Lurcher as a household pet

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TeaNoSugar

Original Poster:

1,229 posts

164 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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Anyone with relevant experience or expertise?

We'e been thinking about adopting a dog for some time, but there are some things we've had to consider to make sure we make the right choice:

1. We have 2 middle aged (7 and 9 years old) cats, which are fairly laid-back, but one gets quite nervous at times. This is my main concern to be honest. A lurcher with a high prey drive would not be be able to live with the cats.
2. The dog will get plenty of exercise if it is happy to run, as I generally do 30-40 miles a week, and get out at least 4 times a week. I have no issue with getting out for a walk twice a day with plenty of running miles at weekends.
3. I don't want a dog with insane energy levels or neurotic tendencies (border collie, springer, beagle etc.) but also it needs to be up for trotting along and a decent amount of exercise (so no stumpy-legged or heavy-set dog).
4. It'll be a rescue dog. I've nothing against pedigree dogs, but no great desire to buy from a breeder really, not when there are so many "homeless" dogs about.

We've thought about various types of dog, but it seems most terriers won't really get on with the cats, and most of the dogs at rescue centres are fairly stocky, heavy-set SBT crosses or variations of that type of dog (which I love, but I've known a few and they don't seem to like too much exercise).

Anyway, what about a lurcher? Theres a lovely 5-month old medium sized lurcher at a rescue centre not too far away which I'd like to go and see. From what I know of them (two guys at work have lurchers) they're fairly laid back dogs, are happy to walk and run but also happy to take it easy and sleep a fair bit. I can't figure out about the suitability with the cats though. Would a youngish lurcher be better, particularly one that hasn't been a working dog? Or is it all down to instinct?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

TheBALDpuma

5,842 posts

167 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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My friend has a lurcher cross (aren't all lurchers crosses anyway?) called Rudi. He is Lurcher/Saluki, and about 3.5 years old now I think.

He isn't lazy like a greyhound, but is very fast. He goes off after squirrels and similar all the time, but he lives with two cats fine. We look after him when they go away, and he gets on with our Patterdale/JRT cross just fine, although he is an oaf and runs through her every now and then!

He copes with very long walks, spending his time sprinting after wildlife. He's been on 30km bike rides with us, running along behind nicely.

At home he just chills and sleep - as ooposed to my Terrier who just wants to play ALL THE TIME!

So, Rudi would be perfect by the sounds of it! But, as lurchers are by definition a cross breed I can't imagine they are all the same. Might be best to get one quite young, as they will shape to their upbringing to a large degree I expect.

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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Similar situation here, and I was considering a greyhound from the sanctuaries. Local couple keep a few, and they are always a lovely temperament.
My parents have a golden lab, and that's got bags of personality, but is completely bonkers, especially at feeding time - can't imagine her getting on with cats too well.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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It depends on the mix in the lurcher.

Many I see are actually quite bouncy/ lively dogs until they get older, though good natured. I don't link lurcher with laid back tbh (they often have collie in their mix)



Edited by bexVN on Friday 3rd April 18:29

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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It is absolutely dependent on what the mix is. The original definition of a lurcher was a sighthound crossed with a pastoral breed (commonly collie) but it is used nowadays to described pretty much any sighthound cross. So anything from a saluki/greyhound cross to a staffy/greyhound cross (often called bull grey or bull lurcher).

Some can live with cats, some cannot (this is the case with all sighthounds, and to an extent, all dogs). A younger one certainly might be more suitable. Some rescues will do a 'cat test' to assess their suitability to live with a cat.

I've had three 'lurchers' - a greyhound/lab, a greyhound/saluki (properly known as a 'longdog') and a bull lurcher. All had totally different temperaments and characters, so it is really difficult to generalise.

Generally, sighthounds are pretty adaptable in terms of exercise (happy with short walks/sprints and longer walks if you build them up to it). But I'm not sure that any of them would have been able to cope with sustained running, except perhaps the saluki cross. Salukis tend to have more stamina than other sighthounds because they were originally used for hunting in the deserts.

