Unwilling Dog

[redpat1 225]

Hi Guys, I haven't been involved with the forums for a while, mostly due to personal issues, those that know me will understand why.

The reason I am posting is I am having problems with m Lurcher. She is a Grey/Beardie X Whippet (she has thrown to the whippet) and I got her at around a year where she had been well treated but was surplus to requirements. Her recall was good and she had just been started being taken out and shown a few bunnies mostly taken by her Dam who is a machine.

I spent six or so months getting her in good shape, improving her recall although she doesn't like to pick up and return anything much but there was a little progress.

Then a couple of days before last Christmas while out running with her as my companion she took a corner in front to fast, there was a lot of screaming and the dog came back around the corner barely walking with blood everywhere!

It looks as though she had smashed head first in to a tree, a branch had impaled her chest just missing the heart cavity and she had smashed all her front teeth.

After an op or two to remove the broken teeth and repair her chest not to mention a fair few quid she came home and made a full physical recovery.

The problem is that she has not been the same mentally since, she will chase but not push herself, her recall has been bitty at best and retrieving or learning anything new is a big no no. She has a lovely laid back nature but dances to her own beat if you know what I mean. She is past two now and if anything has regressed. Do you think there is any point in continuing to try and get her to respond or do I just accept that she is a lovely dog destined to be a pet?

Any constructive advice from experienced guys welcome.

Regards

Pat

[squab 2,875]

not much good to you perhaps but i had a dog hit a tree full on she was 5 year old at the time and was never the same again,i even layed her off for a year she was worth waiting on but it was the end for her im afraid good luck with it though atb

[redpat1 225]

Thanks Rob. My gut feeling is that she just isn't really that bothered, putting in a little chase for show now and then. She seems to prefer to just lay around although she does enjoy a X country run with me. It looks as though she just seems to prefer the easy life.

[squab 2,875]

well at least it wont associative the injury to the running of quarry, mine she was full pelt on the arse of something at the time which im guessing was the reason she never came good again

[redpat1 225]

To be honest she shot off in front around the corner so I wouldn't be surprised if she was on to something as she usually stays close to me.

Now she just does her own thing and isn't distracted by other dogs or people usually, just casually going about her business. lol.

[krawnden 1,036]

A long time ago I had a young deerhound bitch that was keen as mustard and pushed herself to the limit on hares. I ran her at one of the Deerhound Club's Scottish meetings at Dava moor on the blue hares, and after running a blinder of a course she was on the point of picking the hare up. She reached down to strike at the exact second the hare went to ground in a hole hidden by heather, her front leg dropped down the hole and she went arse over apex and broke her leg. It was plated and took a while to heal, but she recovered and was fully able to run, turn etc. Although she still happily ran quarry, she never committed herself 100% after that - you could see she was always holding back a little.

 

But on the other hand I had a lurcher and a greyhound who both suffered really nasty injuries whilst in pursuit of quarry, and once recovered they ran quarry with every bit as much enthusiasm as they had before.

 

So from my experience I would say it just comes down to the individual. I would say your best chance of getting her committed again is to run her with a really keen dog. But at the end of the day you can't force her and it may be that's she's never really going to make the grade. Best of luck....

[weasle 1,119]

Some just aint cut out for it imo.

[Stud dog 632]

Iam no expert but I would try taking her out an let her watch another dog an catch a few don't let her off at all do this two or three times till the dog is wanting to go then let her have a easy bunny if this didn't work from what your saying I would retire her to the pet life wish you the best of luck let us know how you get on bud

[redpat1 225]

Thanks for the responses. Some good ideas and I will try and get her out with an experienced dog. Although, judging by her demeanour I am not all that hopeful. I am half tempted to retire but keep her also as I adore the little b*£$%rd. Perhaps I should just start with a fresh canvas that I can shape and mould from a pup into what I want barring anymore accidents.

[Stud dog 632]

I've got a lurcher hear that wouldn't go for [BANNED TEXT] other then rabbits it's just turned 4an found its balls so don't give up to easy

[redpat1 225]

I've got a lurcher hear that wouldn't go for [bANNED TEXT] other then rabbits it's just turned 4an found its balls so don't give up to easy

Hi mate, not looking to give up on her at all but I want her to do a job that she cant seem to do or doesn't want to. If she finds herself all the better but I want to get out and about and need a dog that will do what is needed. Like I said, she will stay with me for life as she is very much part of the family so the chance for her to develop will always be there.

[Stud dog 632]

 

I've got a lurcher hear that wouldn't go for [bANNED TEXT] other then rabbits it's just turned 4an found its balls so don't give up to easy

Hi mate, not looking to give up on her at all but I want her to do a job that she cant seem to do or doesn't want to. If she finds herself all the better but I want to get out and about and need a dog that will do what is needed. Like I said, she will stay with me for life as she is very much part of the family so the chance for her to develop will always be there.

 

Good to hear all the very best bud

[jukel123 9,771]

The bitch has learned that if she runs flat out on quarry she might have a serious accident. She's just demonstrating intelligence.

Maybe she will forget and get her confidence back, my guess is she won't.

If you've ever had a bad car accident it makes you into a very careful driver for ever more. Same principle.

Edited September 19, 2014 by jukel123

[redpat1 225]

Cheers Jukel, that's pretty much along my line of thinking. I think if she was going to get it back she would have done by now. I came off of my motorbike recently and I can tell you that it has slowed me right down. lol.

[lurcherman 887 13,445]

Lol