Post by Jane on Jul 13, 2011 7:07:28 GMT -5
Introduction
Lurchers are a type of dog rather than a recognised breed. Historically they had the reputation of being the poor man’s greyhound as during the middle ages it was a criminal offence for paupers to own greyhounds, a breed that was favoured by the nobility. So greyhounds were crossed with other pure breeds such as deerhounds resulting in a cross that still had the ability to hunt but without the risk of them quite literally losing their heads!
In this day and age it is accepted that a lurcher is any type of sighthound crossed with a working dog. These dogs are not only highly regarded for their original purpose of hunting, but they are recognised as ideal family pets because of their lovely temperament.
Appearance and temperament
As a cross breed the appearance of a lurcher can vary greatly. They can be smooth, rough or broken coated in a variety of brindle, solid and parti –colours. Their size can be that of a small whippet to the giant size of a wolfhound.
Lurchers can be quite sensitive creatures and enjoy the companionship of their humans and are not an ideal candidate to be left on their own all day. They do not respond well to harsh environments or treatment and benefit from consistent, positive persuasion. They enjoy their home comforts and welcome the chance to share the human sofa.
Lurchers generally love their food and will happily help themselves given the opportunity. They are renowned for their counter surfing and thieving skills. This love of food is a useful aid in the training of lurchers, especially those with terrier, collie and GSD heritage making them generally more intelligent than their greyhound friends. Constructive play and mental stimulation is usually well received by these dogs.
It is of vital importance to research what type of Lurcher you are going to own, because the behavioural traits of the parent breeds will influence the resulting behaviour.
Adapting to home life
Many lurchers who are found as strays will have previously been kept outside and so will need to adapt to life indoors. They will have a thicker coat which will be likely to moult as they acclimatise to being inside. They adapt surprisingly well and will appreciate a nice soft padded bed, or better still your sofa. Toilet training needs to be initiated from the moment they arrive. Show them where to go, taking them out at regular intervals and rewarding them when they get it right, just as you would with any new dog.
Remember that the longer legged lurchers can reach your counter tops, so you may need to clear the decks. Remote controls, sunglasses and mobile phones can all be fair game, so be warned!
Feeding
As with greyhounds, lurchers can be fed dry kibble. If you choose to feed dry kibble then avoid those with more than 20% protein. Generally the more expensive foods are better quality and have a higher meat content and not just filler ingredients such as cereal. Feeding guidelines should be followed on the packaging and then amend as necessary if you see your lurcher lose or put on weight.
Some lurcher owners feed their dogs a raw diet, this is personal choice and we recommend you do your research.
To avoid digestion problems it is recommended to feed your dog from a raised stand.
Always ensure your lurcher has access to a water supply.
With other dogs
How a lurcher interacts with other dogs will depend on the individual dog and will take into account factors such as how well socialised they are already, how strong their prey drive is.
Younger lurchers especially, can be excitable around other dogs and can play rough. Lurchers love to chase and can mouth and nip. To owners of dogs who are not familiar with this trait this can be alarming.
Recall training is crucial as when a lurcher spots another dog, their chase instinct will often kick in. Some lurchers may well think of small dogs as ‘quarry’ or prey, so care is needed.
With cats and small furries
As with all dogs, care and common sense are needed with cats and small creatures. The difference with lurchers is that if they do chase a cat they have the speed and agility to catch one. Similar to greyhounds it is a complete myth that lurchers cannot live with cats, but once again it is down to the individual dog and if they are deemed ‘cat safe’ then careful introductions should still be made. It is important to note that just because a lurcher lives with a cat it doesn’t mean he will tolerate cats he doesn’t know.
With children
Adult lurchers are generally quite gentle, whilst youngsters can be a little boisterous and jumpy. This is where training and the development of manners maybe required.
Bearing in mind that lurchers love their food and are renowned for stealing this has the potential to cause problems with children if common sense rules are not applied. As should always be the case, children and dogs must be supervised at all times, including mealtimes. Hand feeding from the table should not be allowed and children walking round with food in their hands should also be avoided to prevent fingers being inadvertently nipped.
Children also need training! They need to know to leave a dog alone whilst eating and sleeping and the need for treating them gently. A dog will show its disproval by growling or bearing teeth, they can’t tell you to leave them alone. This has led to many dogs being returned unnecessarily.
So long as these guidelines are followed there is no reason why lurchers and children cannot live in harmony.
Sleep time
You may well be surprised at just how much your lurcher does sleep. They love their comfort, so the cosier the bed the better. As previously mentioned your sofa is likely to be a lurcher’s first choice, so you need to decide whether this is something you are going to allow. If not then provide the lurcher with a super comfy bed and reinforce the rules from day one.
