Lurcher - right breed?

[Waggy]

Hi All,

I hav e posted in the puppy section already, maybe I should of posted it here.

Anyhoo, myself and my partner are looking to get a puppy/young dog - and I would like to get alurcher, I think they are lovely dog.

However, we have a 3 bed house, not huge, but not overly small either. We already have a dog (yorkie) we have a medium sized garden. Do lurchers need alot of room? You hear they are quite lazy and would happily sleep all day but do they really??

We both work, so it would be left for 4-5 hrs every week day. It would get 2 walks a day on a working day and then more on the wkend. We have 4 rats - which are in aroom upstairs and when we are not there the door is shut. Do you think a lurcher would be a good breed to consider and if so does anyone have any ideas/websites/breeders we could look into please because I have searched the internet and cant find many. i live in the wiltshire area.

Thanks
Nikki

[KatzNK9]

Lurcher - Wilkipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurcher)

Partial quote:


The Lurcher is not a dog breed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_breed), but rather a type of dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog). It is a hardy crossbred sighthound (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sighthound) that is generally a cross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_breed_dog) between a sighthound (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sighthound) and a working breed, usually a pastoral dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_dog) or Terrier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrier). Collie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collie) crosses have always been very popular. Lurchers can be crossed several times. There is no set type, so they can be as small as a Whippet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whippet) or as large as a Deerhound (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deerhound); but most are chosen for a size similar to that of a Greyhound, and a distinct sighthound form is preferred.


Lurcher - Dog Breed Info (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/lurcher.htm)

Lurcher Link UK (http://www.lurcher.org/kaye/LurcherLinkwebpages/Lurcherlinkfrontpage.html)

The Official Lurcher & Staghound Website (http://www.users.daelnet.co.uk/lurchers/)

Greyhound & Lurcher Welfare Rescue (http://www.glwr.org.uk/)

Maybe these sites will get you started. I don't have much experience with hounds but I do know that there are several others here who will be far better able to help you.

Just thought you might find some interesting reading on those sites. Are you only interested in a puppy? Or would a rescue be something you'd consider. I know there are many here who have experience taking that approach. Here's hoping they hop in here to assist shortly.

[Waggy]

I think we like would like a puppy - but it is not a BIG no to rehoming a older dog. We rehomed my dog - but with rehoming you dont know their background. Thats our only concern.

[golden-lover]

Lurchers are extremely high energy, and I thought you wanted a small dog?

" However, we have a 3 bed house, not huge, but not overly small either. We already have a dog (yorkie) we have a medium sized garden. Do lurchers need alot of room? You hear they are quite lazy and would happily sleep all day but do they really??"

Lurchers are sighthounds so they need a fenced in area to run. I think Tom would be able to answer your questions better.

[mysterydog1]

I can answer it too! =)
Yes lurchers ARE High energy and it is IMPERATIVE that you have a fenced yard, and HIGH fence is needed. They jump and will run out of sight in less than 10 seconds.
For those 2 walks they'd have to be brisk and long. Or else when you leave the dog home he'll be bored and destructive in the house.


As far as that they are a great breed, but not right for everyone. 4-5 Hours is far too long to leave the lurcher IMO. We leave Vanna home for at most 2 hours and the house is destroyed! But she has gotten better as she runs and plays in the backyard a lot before we leave. We'd crate her but she is still learning about the crate.

[mysterydog1]

Also with the rats and yorkie.... The lurcher can see them as prey. Far too many times sight hounds have killed pet cats and small dogs they live with. Or at least chase them in a threatening way. You'd need a rather Large garden with a high fence for the lurcher so I'm not sure they are the right breed for you. Good luck in looking though.

[Waggy]

Thank you for your replies. They make sense - our yorkie isnt a mini yorkie. He is the same size as a long legged JR.

We are looking at a westie/cairn/schnauzer breed but we didnt realise how much people are asking for puppies - some people have prices over £600 - that just seems very exspensive. We were looking at around £100 - £150 mark for a puppy. Is that not very realistic?