Just to add - well done for looking at rescue dogs. All (11) of mine have been rescues. Even if the one you mention isn't suitable, you should be able to find one - sadly, there are lots of lurchers in rescue frown

Another breed that might be worth looking at is Trailhounds: http://www.trailhoundwelfare.org.uk/frequently-ask...

Edited by moorx on Friday 3rd April 17:38

TeaNoSugar

Original Poster:

1,229 posts

164 months

Friday 3rd April 2015
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Thank you very much for the replies - food for thought... I'm going to speak to the rescue centre tomorrow or Tuesday, see if they think she would be suitable to live with a cat. From the photo of her on the website she looks like she has some border collie (head shape and colouring) but her fur is shortish, "wire-haired almost, predominantly white with black patches. I'll update when I find out more info, but thanks very much in the meantime.

TeaNoSugar

Original Poster:

1,229 posts

164 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Well, my wife and I went to see the lurcher at the rescue centre on Sunday. A lovely dog she was, she seemed to have a very pleasant personality, and wasn't quite as big as I thought either (led to believe she is a deerhound cross but wasn't as big as I'd imagine that to mean, although she's only 5 months old).

She's not been cat tested yet, but the lady at the rescue centre said you can never tell how they'll react to a cat, and so they use a particularly feisty cat at the rescue centre to test the dogs out - just in case.
Unfortunately this particular dog had already been seen and reserved by someone else before we arrived.

Also, although our house has a decent sized garden, being a terraced house it's impossible to completely enclose it (a must-have for the rescue centre) because the "courtyard" part of the garden (nearest the house) is communal between the 4 houses, with a 4ft dry-stone wall around the outside of the 4 gardens. I've suggested to the lady at the rescue centre that I'll send her a few photos of the garden and see what she thinks, as I don't want her to send any of the staff on a wasted trip if the garden is unsuitable. A shame really, because I think we could give a dog a nice comfy, loving home, with plenty of affection and lots of exercise. Having said that, I do understand the requirements the rescue centre have as they don't want the dogs escaping and getting run over or anything like that. I'll have to think again about what I can do with the garden.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Sounds typically daft of rescue centres. I understand why they do it, but they refuse so many suitable homes I'm not surprised with how many dogs they can't home.

Jakg

3,451 posts

167 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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My girlfriends parents have 2 lurchers and 2 cats, no issues (in fact the dogs are probably scared of the cats!), I have a lurcher and my neighbours have cats and again it's not been a problem - but if the cat were to run across in front of one at high speed I'm sure the prey drive would kick in and then all bets are off.

They are generally known for speed and not stamina - don't expect it to run and run and run and still want more like a collie.

I applaud you getting a rescue - but unfortunately you can't get a pedigree lurcher anyway!

I would definitely want an enclosed garden though - a greyhound can reach 40MPH in six strides, so theres a chance it could see something and be gone before you've got time to do anything.
bexVN said:
It depends on the mix in the lurcher.

Many I see are actually quite bouncy/ lively dogs until they get older, though good natured. I don't link lurcher with laid back tbh (they often have collie in their mix)
Mine is collie / greyhound and very energetic - but he loves to play and relax in equal measure.

Generally they are very "lazy" dogs who want nothing more than a big sofa to sleep on...

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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Hooli said:
Sounds typically daft of rescue centres. I understand why they do it, but they refuse so many suitable homes I'm not surprised with how many dogs they can't home.
Sorry, but I don't think that an enclosed garden is a 'daft' requirement at all, especially as the OP's garden is communal. Would you like a neighbour's dog having free access to your garden?

Believe me, I've come up against obstacles in adopting from rescue centres (and been refused by a couple) but most of their pre-requisites are based on experience, and wanting the best for the animals in their care.

With specific reference to sighthounds/lurchers, as has been said, they can reach incredible speeds incredibly quickly. You can't guard against every eventuality, but having experienced the loss of a greyhound due to her tripping and breaking her back when chasing, I would always want an enclosed garden.