Exercise
Generally speaking the exercise requirements of a lurcher are fairly low and it is a misconception that they are hugely energetic and need extensive exercise. However once again this will depend on the breeding. For example saluki or collie crosses may require more exercise as they have greater stamina. A lurcher’s energy is usually used up in short, high speed bursts.
Lurchers love to run and the chance of an off lead run will see them through the day. But remember being a sighthound they are constantly scanning the horizon and may spot something in the distance. Once in motion, they become blinkered and you may not be able to stop them. You need to ensure your lurcher has a safe enclosed area to run so as not to harm themselves, or anyone else.
Training
Once again it will depend on the lurcher’s breeding but they are generally intelligent dogs, fast learners and are always keen to please. They often excel at obedience and agility. They need to know what is acceptable behaviour and they need to learn this from you, they don’t just automatically know. Remember gentle, positive, consistent training will lead to greater success than rather harsh handling.
Health, maintenance and physical care
Lurchers suffer from very few health problems. They may be sensitive to anaesthesia and certain drugs so it is recommended that you see a vet who specializes in sighthounds or is aware of their special requirements.
Being a deep chested dog, lurchers can be susceptible to bloat, which is where the stomach twists. It is a time critical condition and if you see that your lurcher appears to have a swollen and painful tummy, or tries unsuccessfully to vomit and appears to be restless or distressed, contact your vet immediately.
You can help avoid this by not exercising your dog an hour before and after they have eaten. If they are rapid eaters you can slow them down by adding water, if dry kibble, or placing solid item such as a plastic ball in their bowl so they can’t just grab mouthfuls.
Grooming and maintenance will depend on the coat of your lurcher. Rough and broken coated dogs will require more regular grooming.
Depending where you exercise your lurcher their nails may need clipping periodically. If you include road walking in your exercise routine then this may not be necessary.
Some lurchers will still have their dew claws. When they are having their mad few minutes these can get caught and tear. If the dew claws are particularly prominent then it may be worth wrapping them before a run.
We hope we have provided some useful information for anyone thinking of adopting a lurcher. There are many great rescue organisations across Ireland who often have lurchers in their care and there are a number who specialise solely in Greyhounds and Lurchers.
Lurchers are a type of dog rather than a recognised breed. Historically they had the reputation of being the poor man’s greyhound as during the middle ages it was a criminal offence for paupers to own greyhounds, a breed that was favoured by the nobility. So greyhounds were crossed with other pure breeds such as deerhounds resulting in a cross that still had the ability to hunt but without the risk of them quite literally losing their heads!
In this day and age it is accepted that a lurcher is any type of sighthound crossed with a working dog. These dogs are not only highly regarded for their original purpose of hunting, but they are recognised as ideal family pets because of their lovely temperament.
Appearance and temperament
As a cross breed the appearance of a lurcher can vary greatly. They can be smooth, rough or broken coated in a variety of brindle, solid and parti –colours. Their size can be that of a small whippet to the giant size of a wolfhound.
Lurchers can be quite sensitive creatures and enjoy the companionship of their humans and are not an ideal candidate to be left on their own all day. They do not respond well to harsh environments or treatment and benefit from consistent, positive persuasion. They enjoy their home comforts and welcome the chance to share the human sofa.
Lurchers generally love their food and will happily help themselves given the opportunity. They are renowned for their counter surfing and thieving skills. This love of food is a useful aid in the training of lurchers, especially those with terrier, collie and GSD heritage making them generally more intelligent than their greyhound friends. Constructive play and mental stimulation is usually well received by these dogs.
It is of vital importance to research what type of Lurcher you are going to own, because the behavioural traits of the parent breeds will influence the resulting behaviour.
Adapting to home life
Many lurchers who are found as strays will have previously been kept outside and so will need to adapt to life indoors. They will have a thicker coat which will be likely to moult as they acclimatise to being inside. They adapt surprisingly well and will appreciate a nice soft padded bed, or better still your sofa. Toilet training needs to be initiated from the moment they arrive. Show them where to go, taking them out at regular intervals and rewarding them when they get it right, just as you would with any new dog.
Remember that the longer legged lurchers can reach your counter tops, so you may need to clear the decks. Remote controls, sunglasses and mobile phones can all be fair game, so be warned!
Feeding
As with greyhounds, lurchers can be fed dry kibble. If you choose to feed dry kibble then avoid those with more than 20% protein. Generally the more expensive foods are better quality and have a higher meat content and not just filler ingredients such as cereal. Feeding guidelines should be followed on the packaging and then amend as necessary if you see your lurcher lose or put on weight.
