Talk to me about Lurchers

[Littlewoo]

We had to get our boy (miniature schnauzer) put to sleep last year, so sad and miss having a dog so much. Anyway we've been visiting rescue centres for the last 3 months, one got in touch yesterday to say they think they've found us a match. She's a 3 yr old Lurcher, apparently very laid back, happy to walk with other dogs and loves lazing around. She looks beautiful!
I've not had any experience of Lurchers before, my last dog before our schnauzer was a black lab, and grew up with spaniels.
Just wanting to hear from any other Lurcher owners about their dogs and the traits typical to the breed.
I've got two sensible dc 11 and 14 so also wondering what Lurchers are like with older children.
Many thanks

[Shockers]

Our rescue lurcher is the softest dog ever! He is really well behaved in general, but we can't leave food out, as he's an opportunist food thief.

When feeding him however, he will sit and wait until given the instruction to eat. He also does this with treats.

He walks well on the lead, has great recall and after a short burst of really fast running in the middle of his walk, is happy to laze around at home.

He's really affectionate and is happiest when he's by our side.

He even respects the cat's position as head of the household.

He's ace!

[Littlewoo]

Thanks Shockers, your boy sounds lovely. Did he settle in easily? Also do you muzzle him when he's off the lead?
I'm planning of taking her (if we take her!) to training classes, the rescue centre don't think she'll need much. It's more for my Dc to learn how to handle her properly and safely.
Starting to get excited but not wanting to get my hopes up until we've had a few sessions meeting up with her

[Shockers]

This is him with his adopted sister. He sleeps with a blanket over him, like a budgie .

[Daytona79]

My mum was driving home from work one night and her car lights caught two eyes at side of road she pulled over opened door and this great big scabby dog jumped in

She took him to the vets he was very thin, covered with mange and riddled with worms he was massive and resembled a wolf

Half deer hound we believe

The vet said he was a poachers dog and they would give him 7 days to rehome him

7 days came and went and vet rang to say sorry no home had been found so he was being pts well my mum said she would take him and get him a home

Me and sister went to collect him from vets and the whole way home were terrified by this huge wolf staring at us from back seat, we thought he was going to jump forward and bite our heads of lol

We said on way home that dog is getting put in paper straight away no way he living with us he is horrible and looks mean

That's was in 1992 , we named him Alfred and he lived 10 years with us and to this day was the best dog we ever had. He was absolutely amazing, lovely kind temperament, also a big ball of fun

To this date and I'm now 37 the only time in my life I've ever seen my father cry was when Alfred was PTS on the front lawn surround by every one

My dad has tears running down his face, that dog went everywhere with him he was his best friend. We had 5 other dogs but Alfred was and always will be my whole family's favourite dog ever.

He was a true gentleman

We found out he was a poachers dog we leaved on RAF base and the deer warden had tried to shoot him on many occasions as his owner used to chuck him over fence on end of runway to catch deer, but Alfred always outsmarted him and avoided being shot.
Here is the grand old gentleman

[Shockers]

My photos didn't load!

We don't muzzle him, but we do have to muzzle the collie cross as she gets too excited when they're chasing each other and nips at his flanks.

I've got something in my eye Daytona.

[Shockers]

They're there now!

[triangularchocolate]

My brother has a rescue lurcher. She's very soft and gentle. Not much personality to her if I'm honest, but as above, has an occasional run around off the lead in the park (no muzzle) and then spends most of the day lazing around. Bro and SIL adore her!

[offblackeggshell]

Lurchers are just the best. Our current one is 8, and terrified of small dogs, but wonderful with people. Will walk as little or as much as you want/need and lie around the rest of the day. He doesn't ever steal human food, but is often tempted by the cat food, which is fair enough because the bowls are side by side.

[Littlewoo]

Daytona I loved reading your story, the bit about you and your sister driving him home made me snort. He also sounds a lovely dog, very handsome too!
The rescue centre said I won't need to go and buy her a big bed as she's happiest lounging flat out on an old duvet, particularly in the sunshine.
Thanks to you both for telling me about your lovely boys.
I think I'm just a bit wary as when I was younger our spaniel was attacked by a greyhound that spotted him and his white tail and just came out of nowhere. It ripped half our dogs leg off. I realise that it was because of an irresponsible owner, which is why I'm wondering about muzzling when off the lead?

