Why These Greyhounds Wear Muzzles—And Why It’s Not What You Think
They’ve got long legs, soulful eyes, and a serious love of sofa time: meet Liam, Oslo and Dexter, three ex-racers now living their best lives at the Portsmouth Greyhound Trust.
I recently photographed 16 of their fabulous residents, each with their own story, quirks, and charm, and yes, each one totally capable of stealing your heart.
Liam, Oslo and Dexter are muzzled for different reasons, none of which have anything to do with them being “bad dogs”, quite the opposite, in fact! In this blog post, I’m sharing a little sneak peek of their portraits along with the most heart-melting love letters written by the volunteers who adore them. It’s just a small taste of what’s to come in Muzzled and Misunderstood, my upcoming book celebrating muzzled dogs and the people who love them—quirks, zoomies, and all.
And if you’ve got a greyhound-shaped hole in your heart, you can check out the wonderful Portsmouth Greyhound Trust here.
It's not too late to grab your copy of the book for the pre sale price. Check out our Kickstarter here.
Dear Liam,
We muzzle you because you're inclined to eat the poo
and some other things you shouldn't do.
I really don't like those smelly kisses
and there have been some quite near misses.
Your reaction times are twice as quick.
We muzzle you so you don't snaffle it!
It's not because you're an aggressive doggy.
You just aren't happy when your tummy's dodgy.
See that dead pigeon on the path?
If you gobble that, it'll make you barf!
There's your prey drive to consider too.
No squirrels want to play chase with you.
A muzzled dog isn't to be feared.
It's to keep you safe, so should be cheered!
Soon someone's going to give you a great home.
A sofa you can call your own.
Whenever anyone sees you muzzled,
they don't have to look quite so puzzled.
They can come and give your ears a stroke
because you really are a lovely bloke!
xxx
Dear Oslo,
Your boundless energy, can often get you into trouble, but your young years and eagerness to show your love makes you a fun and cuddly friend, you are keen to please and I believe with some training and set boundaries you will thrive. When out and about you wear your muzzle, which is something you are comfortable with and provides safety for you to stop picking up discarded food or anything else that takes your fancy, wearing a muzzle also prevents any incidents with wildlife, rushing out from a nearby hedge, and we can enjoy our walks in safety. Oslo, continue being you and showing your love, and I look forward to seeing you develop your calm side in the coming months.
Dear Dexter,
Dexter while the first thing people see is your stunning looks, but I have come to see more in what lays beneath the brindle.
I have seen how kind and gentle you are.
I have seen how much you love your cuddles, treats and walks.
I have seen that you love to sunbathe outside in the afternoon and most importantly… I have seen beyond the muzzle.
While it is a part of you on your adventures, so is the rest of what you walk with. I see your adorable boots you have to wear to protect your feet. I see the harness and the collar combo that you wear to make sure you’re safe when walking. I see the bright yellow raincoat when it’s raining to keep you dry.
Most of all I see the happy, care free boy who doesn’t care what he is wearing. Muzzle or no muzzle it does not matter to me.
Your muzzle does not change you.
Your muzzle does not take away your beautiful personality.
Your muzzle does not matter to us.
Your muzzle does not define YOU.
