Brandiandwe

Huh?? All the Bichons I have met have been delightful, fun loving little dogs. We had a Bichon who could herd goats, certainly not quiet. He was a delightful little dog full of personality. Obviously not purebred. What were they crossed with? :D

Most frustrating statement last night, from DH: "No. I really don't think its a good time to get a puppy. In the future, yes. Now, no." I should probably have just brought one home and presented him with a fait accompli, but at least I've got a commitment for the future. And will have to get my dog showing fix with other people's hounds.

I can't say because I'm just not experienced enough, whether its age, socialisation, or personality. I can say that of my three greys, Brandi is completely non-discriminating when it comes to people. Everyone of all ages must be greeted enthusiastically, given a thorough sniffing and give her a cuddle. But having had a cuddle, she moves away from them unless it is me or my husband. Hermon is also non-discriminant, but will instead lean heavily on whoever the poor sucker is who greeted him, and will need to be dragged away. He is worse with children and open car doors - then treats, bribery and some sweat is required to get him moving. Paige, frankly, gives off vibes that say 'don't touch the fur'. She ignores everyone else, and tolerates being touched. The only people she really lights up with are me, first, and DH. People she's getting to know, who have stayed with us or who visit regularly, she will approach for a brief pat and sniff before she goes about her houndish business. Which does not include affection or attention from strangers. Its only been six weeks. I'd give Abby some time to settle a little more. Are your grandchildren a little too noisy for her? Has she ever been exposed to these peculiar human beings before?

The rescue vs adoption vs 'other' thing bothers me in part because I have greys. Every second person I speak to asks me if they are rescues. I generally tell people that they were adopted but that their trainers and owners had planned for their retirement, that I'm in regular contact with one previous breeder who loves hearing how PK is getting on, despite her never making it to the track, have had contact with another to reassure them that H-Dude has landed on a comfortable couch, and that the scars all over one of them are thanks to enthusiastic lizard, duck, chicken, magpie and spider hunting, and not abuse. I know there are thousands of greys who do need rescue, and who have come from poor places. But mine aren't that, and using the term rescue to describe three dogs, two of whom went from breeder to racing about with litter mates, to trials to them quickly into an adoption programme by 18 months, who really don't have that background, trivialises the position on those dogs who truly do need rescue.

(Swoons). Whippet cuddles!

(Scribbling in diary). I shall be visiting!

We have three greys, and added the third two years after the first two. I haven't found it to be a massive amount of extra work except in terms of managing pack dynamics. Now I'm contemplating number four. Tough call.

Fortunately my most trainable, Brandi, just doesn't have the smarts to figure out chair, plus oven. My Evil Genius, Paige, isn't food motivated. And they're all too big to fit on our benches.

And..... That's why I have greyhounds!

Depending on your budget and needs you might need to look further afield. Parramatta isn't a bad spot either.

St Ives show ground also has good off-leash parks. I use Advantix fortnightly and Interceptor. I know you didn't ask but rentals will be incredibly tight in the Inner West. I'd be looking immediately for a place. Good luck!

As the above, crating is also an awesome thing. We have a massive one we use for Hermon during thunderstorms and other times when there's change, and all three greys love it. It's a safe place where they can go when they feel like some along time. If you do use it, it may well become a permanent fixture in the home, but you need to be clear about the rules. For it to be her safe place to go when scared, you can't touch her when she's in the crate, or interact with her. It's her quiet room. If you can achieve this, then it will be the space she goes to and is left when you have tradies, or whoever, around the house.

Another thing I'll suggest is that when working with her that you muzzle her (if you can and it doesn't freak her out). It reduces the chance of anything going wrong while sorting this out, will help keep you a bit more relaxed, which will help Kirra. I suggest this because I have greyhounds and muzzles are a part of our daily life. A plastic American style muzzle might work. Smear the inside and bottom with peanut butter or whatever is extra good and yummy for Kirra and get her used to good things happening when her snout goes in and build up slowly. I'm not suggesting this as an alternative to working with a behaviourist, but as a stop gap which might help. I also wonder whether your bf and the man who got nipped had anything in common. Were they wearing hats or caps, beards, riding bikes, very deep voices, same clothes on, listening to the same music? I ask because hearing about people's experiences with galgos who have been mistreated all need to work out what triggers they have. It is often a feature which someone has which is shared by their previous 'owners' but which isn't immediately obvious. So things like the above, or hearing Spanish or particular words can be triggers. This also doesn't mean that the dogs are aggressive - often their fear is directed at men who have been responsible for their problems. That might be the same here. Just some thoughts.

You never know Brandiandwe, we sometimes get to NSW for shows, so anything is possible :D Let me know! Have car, will travel for cuddles.

Grumpette, love the pics. Wish I could meet your crew some time.

