Been offered a pup

[Helen 2]

A local lurcher breeder has a litter coming up, dam collie/whippet grehound sire pure bred Saluki, I know the bitch has won a coursing cup. I want a dog for taking rabbits daytime and lamping on wet grassland. What do you think?

 

Hope you can understand the dogs details as I'm new to lurchers.

[Guest fence_hopper]

go for it you got nothing to loose? and its not what we think your the one who will have to live with the dog, so make your own mind up .

[SCOTTY1 3]

WAS IT SIMULATED COURSING? NEVER HEARD OF A COLLIE/WHIPPET WINNING ANYTHING ON THE COURSING FIELD BUT THERES A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

[BEARINATOR 2,928]

As Fence_Hopper says if you have nothing to lose then go for it, they should be good dogs just put plenty of time in with the basic training and bonding with the pup

[Helen 2]

Thanks for the help, yes it was an arranged lure coursing event, apparently she beat 20 other dogs. Do you think I might have recall problems with the Saluki blood, just wondered with you saying I need to spend lots of time with training etc.

[SCOTTY1 3]

PROBABLY NOT IF YOU SPEND PLENTY OF TIME ON THE PUP, CARRY SOME TREATS IN YOUR POCKET ON WALKS THE PUP WILL RUN BACK TO YOU EVERY TIME IF ITS GETTING A TREAT I DO THIS RIGHT UP TO THEIR READY TO WORK SO ITS FRESH IN THEIR MIND

[BEARINATOR 2,928]

As Scotty1 says just carry some treats with you and give the pup a treat everytime it comes back

[scotty2306 37]

Thanks for the help, yes it was an arranged lure coursing event, apparently she beat 20 other dogs. Do you think I might have recall problems with the Saluki blood, just wondered with you saying I need to spend lots of time with training etc.

should make handy dogs go for it if you fancy one i know a few people with saluki based lurchers they are all ok i have 3 dogs they each have 1/4 saluki in them they are ok although one of them can act strange and do as she pleases sometimes but all her +points make up for this but i got it at 8month old and never got to bond with her as a pup this maybe the problem

[Helen 2]

I always teach the recall on a long line and then leave a small piece of weighted string on their collar so they think the lines still on. But if their prey drive kicks in theres only my shepherds I can get back, the Deerhound turns a deaf ear I have him with an electric collar if hes around stock. I wouldnt recommend one for a inexpericed person if you dont get your timing right it can really mess with their heads. But I have never had a lurcher, so the long line may not work I don't know

[skycat 6,174]

I've got nothing against Saluki types (got one myself) but I would not reccomend one as a first lurcher: if the pups throw to the Saluki in temperament they are going to be a lot harder to train than a more 'domesticated' type such as a Collie or Beddie cross.

 

Saluki types take longer to develop mentally, and also have such a high prey drive that if you don't work them all the time, every day, then they are likely to go off and find their own game: OK, so not all are like that, but in general that is the Saluki type temperament.

 

If you go and see the pups either take someone with you who knows what they are looking at in terms of different types of temperament etc, or spend a long, long time with the pups before choosing the one that best suits your own temperament.