New to Lurchers...

[Fabapocalypse 35]

I've just adopted a rescue lurcher after sixteen years of terriers and I have a couple of questions: all assistance gratefully received! From what I know of the history of the dog he was originally a pet but it's possible there was an incident with something small and furry which resulted in him being sold on for £60 for rabbiting. This owner let him stray and he went from the pound to a foster home to me. There has been about seven weeks between his being found as a stray and him coming to me. He is between two and three; I'm waiting for more information from his microchip.

 

He looks to me to have quite a lot of bull terrier of some kind in him; he is quite a bit heavier built than the 1/4 bull x 3/4 greyhounds I've seen in photos on other threads. He's about 24" tall. I don't have many decent photos yet because literally every time I take the poor beggar out, it rains!

 

He came from the Welsh Valleys. He's clean and polite and obliging and very well behaved in the house and on lead; he very obviously knows all about rabbits and points out every one on our walks, he stalks and seems very keen to chase but doesn't over-react or pull badly and comes to heel again when told. His main job is to be my companion so I don't really mind if he works "properly" or not (I realise this is probably heresy!); if he catches the odd rabbit fair enough, my terriers used to and were given their catches.

 

What does worry me is this possible incident in his past that resulted in him being sold from his first home; rabbits and rats are not a problem but I would hate him to bring me somebody's poodle or something. I have noticed when he plays off-lead with dogs belonging to a couple of friends that he has a tendency to nip - strike, I suppose - at the back of their necks. Oops. This only happens when he is chasing them outside; playing indoors he just wrestles and plays tag as dogs too.

 

So the questions are these: do I try and avoid him hunting at all in case he gets it badly wrong; do I muzzle him, in case, ditto; or is he just confused and/or dim and that's why he's ended up as a stray? He has a permanent home with me now and won't be passed on again, but I'd just like to know how best to treat him. And how to get a rock-solid recall of course!

 

Grateful for any help!

 

Edited July 2, 2007 by Fabapocalypse

[cymruguy69 5]

:welcome: To the site.

 

Your dog is a spitting image of my mates Bryn! He's from the welsh valleys! I think the Rhondda.

 

He is only 12 months old but Id swear they where the same dog.

 

Bryn likes to play with the other dogs and runs around like a maniac nippin and so on but its only playing mate.

 

He's never hurt another dog and hes come accross many a small terrier and so on. He wouldnt hurt them.

 

If your woried about it don't let him off the lead in local parks and so on where there might be small dogs and so on. I doubt you'd come accross a poodle in a hunting situation. if you were planning to double him up on quarry then if you dont feel comfartable he would be after the quarry 100% rather then the other dog don't slip him. But don't stop him from doing what he was bred to do!!

 

Just make sure you drill that re-call training in just incase he worst does arise!

 

Best of Luck!

[Scallywag 78]

Great looking dog. In my (not huge) experience of rescue lurchers (I have two), they know members of their own species when they meet them. You could muzzle him in parks etc until you're sure. There have been incidents with cats though and I know of a couple of rescues that have killed cats so you might want to keep an eye on that.

You may already know this site: www.lurcher.org. It deals specifically with rescue lurchers and would probably be of help. I hope it's OK to post another web address on here. If not I'm sure it'll be dealt with pronto....

Of my two, ones a good pet and occasionally catches rabbits and the other is a diligent hunter who keeps us in meat. Enjoy getting to know your dog!

[Fabapocalypse 35]

 

Hey, thanks for your replies! My new dog is indeed from the Rhondda, or at least that's where I went to get him, and I don't think he's travelled much before... He's quite a powerful, solid dog but remarkably light on his feet for his size. He is chipped but the rescue people forgot to give me the number; I'm planning to take him to my vet in the next few days and they'll scan him for me and maybe I'll be able to find out where he's really from then, Data Protection Act willing.

 

I wasn't sure if the "neck-nipping" was a natural play behaviour or not, as although I've been in contact with lots of sighthounds and lurchers at shows and out in the fields, I've not owned one before or seen one in that situation, so I'm grateful for that information, thank you! I'd seen my terriers do it often enough but it's not so obvious in the little guys and they only did it, for real, when hunting, not in play with other dogs. If anything, I think my new boy has been "warned off" small dogs in some way as he doesn't seem very comfortable around them; he's much happier with a bigger playmate.

 

I need to do some socialising with him I think!

 

I would LOVE to see him work once I have got to know him better and have off-lead control; for all I know he may respond to me instantly, but it's that nerve-wracking first time, isn't it? He's been off-lead a few times in safe areas to play and run, but these were rabbit-and-deer-free zones, and I'm not sure I would have the same degree of control if he got his blood up; it is SO rabbity near me that I also worry that after at least eight weeks off, it might blow his mind. Don't want him running into a fence or something and hurting himself. I think he needs to be a bit fitter, first, too.

 

I plan to take him to a few shows once he's more settled just to talk to people and get advice... on the working aspect: I'm no chef or cook, so I always used to let my terriers have the rabbits they caught as it seemed a waste otherwise. Would it be okay to do this with my new boy, or is that a bad thing?