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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Lurchers. A moral question.

20 replies

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 16:29

Sorry for the long post. I have so many thoughts in my head!

I am desperate for another dog after the loss of my boy last Feb. My first preference is another golden but I can't justify paying the prices a well bred pup would require.

I have been looking at local rescues pretty much everyday for the last few months. Found a dog I liked (greyhound) but 2 days a week the dog would be left for 7 hours with a neighbour coming to walk the dog. (I do the same for her dog when she is at work) This wasn't an acceptable arrangement for the rescue.

I have seen a lurcher pup for sale from a local farm and fallen in love with him but can't get my head around buying one when so many are in rescue although I can't seem to find one for me! I ideally want a pup/ young dog as I can't cope with another loss from an older dog for as long as possible. Plus I feel my current golden would cope better with a younger dog being introduced.

I also have the added complication of having no car at the moment so can't travel far. Car isn't needed at moment for work.

Honest opinions please? I am being swayed by his sweet pointy face.

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 09/07/2017 17:25

Can't you find daycare, or a dogwalker who could spend an hour with them at a time for the potential pup/young dog to go to on the days you work? 7 hours is way too long for a puppy to be left as they will find lots of ways to get into trouble in that time, quite apart from toilet training - the rescue I foster with has a rule of no more than 5 hours total in one day for puppies, 3 hours at a stretch. So it would be do able with one dogwalker visit, one neighbour walk - and some dogwalkers offer puppy visit packages so they spread time out with the pup.
If you buy an 8 week old pup it will be much more of a problem than someone like Dizzy who is already used to being left, house trained etc

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 18:08

Apologies, didn't explain the neighbour situation. She will walk and have the dog at her house for a few hours on those two days.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 18:12

Honestly can't justify or can't afford?
I would love a Siamese but have rescue kittens because I can't justify the cost.
I bought a pedigree dog because I couldn't find what we wanted in rescue (and most rescues weren't interested as we had cats etc.)
Are you sure your neighbour would be happy to have this pup in her house. Chewing and toilet training!

sparechange · 09/07/2017 18:18

You can't leave a pup for any length of time until it is at least 6 months

What would you do for that time?

Can you speak to other resxues and make the situation crystal clear?
Rescues often take things with a ounce of salt because a lot of people play down the amount of time a dog will be left alone

LumelaMme · 09/07/2017 18:22

As Wolfie says, the first job is to see if your neighbour is up for puppy care!

If she's not, might this rescue be what you need? They bring GRs to the UK from Ireland to rehome them.

CMOTDibbler · 09/07/2017 18:22

I'd look at another rescue then - if the dog (and in the circs, an older puppy would be best, say 6-9 months) is with someone for a good portion of the day its not a problem (at least it wouldn't be for us).
Some rescues will let you get a homecheck done in advance, and then visit and collect in one go, so you could rent a car for the day to go further afield (obv dog crated in car with covering in the boot in case of accident), or persuade a friend to have a day out

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 18:23

Our pup is now 9 months and I'm NOT ready to do it all again! Hence the question.

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 18:24

Surely there are specific Golden rescues if that's what you want?

LumelaMme · 09/07/2017 18:25

Also, for a puppy, there is 'alone' and 'alone'. 'Alone' with another amiable, chilled dog for company is not the same as 'alone' with no people and no dog.

Our most recent puppy was happy to be left with an older dog when she was c10 weeks old - we know, because we recorded them for the 1.5hrs we were gone, and replayed 1 min of whimpering, lots of silence, a bit of scampering, an indignant snap from an older dog, more silence - and came back to all dogs asleep.

CornflakeHomunculus · 09/07/2017 18:49

I agree that an older puppy/young adult would be more suitable for your situation than an eight week old.

If your heart is set on another GR the various regional breed clubs run their own rescue network which might be worth looking into, there's a list of contacts here on the GR Club site.

