Trisven13

I never allow and can be quite unpopular with others when I verbally correct their dog when it does it me. I explain it by saying - sorry, its automatic as the rescue dogs are never allowed to mouth ever as they can't tell the different and most people get over it OR call their dog to them. I hate it.

QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) Owner and rescuer (particularly of greyhound pups) 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? No idea - I'd ask Rebanne 3. How common is it in Australia? As a racing greyhound, extraordinarily, as a pet, rarely, as a show dog even more rarely 4. What is the average lifespan? My first greyhound is 4 years old - I'm praying for at least 12 years 5. What is the general temperament/personality? Bart is a bossy son-of-a-bitch and has been more of a trial to own than I ever expected - I did get him from a puppy though so he is not what most people see as a typical greyhound. He will sit, drop and stay and his recall is really good - I even got him to drop next to a rabbit cage at the local Petstock one day . Most of the greyhound pups I've rescued have been, like Bart, real screamers as babies who stress beyond belief at being alone. The current pup I've had though is very easy (and I'm not saying that just because her new mother will be reading this :D ). I'm a little controversial in my beliefs on greyhounds. I think that if all dogs were subject to the strict temperament tests that GAP requires then we would say that most breeds are fabulous, cruisy and easy-to-live with. The truth is IMO that a lot of greyhounds are not the cruisy, easy-going couch potatoes that the GAP dogs are. I don't think that is a bad thing - I just think that more people need to be realise that they are still dogs, if that makes any sense? I have rescued greyhounds who were terrifying with their prey drive and even a 3 month old puppy that was frightening with his strong prey drive - I have rescued greyhounds who, like Bart, were not cruisy and easy-going and would arc up if you asked them to do something they didn't want to. I have also rescued a few who were just like the poster dogs from GAP. I worry that the success of the GAP programme is encouraging people to take dogs directly from the breeders/trainers who are NOT suitable for pet homes. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? Bart would die if I tried to take him for more than a 20 minute walk :p . That is more because I've never done it than because he wouldn't be able to. He LOVES to run and I have taken him down to a local area where he has run and run for over 60 minutes with little 5 minute gaps of walking next to me. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? If it is sourced from an appropriate place - GAP or another reputable greyhound rehoming centre or a show breeder. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Bart can now but as a pup he destroyed things worse than any other dog I've ever owned. My mattress had two large holes in it which he chewed in 5 minutes each time. He destroyed an outdoor lounge we purchased for him to sleep on in 3 days (and I mean completely destroyed). He chewed the handbrake in our car when we thought he was sound asleep. 9. How much grooming is required? Bart has a bath a couple of times a year and a good groom whenever I think of it. He is very easy! 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? I would NEVER let Bart around my kids unsupervised as I have no doubt that he would bite them if they pushed him too far - I think they would really have to push him but he is the only one of my dogs who I would NOT trust around my kids. Bart really, really doesn't like being told what to do and never has - he doesn't get away with it but he is hard work sometimes. I've had other greyhounds through who were fine. I've rescued pups who were amazing with kids and Nissa who is here adores my children. Bart would still knock over an infirm person - he is tall and flies up to you very quickly when excited. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Again - ask Rebanne. 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) I probably have more greyhound pups come through our rescue than anyone else in Victoria as GAP Vic refer most people on to us. Ours are rescues and as such they have no health tests and come with no more of a guarantee than any other rescue dogs. I MUST STRESS - Bart is my baby and my heartdog - I love him to pieces but he is bloody hard work and has made me realise that greyhounds are a lot more than the couch potatoes we see. I have no doubt that if Bart had been race trained he would never have passed GAP and the only thing that gets him through is having grown up in my house. I will continue to love greyhounds and will probably always own one but I doubt I will get one as a puppy again UNLESS I get one from Rebanne to show. If I was to have another greyhound I want the cruisy couch potato.

Woohoo!!! IMO not only are you guys going to be lucky to get a fabulous pup but the breeder is lucky to have you guys adopting a dog from them. As you know I would probably pay you to take a dog as I've seen how your dogs live!!! :D

I get a mobile dog wash lady to come in once a week and bath OH's dog Grover. He is too big to fit easily into the bath - getting a bath once a month with her is much easier for him as he walks into the bath and gets blow-dried etc. We bath all the rest but it is easier to do him with the groomer. Seriously - who cares how people groom their dogs? I think the lab people are being a too sensitive - surely its okay to not like a breed much? I don't expect everyone I meet to want to own a Fauve, or a Greyhound or a Deerhound - we all have breeds we like and breeds we don't much like. I personally wouldn't own a Labrador but I also wouldn't own a German Shepherd or a Border Collie (ETA and many other breeds) - doesn't mean I hate the breed, just that I don't want to live with one going on the many examples I have met.