Having said that, there are rescues which will consider each home on their own merits. I have heard of rescues homing to people without an enclosed garden, and to people who live on a narrow boat! These generally tend to be the smaller, independent rescues.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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moorx said:
Sorry, but I don't think that an enclosed garden is a 'daft' requirement at all, especially as the OP's garden is communal. Would you like a neighbour's dog having free access to your garden?
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Agreed. Enclosed garden is a must. Quite important for sight hounds too as their vision is so good, you don't want them staring into a field or similar and then suddenly going for for it, only to run through a wire fence and hurt them selves.

I'd imagine a Lurcher has similar requirements to a greyhound. 5/6ft fence.

Disastrous

10,072 posts

216 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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Hooli said:
Sounds typically daft of rescue centres. I understand why they do it, but they refuse so many suitable homes I'm not surprised with how many dogs they can't home.
Agreed. That's what comes from having teenagers working as advisors though, I suppose. I lost my temper with one near me and asked if I could speak to an adult.

We recently adopted a lurcher puppy and live in a flat and it's no problem at all. She gets long walks and runs in fenced off areas in the park etc and gets much further afield at the weekends with us and is happy as larry.

A loving home that cares is far more important than arbitrary property requirements IMO. Dogs are pretty adaptable.

maxjeff

26 posts

105 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
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I have a lurcher (whippet cross pointer although looks mostly pointer) he has always lived with 2 cats and completely respects them, he adores children and people but will approach everyone gently (will never jump on a child). He can get excitable when he knows you though and absolutely loves to run however once he's in the house will spend around 20 hours a day sleeping!

One of his favourite pastimes is sunbathing to the point he will pull his bedding out of his kennel which usually mean a muddy if not torn bed...

He lives out doors most of the time as we have a large garden and we don't think he's enjoy being cooped up but he enjoys spending time in the house with us when surprise surprise he will curl up on you feet and fall asleep.

I would suggest a lurcher to everyone, but their personality can change massively depending on the cross and even within the same litter.

ooo000ooo

2,523 posts

193 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
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When one of our old lurchers was about a year old the OH adopted a cat. The two of them spent a few days attacking each other, without injury, until they came to an understanding. After that the dog adopted the cat and although they still had the odd moment or two, it was most definitely her cat. She would have chased the cat up and down the street but warned off any other dogs that threatened the cat and could often be seen walking down the street carrying the cat in her mouth by the head.

Bradgate

2,819 posts

146 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
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maxjeff said:
I would suggest a lurcher to everyone, but their personality can change massively depending on the cross and even within the same litter.
Agree completely.

We have had several lurchers, and their tempraments and characters can vary enormously depending on their breeding and upbringing.

Lurchers which are crosses between sight hound breeds (eg whippet x saluki) are generally quiet, lazy, affectionate, sometimes timid and often difficult to train to the point that they can safely be allowed off the lead.

Whippet / greyhound x terrier crosses can, unsurprisingly, be sharp, bold and feisty.

Collie x greyhound crosses can be intelligent, inquisitive, sensitive & hyperactive. Great if you have the time, energy and experience to cope with that, but a potential nightmare if you haven't.

My advice to anyone considering a lurchers is to decide what type of dog you want, and choose your cross accordingly.


Charlie1986

2,016 posts

134 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
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Bradgate said:
Agree completely.

We have had several lurchers, and their tempraments and characters can vary enormously depending on their breeding and upbringing.

Lurchers which are crosses between sight hound breeds (eg whippet x saluki) are generally quiet, lazy, affectionate, sometimes timid and often difficult to train to the point that they can safely be allowed off the lead.

Whippet / greyhound x terrier crosses can, unsurprisingly, be sharp, bold and feisty.

Collie x greyhound crosses can be intelligent, inquisitive, sensitive & hyperactive. Great if you have the time, energy and experience to cope with that, but a potential nightmare if you haven't.

My advice to anyone considering a lurchers is to decide what type of dog you want, and choose your cross accordingly.
MY boy is half lurcher half springer, And he is so placid in the house you forget he Is there. Put a lead on him and show him a ball its a completely different dog. He is so good with my daughter and will always protect the house by making him self knowing when the door goes even when the gate gets opened.