what type of lurcher

[MR TEA POT 1,287]

Hi folks i am thinking of getting a lurcher to take ferreting with me,it would be my first lurcher so i have no idea about what type would be more suited to my needs.The places i ferret are grass fields with hedges with a few fields of crops and a few woods.I would also use it for lamping occasionally but mainly ferreting.I am also after a small type lurcher that gets on with other dogs(i have a patterdale and a lakeland terrier)and will be ok living indoors(hence the need for small type)and lastly it has to be smooth coated.Any help would be apreciated ,some pics of dogs would also be apreciated.

 

ps could anybody reccommend any good books on lurchers.

Edited October 10, 2006 by bigeddie

[ferreterno1 0]

id say a beddy cross whippet you do get smooth coated ones as well, this picture is of my pup, ive got her for ferreting and lamping, shes got beddy whippet and greyhound in her shes smooth coated at the moment but i think she will get a bit of coat on her yet . i think shes going to make about 22".

[Guest trill]

i would agree with ferreterno1 a beddy cross and a smooth coat if possible has they are low maintance

Edited October 10, 2006 by trill

[samba 534]

YEARS BACK ALL THAT WAS AROUND WAS GREWS[WHIPPET/GREYHOUNDS]

IN MY AREA OF YORKSHIRE. WE FOUND THESE DOGS WELL CAPAPLE OF

DOING THE JOB. PLUS WENT RACING WITH THEM AND QUIET AROUND

THE HOUSE

WELL WORTH A LOOK AT MATE

TAKEN ALL QUARRY WITH THESE DOGS

YOU WILL BE NOT DISSAPOINTED WITH THIS CROSS

[Guest trill]

does carl williams still breed them?

[inan 841]

Hi folks i am thinking of getting a lurcher to take ferreting with me,it would be my first lurcher so i have no idea about what type would be more suited to my needs.The places i ferret are grass fields with hedges with a few fields of crops and a few woods.I would also use it for lamping occasionally but mainly ferreting.I am also after a small type lurcher that gets on with other dogs(i have a patterdale and a lakeland terrier)and will be ok living indoors(hence the need for small type)and lastly it has to be smooth coated.Any help would be apreciated ,some pics of dogs would also be apreciated.

 

ps could anybody reccommend any good books on lurchers.

Hi bigeddie,Jeffs has a bitch ,just had pups,they are 1/2 whippet 1/2beddie damxwhippet sire ,you can find them on pge 4or 5 on this site,they look good to me ,I dont know the guy but the pups should be great for rabitting,over the terrain you describe,Lurchers&Longdogs is a good bookby E G WAlsh.Good luckin your search,regards Inan.

 

i would agree with ferreterno1 a beddy cross and a smooth coat if possible has they are low maintance

Lower Maintenance than you you fat sod what with Mussels, icecream,tea,you costme a bomb Sunday!

[Guest Dale]

3/4 whippet 1/4 bedlington

[Guest oldskool]

whippet/greys are a class wee dog... the only thing i can fault with them is that alot have extremely fine coats! they can be a game as bulls if you ever get the chance to chase something else plus you wouldnt even know they were about the house.. my old bitch used to spend her days at the bottom of the garden lying in an old wooden barrel.... i'd have to check her breath on a mirror to make sure she was still livin ... things soon changed when she saw me pull on my boots, you wouldnt have thought she was the same dog!!! the pups i have on the way are from her line,, cant wait

[Sorley x 32]

3/4 Collie, 1/4 Greyhound

 

Nose, brains, indestructible and pace enough for the job.

Will be small enough too.

[MR TEA POT 1,287]

Thank you everybody,as soon as i have sorted a few things on the homefront i will purchase a pup,i did not want to rush out and buy anything i wanted some thing that would suit my needs thats why i put the post up,as like i say it will be my first lurcher.Still keep the advice and pics coming as it all helps me.Thanks again everybody

[lone wolf 0]

got to be a beddy x whippet best rabbiting dog ive had for years

[lurcherman 28]

a lurcher whith a high % of whippet would be my choice or like the lads say a whippet/greyhound should do the job and u can be sure of the smooth coat

[Guest little lurcher]

straight whippet is more then capable of the job from correct lines? also the beddy whippet is a very game sound little worker with the extra bit of coat needed, or a non ped whippet , im just starting to use on from the non ped track and although a bit bigger then i wanted at 24 inc she is proving to be more then capable

 

 

errmmm think im trying to say something about whippets or whippet crosses lol!!!

 

good luck in what ever you choose

[Mitch 0]

I have a pure whippet, and being only new to the game i reckon he is doing really well around the warrens. He listens and marks, and is always paying attention. Nice and quick aswell.

[Magpie 102]

As this will be your first lurcher I strongly recommend that you go for a type of dog that is relatively easy to train. From my expirience Bedlington/ whippets are not ideal for your first running dog. Now don't get me wrong I'm sure there are a hell of a lot of first rate Beddy whippet crosses out there doin the biz week in week out but, I'm fairly confident they belong to experienced owners.

The Bedlington/Whippet can be a very head strong individual, couple that with a nose that is equal to a beagle and you have a dog that if not trained to a good standard will leave you very frustrated. I know as I started with two of this type and although at times they did prove their worth it was seldom enough to keep me truly happy.

I also had under my charge a 23' Whippet/Greyhound type that was blessed with real pace. She was also blessed with the ability to find barbed wire which lead to her spending more time in the bloody vets than out in the field earning her keep.

Foot damage was also a constant problem with my Whippet types. Skin tares, bumps and bruises would leave them laid off for quite a while so I opted for something altogether different.

My first Beardie cross stood 23'tts she had a tough weather proof coat that also protected her from barbed wire and blackthorn. Her feet were unbelievable.

During the time I had her there were many occasions where I really pushed her to the limit on the lamp and not once did she ever suffer any foot damage. I've seen her literally bounce off barbed wire leaving her only with a few scratches.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that ferreting, depending where your doing it can be a tough old game for a dog so if like me you work along blackthorn hedgerows, barbed wire lined paddocks and fields and bramble filled ditches than this is no place for Whippet, your going to want something tougher. When the frost is on the ground and turning the hedgerow white you want a dog that can concentrate on the job not stand there shivering in it paper thin coat.

Look for a good lurcher to lurcher pup from someone who does a lot of ferreting if you don't like the idea of a first cross collie.

Ask loads of questions and don't be rushed.

Here's my present Beardie Bitch, she stands at 22tts and at a year old she is already excelling at the ferreting game. She marked her first kill on sunday and after a dig of around three and a half feet two more rabbits were added to the bag. Her marking is excellent as show in the second pic, shes very obvious about it. She has pace aplenty and is not afraid of a bit of cover. Altogether an ideal little dog for the job.

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