Just needing to vent my spleen!!!

bluesmumanddad · Master

Just needing to vent my spleen!!!

FAJ · Enlightened One

Rant on, Amanda, rant on!

I had a chap the other night say "are they pure greyhounds?" to which I replied "yes" then he said "watch the small dog", and points to his terrier. Yes, mate, that's fine - that's why they're both controlled on a lead and I'm standing 15 feet away from you, so we're nowhere near you. I felt quite insulted on behalf of Harry and Pearly.

I wouldn't have minded so much but he himself had two lurchers and a greyhound with him!

bluesmumanddad · Master

Just need to say "yes i've heard terriers can be quite snappy" that would soon shut him up.

Some people are just so ignorant but I guess that's why GAL was created - to educate people. Just get so blooming fed up and frustrated some times.

sha · Master

Hi Folks

I tend to walk my Whippets at ridiculous times of the day to avoid people. Sometimes i bump into a GH trainer en route, he asks me every time "you no racin they dugs yet hen, Wallyford will be open soon"!!!! aaaaaargh!!! He also told me my wee pup was too fat - with this i have to agree The best laugh was when he said "aye that dugs confomation is aw wrong fir runnin" (the same dog that won her class at Crufts!) I was shocked and stunned but LOL!!!

Sha

greyflintstone · Master

Like you I've had many people ask if the dogs are ok with children - doh!! As you say, yes I'm always willing to put my children at risk from the viscious (sp?) dogs we own! Some people really need to engage brain before opening gob!

skinnydugs · Master

what about the "its ok hen he disnae fight" while I have 8 on lead and some muzzled, just dying to get hold of the usually black lab who is winding them up no end.

E

bluesmumanddad · Master

And whilst I'm in the mood for a good old rant....

Why is it, on a fair few occasions, i have been walking Blue on the lead and some white westie owners grab their dog and put them on the lead. Their dogs usually then start pulling like mad and barking at Blue. Blue just ignores them but the owners give me such filthy looks as if I'm the one at fault.

(Don't mean to tar all white westie owners with same brush sure most are very nice!)

Amanda

Carol · Master

While I was away at the weekend with the school, another member of staff was commenting on my dogs. He said that while greyhounds were awright with people they were, after all, hunting dogs and would kill other dogs as soon as look at them, without exception!!!

Let me just say that you can imagine my reaction and he was left quite red-faced.

Plonker.

-- Edited by Carol at 17:30, 2005-04-27

Suzanne · Guru

I found when I had Erin, by walking 2 greys the reaction from the public was far worse - folk would pick up little dogs as you walked past & I even had a couple who picked up their small child & put it down after we had past....by this point steam was coming out of my ears!!!

It enrages me at the best of times but I manage (99%) of the time to bite my lip....

Considering that most of the folk that react like this are also dog owners can they not grasp the fact that if your dog was of any threat to anything then we would have them muzzled & on a lead - Murphy couldnt even hurt a fly & is neither muzzled or on the lead....sometimes Im tempted to teach him shake annoying owners by the throat but then I just count to 10 & walk on muttering like a crazy woman....grrrrrrrr

Best answer I have come up with so far to the no brainer question "Do you race him?" is
"No - he always beats me" & then walk off smuggly as the morons try & figure it out!

Phew, that rant felt good!

Dave · Enlightened One

LOL - should rename this thread 'Angry Ladies'....Gotta say been there done that! This is exactly why GAL have so many 'Awareness' Days, it's the only way to change some of the public's perceptions of Greyhounds and Lurchers..as long as you all grit your teeth, fix a nice smile on your face and spread the good word the message will get accross (eventually!)

Dawn · Guru

Only today, one of my customers asked if I could spare a minute because his family wanted a dog and wondered if I could advise him.

I stopped working and launched into the wonders of owning a Greyhound, and told him about this weekends events.....then he said "oh no we don't want one of those dogs, their skinny ugly things". Luckily I had my compact mirror within reach, and said 'look into that, (as he did), I said "now thats what you call ugly". Much to the delight of my other customers, that soon wiped the smile off his face. Time waster.

Suzanne · Guru

BRILLIANT DAWN!!!!! LOL

Carol · Master

Dawn....

I can't believe how hysterical you are. Well done!!!!

bluesmumanddad · Master

That's brilliant Dawn

Well and truly put in his place!!

greyflintstone · Master

I had a similar thing with a lady at work who announced that greys are awful skinny looking dogs. I happened to have a couple of pics of my two with me (I don't normally carry their photo's around, honest, but my boss wanted to see them!) - when I showed her the pics she said "oh, they're quite nice really then aren't they?!"!! I also have a photo of Griss (the gorgeous puppy who was available not that long ago) as my background on my work pc - everyone comments on how beautiful the puppy is and are usually quite surprised to hear that he's a greyhound!!

