owning a labrador puppy

Mine have had some nasty cuts from barbed wire and there is always the fear that whilst off the lead they may spot a rabbit and run into a wire or metal fence and break their neck. I have known far too many dogs who have lost their lives in this way.

I remember buying mine a fancy neckerchief each and thinking OMG I am turning into one of those awful women who dress their dogs in silly outfits (cringe). They do deserve, with those lovely long necks to wear stylish collars and of course because they don't have a protective layer of fat under their skin so warm coats are an absolute necessity

I have found that when I am out with my dogs we often get approached by people who have owned/known a greyhound at some point in their life all share their stories with great fondness and love for the breed.

Mine have a spaniel friend who lives next door but one, they have never mentioned it but I think they have adopted him as an honorary hound albeit slightly inferior to themselves.

They are easy to keep clean as you say a quick wipe over with a cloth although mine so enjoy a nice warm shower now and then. I groom mine with a blunt hacksaw blade which makes their teeth chatter with pleasure. A greyhound trainer passed on this tip and it makes their coats gleam.

Mine (one in particular) are terrible thieves. He ate the bone meal intended for my plants and placed (so I thought) well out of his reach and ended up on a drip and an overnight stay at the vets. The same one demolished a large bar of milk chocolate and fortunately lived to tell the tale. All have perfected a total look of innocence when food mysteriously disappears although as yet none have surpassed gracesmums Grace with her fondness for venison

I used to have a spaniel and a whippet. Many years prior to that I'd been out walking and met someone with one of each; when I remarked that it was a strange combination they said they got on very well so I followed their example. Hattie loves being brushed with one of those gloves that have rubber on the one side; in fact I'm going to go down and give her a brush now. I hate her being an only dog so I'm going to go and curl up on the sofa with her and watch telly. What surprises me is the way that she will eat anything [and I mean anything ] but is surprisingly fussy about actual dog food. Having had spaniels for years it still surprises me to put food in her bowl and find some of it still there hours later; the spaniels eating it straight away. I'm sure I've mentioned the book by Jeanine McMullen; My Small Country Living which is out of print [and I'm desperate to find a copy of it]. It's what got me into sighthounds.

Tegan Jeanine McMullen sounds familiar to me. I will keep my eyes open for a copy of the book you have mentioned.

Greyhounds are wonderful to cuddle up to and they don't mind where you stick your feet to keep them warm

I do find greys suffer with separation anxiety are whippets the same? Most of my greyhound owning friends own at least two dogs for this reason.

Ours were terrible thieves too! We were always on picnic alert and once Ben ran out of the woods straight down to a chap fishing and ate all his bait! They used to try and sneak treats out of the pockets of other dog walkers we would meet up with.
Jack got so good at opening the kitchen cupboards I had to rearrange them all so the one with glass doors supposed to display your posher stuff (not that I've got any!!!!) contains dry edibles. He even got the lid of a tin of drinking chocolate!
My daughter's beagle is even worse though!

Angel2 I bet they got what they wanted too. Given the chance one of mine would stick his nose into other peoples shopping bags. It was embarrassing . Some people found it very amusing but others were quite cross about it.

Not many whippets in my neck of the woods but I do like them, so delicate and such pretty faces.