It's been over a year now since Vince arrived taking my hound number to six! How have I coped you say? Very well! Though I would say 4 greyhounds and 2 lurchers mean it's easier than 6 other types of dogs. I've found that as a new hound arrives one adapts to the new routine, Basically now I walk 3 and then 3. Takes a bit longer but one adapts. Fortunately dogs work out a hiearchy very quickly. Have had a few spats between Tink and Vince possibly because Vince is not neutered ( medical problem) The only downer - my van is not big enough now fr all 6 to travel. So please think about adding another member to your gang. Perhaps a foster hound!
Well done Charles, what a fab job your doing Wish i had room to fit in one more tiny wee greyhound If only they would curl themselves up into wee balls instead of sprawling themselfs out all over my sofa's and bed
You've got a huge heart, Charles - and you do such great work for GAL! Your lovely hounds are a credit to you. I can hardly believe it's a year since you brought Vince home!
Hi Charles, sounds like you have a very contented pack
Good on you Charles. I am down to a "Pack" of one beddie lurcher that is so content being only dog that his fiery temper seems to have become a thing of the past. He came into the house as dog number four but old age caught up with two of my dogs and lympho took a third. I am tempted to think of getting another dog when we come back from our holidays but am pretty sure that this is for my agenda and perhaps is not best for my remaining lurcher i.e. I have come out of the denial stage of grief over losing Leo my other lurcher and now have to fight back tears on walks as it sinks in that he wont suddenly burst out from a bush and everything will be okay again. However against this I am almost certain that Flash the lurcher I have left is one of these lurchers is happier as "Only dog" and know that some lurchers are just "Like that"
Eleanorxxxxx
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If I can't watch lurchers running in Heaven...I don't want to go there.
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Charles you really must post us a photo of your gang! I know you work hard with your big group of dogs and it is not always easy for you (especially in the past when there have been accidents with your furniture) but I know you wouldn't have it any other way! I wonder how you survive when you come in (I only have one hound now and he often jumps full on at me nearly sending me flying.) Putting his lead on is also tricky with al the jumping that goes on!
Eleanor, Since I lost Tig, Chad, like your Flash after losing Leo has become a very spoilt 'only dog' I just know that he wouldn't tolerate an outsider in his home now. I had him neutered but it has not stopped his territorial behaviour (anything that walks by is fair game). As I live at the very end of the village my house is walked by by loads of dogs every day. He woofs all day long but never barked in our old house before he was neutred so it is puzzling! He is such a huge part of the family that we are not going abroad on holiday instead we are renting a dog friendly cottage by the sea this year! Take care Em and Chad x
He is such a huge part of the family that we are not going abroad on holiday instead we are renting a dog friendly cottage by the sea this year!
Our hols now tend to be going down to my son's holiday caravan in Wales. We are off there in a couple of weeks time and it is going to be a bit sad not having Leo to run with Flash on the beach.
Thing about Flash is that now that he doesn't have Leo's back up he is less territorial and seems quite laid back in the company of other dogs. Hard to guess what goes on in his mind My impression is that he regarded other dogs in the house as competion, extended this view to dogs outside the house and now that he is alone in the house he has got all that he wanted.... everything dog related in the house is his and his alone ..all dog beds, all biscuits, the best position on the rug in front of the fire, the spot with the best cushion to rest a doggy head on the sofa, all human attention etc etc....everything that the dogs liked in the domestic territory is HIS now....no need to share and so he is content Eleanorxxxxxx
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If I can't watch lurchers running in Heaven...I don't want to go there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leolurcher/
Mason and I are off on our first holiday together in a couple of weeks to a cottage in Kirriemuir that some of the Gal guys have been already. I couldn't face the idea of leaving my boy and have always said I should holiday at home more so I'm very excited about it. Its funny you should say Flash is enjoying being a lone pooch, Eleanor. I have been thinking Mason needs a housemate but when he comes home from daycare the look of satisfaction as he settles onto 'his' sofa with no other dogs hassling him makes me think he likes his own space. Plus, I've come to the conclusion Mason is very much an "its all about me" dog. He has to be the centre of attention wherever we are and positively sulks if another dog gets more attention Marie
I find it a bit of a dilemma Marie. So many deserving dogs needing homes. I would please myself and get another dog and Flash could just lump it but Flash had a few spats with my old working sheepdog challenging her dominance. She was more than fit for him, however when she died he had a few goes at Leo.Not having the thick coat of the collie Leo ended up with nasty gashes and we ended up with vets bills before the hierarchy was settled. Bitch or dog Flash didn't care... he would fight with either sex to try and be top dog. He didn't give our papillion a second glance....the poor old papillion was obviously the very very bottom of the food chain and so he was ignored . Eleanorxxxxxx
__________________
If I can't watch lurchers running in Heaven...I don't want to go there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leolurcher/
Hi Everyone, Yes I will post a pic of the hounds soon. It's been amazing how they and some of my foster dogs got on. The bottom line is most of them do cope with changes to the 'pack'. Sometimes two dogs are too closely matched so they challenge each other for dominance. However most dogs soon find their place. My limit of 6 is t o do with my time. I walk 3 and 3. More hounds would mean 3 and 3 and others.
Gosh Eleanor, I hardly recognise your descriptions of Flash!! Flash is so laid back when he has been out at Balloch, even tolerating Biscuit's antics! But then he probably knows it's only a walk, and he will be going home to leave the nonsense of other dogs. Just goes to show, like people they keep changing in response to what is happening.
Valerie you got it in one. I have difficulty recognising him myself.On his first outings mixing with other running dogs on group walks I had his muzzle in my bag. He is a typical beddie x in that after a few incidents you learn warning signals and if you remain alert you can step in before trouble happens. I noticed doing a google on beddie x sighthounds someone wanting to know where she could get one and one answer from a multi lurcher owner was.....forget it and I know at least two other experienced lurcher people that would probably echo that.
The change in Flash has been like night and day since he became only dog but I noticed when I went for a coffee with Lindsay after our second outing in Balloch that Flash behaved very well with Lindsay's pack but after a while he came over to me and seemed to signal....maybe it is time for me to go home now .
I do have my eye on a GAL homeless female grey that might possibly fit in with Flash. When we come back from our holidays in mid June and she is still looking for a home? Lots of love....sit and treat to Biscuit Eleanor and Flashxxxxxxx
__________________
If I can't watch lurchers running in Heaven...I don't want to go there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leolurcher/