[Shockers]

We had a few stealing issues and had to put up a baby gate in our kitchen diner, as he worked out how to open the rubbish bin and the dog food bin. He cleared it effortlessly .

He is anxious to please though, so after a few months of barricades (ironing board and chairs against the baby gate), he now respects that it's there to keep him out and we can just leave it closed.

He has a bit of separation anxiety, which is understandable because he was in the rescue for several months before we found him. He had been there twice because his first owner died, then his second owner got divorced. He was thin and had a sort of dandruff when we got him, but he's healthy and glossy now.

DH didn't want him at first because he's so big, but he absolutely adores him now!

[Littlewoo]

Shockers he's beautiful, that blanket photo

[Shockers]

I think if you're worried, then do it. Your anxieties will be passed onto the dog and you need her to feel secure with you.

Our collie cross has no issues with her muzzle and it helps me as she has fear aggression with other dogs.

I think our boy has more staffy temperament than greyhound- he's more interested in us than in chasing anything.

[scoopmuckanddizzyrollytoo]

I'm in love with Alfred

[HollySykes]

Mine is a big softy, he thinks he's a lap dog. Wonderful with people, but not great with other dogs. I don't think that's necessarily a lurcher thing, I just got a tricky one.

[Mama1980]

Mine is soft as butter, two runs twice a day and then she's happy to laze around (not a fan of the cold, or the wet for that matter she's a fussy madam :)) fine with other dogs she's very sociable and likes her weekly meet with her friends at agility class.
She absolutely adores my children, and is unbelievably gentle. Likes to think herself a lapdog though and tried to lay on my lap. Not sure if it s a breed trait but she is the easiest, sweetest dog I've ever had.

[Littlewoo]

I probably will for the first bit just until I get used to her and her to us and see what her temperament is like. We live beside lots of fields and there's a large walled abandoned orchard near us so I've already earmarked that as a safe place to let her off, train her for recall etc.
The way I'm planning this I suspect I've already made the decision. Hopefully the meet ups with her go well.
Thanks to everyone for their replies, I'm starting to allow myself to get excited!

[NormaSmuff]

dm had a lovely lurcher. she used to have to keep the fridge under a lock due to stealing.
i would recommend a lurcher though, beautiful calm dogs.

[Roystonv]

Have had two rescue 'scruffy' lurches both very funny/amusing/gentle dogs, good run then dozing on their backs with legs in the air, both thieves so watch what you leave on work tops, thin skinned so can end up at vets for stitches more than other dogs, fleece coat a good idea in winter, sheep very attractive not that they would injure them but the silly things are just so darned irresistible when they run away ditto small furries - it is the movement they respond to they are sight hounds after all. So elegant and the joy of watching them at full speed on a beach!

[Roystonv]

By the way Lurcher Link site very good for info, gear, advice etc

[Wolfiefan]

Oh Daytona I'm welling up! Alfred was gorgeous.
OP the rescue should be able to tell you a bit about the history and whether you should muzzle. Ex racing greys tend to be muzzled.

[BroomstickOfLove]

My next door neighbour has a lurcher, and she is the sweetest dog. She goes into the garden at the end of the school day and all the local children stop on their way home to play with her. She will wait at the garden fence with a ball for them to throw. Everyone loves her, and her elderly owner, who I think is a widower and quite lonely, gets half an hour of showing off his lovely do g and chatting to passers by.

[Littlewoo]

Thanks for all your lovely lurcher stories, will have a look at the lurcher website. If this rescue dog is a good match with us, it sounds like we'll be lucky to have her.

[NormaSmuff]

i think they are prone to stealing and they do run into barbed wire fences, and probably chase rabbits.

[BlueKarou]

My beastly lurcher has destroyed my sofa, as well as many precious things. He took an age to really get house-trained, barely listens to me, has no recall and so can only go off lead in certain secure fields. He used to be skittish and jumpy around younger children (jumpy 4-5 year olds) but has calmed down. Sensible older children would probably be fine

I bloody love him, but he is such hard work. Part (most) of this is my fault; he's still young and I need to put a lot more wok in to training him. He was a 12/13 week old puppy when I collected him from the Dogs Trust, and took a while to settle in, then I was pregnant, so it wasn't the smoothest transition, but we've overcome a lot of his worst habits.

Pics because he really is a lovely goofball.

[CMOTDibbler]

These are my two lurchers - they are both soft bundles of loveliness who don't chase fluffy things and recall nicely. I love them so much I foster lurcher puppies for EGLR