Rant!!! Im sure you'll all have experienced this!?

Jennifer · Master

Rant!!! Im sure you'll all have experienced this!?

Teresa · Enlightened One

ignorant git.

the usual response I get about the babies is surprise how little exercise they need and amazement that they are so docile. it's odd really because, before we had them, I had no knowledge of greys at all, so no pre-conceived ideas either. to me, they are just a very special breed.

sadly, the general public still need educating.

emma · Guru

Jennifer,
Can't say that has ever happened to me or any of my greyhounds over the years. All I can say is what strange behaviour.
I have a lady who lives nearby who insists on walking with Chad and I- the only problem is her dog is a yorkshire terrier and Chad is definately not to be trusted. No matter how many times I try to say 'Please don't let it go right up to him' she just shrugs and says 'He wouldn't hurt a fly he's so lovely,look at his tail wagging'! Chad is in the attack stance with his tail right up and I have to hang on tight to make sure he can't reach down to grab her dog. She is totally oblivious and thinks all greyhounds are friendly with small dogs because her son has one that is!
So really my own experience is quite the opposite!
Em and Chad xx

max · Enlightened One

I have had so many different reactions from people it is like water of a ducks back now. Thankfully most people just fuss over the dogs and say how sweet they are,I just ignore the others less polite people. hmm

Nora

Gillian77 · Old Hand

People can be very nasty about greyhounds but best just try and ignore their comments

Sunny girl · Master

I had this with a man and a Yorkshire terrier where i used to live, exactly the same he would snatch the dog up and glare at me and mutter under his breath. My two and foster dogs before had never even glanced at this little dog and they were always on the lead. One day i just said "its ok they won't hurt it", the man just laughed and said " well it looks like a rabbit so they might just think its lunch" After that it became a bit of a joke between the two of us.

What annoys me more is the owners of small fluffy dogs who let them off the lead to run right up to your dogs.

One night I had both mine on the lead when these two stupid looking fluff balls came running up and started nipping at my two. I held both my dogs heads up and tried to shoo the fluff balls away. The owner saw her dogs jumping all over mine and nipping them but was in no rush to get them. I finally lost my rag and shouted a mouthful of abuse at the fluff balls and they took off,

as i walked away i heard the woman call "Fifi and Trixie"(or names to that affect) and say did those nasty dogs and lady frighten you

..........the mouthful she received from me can not be repeated on this page wink

.

Valerie · Guru

I think the old man sounds a bit weird. I have had a bit of the frightened scuttling by us, by an elderly poodle owner. On the whole folk are quite taken with Biscuit, especially small dog owners and pup owners, when Biscuit plays with them so well. They want to know the usual questions, but I usually end up turning the talk to greys and what good pets they make to try and do my PR bit!
Met an owner with a four month old boxer pup, Owner said it would be good if your dog will play with my dog to get him used to bigger dogs, and they were really good together. At one point the other owner got the two of them to sit in front of him for treats and the boxer leapt up to grab the treat at the same time shoving Biscuit's head out of the road!! It was so funny, but I'm always amazed how good Biscuit can be with youngsters.

evilshiddenclaws · Old Hand

i own a rottweiler so believe me, i'm used to it lol

feldandjack · Guru

Gamekeepers description of owners of greys or lurchers, "dog fighting, badger baiting, poaching tinks"
I saw no point in trying to educate this chap, he was way beyond help.

Valerie · Guru

Wow - say what you mean, Mr Numpty Gamekeeper furious

Bad luck Anne to run into him.

feldandjack · Guru

These are the badger baiting killing machines the gamekeeper was talking about.
Cara the softee who returns mixy rabbits to their holes, alive, when they get lost and Baillie who hasn't the energy or teeth to do anything any harm.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Anne - That's a lovely photo of Baillie and Cara - the two softies!

Christine

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Anne, what a great picture. Obviously I'm quaking in my boots at the sight of these vicious predators wink

Marie

JENNY · Big Cheese

Aww they look lovely. Baillie is lovely and silvery by the look of the photo.

feldandjack · Guru

Baillie lives next door, he was a rescue grey, I must ask where he came from! He is knocking on a bit, not many teeth and a vet file thicker that Caras bed. biggrin

Thistle · Old Hand

It sound like lsmall dog syndrome to me biggrin

doggymental · Old Hand

I've had my fair share of verbal abuse about my "devil" dogs and filthy looks and most of the time it's from the people that let their "adorable" pets run riot around my dogs legs!!! furious

Not only do I have a Greyhound and a Lurcher I'm also the proud owner of a German Shepherd so as you can imagine I'm really well liked!!! biggrin

What most people fail to notice in their panic is that there is a little ****er Spaniel in amongst them who is still in one piece!!!

Lucretia · Old Hand

Yes, oh God yes! There is an old man who lives by my mum and walks the same walk as us. I remember telling him a few days before I got my first Greyhound that I was getting a Greyhound. He ran his eyes over me with a sneer of disgust and immediately said "I don't like Greyhounds". The man had never met one and had no logical reason for his ideas. At that time he had some sort of miniature black thing and now he has a Cairn Terrier. He once eyed over my mum's ****er Spaniel and said "anything bigger than a Cairn Terrier is just trouble"!!!

Interestingly, this same man has had to change vets 3 times in the 5 months he has had his dog because she has gone from slender to morbidly obese, and he refuses to take the vet's advise to cut down on her food - last time I saw her she was losing hair too.

I really think it's just sad, all these people do is teach their dog to fear bigger dogs. There is a woman with Westie on our walks who beats her dog with the handle of her extending lead whenever she sees me. Why? Because her dog runs and barks and my two and has twice bitten Lizzie's lip. Again, she is only aggravating the problem with her ignorance.

Actually, now that I am thinking of it, the list could go on and on - but at the end of the day, it's the dogs these people own that lose out on the opportunity of making new doggy friends and being properly (and responsibly) socialised.