TBH I find that picture misleading. I can believe that with two dogs that size in the pool that any water would be left. Doesn't it all get displaced? Of mine, only Brandi finds water amusing. The others detest it and, being greyhounds, aren't necessarily all that buoyant. I don't push it.

Exactly!

I think that the problem is mainly that a lot of greyhound rescue groups and submissions like the above don't acknowledge the prey drive instinct at all and present all greys as being loveable smooches who can live safely with all manner of small squeaking edibles. I agree that more regulation is needed, but there also needs to be a realistic appraisal of be breed which includes the prey drive. The prey drive isn't something which can be trained out and isn't instilled by training so these dogs need careful handling, not blithe assumptions that 'she'll be right'. A bit like cattle dog rescues or breeders saying that all these dogs need 30 minutes of exercise a day and are fine lazing in the backyard. This ignores basic facets of the breed's makeup. (And I'm not saying that people do say this about working breed dogs. I suspect many problems in that case come from people overestimating their own abilities to give the dog what they need and underestimating the time needed to manage such a dog.) As I noted before, I have a prey drive dog. She never raced but is, for me, the epitome of what a greyhound as a hunting dog should be. On walks she is always on, after lizards, cats, birds, everything. Her intensity and focus are amazing. So is her independence. As a pet greyhound, not ideal. Scary intelligent and problem solving, independent, untrustworthy around other animals. I adore her but wish she came with an off button. She would be a disaster if homed with the assumption that she's be fine or could be unmuzzled. She couldn't and she's still with us because I'm stubborn, determined, obsessive about research and over cautious. The final thing I was going to say is that there are clear regulations at least as far as muzzling goes. All greys need to be muzzled be default unless they have been assessed, passed and awarded a Green Collar AND are wearing that collar. It's pretty clear yet there are groups and pet owners particularly, who insist on doing the wrong thing,making life difficult for the rest of us. Sorry about the length of this. HapoyNew Year!

I'm bracing for tomorrow night because a big display will be going off within a couple of kms. It will be Hermon's first time with us and he freaks out with thunderstorms. I'm not looking forward to it. My plan is a big walk in the morning and a longish one on the evening early (long for greyhounds anyhow!). Then let out early for final pees, then he is dressed in DHs dirty t-shirt and popped into his crate. Meanwhile Paige will go off her nut and bark like mad and Brandi will curl up somewhere and hope it ends soon. I'm sorry you guys are starting this whole thing early.

Save, sure. If you can rehome safely and appropriately. Which means using things like muzzles. Two of my three are muzzled. I'm not thrilled about it but it means everyone goes home safe and I'm more relaxed. And they can wear completely awesome collars instead of the ugly Greenhound ones.

PK is small, black and looks incredibly gentle. She is, I believe, responsible for some changes in assessment practices because she foxed everyone on the way through. We put her into green hounds for fun. Cheerfully described as opportunistic. If she's redirected, she pretends to relax and look away, then when you also relax, she goes for whatever it is. She'll never be unmuzzled. And that's fine with me!

Just read that piece. I'd hate to think what they'd say about PK who is also covered in scars. Most I the ones on her legs are from bush walks we've don being very hung ho about lizards, rocks, birds, and walking generally. She now has scars on her throat, face and head from an altercation with Brandi. There are various others which she arrived with. I have no doubt they were got in the course if her living her intense, focused, businesslike life. Also annoying to see the photos of the grey unmuzzled while in public without a Green Collar. Way to help the cause.

I've got a medium high prey girl who regularly attempts to climb trees on walks after birds. Dives into bushes after lizards. Would kill a small dog or cat given the chance. I can call her off and have turned her prey drive onto a treat or a game of barking and carrying on at the end of the leash in order to get a treat. But I am the only one who walks her. I don't even really trust my husband with her. She is cunning, patient and opportunistic as well as being fast, agile and powerful. She has a vertical jump of over six foot, but has never figured our how to go over a fence. I have no illusions. Training can help redirect instinct, but it can never suppress it and is context dependent. Thus PK is fine with me but can never be rehomed - a different handler would bring out different elements of her personality. Which is why I don't think all greys are suitable for rehoming. Why I shudder when I see greys being run with other breeds and watch them run other dogs down and flip them over. Why I hate seeing a grey on alert with the thousand yard stare at a SWF who is minding its own business and boogying along the street, while the greys owner assures me that 'he's fine. The people at .... Rescue group told me.' It only takes a couple of bad incidents and we're back to square one. All my greys will come from GAP NSW because I know what I'll get. Which is a realistic assessment of a hunting dog breed who does need some care in handling. Edited to clarify: In NSW there are two groups called GAP. I meant Greyhounds As Pets NSW. They are run by different people and there is sometimes immense confusion.

RIP Boof. I'm so sorry.