damn lot off. It's neglect & cruelty on the owners part & it makes me furious. Linda

Linda, we're loading some from today on the smugmug site now but won't finish it off til tomorrow night probably. Saw the pics, thanks! I'm off for another look Linda

Got your message too late Jeff. Yep you're a woos! I went & had a good time. I am hoping Possumcorner got some good shots of Feather & her mate Tex running. They were one of the few who ran the full 340 metres then turned around & pelted all the way back...twice! Most of the dogs only ran between about 50-150 metres. Whippets rule!!!! Linda

Hi Linda, not not just my guys, everyone there. Paul will have a camera on a tripod, will probably wear a red cap. I'll have the other camera between giving our dogs a run - a small Rottweiler cross, a black Poodle cross and a ginger Pom cross. Come say hi, we'll do our best to get the shot you'd like. Buy a raffle ticket too, you might win a shot of your dog. Oooh goodie ;) I'll be there. I'll have whippets. Haven't quite decided who I will take but they'll probably be noisy ones. They go crazy when they hear the lure. Linda

We will take one or three dogs for their first straight-line run, I'm sure they already know something special is on. Also we'll be taking photos, should get one of all of the dogs running. Do you mean you take photos of all/any dogs or just your own. I would love to have some really good clear shots of my girls running. How will I know you if you go? Linda

I am not sure, your best bet would be to contact the secretary Rae on 9725 0486. Note I am not giving private details as this phone number is on the whippet web site. Linda

Well I certainly know about this track cause I live just around the corner from it. It is a greyhound racing track so it's got the 'bunny' on the rail. The track is 340m long with an incline so it's hard work for them. Some greyhound trainers say it's equivalent to about 360 because of the hill. This coming Sunday is the whippet fun day. Looks like I might go 2 weeks in a row. I'll most likely have a tiny blue whippet who will be going crazy at the lure. Say hello if you see me. Linda

Thanks Salli, Yes I have found woms & shotgun pellets. The shotgun pellets weren't what killed the roo in this case, they were in the flesh, kind of sealed in little capsules, with no bruising around them so I assume they'd been there for a while & the wounds had healed. I can believe the rest you say. I at least get the whole roo so I know it's just that, but that is what I've found the above in. I wish I could just get good quality affordable meat for my girls free from drugs, chemicals, worms etc. Linda

Thanks for you replies so far. I'm telling this 2nd hand, I didn't hear what the trainer actually said but I think he must have meant it's to be expected with a dog like that. I think he used to train police dogs & his own GSD is trained to a very high level. But I still disagree with what he says about this particular dog. From the time she got this dog as a pup he concerned me with his aggression & dominance issues. I kept hoping she would train him out of it but it has only got worse. Tarmons thanks for you reply too, I dont think he was putting the puppy in it's place as he attacked it when my friend picked it up. I've seen what he's like with my own whippets too. He was 'playing' chasey with them once except that when he finally caught up with them 'cause they'd had enough & wanted to stop the game he was really nasty. Not just play growling but fair dinkum having a go like he was pissed off with them for running away from him. as long as he's the only dog around he's a delight but I do think he's potentially dangerous, especially to young kids or anything he considers beneath himself in the pecking order. Now to figure out how to tell my friend. Linda

I work part time at a pet food shop & often have to slice the 'roo for customers. I was doing just that the other day & the meat was just as you describe it Terry, so tender I was tempted to take it home for me!!! That is until I saw a great big long worm EWWWWW! I dont know if it was alive, it wasn't IN the muscle meat, just laying on top, so maybe it came from the guts when they were removed. Does anyone know if worms could be spread like this, I'm inclined to think yes if it was fed raw but I would really like to know for sure. Linda again

A friend of mine has a young GSD, just under a year old. He's a lovely friendly dog to people but IMO spoilt. He's extremely jealous & possessive with other dogs to the point where I dont think it's fair on my dogs (whippets) to take them visiting there anymore. Even when he would come to my house he was possessive over MY dogs water bowl & would attack them if they went to drink. It is worse when we go to visit my friends house. If my dogs go anywhere near the kitchen or the water bowl he attacks them. Needless to say they're terrified of him. My friend wanted to get a playmate for him & decided a staffy cross would be good, they're friendly, good natured & can take a bit of rough & tumble. She found a litter & took a little 8 or 10 week old bitch home (luckily on trial). In total she only had the puppy for about an hour. Initially her dog was friendly to the little pup but the second my friend went to pick it up the GSD attacked it. I wasn't there but she says that she disciplined him severely but also says she doesn't think it even registered with him (that he'd been disciplined). She took the puppy back & is now resigned to the fact that she cant get him a companion. She rang her trainer to ask about the dogs behaviour & he said that the dog has been bred for that behaviour & the trainer appears to think it is acceptable. I can see the appeal of this dog too, he's beautiful, & very friendly to people but so jealous that I really believe he's quite dangerous. Are my expectations unreasonable? Linda

Gee Salli, I'd rather you did say. I was always under the belief that roo would be a bit better than pet consumption beef, my theory being that at least it's wild, where as the pet food beef is usually from sick cows. I figured they were probably full of drugs & goodness know what before farmer Brown gave up & slaughtered them. Please enlighten me. Linda