Water, First Aid, Misc.
There will be plenty of fresh water for the dogs, either in pools (if it’s warm) or buckets/bowls.
We will have first aid kits for dogs & people. Several of us are good for a layman’s veterinary consult in case your whippet pulls up lame or seems a bit off. We also have a few members of the medical and veterinary professions in the family in case of something more serious. There is an
emergency vet nearby, and we’ll have info and detailed directions in case you should need them.
Swap Table
You know that collar you bought for Herself that didn’t fit and you meant to send it back? Or the handy-dandy toenail-polishing pads that seemed really important when you ordered them? Or the vitamins that Mister Bonehead won’t touch? Clean out the dog drawer and bring all your surplus dog-related stuff to the free swap table. That sighthound collar with the pink fringe that didn’t look good on Brutus might be just perfect for Princess, and there are those whippets (names withheld) who will gladly eat any vitamins! Don’t be shy – take stuff! Even if you don’t bring anything to swap, this stuff is free for the taking! (And we don’t want to take it all home with us!)
Legal and Health Stuff
Please bring rabies tags and/or certificates for your dogs, just in case. It’s a good idea to pack your shot records from your veterinarian, especially if you’re crossing state lines. It’s also good to make sure your dogs are up to date on Frontline or other flea and tick preventative.
Our whippets typically get along extremely well with family, and most of them are fine with other dogs. If you have another whippet or a friendly, well-socialized dog of another breed, you are welcome to bring him or her along.
We all take responsibility for our own dogs, and any that show aggression or bullying tendencies will need to be leashed or crated. We’ll also have some muzzles available although 
I don’t believe we’ve ever had to use them.
Please don’t be upset if your dog has trouble in this environment…it’s a lot of input to deal with and like our children, our dogs often don’t react as we expect them to! Some whippets jump into the frivolities like seasoned party-goers. Others may be a little shy or even grumpy. Just be patient, and give them time to adjust. You might be surprised how much fun they’ll be having by the end of the day!
Whatever reaction your whippet has, just be matter-of-fact about it. Trust us, it’s no reflection on you. Just like people, dogs are different personalities. Some are social butterflies; others would just as soon sit right by Mom. Neither reaction is right or wrong. If you have questions or concerns about your dog’s behavior, talk to Sharyn or Jo. We’ll be happy to help.
Whippet Management or ‘I’ve Never Seen That Whippet Before in My Life.’
We’re proud and happy — and a little surprised! — that all the dogs get along so well every year. Thanks to watchful owners and the temperament of this wonderful breed, we’ve never had even a serious scuffle. Let’s keep it that way.
If your whippet is a schoolyard bully, please keep him or her on a leash. And don’t be embarrassed. Ivy, the Fun Police of Timbreblue, used to spend most of the reunions on a leash. We’ll have extra crates and also some muzzles available.
Relax and have fun, but do keep an eye on your dog and on the dogs in general. We’re a family: If you see a problem developing, please feel free to grab a collar, regardless of whose dog it is. NOTE: Humping is natural behavior but rude. Please don’t allow your dog to continuously hump others. Put him on a leash till he settles down!
A lively game of chase is the most popular pastime at the reunion. That’s fine, but if you see a game start wherein one dog is the “prey” and the rest of the pack is chasing him or her, that should be discouraged. There’s a general vibe you’ll feel if this game turns serious — the “prey” will appear scared, the “predators” will look just 
a little too serious. Grab a collar as the pack moves past you and wait till they settle down a bit before releasing.
If you hear a yelp, grab the dog closest to you to keep him out of the action. A sharp yelp often triggers a pack reaction which can escalate into a fight, and it’s best to have everyone under control until things settle back down.
In case of a fight:
Rule one is: Do not get bitten.
Rule two is: Do not get bitten.
Rule three is: Never, never, never reach into the middle of a fight.
If you doubt that advice, ask me to show you my scars! (Another example of ‘Do as I say’) If you have your hand near the face of a dog who is fighting and he lets go of the other dog, he’ll bite you. Whippets don’t think so good when they’re rioting. And once a person is bitten, the whole situation changes from an annoying afternoon to something much more serious, often involving animal control! So what do you do?
Wherever you are, grab the collar of the closest dog to you only if it is not involved in the fight already. All dogs love a barroom brawl and we don’t want a simple two-dog tiff to turn into a fullscale donnybrook.
If you’re close to the fight:
Stay calm. Grab one of the two-liter bottles of soda we’ll have at various places around the field. Open a bottle, put your thumb in the top and shake vigorously. Point the bottle into the eyes and nose of the dogs fighting and take your thumb off. The point is to blind and choke them for a couple of seco
nds. Have folks ready to grab collars and separate them while they’re sputtering.
If we have to physically separate them, the only safe way is to grab hind legs and tails and pull from the rear.
One method is to throw a heavy blanket over the aggressor. We’ll have a couple of thick quilts around too.
Don’t panic — help is on the way. (We’ve done a lot of this over the past 30 years, though fortunately, not yet at a reunion!)
A little crate time is in order for the offenders, but don’t make too big a deal of it. Dogs are dogs. They’ll forget all about it before you will.
Don’t worry — we don’t expect any scraps and we’ve never had any at a reunion. But the best way to insure there will be no trouble is to be totally prepared for it. And don’t worry if your dog starts humping other dogs — just tell him/her to quit and pull them apart. There is ALWAYS some humping at a dog park or dog reunion, it’s just expected and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Mostly, have a good time and relax. Like children, dogs usually work their problems out best on their own.