Swifter than a running deer...

[bunn]

This morning we found a deer when out walking. My immediate reaction was to grab Az and get him on-lead, and fortunately I managed to do that before he worked out what was going on.

Mollydog saw the deer first and took off after it like a speeding bullet, but there was no help for that, I was busy with Az. Az safely on lead, I turned to look for Mollydog, only to see her *overtake* the deer, do a big victory circuit round the field and come racing back to tell me how she WON THE RACE. Who said racing greyhounds only run because they want to catch things...?

I had to give her a round of applause when she arrived back in front of me (she loves applause) she looked so pleased with herself.

Comments

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I once met a Champion Italian Greyhound who proudly bore scars from a recent encounter with a deer he'd cornered...

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Believe me, racing deer is not Officially Allowed for my dogs: quite apart from stress to the deer, I am horribly aware of the potential damage (for an Italian greyhound the risk must be even greater I'd have thought - they are so tiny and fragile!). Unfortunately because the deer lurk all over the damn place, from time to time I encounter one unexpectedly when I think it's all clear.

Of the 2 hounds, Az will take a deer down, whereas Mollydog will simply dance about at a distance looking foolish and then come back, so my immediate concern was making sure Az didn't pile in.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

In Italy they take IGs after game, but that is usually rabbits. Like most toy dogs, they have no idea that they are small. Of course, the Italians will hunt pretty much anything at any time...

I can't think of a sighthound I don't adore (if I had a mansion then I would probably go in for Borzois or Salukis or, if I was feeling really rash, Ibizans) but they do have this tendency to chase things...

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I don;t know the Ibizans.

I think I'd go for Irish Wolfhounds. And flatcoats, of course, if partly for sentimental reasons.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

There's a link on my lj to some extraordinary black and white photos of Ibizans (they are normally red and white) hunting. They are mediterranean rabbit hounds, and, I must admit, as they are often white with red ears, I do often wonder if the hell hounds or Herne's hounds, or the hounds of the Wild Hunt - also white with red ears - are a folk memory of them. They were almost certainly around in Roman times. A very old and very rare breed. Those I have met have an appalling sense of humour.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Sadly not as rare as they should be. There is an Ibizan Hound/ Podenco rescue problem in Spain. Many dogs are apparently dumped or killed (by hanging) at the end of the hunting season. I know a couple of people who have taken in rescue Ibizans from Spain and they are always looking for more homes. It's the same problem as the poor galgos, they are not seen as pet dogs - though there are even more galgos, I understand

Just in case you win the lottery (or equivalent) :

http://www.ibizanhoundrescue.com/
http://www.galgonews.com/adopt/index.html

Plus there is Houndsavers - they home both podencos and galgos in the UK, but I don't think they have their website sorted yet.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I'm ferreting that link away for future reference. Always hankered after an Ibizan but never imagined I'd have one since I didn't think I'd find one in rescue ever.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

When the time comes, quite a few Podenco homing people are around at SOL - http://www.sighthoundsonline.org.uk/

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I have bookmarked these just in case!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I don't know any Wolfhound rescues :-p Deerhounds come up from time to time though.

I don't think I've ever come across a rescue flatcoat, which is quite a testament to the enthusiasts of the breed, but it looks like there is still a rescue out there for them: http://www.flatcoated-retriever.info

I can offer you a quite scary number of golden retrievers though: http://www.irishretrieverrescue.com/
http://www.retrieverrescue.net/

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

We very, very much hope that a future house will have enough room for a dog; but even then, it may not be a wolfhound!

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I know that sort of fun. I grew up in the New Forest where there were all the commoner's animals as well as deer. Taking the dog for a wal was always fraught with danger, the dog would run (not after anything, but just run) and that would spook an animal which would run and the dog would see that and change from just running to chasing.

At least the first dog we had was a daft labradour, spanial, alsation cross and wasn't very fast. The next one had dalmation and was faster and with more staminar, she'd be away and gone in a moment. On more than one occasion we'd be out for hours after she'd decided she wasn't coming back. The rest of the time she was a good as gold, come when she was called, sit when told and everything.