Anyone else on here own a Lurcher?

SightHounds4ever · 04-21-2005, 06:47 PM

We recently got in our very first Lurcher a 10 month old brindle named Romie. Romie came from a rather bad home where she was tied up in the yard and pretty much forgotten. Now saying pretty much forgotten thats the wrong way to about it she WAS forgotten. When the shelter i volunteer at got Romie in she was found wondering the streets with a chain dangling from her coller. She obviousely had pulled loose. Her owners handed her over. Seemed they paid a pretty penny for her. i had never heard of a Lurcher until i met Romie not very common in Canada i guess.

Anyways we took her in it just made we sick how these people treated her. Lurchers are nartural born racers and are a bundle of energy and need constant excersise. Lol I swear she wears out a couple of the greyhounds on occasion here lol.

Anyways having her here for a month im totally in love with the little dog and the Lurcher breed. You can see the the wheels turning in her head constantly. She loves attention and kisses lol. She also loves the other dogs her bestfriend already is Acorn lol.

Anyone else on here own a Lurcher? If so don't you just love these little gyspsy dogs lol?

willowmum · 05-03-2005, 05:18 AM

Hi there! Yep 4 lurchers here plus 1 greyhound. Of the lurchers two are the didley type - whippet crosses, as to the 2 biggies 1 is a greyhound cross and the other we think is a borzoi saluki cross! Yes they're wonderful dogs and its great to hear of another lurcher lover on this site!

suendai · 05-04-2005, 04:04 AM

i used to own lurchers and greyhounds and i have to say they were the nicest, most best temperd and tolerant dogs i ever had, unless you were a cat lol.

emfab · 06-09-2005, 01:25 PM

I've got a question for lurcher owners out there. My husband and I just adopted a 16-month-old male lurcher. He has a lovely personality, but one disturbing habit: He likes to bite (not terribly hard, but he has big teeth!) when he's allowed to run free. He races around and then charges at me or my husband, jumps up and nips. My fear is that he might do this to a child or another dog. He may have a past that involved hunting rabbits, as he seems to associate biting only with being let off the leash to run. He stops when told "No!", but how do I cure him of this for good? Or will we have to resort to a muzzle?

GreenleafGreyhound · 06-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Do you let him off the lead in fenced or non-fenced areas? Being a natural born sighthound, there is a very good chance your lurcher might bolt and take off after a wild critter, or perhaps even a stray plastic bag! With thousands of years of training to sight, spot, and chase, these dogs will stop for nothing less than the capture of the prey.

As for the nipping, I have the same problem as well. My suggestion is to bring a small can of coins and have your hubby shake it the precise moment your lurcher lays lips on you. When your dog is not biting and just happily running around, call him to you and treat. This'll reinforce a strong recall as well as condition the dog to not nip.

Now, Giselle (my grey) still nips when she's in play, but that's "dog talk", and she only does it to other canines. However, I do muzzle her when she's running with smaller dogs. I use a plastic basket muzzle, similar to one you'd find on halemar.com. Good Luck

willowmum · 06-10-2005, 06:38 AM

Would back up what Greenleaf says, the mouthing is basically a play thing, he's inviting you to play but it can hurt. When you get 2 lurchers together its madness with lots of mouthing although I find with mine they only seem to do it to other lurchery type dogs. Of course one answer would be to get another lurcher for him to play with!

emfab · 06-10-2005, 09:16 AM

Dear Greenleaf and Willowmum,

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll try the coins. He was good today when we gave a firm "No!"

He runs off the lead on an empty stretch of beach. He sure looks like he'd love to race, and I know he'd be quite pleased with himself if he caught a rabbit (he grabs the tennis ball and shakes it violently, even barks at it.) We'll be investing in a muzzle I think!

Our next problem is tummy upset. We believe our boy is a greyhound x whippet. We've been feeding him half a can of Chappie twice a day with kibble/mixer and he has had the runs quite bad. Should we stick to mainly dry food? Any recommendations? His farts are about to knock me out.

GreenleafGreyhound · 06-10-2005, 06:51 PM

Ooooh, what a cutie!!!

As for the food, YES. I would change the food if it's giving your pup the runs for an extended period of time. I believe Chappie's is the Europe equivalent of Pedigree, so I'll give you my take on this:

I feed Innova EVO and raw because I feel this to be the most beneficial diet. If you think about it, dogs are quasiomnivores. They're built as carnivores and this is reflected in their digestive tracts and teeth, but they can adapt to a mainly herbivorous diet. With that aside, dogs should be fed a mainly carnivorous diet in order to thrive. Here are some loose guidelines:

Some type of meat should be the very first ingredient. As well, the meat should have a specific origin. For example, you should be looking for chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, venison, etc. You should avoid "meat", "animal", etc. at all costs.

