Ex-track dogs

[Simoman 110]

After reading articles about working ex-racers I was wondering (i'm bored at work :whistle: ) has anybody worked a ex-racer or retired courser in the field and had any success? Are they prone to injury and are their feet problematic, also are they difficult to break to stock and small dogs or is this a myth?

 

Cheers

Simon

[Guest Frank]

Back in 1991, i had a ex track, Irish black greyhound bitch 2 years old, that did not chase the track hare.

She was a deadly on hares and fast with good strike.

The type of ground i hunt over is rough and unfortunately, she roled over and broke her neck, chasing a her

I was going to use her for breeding, cross her with a good farm colllie, but that never hapened.

Anway, she had odd foot injurys, in her short hunting life, but a cracker of a worker.

 

Id say, it all depends on the type of ground you hunt over really, as they are a flat open plain feild type of running dog.

 

Frank.

[Guest Nightwalker]

I have run several ex-track dogs on game large and small - in teh day and on the lamp, most take to it well and you can get decent results - but their wonderful, blinding speed and enthusiasm makes them injury prone and many have bad feet.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,101]

The 2 ive had have been mustard on the foxes .Slow to pick up lamping .Not good with strange dogs of any size ,muzzled in public .IMO they are second only to bullx for fox killing .

[Simoman 110]

The 2 ive had have been mustard on the foxes .Slow to pick up lamping .Not good with strange dogs of any size ,muzzled in public .IMO they are second only to bullx for fox killing .

 

 

Hi Foxdropper,

 

Do you think the problem with other dogs is due to lack of socialisation or hyped up prey drive?

 

Cheers

Simon

[MickC 1,825]

I had an old track bitch about 10 year ago and it was a demon on foxes,if it had a downside it would be that you had to keep an eye on it as it would get bored when you had it out and would either pull something it shouldnt have or start battleing with one of the other dogs that was out at the time.Ive got a nice ex track bitch in now thats a game animal and is a bit more sensible.

[Guest oldskool]

any of the ones i had were dead game with good noses... they all had one thing in common, really disobedient!! i think its because of the way they are reared. the one i have now isnt to bad around the house but hes a bugger in the field. i can only get him to come when i walk in the opposite direction!

[staffy-1 0]

my friend had one a few month back, 2 year old black dog, the most disobedient dog you have ever seen. FOr a few months we thought iit was deaf. but it killed anything from rabbit to deer. a Demon on killing foxes, but she was a bit injury prone on her feet. never had a fight with another dog though

staff-1

 

[Born Hunter 17,841]

Iv'e no pratical experience with lurchers but i do with greyhounds as i work part time at a kennels. Iv'e found this thread really interesting as im very interested in the lurcher game and have often wondered how greyhounds would fair.

 

Just one thing i would like to add, anyone that considers getting one for working to do plenty of road work with it first to toughen its feet up because many are not road walked much while kenneled and have very soft pads. My uncles greyhound when retired got a corn in its middle toe and had to have it removed. Sure all you lads with greyhounds already knew but just thought i'd say

[collie/grey 238]

I haven't really tried to work my greyhounds, though they have seen the lurchers on odd occasions they would of had a go. They haven't had any injuries yet and they go out running alot. But they are very placid with other dogs large and small they just want to play, and they are very obedient, they sit (only for a few seconds), lie down and they come back when called oh and give paws. I have had no problems with them, in fact they are the 3 easiest dogs in my household to look after.

[Born Hunter 17,841]

Unfortunately the trainer i work for doesn't really have much time for people wanting dogs for huntin as he thinks they are all gonna be treated bad His logic, not mine.

 

But sayin that i think going to a trainer is probably the best way because they will give you the dog for free and entire and know what the individual dogs are like. I'd say you'r best bet is contact trainers in your local area sayin you want to retire a dog, go along to look at what dogs are ready for retirement and walk them to get to spend one on one time with the dogs.

 

From what most people are sayin all ex-racers will work, all you need to do is pick a dog that fits your requirements. There are some really nice small bitches at most kennels, i know a few that cant be any bigger than 23" to the shoulder.

