Taking on adult lurchers or training pups

[Casso 1,264]

I've always tried to bring pups on ,reason being, that my way would be the only way the pup would know and you know what to expect from it,, Bought a first x collie lurcher years ago, good bitch , worked well and was happy with her, but never really took to her the same as ones i'd have reared from pups and wouldn't do it again, I've seen some good dogs bought it, and some real f**k ups, was wondering how the same experience has worked for ye lads,,

[skycat 6,174]

Know what you mean: I've never been really able to bond with a dog that has come to me as an adult, even if the dog is great with no baggage or problems. I've taken in quite a few rescues over the years but I've found them all nice homes even if they were stunners: none would have been world beaters in the field due to the fact that EACH AND EVERY one of them had never been properly trained or exposed to the game in the field properly. Had some poor buggers come to me at 9 or 10 months old that had NEVER been out of the kennel How the hell can anyone expect a dog to make good if its never been anywhere or done anything as a pup. Makes me mad that does.

[Flamin'Nora! 50]

once you have been stung by buying in an adult dog thats supposed to be something its not it puts you right off. too many lads out there selling stuff on that should be rehomed as pets or put down a puppy for me every time now least then you know its ben reared properly

[Casso 1,264]

Know what you mean: I've never been really able to bond with a dog that has come to me as an adult, even if the dog is great with no baggage or problems. I've taken in quite a few rescues over the years but I've found them all nice homes even if they were stunners: none would have been world beaters in the field due to the fact that EACH AND EVERY one of them had never been properly trained or exposed to the game in the field properly. Had some poor buggers come to me at 9 or 10 months old that had NEVER been out of the kennel How the hell can anyone expect a dog to make good if its never been anywhere or done anything as a pup. Makes me mad that does.

 

 

some common ground there skycat, but 9 or 10 months is still a pup, i'd rather work with a clean slate,than a pup thats done too much, as long as the pup has been socialised ,and not a complete basket case ,,

[turbotyke 62]

iv always had pups at 8 weeks old except one the one we had gave us the other week but it was off a close friend we have seen the dog work and know its background but i would not have one off someone i didnt know or one we havent seen work

up to yet im happy with this bitch and she has settled in well atb jenna

[Top Lamper 2k10 169]

ive always brough pups because i cant train them the way i want it to people only get rid of there dog only because there no good but you get the odd good 1 if you already know wat the dogs lyk but people these days never sell good dogs unless theres a reason

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

Same as Skycat, I have had many dogs through my house that were never trained right and messed up in the head. But my best dog I own now, was got as a 5 month old pup from the pound, and it was obvious that it had never been outside. He didnt even know what grass was, and when the wind blew it scared him!

There is hope for a adult dog, but it takes alot of work, patience and re-education. You are right an adult dog brought in doesnt have that same bond, but about one in a 100 there will be an adult that will get at your heart and bond with you. Its hard to explain. You just know that dog was meant for you, it just took a long time to get to you.

At the moment, my main adult case I taken on is a track greyhound. I couldnt imagine my life without her. Its been a long year of patient training, and frustrating at times, but it has it's rewards, especially when you start to see the true personality of the dog come out and the hidden skills let blossom.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2010 by cúagusgiorraí

[Fabapocalypse 35]

I've heard it said that you choose a pup, but an adult dog chooses you (or not!).

[Flamin'Nora! 50]

its true in a way cos an adult dog has more of a mind of its own

[Casso 1,264]

feck i thought it was just me, iv had a all my dogs bar 1 from a puppy, an the one i brought in as a 10 month old collie/grey was faultless, tho i just couldnt click with the dog,

 

never knew it widda been a problem, but it was, that is also the only dog i haver rehomed, cos as i say the dog was faultless

 

an is doing well for another member on this site, to where he was rehomed

 

 

 

does it make us bad people for not being able to bond with a dog that we aint brought on

cos i still dont know how i feel about it all lol, felt a failure at the time

 

I think for me , a bit part of my hunting is knowing that the dogs achievements are down to the work put in , from the time it was a pup, same as watching your kid playing ball, its a sense of pride,

[skycat 6,174]

5 months is a lot different to 10 months in terms of the dog's mental development, though I've seen totally unsocialised pups of 5 months never adapt to normal life if they've never known the outside of a kennel: yes, there will always be the odd one which comes from a crap 'childhood' and has the temperament and intelligence to come through it OK.(note the two traits together are essential as intelligence without a laid back and confident temperament is worse than stupid and laid back: some of the most screwed up dogs I've known have been super intelligent, which is why they got so messed up by being kept imprisoned in a kennel 24/7 for the first 8 months of their lives)

 

The window for socialising a pup shuts at about 14 weeks of age, from then on its view of the world it doesn't know will be one of caution or fear as opposed to friendly curiosity. So a pup which has never met a strange dog or person may well never learn to be relaxed around people or dogs it doesn't know: I know there's always exceptions but that is in general accepted to be the case.

 

I think that Collies and Salukis are very similar inasmuch that they are both very sensitive to lack of socialisation and seldom break through from the 'bubble' they have lived in if they are not intensively socialised as pups. Yes, they will learn to trust their owner and his/her immediate family, but they'll seldom be confident and outgoing which can be difficult for the dog in the field, especially when it comes to large scary things like cows, tractors etc etc. I've seen institutionalised dogs run miles after coming across a cow, and those hot air balloons have caused tragedy when such a dog sees one for the first time and bolts.

 

C: strangely enough I think that track Greyhounds come right a lot more easily than some of the lurchers I've mentioned, because at least Greyhounds get to see a lot of different people: they just aren't taught anything! Good to hear that your's has come on so well.