No By-Products.
No artifical colors. Dogs don't need Red. 40 in their food to entice them to eat. They're practically colorblind

Try to avoid 'bonemeal'. Generally speaking, bonemeal is not very nutritious/healthy unless it's fit for human consumption (the stuff you'd buy at a human health store).
Try to avoid excessive amounts of carbohydrates, such as corn and wheat. Carbs are an essential ingredient in many kibbles, but, like I said, dogs are carnivores by nature and should eat as one.
Since you have a VERY deep chested dog, I would avoid Dried Beet Pulp. It has been said that Dried Beet Pulp swells in the stomach, which many people believe helps aggravate an onset of bloat.
Try to look for wholesome veggies and fruits in the food such as blueberries, which are a good source of antioxidants.

Here are some brands that I highly recommend. However, I don't know if you can acquire them across the pond:
Innova or Innova EVO
California Natural
Wellness
Canidae
Natural Balance
Pinnacle
Solid Gold

Nutro is widely available. It is a decent choice, but the above brands are quite a bit better. Hope this helps!

emfab · 08-11-2005, 12:36 PM

Posted this in the behavior forum, but thought I'd put it here as well...

When 18 month-old neutered Lurcher Stan met 1 yr.-old female Lurcher, Tallulah, at the Evesham, England, dog show, they got on like a house on fire (Stan was showing off after having won "Third best rescue lurcher"). We adopted Tallulah (Lou) then and there. They slept in each others arms on the drive home--it looked like a match made in heaven. But seemingly within minutes of arriving home, Lou had started her first season and Stan was a very confused boy. Lou soon put Stan in his place, much to his chagrin: "Why doesn't she want to play anymore? And why can't I mount her!!!?" There were some skirmishes at the dinner bowls, and a little arguing over sleeping spots, but overall nothing too serious. But on walks Stan really took advantage, as Lou was on the lead/leash and Stan was allowed to run. She got sick of his taunting yesterday and nipped him as he ran past her. Since he was going so fast, the little nip took about a 2" square pice of skin off Stan. He now has a line of staples down his side, poor boy. When we brought him home--this is what I'm worried about--and he came off the anesthetic, he went totally ballistic when Lou tried to settle down next to him.

Questions: is Stan destined to forever hate Lou? Or does an injured dog often like to be given plenty of space/left alone?

Once Lou has been spayed, will their relationship become more balanced/mellow?

And will Stan's desire to play rough-house diminish as he matures?

Anyone else had problems integrating a new dog?

willowmum · 08-12-2005, 03:49 AM

Hi there, first what a stunner! Really disappointed though as we were supposed to be going to the Evesham show but couldnt because our grey had just had an op to remove a lump.

Im sure the fella is feeling a bit sorry for himself and a bit sore so will want his own space for a while. Have you got him on any arnica to help with the bruising? Our new foster is on it at the moment as he's just been 'done'.

Lou is probably being a bit hormonal so it must be a bit hectic and confusing.

Give them space to be alone, give it a bit more time and Im sure they'll be the best of buddies again soon. These things take time but can be sorted. Also talk to Pip or try Lisa at GG (what she doesnt know about greys and lurchers Ive yet to find out).

Good luck and well done for taking another one on - they're so addictive! Oh and we're hoping to be in Wales oct/nov time so will pick your brains about dog friendly beaches etc.

Food wise we feed ours either skinners or wafcol with stuff added for interest, ie sardines, boiled chicken, mince etc. Our new foster had the runs when we first got him and boiled potatoes and chicken soon sorted him out.

GreenleafGreyhound · 08-12-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Anyone else had problems integrating a new dog?

Heck yea! When we first brought Giselle home, Lucky attacked her like she was an evil demon. Whenever she made the slightest wrong move, he'd lunge and snap at her. Thankfully, the scuffles remained bloodshed-free. Don't feel bad. The two dogs didn't make peace for many months. Like Willowmum said, give them some rest, time, and peace. Also never forget to make interactions between the two dogs relaxing and fun.

Quote:

is Stan destined to forever hate Lou? Or does an injured dog often like to be given plenty of space/left alone?

Well, I can't say they'll be the best of buds, but they should learn to tolerate each other's presence soon enough. However, injured dogs do like to be left alone. Remember, in a wild pack, the injured, sick, and dying animals are cut off. Oftentimes, the sick dog will go off by itself to naturally heal himself. Just make sure Stan's immediate needs are met and don't try to forge a forced relationship between Stan and Lou.

Quote:

Once Lou has been spayed, will their relationship become more balanced/mellow?

Once Lou has been spayed, she'll definitely have a more constant, happy outlook. This *will* help the relationship, but, hey, both my dogs were fixed and they fought like heck.

Quote:

And will Stan's desire to play rough-house diminish as he matures?

