Adoption - why so many lurchers/greyhounds?
Discussion
We're looking at adopting a dog at the moment, and I've noticed that at both our local centres, there seems to be a huge proportion of lurchers and greyhounds.
Apparently many of the greyhounds are retired racers, but I can't figure out why there would be so many lurchers?
Are they unexpectedly difficult to look after or something?
Apparently many of the greyhounds are retired racers, but I can't figure out why there would be so many lurchers?
Are they unexpectedly difficult to look after or something?
Lurchers are no trouble at all in my experience, they make great pets. The only thing you have to watch them for is chasing stuff, be aware where you let them off lead.
I think they get bred a lot for hunting rabbits etc... and if they're no good at that they get dumped... at least that is where two of my family's came from
I think they get bred a lot for hunting rabbits etc... and if they're no good at that they get dumped... at least that is where two of my family's came from
Edited by motorizer on Friday 16th February 13:58
Because the greyhound racing industry industry generates a lot of wastage. GBGB remain pretty quiet about the amount of greyhounds that get retired or don't make the grade. Its reportedly in the thounsands and about 4000 are re-homed and no one really knows what happens to rest, however assumptions can be made.
We had a retired racing greyhound for three years. He was fantastic dog. Saying goodbye to him is a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
We had a retired racing greyhound for three years. He was fantastic dog. Saying goodbye to him is a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
There are lots of lurchers in rescue for the same reason as there are lots of greyhounds - most are bred for working, not as pets, and if they are no good, get injured or old they are often dumped. Then there are some which get lost when they're working and are not claimed because their owners don't want to pay the pound fees.
Depending on where you live, lurchers are still popular for 'lamping'. There are certainly a lot here in south Wales.
I've owned 6 lurchers, 3 greyhounds and 2 whippets, so I'm a bit of a sighthound enthusiast
I will probably always have at least one (I have 3 at the moment).
They are lovely, and can be easy/low maintenance dogs in some respects but you do need to be aware of issues like chase instinct/prey drive. Not all have it, but many do.
Depending on where you live, lurchers are still popular for 'lamping'. There are certainly a lot here in south Wales.
I've owned 6 lurchers, 3 greyhounds and 2 whippets, so I'm a bit of a sighthound enthusiast
I will probably always have at least one (I have 3 at the moment).They are lovely, and can be easy/low maintenance dogs in some respects but you do need to be aware of issues like chase instinct/prey drive. Not all have it, but many do.
Kermit power said:
Do they have the same sort of playfulness as something like a Border Collie or Spaniel?
Greyhounds aren't known for their playfulness. Some can be have their silly moments, but they're generally pretty calm.Lurchers vary tremendously, depending on what mix they are. I've had a whippet/terrier cross, 2 saluki/greyhound crosses, a greyhound/lab cross, a bull lurcher and a saluki/springer spaniel cross.
The most playful (read maddest) of these is Max the saluki/spaniel cross, who we have currently. He is about 18 months old, so will probably calm down a little but I think the spaniel 'is strong in him'.
Most of my others were older dogs (middle aged upwards).
Lily and Hudson, greyhound and greyhound/lab cross were also quite playful, but they were only young when I adopted them (2 and 3).
Sighthounds aren't famed for doing things like retrieving toys, although Sam and Jet (whippets) and Max will do this for a while.
Gary29 said:
ks. I'm guessing s or gypos or those with that lovely southern irish accent. They lay tarmac around my way, over an inch thick on the edges. Fix soffits to, charming folks to have as neighbours :-)Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 16th February 20:28
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 16th February 20:29
moorx said:
Greyhounds aren't known for their playfulness. Some can be have their silly moments, but they're generally pretty calm.
Lurchers vary tremendously, depending on what mix they are. I've had a whippet/terrier cross, 2 saluki/greyhound crosses, a greyhound/lab cross, a bull lurcher and a saluki/springer spaniel cross.
The most playful (read maddest) of these is Max the saluki/spaniel cross, who we have currently. He is about 18 months old, so will probably calm down a little but I think the spaniel 'is strong in him'.
Most of my others were older dogs (middle aged upwards).
Lily and Hudson, greyhound and greyhound/lab cross were also quite playful, but they were only young when I adopted them (2 and 3).
Sighthounds aren't famed for doing things like retrieving toys, although Sam and Jet (whippets) and Max will do this for a while.
