Newbie - Help With Breed Mix?

[PipFlynn 0]

Hi, am new here, owner of a rescue greyhound and rescue lurcher - after a bit of assistance if possible with the breed mix of my lurcher boy, just purely out of genuine interest as to his background as it's a bit frustrating to know so much about our ex-racer bitch but nothing about our boy.

 

He has a lot of greyhound in him - he's slim at the back, sets off like our greyhound, although has a slightly less graceful run but is very fast, he barks like a lab, in some ways has a head like what I'd call a 'slim' lab, but at some angles can look a little heartshaped, as if there is bull in there somewhere. Of course his greyhound mix could have been brindle/some of the bull blooded mix.

 

His colour I can only describe as dark grey marble, with the marbled bits being black. In some lights you can see blue and brown in there too. In short he is a beautiful colour. As you can see he has a white bib, and some white on his paws, and a white tail tip.

 

He's 28tts, 30kg, has an amazing temperament, very soppy and loving. His background is that he was found in a field with a non-identifiable greyhound, in a field in the country; the sanctuary's opinion was that he and his fellow dog were dumped by hare coursers. He seems to been worked in some ways; he retrieves with a full mouth, drops it forward to the end of his mouth then flicks whatever it is up into your hand. He also likes to give his capture (a toy or tea-towel) a good shake. Surprisingly though he leaves our chooks alone. We've just started letting him off of the lead, with mixed results - he tends to be more interested in coming back if you are standing still, and is easier to handle with more than just one other dog.

 

Anyway, here he is:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[roybo 2,873]

I'd say a collie cross as there appears to be some merle

Colouring and at a guess I wouldn't think hare coursers had dumped him he doesn't seem the type but I may be wrong

Edited February 16, 2014 by roybo

[PipFlynn 0]

Thank you, roybo - other than the more obvious big black patches he does have a lot of small spotty black patches and where he is bald on his tummy you can see darker pigmentation spots, like those on my white and black spotted greyhound (complete with 'badger' head). Strangely enough he was found with almost the exact same dog as our greyhound, so it could be that he could be related to a white and black greyhound.

 

He really is the most fascinating colour - black and dark grey inside, grey and almost blue outside in daylight.

 

Does his white bib not indicated bull somewhere, though? Sometimes he just gets the angle of his head right and looks really bully. He's an interesting boy.

[PipFlynn 0]

I'd say a collie cross as there appears to be some merle

Colouring and at a guess I wouldn't think hare coursers had dumped him he doesn't seem the type but I may be wrong

 

I don't know, really, all I can say is that is what the rescue where we got him from said, the centre is in very rural Essex and gets a lot of lurchers out of fields, last year they had over 40 in total, a lot of whom were found after large travelling sites were moved on. I don't think he was lost for long as he seemed in fairly good condition in his first photographs. He was fostered for a while as he couldn't handle being in kennels. He really is a wonderful boy, fantastic temperament. I've just been looking up 'merle' (my green-ness always described it as 'marble) and yes, that is exactly what his patches are like.

 

As an aside, my white and black greyhound has a pattern of small black spots too, but they aren't 'marble-y' - is this because of the school of thought that white and black 'badger head' greyhounds have collie blood? She has the same dark pigment patches under her fur that our boy has.

 

I do find it all hugely interesting.

[Poacherspocket 189]

My collie x lurcher has a white bib so that could well come from the collie. Although I do reckon hes either a heavy 1st x collie grey or could have a tiny bit of bull. Its all a guessing game really but anyway hes a handsome looking dog and good look to you with him hope he turns out a good'un.

[PipFlynn 0]

My collie x lurcher has a white bib so that could well come from the collie. Although I do reckon hes either a heavy 1st x collie grey or could have a tiny bit of bull. Its all a guessing game really but anyway hes a handsome looking dog and good look to you with him hope he turns out a good'un.

 

Thanks poachers pocket, I agree he is a handsome boy although I am biased!

 

Anyone got any good recall tips? He is getting better with each off lead experience but he's a lot happier running in packs, and tends to get distracted with bushes and ditches. He by far outlasts our very lazy grey! It's difficult as because he's rescue he's been trained to a different name. We're rarely with a pack, its just our two, and he's long gone whilst the grey gives up halfway.

[Ideation 8,217]

I have seen an infinite number of running dogs of all different crosses and types that have been black with a white bib, and often white socks or tail tip.

 

To me that dog looks deer/grey/collie mix. Could have otter bits and bobs but you'll never know.

[roybo 2,873]

Best just call him a lurcher and enjoy him probably lurcher x lurcher so could be infinite amount of breeds in him nice dog all the same

[Qbgrey 4,408]

id go with a bit of collie too.but if hes come from a traveller camp who knows,sometimes the dogs breed together and no one knows whats what.if hes retrieving kind of then i dont think its a hare coursing dog,i aint seen many traveller hare coursers retrieve.

[Poacherspocket 189]

If his name may be an issue for recall try whistle training him same as you would a gun dog. 2 pips for come, 1 for sit and blow like crazy for stop. The latter is handy if your on the lamp and the dogs heading for danger. I find the whistle a hell of a lot more assertive and easier when having multiple dogs at the same time on walks. Hope that helps.

[PipFlynn 0]

That's a very good idea, poachers pocket, thank you - best invest in a whistle! My grandad has one from his shooting days - perhaps he'll let me inherit it early...he can keep the flat cap though!

 

Thanks for all your help everyone. Great site with some great photos.