Anyone please?

[Mama1980]

Hi I have a springer x lurcher bitch from a accidental litter, she's gorgeous :) from
Birth she has and a hernia, last week this was reduced surgically and the vet was due to spay her at the same time. However the vet said their were complications that meant he couldn't due ti the positioning of the hernia and
he will have to wait a year before he spays her. She is fine but is now 16 months old and had her first season at a year. Because of the hernia location etc it would be dangerous for her to fall pg and we def don't want puppies! We have a large garden and she gets at least a 2/3 mile walk every day without fail but a lot of this is usually off lead. Do u think I should keep her on lead all the time when walking for now? She doesn't mind the lead i have a extender thingy one, by obviously this isn't best. Has anyone any experience of a similar
situation?

I wouldn't use an extender on a lurcher type have had one, a lurcher that is

I'd speak to the vet again re seasons and ask if it's ok to have her off the lead when not in season and on the lead in season.

I'd keep to a longer length sturdy lead.

She has the garden to run round in so the walks wouldn't have to be for the main exercise.

Check your garden fencing is high enough and escape proof just incase she's a jumper.

Other than that, :o well done for becoming a lurcher mum, lovely dogs

Thanks for replying. I hardly ever use the lead at the moment - she won't go far from my ds s side even when there are rabbits about I didn't realise extender things not ideal I'll get a better lead thanks. The vet said basically up to me it's hard to tell when she is in season as I have only seen blood once or twice. Yeah she can access the garden as and when she wants to run round. I'm just conscious of making sure she has enough exercise and stimulation but at the same time keeping her safe. Her recall is great but she is super fast I mean she gives the greyhound next door a run for his money.

:o yep, they're fast which is why extenders aren't good, if they decide to go you'll be left with the lead and collar.

Lucky ds to be chosen over rabbits though!

Other dogs will know when she's in season so if any are sniffing around I'd keep her in the garden tbh. As she's had an op in that area it's best to be as safe as possible

You can get greyhound collars as well, they're designed for the longer neck so less likely to slip off

Have you a local lurcher group? they can help with training etc

Keep her on her lead. It's the safest option and bitches in heat can sometimes (not always) have different motives!! I know it's hard, I felt awful with mine, but now she is spayed she can always run off her lead!! I would imagine vet reasons were proximity of hernia to womb and scar tissue!!

I think I will have to for now at least when we're over the fields. Yes Olympic I took her to training classes from a few months and now she does agility courses/training regularly. I will look into leads thanks for the tip :) yeah her and ds (4) have a mutual adoration thing going on I call them the gruesome twosome

:o I had that with my ds and one of our dogs, they even dug the garden up!

Once she's been spayed she'll be ok but up til then you can exercise her enough in the garden.

Is the garden big/long enough to have you stand at either end and call her back and forth?

And agree with Horselady, she might like a wander when in season so do check she can't get out the garden :o

Yep i had that too they decided to mutually dig up a veg bed when I was distracted by a neighbour!
Yes it is long enough it's about a acre so plenty of room and well enclosed but I will double check tomorrow. We play fetch, jump, she has tunnels etc out there to run through. Hopefully that will be ok for now. Thanks for the advice you've helped put my mind at rest.

It is very important not to use an extending lead on a sighthound/lurcher. It is not only the danger of losing them, the extending lead can also break their necks!! She needs to have a sighthound collar, or a martingale and a normal type lead - the sighthound collar ensures the pressure is spread over a larger proportion of the neck whilst also being more difficult to back out of.

Thanks as I said I was not aware of this and will get a different sort immediately. I hardly ever use it so didn't realise but now I know she will get a new one tomorrow. I appreciate the advice. It's not a extender one that jerks and swings by the way, this was recommended-can't remember the name hence the type thingy

Oh and it doesnt go round her neck it clips to a harness she wears. Not being defensive at all by the way just taking on board your comments I would hate to hurt her by my ignorance.

I've never met anyone who uses a harness except for in the car. I would still recommend a short lead outside of the garden until she's spayed and personally wouldn't recommend an extender at all.

Your garden sounds brilliant and plenty of room for exercise so your walks would be for socialising only. You might find it easier not to walk her outside if she's heavy in season as she may get too much attention.

You sound like you're doing a good job.

How is she on the harness just out of interest?

Hi the harness slips over her front legs and clips at her back very light weight it was recommended by my trainer. She is fine with it wears it happily sits, lifts her paws for it go in no fuss etc. I was told that was much better with lurchers because if the risk involved with speed and something being around their neck, I was told to never put anything about their neck really. The greyhound next door uses the same harness. I am off to buy a better more suitable lead now

I'll be buying a harness, that makes a lot of sense and you're less likely to have a slipped collar or worse.

Goodluck op.