Agree. generally speaking Greys are not as playful as other breeds such as terriers. They are bread to chase things down and not bring them back. Ours was preety good off lead and my wife used to off lead him every day. However there were some embarressing moments when he decided to chase after another dogs ball. Herbie never lost the race to the ball but would usually just drop it when he got to it! Lurchers vary tremendously, depending on what mix they are. I've had a whippet/terrier cross, 2 saluki/greyhound crosses, a greyhound/lab cross, a bull lurcher and a saluki/springer spaniel cross.
The most playful (read maddest) of these is Max the saluki/spaniel cross, who we have currently. He is about 18 months old, so will probably calm down a little but I think the spaniel 'is strong in him'.
Most of my others were older dogs (middle aged upwards).
Lily and Hudson, greyhound and greyhound/lab cross were also quite playful, but they were only young when I adopted them (2 and 3).
Sighthounds aren't famed for doing things like retrieving toys, although Sam and Jet (whippets) and Max will do this for a while.
Their acceleration is simply blistering even when they are well into their retirement.
The wife and I now avoid all dog programmes on TV and have done since his passing.
This came up on my news feed today. Three years ago. Wife with the then four week old. Got pretty busy on that sofa.
coffeebreath said:
I think Greyhounds, Lurchers, and Whippets, are all racing dogs.
Lurchers aren't racing dogs, but are used for coursing. Unfortunately a lot of the people involved in coursing don't seem to have the animals (either the prey or the dogs!) interests at heart.A lot of the sighthounds for rescue come from Ireland where they don't find homes.
Kermit power said:
Do they have the same sort of playfulness as something like a Border Collie or Spaniel?
Greyhounds don't (generally), but lurchers can.My lurcher is half border collie, but his brain is all border collie. He will play all day if you let him.
bakerstreet said:
Because the greyhound racing industry industry generates a lot of wastage. GBGB remain pretty quiet about the amount of greyhounds that get retired or don't make the grade. Its reportedly in the thounsands and about 4000 are re-homed and no one really knows what happens to rest, however assumptions can be made.
We had a retired racing greyhound for three years. He was fantastic dog. Saying goodbye to him is a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
My rescue greyhound was an ex-racer. His Dad won lots of races and some pretty big prizes ($100k). Mine wasn't very good at racing (that is - 0.5 seconds off the race winner and dead last), so when he broke his wrist, they dumped him on a rehoming place. And he was lucky - a worse injury and he might never of left the stadium.We had a retired racing greyhound for three years. He was fantastic dog. Saying goodbye to him is a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Unfortunately similar occurs around the world - Galgo's are a Spanish dog, related to greyhounds. Used for hunting rabbits, and then at the end of hunting season, thousands killed.
moorx said:
There are lots of lurchers in rescue for the same reason as there are lots of greyhounds - most are bred for working, not as pets, and if they are no good, get injured or old they are often dumped.
I don't think most are bred for it - I just think that being lurchers they get get dumped into it (by some) and if they aren't any good, then they get dumped.Google "hare coursing" and try to find an image of a non-sighthound being used
On a happier note, I wouldn't recommend getting a sighthound.
My greyhound is broken most of the time:
My lurcher is too smart for his own good:
Edited by Jakg on Friday 16th February 23:22
My family had a rescue home lurcher as a pet when I was a kid, she was about 6 months old when we got her and had her for well over 12 years IIRC.
She was brilliant, would play with us kids all day and then crash in the house to sleep the rest of the time, Really, really lazy dogs. And really quite stupid with it
But... do not let off the lead if there are rabbits, hares, cats or small dogs around. She would just go. Impressive to watch her running down a hare across a mile long field, but not so good when she would disappear from sight not to be found again for hours, sometimes collapsed through sheer exhaustion.
We used to sell the hares and rabbits she bought home to a fella down the road for a quid each.
She was brilliant, would play with us kids all day and then crash in the house to sleep the rest of the time, Really, really lazy dogs. And really quite stupid with it
But... do not let off the lead if there are rabbits, hares, cats or small dogs around.
She would just go. Impressive to watch her running down a hare across a mile long field, but not so good when she would disappear from sight not to be found again for hours, sometimes collapsed through sheer exhaustion.We used to sell the hares and rabbits she bought home to a fella down the road for a quid each.
Our rescue lurcher,poor thing was badly treated as a young pup,left her blind in one eye and brain damaged,but she's such a cuddle monster !,the other is a patterjack who is the boss of us all,and that graceful pose of a greyhound/lurcher with it all hanging out is called roaching
Edited by remould on Sunday 18th February 18:09
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