Lurcher Pup

[Declan Hoare 4]

1

Edited May 3, 2018 by Declan Hoare
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[Fieldsporthunter 1,864]

One of my better lurchers was a late starter and would not chase or pick up a rabbit until she was 13/14 months old, was very frustrating at the time but it all came together in the end.

 

I like to have a bit of fun with pups when they young, one the things I do is with old beach caster or such like, string attached same length as rod and soft toy/dummy on end and steady away let pup chase, catch and retrieve.

Atb

[Declan Hoare 4]

One of my better lurchers was a late starter and would not chase or pick up a rabbit until she was 13/14 months old, was very frustrating at the time but it all came together in the end.

 

I like to have a bit of fun with pups when they young, one the things I do is with old beach caster or such like, string attached same length as rod and soft toy/dummy on end and steady away let pup chase, catch and retrieve.

Atb

Thanks! Great to get some reassurance! I think with her breeding it makes it evermore frustrating. I will attempt a toy on a line after giving her some time off. The last thing I want to do is introduce a dog to show her the way and create a dog chaser and not a worker. She's not far off 6 months and i know I shouldn't but can't help comparing her to other dogs and my own when they were that age

[dog man 176]

There was a greyhound dog in Ireland called Perfect whisper I went to the schooling track with the owner for his first look at the hair many years ago the hare went round the track and he lay down on track and looked at it

owner said to me there is money down the drain we took him away and worked him with lurchers for 2 weeks on rabbits he came out 18 months later and and broke the track record in Dunmore Belfast from 30.38 sec to 30.08 sec so the pup is young let it be it will come do not worry.

[Aussie Whip 4,287]

I'd take it out ferreting with nets,no matter what your going to use it for.The sound,smell and action has got to stir some instinct in the dog.

[leethedog 3,071]

As has been said flirt pole it realy helps.to bring pray drive out in a pup you can just dangle the cloth or toy inches off the pups nose and when it takes it in mouth praise pup up and work up from there

[nothernlite 18,260]

My young bitch is the same and catches rabbits no bother will chase any game the pray drive will come out once you take it out hunting

[terryd 8,924]

I would count your self lucky its not necessarily a bad thing . In fact should make stock training a breeze

[skycat 6,174]

My new pup is the first I've ever had not to be interested in chasing.. she's five and a half months and normally I would expect to see some interest in chasing/stalking a ball or toy but she just simply isn't interested. I don't believe any dog is a write off, some need different approaches and I'm open to try new things if someone would help lending perspective.

So far I've tried increasing the energy during our play sessions, she seemed overfaced by this.

I then removed any form of stimulation and abstained from play waiting for her to initiate some excitement, when she does it's not channelled at all.

Outside of this she is coming on perfectly very content in spending the majority of time alone and very attentive when socialising. Diet and toiletting is spot on. Ive had her from 11 weeks been very relaxed and given her plenty of time to see and understand. She's a bull greyhound with 1/8 deerhound, out of my own butch who has worked almost everything

 

The bit I've highlighted in red might give you a clue as to what's going on. When you try to increase the energy what do you do exactly? How does she react: it might be that you are simply being too full on, which she sees as intimidating. If she is a sensitive sort (think prey rather than predator) you may be overwhelming her with the force of your attention. Puppies are not predators, though some seem it, and some are very wary, flighty, and more likely to run than go forwards.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, for the pups which are too keen before their bodies can match their minds often come a cropper. Puts me in mind of a 6 month old pup that found a fox and piled in and got bitten. She would never go near one again, ever, even as an adult.

It is very important to read each pup as an individual, which I know you are trying to do. How about taking things at her pace, rather than trying to make her match your own desires to 'make' her the dog that you want?

One of my best ever bitches wouldn't play as a pup. Just sat and watched other dogs having fun. She'd never retrieve balls, and it wasn't until she was around 10 months old and was starting to do a bit in the field that she switched on, both to me and to her surroundings. At one point I almost thought that she was suffering from some form of canine autism. But her brain was just developing along a different path to most.

I'd take the pup out with you as much as possible. Forget trying to get her to do what YOU want. Just let her be herself, within reason. Never tell her off, but offer tons of praise, low key, when she comes to you. Make feeding times special. Sit down and 'share' food with her, not literally of course. Hand feed too, that can help. And, although the season is nearly over, maybe take her ferreting. She may not yet be interested, but worth a go.

Incidentally, the bitch I was talking about, the autistic one, she had Deerhound in her as well. They are sober dogs and their brains can take a long time to catch up with their growing bodies.

Hope this helps.

[bird 10,014]

I'd take it out ferreting with nets,no matter what your going to use it for.The sound,smell and action has got to stir some instinct in the dog.

spot on that, i wouldn't worry about chasing a ball,dummy etc , as not all lurchers want to run anything other than a live animal . Here a example , my 2 dogs both 1xs one collie x grey, other gsd x grey, the collie x grey, love to chase a ball and dummy, and not bad retriever on rabbits .Now the gsd x grey never shown any interest on a ball or a dummy , think he only ever had 3 -4 retrieves on the above in his 4 1/2 years. But he is the better retriever , and he is more full on with his quarry , alot more than the collie x ever was . ive had 3 bullxs before and none were that bothered with dummies or balls being honest, but there were like the gsd x grey , full on when it came to there quarry . , get you pup out with some ferrets like he said above

[Wales1234 5,682]

Had a Hancock pup wouldnt chase anything at all till it was 14 months old couldn't do retrieve training as she wouldn't bother then this time last year in sunny Hampshire it clicked and she caught one week later she sadly got run over !! Think she would made a handy lamping bitch

[Declan Hoare 4]

Cheers all! kept her with a very old bitch of my mates and her confidence has grown massively. Hunting well with the ferrets and out on mooches

[nothernlite 18,260]

Great stuff declan

[jukel123 9,290]

I would also try a flirt pole with a real rabbit pelt as the bait. Scent can turn on a dog as well as the flight response.