Lurcher wise there are a number of lurcher specific rescues who will rehome all over the country (not just in their local area) and sometimes organise transport runs to get dogs to their new homes. It's very common for them to have young dogs in and many are fostered so they have a very good idea of how they behave in a home environment.

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 18:56

Neighbour is very dog friendly and it has all been discussed with her. If she can live with her terrible terrier she can deal with anything! (I love him really)

I'm not a puppy novice. This would be dog number 5 for me after two terriers, my beloved GSD and my Golden girl.

I miss my GSD terribly and having a rescue turn me down has upset me to be honest. I have no kids and my dogs mean the world to me. It is so tempting to go the easy route and buy a pup.

OP posts:

LumelaMme · 09/07/2017 19:23

Well, if you'd be able to adhere to the guidelines CMOT outlined above (the rescue I foster with has a rule of no more than 5 hours total in one day for puppies, 3 hours at a stretch), and your neighbour is up for it, a puppy is a possibility.

The other option is to try a small breed-specific rescue who might be more flexible. Maybe ring round a few and see what they say.

And for your GSD.

CornflakeHomunculus · 09/07/2017 19:24

It is so tempting to go the easy route and buy a pup.

There's nothing wrong with buying a puppy if that's what you want to do but if you go down that route you do need to make sure you're going to someone reputable which will be neither cheap nor easy.

There are lots of dodgy breeders churning out lurcher puppies, it's part of why there are so many needing homes. Financially rewarding an iffy breeder may help that one puppy but it just keeps the cycle going.

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 21:22

Thank you for the lumelaMme.

As I was first posting this I was feeling very emotional. Still am really but can look at it a bit clearer now after a walk. I have been googling and found a few greyhound rescues I will put applications in for.

I worry about any behaviours from a rescue that could upset my Golden. She is so soft that any sort of resource guarding would stress her. Is it common in pointy hounds?

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 21:24

You would be just as likely to have anti social behaviour from a pup surely? Pup would have to be separated from older dog for a lot of the day. Supervised play only.
I didn't see an answer. Is the pedigree thing because of real financial constraint? If so maybe now isn't the time for another dog.

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 21:54

That is true regarding behaviour but I feel I can deal with a pup but an new adult dog is an unknown for me.

I think the price is a shock. 8 years ago I paid £650 for my Golden from fully health checked lines. £1000 seems the average now and one lovely litter was £1200 from amazing parents with every health test possible. I don't earn that much a month so don't feel it's practical.

I shouldn't get another dog because I can't justify spending a grand on one? Really? I can afford insurance, good food, toys, treats, training classes and vet care for my current and any future dog.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 22:23

No. I absolutely don't mean you shouldn't have a dog!! Not at all. If you can cover all costs then of course you can.
I suppose a lot of it depends on your neighbour and what they are willing to take on and how your existing dog would cope with a new pup or adult.

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 22:38

Sorry Wolfie. Didn't mean to sound snappy. I'm not concerned about my neighbour, we have been friends a long time and she is a pretty straightforward woman. If she did decide she couldn't cope with this dog then I would look for other help. There are a couple good dog walking/pet sitters around here.

I am concerned about my Goldie. She only knew life with my GSD and losing him knocked her confidence a bit. She is so happy playing with other dogs on walks and is such a sweetheart I want to right by her.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 09/07/2017 22:55

Don't worry at all! If she's 8 would she find a pup a bit much? What sort of dogs and play does she like when she's out? Of course you want to do the right thing for her.

Original poster

JaimeLannister · 09/07/2017 23:18

She will play with any dog that wants too. Today was a yorkiexjrt who she couldn't catch! She likes the 'bitey face' play that pups tend to do but just a play bow and run around are good too

She is pretty active and healthy but I wouldn't want to leave it too long if I did go down the pup route. I have done grumpy old dog with new pup before with lots of separation time and walks but it would be nicer to have them together as much as possible.

OP posts:

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