The Saluki Thread

[grizabella]

That is really sweet, there's something very special about having a great relationship with a Saluki. I feel very priveleged.

I tried to get some good stacked pictures of Bella a little while ago. We're slowly getting better. We probably won't be hitting the show ring until the second half of next year as the first half's going to be particularly hectic, but there's no rush. We just missed the last show handling class for 2011, so won't be doing that till classes resume in February.


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[Gazinghound]

It does have to be one of the best feelings in the world, and we're two of the lucky few that get to experience. it. Last night she came to me to try to get me to stop the horrible fireworks...or at least, to run away with her. ;D I could see her torn between the hors d'oeuvres in the kitchen, and taking shelter under the dining room table!

You're stunning, Bella! The judges are gonna love ya! Best of luck with the classes, and in the ring when you guys get started...but of course, the most important thing is always that everybody has a nice time. ^^

[grizabella]

Poor Ullie, she's not a fan of fireworks then? Lucky she's got you to protect her from the nasty things!
Although Bel can be a wuss in many other ways, she's generally very brave when it comes to those kinds of things, she wasn't fussed by the fireworks, doesn't mind thunderstorms and merely looked slightly confused for a few seconds when we had a small earthquake.

[Gazinghound]

Fireworks are, for whatever reason, one thing she absolutely hates. They send her flying, trying to get as far away as possible. Storms and minor quakes haven’t scared her either, but those firecrackers…I don’t know, maybe in a past life she suffered some sort of huge attack, and now dislikes booming, explosive, reverberating sounds. O.o

[grizabella]

It's strange how some dogs get so worked up about fireworks and others barely bat an eyelid. I'm very glad Bella is so good with them, you hear so many stories of dogs getting themselves into real trouble in their panic, we were lucky with Tiggy as well, she didn't mind them either.

Bella's been to the vet's today, she's had a bit of a cough the past couple of days, and she's now on anti-inflammatory tablets. She's been very good and happily took her tablet, which is very good as usually she spits them out and flings them at me or across the room (worming Bel can be very interesting...)! She's now snoozing at my feet tired out from the stress of visiting the vet. Shouldn't be anything serious, hopefully will be cleared out soon. The timing is a bit unfortunate as she was going to have a birthday party with Arya, Elvis and Coco, but I guess that's just going to have to wait a bit now!

[grizabella]

Also, weighed Bella at the vet's and she was about 19.5 kg which I was pleased with as when I weighed her a little while ago she'd lost some weight, and now she's put it back on again.
I need to find my tape measure again to check to see if she's still the same height.

[Gazinghound]

It is really odd and kind of annoys me that I can't even determine where or why that fear started. She's got the worst reaction to the sounds of fireworks of any dog I've had. If she weren't kept inside the house or on a leash, she would literally just keep running away...she tries to get out of the yard, or into the garage, anywhere that seems further from the noise. Ay, yi, yi. There are some things of which I just can't seem to convince her (e.g., fireworks are harmless, swimming and Agility are FUN...XD)

I had to lol, picturing Bella spitting a tablet across the room. ;D My guys are good about taking theirs so long as they're wrapped in big hunks of cheese or meat--usually goes down without their even noticing. I hold my hand under their faces in case they do manage to get the pill lose and drop it. Which just gets them more cheese, so...

Rest up and feel better, Bel, and hope you get to party soon! Glad she's at a healthy weight, too.

Speaking of vets, Jack's got his next appointment this Friday. His viral papillomas (mouth warts) have increased (they're all over his lips now, instead of his gums, as they were at first when we couldn't even see them), and he's got a growth of some kind on one eyelid, too. It's all benign stuff that doesn't bother him at all, but it looks pretty bad, and I'm hoping they can find SOMEthing to give him for it. So far it still seems to be one of those "hopefully it'll go away on its own" things.

[grizabella]

Oh dear, I hope it does clear up on its own. Even if things are harmless it can be rather worrying if anything is out of the ordinary with them. I'm glad they're not bothering Jack.

[Gazinghound]

Well, good news so far: The vet was able to remove the growth from his eye as well as the oral warts...he'd been planning to just take some samples, but wound up getting rid of just about everything and sending it off for a biopsy report. Haven't heard back on it yet, but we all expect (and have our fingers crossed) that they were just benign little nasties. He's doing just fine; doesn't notice his tiny stitches at all, and neither do we. He just needs a bit of ointment on the eye to keep it from oozing yucky whitish discharge. ^^;;

[Gazinghound]

Okay, good news: They were all just viral papillomas, not cancerous. Something to do with a not-fully-developed immune system. If more than one reappears, we'll just have to keep removing them, but all should be well. ^^

[grizabella]

You must all be so relieved! Such great news!

[Gazinghound]

It is GREAT having him all bump-free again and knowing it's all right!

And know what's funny? Ulla has gone from being the one who couldn't stand to be on the same floor of the house with him, to the one who's much more playful and patient with him! Rusty mostly avoids their rambunctious games, and he gets severely annoyed at the pup pretty easily (at which point Jack will drop and play dead in front of him all adorable-like.) He would seem to be quite jealous of him. =/ Hopefully HE'LL get over his issues soon, now that the "problem dog" has switched from being Ulla to him. It's good to see "Auntie Ullie" running with Jack, effortlessly jumping over him, and tug-of-warring. x3 Two hounds having a gay old time, lol.
Maybe she DID want him to get "cleaned up" first before deciding to like him...o.o

[grizabella]

Aww, that's fantastic! How lucky Jack is to have such a lovely (and fun!) auntie.

[grizabella]

Having a lazy day..

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Bella was super well behaved on her walk today, no pulling on the lead at all! I was very impressed. ;D Obedience classes will be starting again soon as well as show handling, though I'm not sure when I'll actually start showing. I'd like to start soon-ish, there's a show at the obedience club grounds in May so might try and do that one... though it's all a bit scary! Bella's sister Lilly recently got her Championship title at just over a year old- I was very impressed!

[Gazinghound]

First one looks pretty familiar (down to the wall color and nice translucent curtain, actually!) Looks as though she's found something to use for a pillow. :3 They're so smart. Ulla often positions her head like a human would while sleeping. xD The second shot is truly beeeeeautiful!

Oh, wonderful! Splendid job, Bel. Best of luck with the training and showing. It can definitely be intimidating at first...and it takes most people at least a few shows before you start to feel comfortable with it. But don't feel rushed to start until you both feel ready. Wow, nice going, Lilly...it does always amaze me when other dogs are able to finish in so terribly short a time, while we're still so close to getting done, and Ullie's 5 1/2. Ah, well. We just haven't been able to get that one more win we need, but it'll come soon enough!