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Why The White House Needs A Greyhound

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AuntieEm (robots from the year 2000 > zombies)
11/10/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
Hortense?!?! WTF do you mean they don't shed?!?!?!?! My mom's former racing grayhound, Mirtle, sheds worse than the golden/collie mix we had before her!!! Also, Mirtle's a basketcase. I love her and I think everyone should have a grayhound cause they're awesome cats in dog-suits, but she's a bit more high maintence that it seems.

1. She's TERRIFIED of thunderstorms and fireworks (and he birthday is the 4th of July, poor thing)

2. If you don't put veg oil in her food she gets dandruff

3. She's got a permanent racing injury that makes her limp and hold up one of her front paws all the time. You have to make sure when you walk her that she walks on the grass not on the sidewalk cause it hurts her.

4. She has the worst breath of any living being ever! And my mother brushes her teeth and everything. I'm telling you that breath could drop a moose.

5. You can NEVER trust a grayhound off the leash if they used to race. They might be fine 9 times out of 10 but that one time when they see a bunny or something and they take off, nothing will make them stop. They were trained not to hear the croud yelling and be distracted, they totally can't hear you yelling.

That said, I adore her, she loves to be petted and will lean against you when you do it. She's totally pathetic looking in the cutiest way, with her weird skinnyness and big brown eyes. She spends most of the day curled up on a pillow in the corner like a kitteh. And there's nothing like seeing her let loose and really run, it's breathtaking.
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queenieinmanhattan
11/09/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
My friend had a couple of rescue greyhounds; they were both adorable, but one of them was unbelievably stupid. For instance, she would go between the windowseat and the couch, hit the wall, and get stuck - because she couldn't figure out how to back out, and there wasn't space to turn her long body around.

Soooo cute, but soooo dumb.
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queenieinmanhattan
11/09/08

@queenieinmanhattan: And, let me note - this continued happening well after they adopted her.

It wasn't a matter of not knowing anything but the racing; she'd been living with my friend's fam for about two years the first time I saw her do the getting stuck routine. Oh, I'm giggling just thinking about it, and how appreciative she was when you'd pull her skinny butt out of there.
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LadySoprano is a Fat-Fighting Superwoman
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
I once went to Greyhound races for a colleague's birthday bash. There I was, drinking, betting, having a ball with my friends, when one of the dogs lost his footing, slid several yards, and had to be carried off the track.

Suddenly, it wasn't fun anymore.

Yay, Mass!! And thank you, Hortense, for the info--when I finally get to a dog-friendly phase in my life (having a yard, time to walk it, more money, etc.) I will definitely consider a greyhound!
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budholly101
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
Oh Hortense! I didn't know this about you, but now I love you even more. I volunteered at a greyhound rescue all through college (Greyhound Friends in Oak Ridge, NC [greyhoundfriends.com]) and have had three so far. Gia was my first, and she is both a princess and my baby. After that was Red Dog who looked like a deer - he had a short stub of a tail - and whom I still miss (he died of bone cancer). And then came Raleigh, who is the silliest, funniest dog ever. They're absolutely the greatest dogs I've ever had, and I will always have at least one in my home. The Obamas couldn't go wrong with a greyt grey!

Thanks for letting me gush about that!
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sybann
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
OH and Hortense, a woman called Weekend Edition and left a message this morning saying the same thing - adopt a greyhound!
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sybann
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
I have 2 Italian Greyhounds and both are rescues. And they're 15 and 20 pounds, so not too big for small people. I have always wanted a retired racer but I do have cats and the big greys can be prey oriented - not all but most.

I love my dogs.
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romanydog
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
hi Hortense, as a self-professed "dog nerd" I have a couple comments on your article. First of all, I did not know greyhounds were considered hypoallergenic--very cool! I have always wanted one but I have a flock of chickens so there are some concerns there... :O)

Anyway, I don't think a greyhound is a good choice for the Obamas because the girls really want a puppy, and the only way to get a greyhound puppy is through a show breeder (that I know of), and I think that's a terrible idea. Also, greyhounds aren't known for loving children, and the Obamas' new dog is to be primarily the kids' dog. I think they need a dog that LOVES kids. I would recommend a collie (my personal favorite breed--they're so great with kids!), except for the hypoallergenic thing. How about a bichon frise or a coton de tulear? Both are very sweet dogs that love everyone. Of course the whole world is going to freak if the Obamas don't get a shelter dog, but shelters don't often have a wide selection of hypoallergenic puppies...!

