Too Old To Start?

[FPO 0]

I've never had a dog that wouldnt chase, but if I were you I'd spend some time with it in a yard (exercise yard?) making sure its obedient and listens otherwise you will be spending alot of time with an independent rogue trying to get it to listen.

 

take a look at the love blonde in the picture, great looking little lurcher, we rescued her hoping that she would fit in with out then year old collie cross, firstly they hated each other (being of totally differant personalities) secondly didnt have a clue how to chase ANYTHING - Oh bar cats!! . My mum has now homed her as what we affectionately call a granny dog! 2 years down the line she is slowly learning to chase other things but dont thing she will ever become the great hunter, someone did a lot of damage to her I think and squashed all her instincts out of her at an early age.

 

I think as crow said if you want a dedicated hunting machine the only safe option is to go for a pup. any problems you find are then yours not inherited. Some young dogs even at 6 months old have already been pushed to chase game and damaged/discouraged for life. Our first girl took longer to get interested than a lot of people round us thought she should - however at 3 years old now she is up for anything. 2 dog was chomping at the bit at 6 months! each one is differant! All the best.

[bshadle 5]

Clancy,

 

Good on ya for looking into rescue, but as some have said - If you get a rescue you're taking your chances on whether it'll work or not. A pet is a pet, but you don't want to be dragging dogs in and out of rescue if you want one that works and the one you pick doesn't. If you want to have a better chance of getting a working lurcher you probably should get one that's been bred specifically for it.

 

I know a few people here in the states running lurchers, and if you live in the area I think you do maybe even some that live near you. From a few of the dogs you've named in your posts we may even know some of the same people.

 

PM me with your e-mail address and a little information about yourself - general area you're from and what experience you have, etc. I'll see about passing the info on to some of 'em. We don't play it quite so close to the vest here in the states as they have to in UK since we have more leeway in our hunting laws here, but in even my short time working terriers I've had a few people that weren't terribly serious about it and wasted a lot of my time pretending to be. Nothin' personal.

[Clancy 1]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I really appreciate it. I do want to make the first choice count when it comes to a dog.

 

Bshadle, I just pm'd.

 

All input welcome