Well between the two of us Miss Tibbiemax we can organise enough people to give this a go don't you think?

Cool - we can do that then

Is it okay if they do those things on lead or does it need to be off lead????? Will still talk to you about it when you get back as we'll get those skills eventually if it does need to be off lead and I still want to be know about it.

Cosmolo - I've been meaning to tell you about a little fluffer we have in care at the moment who I think you would die for too!!! This thread reminded me. He is a 7 month old Papillon X Maltese that soooooo needs a home where he can use his brain. He is as active and switched on as a Kelpie and just dying to please. I've never met a little dog like him - he has obviously taken on a lot of the Papillon traits as I've seen many of them doing flyball & agility - that is what he was built for!!!! I haven't put him up for adoption as the worng sort of people will want him because he is young and fluffy and I want him to work!!!!

Well if Billie is interested, I'm interested, Tibbiemax is interested I'm sure we could get a few more. Was M-J on here interested? I would think she would find this interesting???? If she did that would make 4 and I'm sure I could get a few more. Then there is Morsha - I'm sure Tibbiemax and I could convince her it would be fun...... Okay - I'm on a mission now to get enough people . We don't necessarily need to have a high level of obedience to give it a try do we? If not then I'm sure I can drum up some interested people at training.

Hey Angelsun - any news on anything happening locally? If not I might talk to a few locals and see if they're interested. Might be a good way to spark up my Fauvie slug!!

As you know Mercedes I'm no obedience trialling expert BUT I've just started working Marie both in the ring and at obedience with a lot of food. The difference in my dog is AMAZING - just wait until you see her! She has enthusiasm and drive and is loving it. I know Tina has the enthusiasm and drive anyway but it can't hurt to give it a go hey?

:rolleyes: I too am in tears. I didn't know Ruby but I love the song Ruby Tuesday and the words seem so well to match how you have described her. What a tragic and senseless end when she had finally come home

But there is something really wrong - he can't see. :rolleyes: My dog is 10 years old and he has corneal dystrophy. He has had this whole life and it means he can only see shadows. He spends 99% of his life inside on a comfy lounge but if for some bizarre reason he can't do that he is in his crate. At only 7 or 8 he is not an old dog by any stretch of the imagination and I would imagine could still have at least that much of his life left to live - you need to talk to your mum about a better way of managing the poor little guy because its not like he is ancient and likely to pass away soon.

I would positively LOVE to!

Wish you'd said hello m-j!!! I haven't done anywhere near as much obedience as you but I too have realised how much I'd enjoyed it previously. I think the big difference for me now, compared to years ago, is that I've picked up through reading and listening to people like yourself and Cosmolo so much more information. Add to that a few years experience in rescue and my confidence is much better which is helping. Will I see you there again?

Yep Mercedes, we'll be there. I've already planned that once Marie makes it into one of the later classes I will start Daphne in Yellow 1.

Sadly I missed a week with work but we went back tonight to find we were in the next class. Still loving it and am really feeling like it is adding dramatically to my relationship with Marie. She is even working better in the ring for me

His name is Sly and I'm not sure that his eye is getting better, but its not getting worse. We're not sure yet how much he can see out of it and it will simply be a matter of waiting. He is my fave in the litter anyway so I don't mind if he hangs around for a bit longer ;)

My photo for today. I didn't have time to take a good photo (good photos and 5 week old pups do not mix ;) ) so decided to just fiddle with an okay shot. This was the result - not sure what I think which means its not right but it was good practice anyway.

So true PPS - I know she touched your heart too.

Little Old Face, or Faith as her permanent foster mum called her, was put to sleep this morning after her heart couldn't go on. Poor little Faith was such an ancient little girl but had the sweetest soul. Tibbiemax's little boy nicknamed her "Old Face" and all the kids called her that - as my son said - she has the cutest old face. She lived with me for a week before she moved onto forever home and she followed me everywhere. Sadly the heart medication could do no more - it was too full of love to keep going. RIP little Faith - you were much loved by those whose lives you touched at the end of your own.

Okay - what do you think now?

Off to fiddle with contrast but what do you mean by "noisy"? I know you know me a little but I have a very thick skin and like constructive criticism

How do I upload from Flickr? I've fiddled a little with the exposure - what do you think? Be as cruel as necessary http://www.flickr.com/photos/trisven13/3436935985/ Thanks a million for the links Josie. I will have a fiddle with some of my photos and start uploading a few more to Flickr rather than Photobucket.

Josie I think I'll have to get you to give me some lessons. I take, if I say so myself, quite decent photos with a point and shoot camera, but I would love a better idea on how to navigate through those programs. Probably doesn't help that I don't get a lot of fiddling time as I have to fight everyone else for computer time.