Anyway, good article, and I still hope to get a greyhound some day...
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Ascendo_tuum
11/08/08

@romanydog: There are a surprising number of breed-specific rescues, and you can search for specific breeds in shelters on petfinder! :)
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cheshirecatfish
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
You know what? With all this talk of change the impending Obama administration is going to bring to the white house, why don't they just get a cat instead?
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romanydog
11/08/08

@cheshirecatfish: Pretty sure the Clintons had a cat, didn't they? Mittens or something?
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Ascendo_tuum
11/08/08

@romanydog: Socks. They gave Socks to a maid or someone when they moved out, I think.
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Kilotwat
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
There are lots of hypoallergenic dogs. I don't think the Obamas should go to a shelter with a specific breed or mix in mind. They should see which dog suits their needs, but also their personalities. Dogs can have wildly different temperaments, and not all of them would fit Malia and Sasha. I think the Obamas should prioritize temperament over a specific breed/mix.
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Aesop's Foibles. YES.
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
I'm now stepmom to my bf's 3yr old rottweiler. He's a gigantic (130 lbs of muscle) baby. And i am not ashamed to say that I've turned him into a mama's boy. The only things I could do without: the smelly gland secretions, the noisy..um..self-pleasuring he does, and the fact that we NEVER have any privacy. Ever. He cries if we close the bedroom door. SO not romantic when a gigantic dog is attempting to nibble your curled toes. Gross. I miss my little fatty cat since I vacated my parents' house. I'd love a grey, though. They seem to be the best of both worlds. What sold me was learning of their absence of stank. That, and the laziness. Truly a breed after my own sluggish heart. Maybe I'll ask Santy Claus....
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Red-headed bookworm
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
My friends have a sweet greyhound they got from a local greyhound rescue society. I think the Obamas should get one. My friends' dog is kind of lazy, they have a bunch of pictures on their iPhone of it sleeping. :) Yay for rescuing animals!
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A Small Turnip
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
I want a greyhound so badly after reading this, but I have a kitty, and I would hate to put her at any kind of risk.

It hurts my heart a little. I mean, I know that any dog can, in a moment of madness, go for a fellow pet. Maybe I just need to do some more research about how Greys are socialised after being rescued. Maybe there's hope for me and mah kitteh.

I'm still dreaming of my beautiful, imaginary, pewter-coloured Grey. I'll call her Stella and rub her tum forever.
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prestocaro fears the culling
11/08/08

@ASmallTurnip: Some rescue places do testing to see if the greys are cat friendly. Mine is -- but we found out by accident.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
Some dude on CNN mentioned a Westie, and I haev one, so of course I'm biased. But then he said they don't shed fur and I thought "Huh?" cuz my Prince leaves hair everywhere! I don't think there is such an animal that is hypoallergenic or doesn't shed AT ALL, because all mammals with fur/hair shed to a certain degree.
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gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
11/08/08

@ceejeemcbeegee: My friend's Westie, Millie, is a veritable plethora of white doggie hair sheddingness. She's cute and playful and fun, but oh, does she shed.
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gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
As a mom to four rescues, I heartily endorse your article, Hortense. Our latest, Lucie, is a little girl whose whole litter was thrown away. When we got her, she had never had human contact and weighed 16 pounds. She is now 40 pounds, and sweet and super-intelligent. She doesn't seem to smell, either - she is a Belgian Shepherd mix.

We have a Katrina rescue, a hunting dog rescue (who we rescued from the street), and this Spring lost our oldest at 15.

I can't say enough about these girls - they all had considerable baggage, but each was worth all the work and love and attention. Our latest, Lucie, came from Petfinders.com, who hooked us up with a local rescue organization.
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Lady Skittlehattington
11/08/08

In reply to Why The White House Needs A Greyhound
Dear Hortense,

I love your dog.

Singed,
LS

(Yes, I meant to write "singed." I burned myself just now.)
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