Some lurcher owners feed their dogs a raw diet, this is personal choice and we recommend you do your research.
To avoid digestion problems it is recommended to feed your dog from a raised stand.
Always ensure your lurcher has access to a water supply.
With other dogs
How a lurcher interacts with other dogs will depend on the individual dog and will take into account factors such as how well socialised they are already, how strong their prey drive is.
Younger lurchers especially, can be excitable around other dogs and can play rough. Lurchers love to chase and can mouth and nip. To owners of dogs who are not familiar with this trait this can be alarming.
Recall training is crucial as when a lurcher spots another dog, their chase instinct will often kick in. Some lurchers may well think of small dogs as ‘quarry’ or prey, so care is needed.
With cats and small furries
As with all dogs, care and common sense are needed with cats and small creatures. The difference with lurchers is that if they do chase a cat they have the speed and agility to catch one. Similar to greyhounds it is a complete myth that lurchers cannot live with cats, but once again it is down to the individual dog and if they are deemed ‘cat safe’ then careful introductions should still be made. It is important to note that just because a lurcher lives with a cat it doesn’t mean he will tolerate cats he doesn’t know.
With children
Adult lurchers are generally quite gentle, whilst youngsters can be a little boisterous and jumpy. This is where training and the development of manners maybe required.
Bearing in mind that lurchers love their food and are renowned for stealing this has the potential to cause problems with children if common sense rules are not applied. As should always be the case, children and dogs must be supervised at all times, including mealtimes. Hand feeding from the table should not be allowed and children walking round with food in their hands should also be avoided to prevent fingers being inadvertently nipped.
Children also need training! They need to know to leave a dog alone whilst eating and sleeping and the need for treating them gently. A dog will show its disproval by growling or bearing teeth, they can’t tell you to leave them alone. This has led to many dogs being returned unnecessarily.
So long as these guidelines are followed there is no reason why lurchers and children cannot live in harmony.
Sleep time
You may well be surprised at just how much your lurcher does sleep. They love their comfort, so the cosier the bed the better. As previously mentioned your sofa is likely to be a lurcher’s first choice, so you need to decide whether this is something you are going to allow. If not then provide the lurcher with a super comfy bed and reinforce the rules from day one.
Exercise
Generally speaking the exercise requirements of a lurcher are fairly low and it is a misconception that they are hugely energetic and need extensive exercise. However once again this will depend on the breeding. For example saluki or collie crosses may require more exercise as they have greater stamina. A lurcher’s energy is usually used up in short, high speed bursts.
Lurchers love to run and the chance of an off lead run will see them through the day. But remember being a sighthound they are constantly scanning the horizon and may spot something in the distance. Once in motion, they become blinkered and you may not be able to stop them. You need to ensure your lurcher has a safe enclosed area to run so as not to harm themselves, or anyone else.
Training
Once again it will depend on the lurcher’s breeding but they are generally intelligent dogs, fast learners and are always keen to please. They often excel at obedience and agility. They need to know what is acceptable behaviour and they need to learn this from you, they don’t just automatically know. Remember gentle, positive, consistent training will lead to greater success than rather harsh handling.
Health, maintenance and physical care
Lurchers suffer from very few health problems. They may be sensitive to anaesthesia and certain drugs so it is recommended that you see a vet who specializes in sighthounds or is aware of their special requirements.
Being a deep chested dog, lurchers can be susceptible to bloat, which is where the stomach twists. It is a time critical condition and if you see that your lurcher appears to have a swollen and painful tummy, or tries unsuccessfully to vomit and appears to be restless or distressed, contact your vet immediately.
You can help avoid this by not exercising your dog an hour before and after they have eaten. If they are rapid eaters you can slow them down by adding water, if dry kibble, or placing solid item such as a plastic ball in their bowl so they can’t just grab mouthfuls.
Grooming and maintenance will depend on the coat of your lurcher. Rough and broken coated dogs will require more regular grooming.
Depending where you exercise your lurcher their nails may need clipping periodically. If you include road walking in your exercise routine then this may not be necessary.
Some lurchers will still have their dew claws. When they are having their mad few minutes these can get caught and tear. If the dew claws are particularly prominent then it may be worth wrapping them before a run.
We hope we have provided some useful information for anyone thinking of adopting a lurcher. There are many great rescue organisations across Ireland who often have lurchers in their care and there are a number who specialise solely in Greyhounds and Lurchers.