Greyhound Gang - Guidelines

Greyhound Gathering Guidelines

The Greyhound Gang is very pleased to host this gathering. We are going to have such FUN! To make sure it stays fun, all the time, I ask that you print out and read the following very carefully. Expectations for Guests is that you are coming to have fun and to help hounds. Please be aware that there are no legions of volunteers doing this. I started it all by my lonesome because I wanted to do something to help the hounds. In subsequent years lovely people from afar have stepped forward to help with preparation. Without the volunteer help from these lovely people - Lynn Roick, Carla Lescosky, Chris Brewer, Mary Bauer, Colleen Browne, Fran Pruyn & Stephanie Russell - the Gathering would have been a one time deal. It's now in its 7th year.

What follows is all common sense and common courtesy. I'm sure everyone practices all this faithfully and daily. I'd appreciate it, however, if everyone who is coming would follow these guidelines, so this Ninth annual Greyhound Gathering - Kanab 2008 will be FUN and perfect in every way.

Kanab is welcoming us with open arms, and we have a greyt chance to strut our stuff and show that people and their pets, particularly the best pets in the world -- OUR GREYHOUNDS -- can travel anywhere! FYI - Kanab is a very small town, and please understand that hotel owners, and store owners personally know me, and will let me know if anything untowards happens. Of course, they will also be telling me how wonderful all the hounds and humans have been, too! Which is what I love to hear.

Motels

Please respect that the owners of these motels have opened them up to you and your hounds. Having this many dogs at one time in their establishments is not common. And they have graciously agreed to do this. Please treat their rooms and properties with respect at all times. You are responsible for any damage your dog does. Please DO NOT leave your dog unattended in the hotel room, unmuzzled, if they are not used to being left alone. In 2004, we had unattended dogs doing damage to rooms, and people not reporting it to the hotels, or taking responsibility for payment of damages. This is unacceptable, and has resulted in less rooms available in 2006. If you are NOT going to take responsibility for the hounds you bring, and their care while in the hotels, please do not attend.

Please walk your dogs outside and often. Please get them to go on the grass, and please clean up every single bit of poop that you can. Some suggestions for poop and pee pick up follow.

Water

Don't fill the water bowls to the top, so slobber can be kept to a minimum. Place bowls in bathroom on the tiles or bring plastic to put under bowls on the floor.

Food

Place carefully - clean up after.

Beds

Please bring sheets to put on bedspreads, so you take all dog hair with you.

Crates

They are not required, but if your dogs are used to them, please bring them.

Muzzles

Bring a muzzle if you are going to leave your greyhound unattended in a hotel room, or with new, strange dogs in a hotel room. This will PREVENT - and prevention is a good thing - bad things from happening.

Shedding

Greyhounds don't shed much, but when they are stressed or in new situations, they will shed. Please bring paper towels, or whatever you use, to wipe down your grey with and take off the shedding hair as much as possible. Please don't pet a shedding dog and then leave the hair on the hotel floor or bedspreads. Please put it in the garbage. If you can, bring a Dirt Devil with you to clean up stray hairs. Don't forget those extra sheets to cover the bedspreads in your rooms.

Mishaps

Please report any chewing, destruction, etc. to the hotel management immediately. The reputation of all greyhounds, and the 9th Annual Greyhound Gathering, are on the line with your behavior. And I WILL hear about everything that happens, this is a very small town.

Pee, Poop and Hair Pick-up

Items to Bring

Backpack to carry all this stuff!
Nature's Miracle or other dog cleaning solution
Fantastik or other regular cleaning solution
Paper towels
Paper plates or small shovels to clean up poop
Canned Pumpkin to add to food to help with big D, Keopectate, etc.
Plastic bags
Water bottles
Sheets
Pet Hair removal brushes or tape
Plastic to put under food and water bowls
Dirt Devil

Poop and Big D

Please get up as much as you can and then spray down with water and cover with leaves or something, so others don't step in it. Since no one will be leaving their poo behind, there shouldn't be a need for others to pick up poop that isn't their's. But on the off chance you see poop not picked up, please pick it up too. I believe places in Doggie Heaven belong to people that pick up others poo.

Pee

Please have Nature's Miracle, or some other cleaner and paper towels and plastic bags with you at all times.