I guess we are all lucky to have been "educated" on the benefits of a grey as a pet - we just have to keep spreading the message to the uneducated!!

carolineasb · Old Hand

Hi all

Strangely the thing that worries me is that often I have had people with yorkies/westies/bichons letting their dogs come up to mine without any caution at all. I know I'm responsible and if I thought there was any chance of my dogs attacking another they would be muzzled but the strangers don't know anything about me or my dogs.

We used to have a GSD and some people would cross the road to pass us and then cross back over a little further on - he was absolutely great with children & his only vice was cats and the vets.

WE have a slight problem in our village at the moment with a chap who has two dogs which we think are cross mastiffs. He doesn't have them muzzled and I have seen them attack a 5 month old Husky Puppy and we have heard of 3 other dogs which they have attacked including a rhodesian ridgeback. He should now know to have them muzzled and doesn't. I just hope nothing happens to the dogs because of his stupidity and lack of control

Caroline

mom2two · Graduate

Well I'm pleased to report that 'the word' must be spreading because so far I have had really positive reactions. Only tonight a lady stopped me and asked if it was ok to pet the girls. She said she'd heard that they didn't need as much exercise as some people think and she said I was very lucky to have 2 such gentle natured dogs (and I don't mean that she was inferring that this was unusual for a grey). A lady with her toddler grandson walked past us in the park the other day and I heard her tell him 'those are greyhounds, they're beautiful aren't they?' and at least another 4 or 5 people have come up to me and said that they make lovely pets don't they? So take heart! we're getting there...slowly but surely...we're getting there

FAJ · Enlightened One

Same here, Suzanne. Steve and I were standing outside the post office last Saturday and numerous old ladies came up and asked us how our walk went (the power of the local newspaper!) and generally made a lovely fuss of Harry and Pearly. Another woman was very keen on chatting as she has had many rescue whippets, and was thinking of a greyhound. We didn't have any business cards on us but luckily Steve was wearing a GAL tee-shirt, so she got it off his chest! Fingers crossed that she'll call Dave for a chat.

neeroz · Master

I think like most groo owners we've had most of the comments & looks.

Dexter is very wary of small dogs as they are the ones who usually go for him! A jack russel took a dislike to him so gave him the 'little dog' syndrome, then its GSD pal got in on the act too. Dexter bolted and smashed into me trying to escape. (I was sporting a massive bruise for weeks). Needles to say the jack russel and GSD weren't on leads.

Then on the flip side we were at Fort William a few years ago and people were so nice or didn't know what breed of dog they were. We had Americian tourist taking photos and talking about the groos in America plus group of Italian ladies gushing over Florence in Italian!

As for greyhounds always attacking 'small fuzzy things', well Dexter had a great time last week playing with Cookie the escapee ferret. Neither any worse for the experience, although it won't be a regular date!

Lesley · Guru

I think I have been quite lucky too. Mostly people are very interested in my two. Of course - I have had one or two sideways looks from 'tough' looking boys, but they have never engaged me in conversation.

Until recently the most common remarks I overheard were to do with their coats: mums pointing out to kids that the dogs were wearing their outdoor coats.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

I'm lucky too, in the people I've met. Most people first of all admire Vegas' eyes and coat, then I answer their questions and tell them what wonderful pets they make. One elderly couple recently had their two year old granddaughter with them who clung on to Vegas' coat. I gave her a biscuit to give to Vegas and he was ever so gentle with her. The couple were so impressed - I think they would have taken him in a minute. Unfortunately they didn't feel they had enough room for a dog.... damn!!

Of course we've all met the eejits, the plain ignorant and the brain dead - and I wouldn't recommend them looking after a goldfish - never mind a dog. So I tend to educate only the ones I think are stupid but saveable!

Christine

Jay · Old Hand

We've had our fair share of "stipid" comments, but one or two funny ones as well. We used to live in the village in EK, which entailed walking the dogs past several neds and drunks of an evening. One of the best comments I heard was from two young boys of the track suit and burberry hat brigade, one asked, "Hey mister, do they dugs bite?" to which his mate said, "Of course they bite, they've got teeth haven't they..." Well, I have a dry sense of humour and that creased me up for the rest of the walk...

The other one was two men the worst for wear of drink, one balding somewhat prematurely. He looked a bit concerned when he saw our two, so his mate encouraged him, "You'll be alright, they only go for hares..." Boom Boom

Amber · Master

Hhhhmmm, seems to me that all other dogs are fat, rather than greyhounds being skinny

Sometimes you do get people coming up wanting to pat them and saying how gorgeous they are & that is always nice! But personally find nothing more annoying than people who allow their out of control off-lead dogs to hassle mine when they are leads; even my dog friendly one doesn't particularly appreciate being molested by thuggish loose dog when she's on a lead & minding her own business!

I once had some idiot in the park say are they alright with small dogs like? As his small terrier was running about all over the place, doing whatever it wanted. So i just smiled and said, well, mine are on LEADS...and he immediately rushed over to get his dog! They wouldn't have eaten it, but all the same don't enjoy strange dogs getting in their faces uninvited.