A good chance says yes, he'll roughhouse less or not as hard. Don't forget, however, that many dogs stay puppies at heart both mentally and physically. I'd compensate for his high energy by spending more individual time with him romping around and tiring him out. Good Luck with the two pups, and just give it some time. Once Lou comes out of her heat and you get her spayed, I think the two will become best of friends again

emfab · 08-13-2005, 03:59 AM

Thanks for all that. They're doing a little better today. Photos to follow once I get my home computer fixed!

Happy hounding...
emfab

04-21-2005, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
SightHounds4ever Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BC Posts: 25 Rep Power: 0	Anyone else on here own a Lurcher? We recently got in our very first Lurcher a 10 month old brindle named Romie. Romie came from a rather bad home where she was tied up in the yard and pretty much forgotten. Now saying pretty much forgotten thats the wrong way to about it she WAS forgotten. When the shelter i volunteer at got Romie in she was found wondering the streets with a chain dangling from her coller. She obviousely had pulled loose. Her owners handed her over. Seemed they paid a pretty penny for her. i had never heard of a Lurcher until i met Romie not very common in Canada i guess. Anyways we took her in it just made we sick how these people treated her. Lurchers are nartural born racers and are a bundle of energy and need constant excersise. Lol I swear she wears out a couple of the greyhounds on occasion here lol. Anyways having her here for a month im totally in love with the little dog and the Lurcher breed. You can see the the wheels turning in her head constantly. She loves attention and kisses lol. She also loves the other dogs her bestfriend already is Acorn lol. Anyone else on here own a Lurcher? If so don't you just love these little gyspsy dogs lol?

06-09-2005, 01:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Snapdog I've got a question for lurcher owners out there. My husband and I just adopted a 16-month-old male lurcher. He has a lovely personality, but one disturbing habit: He likes to bite (not terribly hard, but he has big teeth!) when he's allowed to run free. He races around and then charges at me or my husband, jumps up and nips. My fear is that he might do this to a child or another dog. He may have a past that involved hunting rabbits, as he seems to associate biting only with being let off the leash to run. He stops when told "No!", but how do I cure him of this for good? Or will we have to resort to a muzzle?

06-09-2005, 06:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
GreenleafGreyhound Good Dog - Greyt Peke Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 736 Rep Power: 104	Do you let him off the lead in fenced or non-fenced areas? Being a natural born sighthound, there is a very good chance your lurcher might bolt and take off after a wild critter, or perhaps even a stray plastic bag! With thousands of years of training to sight, spot, and chase, these dogs will stop for nothing less than the capture of the prey. As for the nipping, I have the same problem as well. My suggestion is to bring a small can of coins and have your hubby shake it the precise moment your lurcher lays lips on you. When your dog is not biting and just happily running around, call him to you and treat. This'll reinforce a strong recall as well as condition the dog to not nip. Now, Giselle (my grey) still nips when she's in play, but that's "dog talk", and she only does it to other canines. However, I do muzzle her when she's running with smaller dogs. I use a plastic basket muzzle, similar to one you'd find on halemar.com. Good Luck
	__________________ ~~Amazing Greys Retired Racers~~ [size=3][color=#0F2085] size]

06-10-2005, 09:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the advice...and another question: Dear Greenleaf and Willowmum, Thanks for the quick responses. I'll try the coins. He was good today when we gave a firm "No!" He runs off the lead on an empty stretch of beach. He sure looks like he'd love to race, and I know he'd be quite pleased with himself if he caught a rabbit (he grabs the tennis ball and shakes it violently, even barks at it.) We'll be investing in a muzzle I think! Our next problem is tummy upset. We believe our boy is a greyhound x whippet. We've been feeding him half a can of Chappie twice a day with kibble/mixer and he has had the runs quite bad. Should we stick to mainly dry food? Any recommendations? His farts are about to knock me out. Attached Thumbnails