[golden-lover]

£100 - £150 mark for a puppy. Is that not very realistic?

For a rescue puppy it is; Not for a purebred.

[borzoimom]

Well since a lurcher is a herding breed mixed with whippet, they are a higher energy dog in general than a sighthound. And can run like the wind! Common lurchers here are border collie/whippet.. Busy and fast..

[mysterydog1]

=O More high energy than a sight hound? Thats IMPOSSIBLE! =P Tehe

[Lulu25]

if you don't want to spend too much money or you need some good karma- i would highly recomend a visit to the pound or a rescue group. some people find this hard to beleive but there are so many beautiful animals- yes, purebreds too-that are waiting in a pound somewhere. I dont mean to be moralistic but I feel passionatley about this issue- way too many dogs die in the pound. If you are concerened about the history of the animal and how that would effect it- why not go to a rescue group that uses foster homes? The foster parents of the animal will be happy to inform you of any behavioral or other issues...just a thought

[Rainbow]

My Flynt is a lurcher , or technically a longdog as he is a sighthound mixed with another sighthound. and YES i would recommend them. They have the majority of the charatersistics of a sighthound. ie: love to gallop but sleep the rest of the day on your couch. They can be a bit rough with small dogs due to their prey instinct, is your Yorkie a plucky little thing that will put one in his place? People do own small dogs with lurchers tho, mainly plucky little jack russel's tho.

Now I have heard that the saluki crosses are a bit more high energy then the rest of them, so maybe avoid those.

A good rescue/forum to go to is Lurcher link. They have a rehoming section with the occasional puppies. Also lots of people there with lurcher advice.

My 2 sighthounds have a medium sized back yard, a couch to lie on and a run once a day, and they are happy.

[Waggy]

My Yorkie is around 10yrs old - hes a rescue we got 7 years ago. We had rehomed a JR called Milly but the reason I am concerned about rehoming again is because she did end up biting my otherhalf quite badly on his hand and we had to return her - alot of heartache there!

Banjo (yorkie) is as soft as they come, thats why we think he would be great with a puppy. Hes just like a fluffy marshmellow..not a bad bone in him.

[Katlovesdogs]

As already stated, lurchers arent a breed, rather a type of dog. Ive heard that a greyhound/collie is a lurcher. Anyway, you arent really going to know what you are getting as they can vary so much, but they are a high energy type dog. You say you are only expecting to pay £100-£150 which is fine is you find a rescue dog, but please dont compromise on where you buy a puppy from. Repuatable breeders do charge at the higher end of the spectrum, please dont fund puppy farms and BYB coz u dont wanna pay more-buying the dog is just the first expense of many! Thousands of dogs are put down every year, in my opinion if you are after a cross breed or lurcher why dont you get one from a resuce, rather than buy a puppy.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Also with the rats and yorkie.... The lurcher can see them as prey. Far too many times sight hounds have killed pet cats and small dogs they live with. Or at least chase them in a threatening way. You'd need a rather Large garden with a high fence for the lurcher so I'm not sure they are the right breed for you. Good luck in looking though.

That's the first thing I thought of too. :)

[GitSol]

If you don't want to spend much money on a pup please go and look at Dogstrust or one of the other rescue organisations - if you look for a puppy from a breeder at the price you want to spend you may very well end up supporting puppy farming and/or end up with an unhealthy pup.

You really don't want to know how much my Pug is going to cost....lol!

[vagreys]

Whether or not a lurcher is a high-energy dog depends on which breeds have been crossed, and which aspects of temperament have come out in the crossing.

If you are really looking for a medium-sized dog, and are more concerned with temperament than breeding, then do as others have suggested and consider the shelters in your region. I'm sure you can find a laid-back dog of appropriate size and temperament that desperately needs a good home.