Teresa · Enlightened One

on our walk tonite we met the usually motley crew of doggies and owners. one, particularly, knows to wave at us from a distance if he has his rottie with him!!!

some other twat with two little bundles of fur decided that his little angels would be perfectly ok off their leads - we ended up doing circuitious routes of the park just to avoid him - i dearly wanted to tell him exactly, in precise, graphic detail, what dave would do to his little darlings if they got close enough but sense prevailed and we avoided them successfully. he kept looking at us as if to challenge us but i didn't bother to lower myself to his brainless level.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Good for you, Teresa! I honestly don't think these people realise what damage our dogs are capable of doing to their furry little ankle-biters. Maybe they get some perverted enjoyment from watching the bigger dogs being teased. We are the responsible ones who care what happens not just to our own dogs, but those of other people too.

It's really irritating when something like this happens. Hope it didn't spoil your walk!

Christine

Dawn · Guru

What could better than to have a leisurely stroll around a beautiful park on a Sunday morning with your beloved GH.......nothing, unless you meet a NED along the way!

I was out having my morning walk with Mac round Rouken Glen Park on the Southside of Glasgow, and for those not familiar with the park, it is situated in the very desirable, well sought after area, of Giffnock, Clarkston, Newton Mearns. Not the type of place you would expect to encounter a Ned.

During my walk I met up with a lady called Vivien, who has two GAL GH's and we all walked round the park. Vivien was explaining that her dogs were not safe will small dogs or cats but she had forgotten their muzzles. I told her not to worry because Mac hates other dogs running up to him off the lead and he would scare any unwanted attention away!

A very well dressed woman in her 50's came into the park with two Yorkies (they were wearing black knitted jumpers), OFF the lead! She was walking in the same direction as us and very quickly her two Yorkies caught up with us. Viven kept a tight hold of her two GH's and Mac did his bit by chasing them away.

Next thing she shouted, "should your dogs not be muzzled" to which Vivien replied "yes". I had only just met Vivien, but I immediately replied "should your dogs not be on the lead".......so a row erupted between the Ned owner of the Yorkies and us. The Ned then started swearing at us and I told her to mind her language as there was no need for that. The Ned was shouting the GH's were dangerous dogs and shouble be muzzled at all times and not allowed to be walked in the park!!!!

I hope I don't see this Ned again, she may have been well dressed, well spoken and probably lived locally, but anyone who is NOT EDUCATED deserves the title of NED = Non-Educated Delinquent!!

Carol · Master

Dawn,

yet another example that money definitely cannot by you class. (Apologies to those of you who do have money and class)

As my mum would say, she's probably all fur coat and no knickers anyway!

bluesmumanddad · Master

Dawn I sympathise with you.

We have found that alot of small dog owners think that they can let their dogs do what they like with out any come back just because they are small.

Not far from us lives an extremely unfriendly bichon frisse who is always off the lead whether it is on the path or in a field. Every time we see it it snarls and barks at Blue (who is usually on the lead at the time) and it has even bitten him on the legs a few times. The owners are usually quite a way off and even if they are close by do nothing to stop him.

Just because this dog is small and could not seriously injure most dogs does not give the owners the right to let it behaive in this way and if any dog shoulf be walked with a muzzel on this shoud be it.

Dawn well done for putting this ned in her place.

iluska · GAL Treasurer

Yep, it's got to be said, there are always eejits around the place, who think they know best. What is even more annoying is that dog walkers forget that they have to have control of their dogs at all times and those off the lead, realistically are not being controlled by their owners - I don't believe a loud yell (swearing optional) = control.

Furthermore, if the NED "thinks" that GHs are dangerous, why in God's name would she allow her precious rat-bags to run up to them??!!

Yep, feeling a tad crabbit today so apologies if anyone has their dogs off the leash, but one really has to be careful & especially around idiot! Further apologies to those who have small dogs, especially yorkies.

Am I about to start a barney ....? Hope not.

FAJ · Enlightened One

Well, whilst we're on the subject of daft owners.....

Steve was out on the razz last Saturday night so I took Hazza and Puzza for their late-night potty walk all on my ownio. Within 3 minutes of leaving the house an off-lead spaniel came careering round the corner, no owner in sight. Knowing what Harry is like if other dogs get too close, and given that this dog was all waggy-tailed and wanting to rush over and say hello, I thought I'd be best to just walk the other way. Then the owner appeared and so, very friendly and very politely , I said that one of my dogs isn't good with others and would she mind calling back her dog. "Well", came the huffy reply, "I'll try but he isn't very obedient". FFS! Why is he off-lead on the roads, then?! Typically, I met her again twice during our walk that night.

And, would you believe, we met her again the next day. In a very narrow, space-confined lane that we were walking up with our two! We were almost at the top, so you'd think she might have waited till we were out of the way. But, alas, no, down she came with her off-lead, happy, bouncy spaniel that was just desperate to say hello to Harry. Sigh.....