Mittens and the Big Bad Greyhound

Doggie stereotypes are alive and well, and one of the stereotypes that irks me the most is the image of the Greyhound as a cold blooded hunter. A vet once told me not to let Barbie near any cats, and was unapologetic when I told him that she lived with two kitties. Then there are all the people who say 'oh yeah Greyhounds need muzzles because they will eat cats on the street'. Recently a Ranger advised a woman who was interested in getting a Greyhound that 'in his experience' it would eat her Maltese! 

Barbie is a great example of a Greyhound who has prey drive but can live quite peacefully with her own cats. She is now always polite with small dogs, even those who bark at her. 

Anyway it brings us to our story for the evening. We were all lazing around on the couch, and Barbie and Mittens were in a very similar position to the one above. Barbie then sat up, and Mittens gave her a playful swat.

Barbie gave Mittens an obliging sniff, and Mittens swatted her again, this time with her claws out. She managed to somehow dig her claw into the back of Barbie's neck. Mittens is not very good at retracting her claws, and so she got stuck. Barbie tried to lie down, and felt the claw tug on her scruff, which elicited the GSOD (Greyhound Scream of Death).

Mittens managed to let go and was duly chastised for assaulting the Princess. I had to examine Barbie's neck but found no blood. The claw was just in Barbie's hair, so no damage done.

My theory has always been that the GSOD is a signal that the dog is not actually hurt, just surprised. The GSOD also illustrates beautifully that Barbie sees the kitties as her equals and not a lowly-ranked being that can be snapped at or growled at. 

Mittens says "No Comment"

Barbie is 5 now, which means we have had 3 years of harmony between her and the cats. Usually any dramas are between the two cats, and everyone else gets along just fine. Take that, anonymous Ranger!

In the Netherlands, even the cats ride bikes!

During our visit to Utrecht, NL, we went to a 'clocks and music' museum. It would have been a really horrifying place for both my dogs with it's massive street organs - they are loud because the louder they are, the more people you can attract, and the more money you can make. I had never seen nor heard of street organs before but they are pretty awesome things.

This one was my favourite, mainly because it was still on wheels and the Perlee family, despite selling it to the museum, still came to borrow it every now and again and use it the way it was intended. It struck me as a bit cheeky - like could I sell you my car but then come back to use it whenever I want?

We spent a few hours in the museum, and when we got outside, we spotted this gentleman, perched atop one of the many bicycles that line the streets.

He posed for the camera, while I admired his poise and balance. He even managed to do it with a bucket on his head! My cats could barely get around with buckets on their heads, let alone jump onto a tiny bike seat and balance there while watching the world go by!