Try to not allow your males to lift their legs on the corners of buildings. If they do, please have water on hand to wash down the building and sidewalk, and so dissipate the pee so others don't step in it. Please keep an eye on those boys when you are talking too.

If you are out walking and you forgot (but you won't! <G>) your clean-up materials, then please ask another greyhound owner or storeowner to help you clean up your mess. Do not just leave it or ignore it, please!

Hair

If you have a shedding greyhound, please try to keep the hair in garbage bags and not all over motel floors and bedspreads, people and shops downtown. Use wet paper towels to take off the shedding hair. Bring a Dirt Devil vacuum with you.

Walking Around Downtown Kanab

Kanab is opening their town to us. You can go into most shops with your greyhounds. You can walk around town. All this took a lot of persuasion, a lot of persuasion. There were town meetings, individual meetings, a lot of information sharing, and lots of promises. Please, please, please be courteous and polite and pick up really, really well after your dogs. Watch those boys like a hawk when you are in the stores. They have sneaking lifing legs. The impressions you make will last a lifetime.

Shops

Most shops in Kanab will allow you and your greyhounds to visit, so please carry cleaning stuff with you. Paper towels, cleaner, bags. Please watch your males CAREFULLY in their stores. Kanab shops are not open on Sunday.

People

It is hard for us to believe, but not all people love greyhounds and dogs the way we do. Don't assume everyone wants to pet your dog. If they indicate they do, then go for it. But let the person make the first move to pet, not your dog.

Other Responsibilities

Other Dogs

It would be best to leave other breeds at home. If you really, truly can't, then please do not approach other greyhounds with your dogs -- small dogs in particular. When all greyhounds are together, like lunches, group roo, parade, Blur of Fur etc., it would be best to leave your other dogs in the hotel or car. Any biting that has occurred in the past as been with another breed dog. It's usually not even their faults, but some greyhounds take exception to other breeds and owners don't watch carefully enough.

Leashes

Please do NOT use flexi leashes. We had problems with dogs on flexi leashes last year. It wasn't the dog's fault, as much as the person not paying attention, but we have to ban them this year for safety. Please use nylon and standard leashes, and please keep an eye on your dog - ALL THE TIME. Keep them close to you when you are socializing with others. Always be aware of what is going on around you.

X-Pens

X-Pens are lovely to use, however, please do not put up your x-pens in the middle of our eating areas. We need that grassy area for humans and hounds to sit in. X-Pens can be put up on the sides away from the main area.

Dog Aggressive or Insecure

Your dogs, if they display any aggressive behavior, would be better off kept at home. If you must bring them, then they must wear a red bandana at all times. Please bring your own bandana. If you have a dog that will potentially bite and growl at others -- either 2-legged or 4-legged -- you MUST let others know by having your dog wear the red bandana at all times, and letting others know to stay away. Not following this simple rule can have serious repercussions for all Greyhound Gatherings.

By insecure or aggressive behaviors, we mean any behaviors (space, alphaness, fear, shyness, etc.) that could cause your dog to growl or bite another dog or person. This doesn't mean you have bad dog. Just one that doesn't particularly like being in groups. Again, if you have a greyhound, or other breed that will bite when in strange or group situations, it would be best if you could leave them at home.

Muzzles

Please bring them, as they can be used if you leave your dog alone, or with a new group of dogs in a hotel room. They can also be used in the Blur of Fur if your dog is running with other dogs. I also ask that red-bandana dogs wear muzzles when with large groups of dogs.

Leashed

It goes without saying, though I will say it, all dogs must be leashed at all times.

ID Tags

Please make sure your dogs have up-to-date ID tags on them, should they get loose.

Safety

Please be safe in all that you do. No dogs off leash. No insecure dogs near any other dogs. It will be a wonderful party, and we want everyone to enjoy it. Please gauge your dog's moods and don't push them to do more than they can, just because YOU want to do something. People, kids, small dogs, space, and too many dogs may stress them in ways you've never seen. Watch them, listen to what they are telling you and be safe.

The Greyhound Gang is not responsible for any mishaps, accidents, misdemeanors, whatevers, etc. of any participants -- two-legged or four-legged.