06-10-2005, 06:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
GreenleafGreyhound Good Dog - Greyt Peke Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 736 Rep Power: 104	Ooooh, what a cutie!!! As for the food, YES. I would change the food if it's giving your pup the runs for an extended period of time. I believe Chappie's is the Europe equivalent of Pedigree, so I'll give you my take on this: I feed Innova EVO and raw because I feel this to be the most beneficial diet. If you think about it, dogs are quasiomnivores. They're built as carnivores and this is reflected in their digestive tracts and teeth, but they can adapt to a mainly herbivorous diet. With that aside, dogs should be fed a mainly carnivorous diet in order to thrive. Here are some loose guidelines: Some type of meat should be the very first ingredient. As well, the meat should have a specific origin. For example, you should be looking for chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, venison, etc. You should avoid "meat", "animal", etc. at all costs. No By-Products. No artifical colors. Dogs don't need Red. 40 in their food to entice them to eat. They're practically colorblind Try to avoid 'bonemeal'. Generally speaking, bonemeal is not very nutritious/healthy unless it's fit for human consumption (the stuff you'd buy at a human health store). Try to avoid excessive amounts of carbohydrates, such as corn and wheat. Carbs are an essential ingredient in many kibbles, but, like I said, dogs are carnivores by nature and should eat as one. Since you have a VERY deep chested dog, I would avoid Dried Beet Pulp. It has been said that Dried Beet Pulp swells in the stomach, which many people believe helps aggravate an onset of bloat. Try to look for wholesome veggies and fruits in the food such as blueberries, which are a good source of antioxidants. Here are some brands that I highly recommend. However, I don't know if you can acquire them across the pond: Innova or Innova EVO California Natural Wellness Canidae Natural Balance Pinnacle Solid Gold Nutro is widely available. It is a decent choice, but the above brands are quite a bit better. Hope this helps!
	__________________ ~~Amazing Greys Retired Racers~~ [size=3][color=#0F2085] size]

05-03-2005, 05:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
willowmum loopy lurchers Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: uk Posts: 54 Rep Power: 76	Hi there! Yep 4 lurchers here plus 1 greyhound. Of the lurchers two are the didley type - whippet crosses, as to the 2 biggies 1 is a greyhound cross and the other we think is a borzoi saluki cross! Yes they're wonderful dogs and its great to hear of another lurcher lover on this site!

05-04-2005, 04:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
suendai moonzmum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: I live in Co Roscommon in the west of Ireland Posts: 31 Rep Power: 69	i used to own lurchers and greyhounds and i have to say they were the nicest, most best temperd and tolerant dogs i ever had, unless you were a cat lol.

06-10-2005, 06:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
willowmum loopy lurchers Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: uk Posts: 54 Rep Power: 76	Would back up what Greenleaf says, the mouthing is basically a play thing, he's inviting you to play but it can hurt. When you get 2 lurchers together its madness with lots of mouthing although I find with mine they only seem to do it to other lurchery type dogs. Of course one answer would be to get another lurcher for him to play with!

08-11-2005, 12:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Posted this in the behavior forum, but thought I'd put it here as well... When 18 month-old neutered Lurcher Stan met 1 yr.-old female Lurcher, Tallulah, at the Evesham, England, dog show, they got on like a house on fire (Stan was showing off after having won "Third best rescue lurcher"). We adopted Tallulah (Lou) then and there. They slept in each others arms on the drive home--it looked like a match made in heaven. But seemingly within minutes of arriving home, Lou had started her first season and Stan was a very confused boy. Lou soon put Stan in his place, much to his chagrin: "Why doesn't she want to play anymore? And why can't I mount her!!!?" There were some skirmishes at the dinner bowls, and a little arguing over sleeping spots, but overall nothing too serious. But on walks Stan really took advantage, as Lou was on the lead/leash and Stan was allowed to run. She got sick of his taunting yesterday and nipped him as he ran past her. Since he was going so fast, the little nip took about a 2" square pice of skin off Stan. He now has a line of staples down his side, poor boy. When we brought him home--this is what I'm worried about--and he came off the anesthetic, he went totally ballistic when Lou tried to settle down next to him. Questions: is Stan destined to forever hate Lou? Or does an injured dog often like to be given plenty of space/left alone? Once Lou has been spayed, will their relationship become more balanced/mellow? And will Stan's desire to play rough-house diminish as he matures? Anyone else had problems integrating a new dog?

08-12-2005, 03:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
willowmum loopy lurchers Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: uk Posts: 54 Rep Power: 76	Hi there, first what a stunner! Really disappointed though as we were supposed to be going to the Evesham show but couldnt because our grey had just had an op to remove a lump. Im sure the fella is feeling a bit sorry for himself and a bit sore so will want his own space for a while. Have you got him on any arnica to help with the bruising? Our new foster is on it at the moment as he's just been 'done'. Lou is probably being a bit hormonal so it must be a bit hectic and confusing. Give them space to be alone, give it a bit more time and Im sure they'll be the best of buddies again soon. These things take time but can be sorted. Also talk to Pip or try Lisa at GG (what she doesnt know about greys and lurchers Ive yet to find out). Good luck and well done for taking another one on - they're so addictive! Oh and we're hoping to be in Wales oct/nov time so will pick your brains about dog friendly beaches etc. Food wise we feed ours either skinners or wafcol with stuff added for interest, ie sardines, boiled chicken, mince etc. Our new foster had the runs when we first got him and boiled potatoes and chicken soon sorted him out.

08-13-2005, 03:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Phew! Thanks for all that. They're doing a little better today. Photos to follow once I get my home computer fixed! Happy hounding... emfab

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