grizabella

He is just gorgeous!!! <3 You lucky thing! Congratulations! :)

I'm a Saluki person, but my second breed of choice that I would LOVE one day is a Leonberger- very, very different!

Maybe a Bichon Frise?

I have a definite preference for females, but then I've never had a male so I don't know what they're like from an owner's perspective. I think it depends on breed as well, in some breeds I'd rather have a male, for no particular reason.

Favourite Breed: Saluki. They are incredibly beautiful and athletic, breathtaking to watch. <3 I also love their sense of humour, intelligence and they are fabulous to snuggle up on the bed/sofa with! Least favourite: While I love most dogs as individuals, I'd never choose for myself any very small breed (with the exception of a very few). That's just because I'm a bigger dog sort of person, but I do like the vast majority of small dogs I've come across, just not for me to own.

Quite right too- hehe! They are such beautiful dogs, and interesting personalities. :)

Salukis! (I already have one, but in my dreams I'd have about four) also would love one day (not all at once, and as well as Salukis!): Afghan Hound Leonberger Kooikerhondje Border Collie Irish Water Spaniel Irish Red and White Setter Brittany Bernese Mountain Dog St Bernard Longhaired Standard Dachshund A bit of variety there!

I think I'm going to try giving her bones as a meal replacement every other day, as well as brushing with the little finger brush I have. I'll probably keep giving her Dentastix occasionally because she LOVES them, so they make a good treat. I definitely don't want to put Bella under anaesthetic unless it is completely necessary so I'm not going down that road!

Face is lovely, are Foxhounds common at shows? Really beautiful dogs. <3

Thanks, I'll look at getting a good sized umbrella to start with I think, I might have an ask around to see if anyone has a gazebo-type thing I can borrow. :)

Depending on how our first few shows go, I think I might enter Bella. If not, next year, but I'd love to do it this year if we can.

I think it should be a choice the owner makes. I'm not a breeder, I'm not sure I ever will be, but I'm intending to get into showing compulsory spaying would certainly not be appreciated by me. Spaying/neutering can affect more than just the dogs' ability to breed, in Salukis they sometimes get very hairy! I don't think it should be forced on people, there must be better ways of preventing backyard breeders.

Thanks emery, I hadn't thought of the possibility of needing the ladies! Luckily it won't be just Bella and I at our first couple so if I could have a friend hold on to her if need be. I'd like to have a crate at shows so she has a safe place to retreat to if she wants a break.

What a lovely welcome to come home to! Clearly your OH is very much loved. :)

That sounds good PM, I might look into getting one of them. I think we'll probably be fine without, I'll see how we go. :)

I think Bella must have got her long nose and legs from her 'Greyhound' side, LOL!

This may seem a silly question, but where do you sit when you are new and don't have your own shade? Is it necessary to bring a crate (I'm not sure Bella's will fit in the car with her), would it be worth getting a soft crate that can fold down smaller, or should I just bring something for her to lie on?

Bella's usually called a 'hairy Greyhound' or a 'shaved Afghan'. The strangest guess I've had so far is 'Greyhound x Shih Tzu'. I usually just tell people that Salukis are in the same group as Afghans and Greyhounds, and are quite similar.

I've started giving Bella bones, but I've found she doesn't seem as keen to finish all her food when she's given them. It puts me off a bit, from giving them to her too often. I also sometimes give her chicken necks, but only if she's eaten all her food because otherwise she won't eat it all. What's involved with having a vet clean her teeth?

Only the one at the moment, I'd love to have another Saluki (or two!), but it's not going to happen for a few years as I am living with my mum still. I think Bella would love to have a permanent canine friend to play with, she's adores my friends' dogs who she sometimes has playdates with.

I used to read Dogs Life, but went off it for similar reasons. I'd LOVE it if they were to do an article on allergy friendly BREEDS, rather just mention them briefly in pro-oodle articles (I don't mind the idea of 'oodles' if the breeders are as responsible as I'd expect in a purebred breeder, but I don't imagine this happens often). I've tried a few UK magazines, but none have really stood out at me and they are very expensive over here. I might give Dog News Australia a try. :)

I love dogs, and my dog, because they are dogs. Bella is without a doubt part of the family, but she's not human and I'd never want her to be. I think dogs could be a suitable substitute for not having children in some ways, as they are loved and raised as family members, but they are a different species and must be treated as such for their best interest.

I haven't tried them, will give that a go. I would prefer to use safer alternatives to bones.

Well done Gus! You must be thrilled to do so well for your first time, I hope I will be so lucky with Bella. I can't wait to see a photo. :)

Bella's teeth are a bit dirty at the back, I've been brushing them daily but it's very difficult to do the ones at the back. She's had dentastix before, but they don't appear to do anything. Should I be giving her bones to help keep her teeth clean? How often should bones be given? I often give Bella chicken necks with her food, are they helpful for teeth cleaning? Are there any other foods that can help, vegies etc?