 

Good luck with finding one

[Born Hunter 17,841]

If you do decide to get one, make sure you keep us all informed on the site as i would love to hear how you get on.

 

Most trainers are glad to get rid of non-racing dogs as they just cost them money, so dont be affraid of askin. You probably already knew but ask the trainer why the dog retired, because you dont want one that has retired due to a reacuring injury, fighters or possibly non-chasers are your best bet.

 

Gud luck

[Guest samstheman]

Back in 1991, i had a ex track, Irish black greyhound bitch 2 years old, that did not chase the track hare.

She was a deadly on hares and fast with good strike.

The type of ground i hunt over is rough and unfortunately, she roled over and broke her neck, chasing a her

I was going to use her for breeding, cross her with a good farm colllie, but that never hapened.

Anway, she had odd foot injurys, in her short hunting life, but a cracker of a worker.

 

Id say, it all depends on the type of ground you hunt over really, as they are a flat open plain feild type of running dog.

 

Frank.

[ru_and_dill 0]

Most trainers are glad to get rid of non-racing dogs as they just cost them money, so dont be affraid of askin. You probably already knew but ask the trainer why the dog retired, because you dont want one that has retired due to a reacuring injury, fighters or possibly non-chasers are your best bet.

 

I'm going to bang that drum again, and no doubt some people will tell me it's because I don't know what I'm talking about, but there are literally thousands of running dogs - lurchers and pure breeds - in rescue centres or just being held by trainers. Please, pretty please, don't go using entire rescue dogs for breeding yet more lurchers. The bottom line is there are too many in the world already (and I'm a guy who genuinely beleives that you could never have too many lurchers!) For one thing, most rescue organisations neuter their dogs automatically, but even if you got one directly from a trainer (as we have in the past, via a pal who ran the local chippie), you still owe it to longdogs of all sizes and bloodlines not to create yet more unwanted ones.

 

It's not me being soft, it really isn't, but none of us use them for our livelihood - this is our passion, our love, our excitement beyond all things, but it's not what keeps us alive: it's a chuffing good hobby, but it's a hobby. Of course we all want the best dog we can get for the task, but we just can't go on breeding and re-breeding and breeding again: there are enough of them out there already.

 

Alright, rant off - I'm off for a cuddle with my 3 rescued ones now (before I take the young one out for a bit more lamp-training... )

 

Best of British,

 

R&D

[Born Hunter 17,841]

 

Most trainers are glad to get rid of non-racing dogs as they just cost them money, so dont be affraid of askin. You probably already knew but ask the trainer why the dog retired, because you dont want one that has retired due to a reacuring injury, fighters or possibly non-chasers are your best bet.

 

I'm going to bang that drum again, and no doubt some people will tell me it's because I don't know what I'm talking about, but there are literally thousands of running dogs - lurchers and pure breeds - in rescue centres or just being held by trainers. Please, pretty please, don't go using entire rescue dogs for breeding yet more lurchers. The bottom line is there are too many in the world already (and I'm a guy who genuinely beleives that you could never have too many lurchers!) For one thing, most rescue organisations neuter their dogs automatically, but even if you got one directly from a trainer (as we have in the past, via a pal who ran the local chippie), you still owe it to longdogs of all sizes and bloodlines not to create yet more unwanted ones.

 

It's not me being soft, it really isn't, but none of us use them for our livelihood - this is our passion, our love, our excitement beyond all things, but it's not what keeps us alive: it's a chuffing good hobby, but it's a hobby. Of course we all want the best dog we can get for the task, but we just can't go on breeding and re-breeding and breeding again: there are enough of them out there already.

 

Alright, rant off - I'm off for a cuddle with my 3 rescued ones now (before I take the young one out for a bit more lamp-training... )

 

Best of British,

 

R&D

 

completely agree with you. I was just tryin to make sure ninjinski gets the write dog for what he wants. I wasnt encouraging getting a greyhound just for breeding but if you think you have a lurcher that should be bred from and want to put it to a greyhound then i was just suggesting the best way to go about it. Sorry if there was any confusion, and what you said is spot on