[Waggy]

Thanks for all your replies. As I have said before, I have rehomed 2 dogs from a dogs home. One dog is lovely and the best dog you could ever wish for the other we took back a short time ago because she bit my partner quite badly.

Because of this we do not want to run the risk again, and I think we have decided on getting a puppy JR. See general forum for post ' oh soooo cute'.

Thanks again for all your replies.
Nikki

[Caincando1]

I had a pretty nasty comment written out and deleted it. I think I'll just stay away from this thread.

[GitSol]

why nasty?

[Waggy]

I had a pretty nasty comment written out and deleted it. I think I'll just stay away from this thread.

Why? I dont understand? We rehomed my dog 7 years ago and hes wonderful. We then decided (when we bought our first house) that we had room and time to get another dog. We decided to rehome a rescue again last june. We tried training her, taking her to classes but we were told at the dogs trust that she had some aggression problems when someone touched her bowl or bed. We respected that and left her to it when she was eatting or in her bed. As told to by the rescue center.

She was aggressive with my dog from the third week of having her (her being a JR). We tried to train her and work around the issue however she started biting, growling and being aggression towards us. Even if we left the room she once tried grabing my leg! :(

After christmas she bit my partner on the hand, drawing blood but it wasnt bad. We have taken her to the vet several times to make sure it wasnt a medical condition that was causing her aggression and the vet said she was in fine health.

You could just be stroking her and sunddenly out of nowhere she would throw her head up and snap at you. Now, again we tried to work around this and address the issue. However 2 weeks ago my partner was stroking her and she wipped her head up grabbed his thumb and knuckles and wouldnt let go. She kept biting and biting on his hand. My partners face went white and I eventually got her to let go. I put her in the kitchen away from my dog as she was showing her teeth to him also. Came back into the room to find my 28 yr old partner in tears with his thumb ripped open and bloody dripping down his wrist. Now what do you expect us to do? Keep her?

It would not be responsible to keep a dog who can turn so suddenly. What if a child came into the house and she turned on that child? What if we bent down and she did that to one of our faces, or even worse to my 10 yr old yorkie? I am sorry, i think and I know we have done the right thing returning her. She is not safe to have around and it broke our hearts and was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, watching my girl being taken away to sit in akennel all by herself!!!

Because of that heartbreaking experience we dont want to have to face the possibilty of that happening again because it was too painful to do it once in our lives.

We want a puppy, I dont think thats a bad thing. Do you? :mad:

[Rainbow]

I hear you waggy...sounds like you did everything possible...good luck with yer pup

[sheplovr]

Why not go to a good breeder of reasonable prices for pet quality only and get the warrantys and see the parents. I would suggest getting a smaller pet than what your asking about, not so fast but playful and sweet.? There are so many breeds now here in states of U.S., but finding the honest breeder can be quite a chore also. Good luck.

[GhostHunter]

We have a Lurcher x Collie, he gets walked once a day sometimes twice and we couldnt do without a tennis ball launching device called "The Chucker"! :confused:

With one of these and a couple of tennis balls you can keep him running down the park / field for ages until hes puffed out. I always take one spare ball as from time to time they get thrown away too far into the bushes never to be retrieved again!

Other than that watch out for the zoombinies! When they have a mad dash session around the back garden without warning lol nothing needs to set ours off except a need of a mischevious moment! LOL

:wtf:

[happysaz133]

Lurchers are afab breed, my favourite tied with the greyhound. And I just can't wait to own another in the future. The bigger the better. Irish Wolfhound or deerhound crossed with greyhound I think :D

[Newt]

Hi im new here havent done my intro yet but i have 2 Deerhounds and 2 parson Russell terriers, they live happily together but i find the terriers need more things to do to keep them amused than my deerhounds,which by the way are so laid back theyd fall over and are a joy to have,but they get exercised separately, not because the deeries would kill the terriers but the playing gets really rough!!!!
If you got a deerhound cross from a pup you couldnt fall off thats just my opinion though(biased ) ,couple of terriers would be more inclined to scrap