Pointy Hound Newbie Here

[MadCap]

This was reposted from another section as I was advised that I might get more response here.

Hello,

We're hopefully (fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed) adopting a lurcher puppy next week.

I've had rescue puppies when I was growing up, but they were always robust looking lab crosses. Lurchers are so delicate looking that I'm terrified of doing something wrong.

Any helpful advice or pointing to resources on how to rear a lurcher differently than any other mutt would be really appreciated.

Oh and especially helping it integrate with our cat. The dog won't be allowed upstairs as to give the cat her space and the shelter are going to check which puppies will be suitable for cats.

No idea about lurches but bumping the thread for you.

Also check out the puppy survival thread on here, you might find it useful when the puppy arrives for ongoing support.

Thanks. 😀

Lurchers are quite tough breeds despite the spindly legs! I wouldn’t worry about treating them any differently.
They make amazing pets and as you are getting a puppy should have a good chance of it living happily with a cat.

I'm on my third lurcher - they are addictive - but none of them were puppies when I got them so I can't help with that.
The main thing to remember is how fast they can run and how strong their prey drive can be, so you have to be very careful. Mine are on the lead a lot more than other dogs I've had. Of course mine were formerly working dogs so that maybe makes a difference.
And many can jump over very high fences!

I've had two greyhounds previously and have recently adopted a one year old lurcher (the rescue survival thread is mine). She's gorgeous, but needy and a bit bonkers. They seem to only have two settings - tearing around the walls at 100mph, or impersonating a dead prawn.

I love that impersonating a dead prawn. 😂😂

Best dogs in the world. We wouldn't be without ours and will always go for sighthounds in future. Wonderful, funny, gentle dogs. I wouldn't say they are delicate although they can be drama queens (be prepared for the greyhound death howl for minor injuries such as stubbing a toe). The only challenges we've ever had with ours are as others said - recall and prey drive. Yours is a puppy so you have a better chance of training successful recall from a young age, however depending on the dog's personality sometimes even the best recall in the world won't override a high chase drive, so you have to be VERY careful about squirrels, cats, rabbits and toy dog breeds as instinct tells them that anything small and furry needs to be chased. We walk ours on the lead in environments where she will come across wildlife (so forests, woodland, agricultural land with hares etc) and then we take her regularly to the local enclosed dog walking area where she can safely have a good run with other dogs and burn off some energy.

If walking on the lead you may want to either find a similar safe enclosed park or hire a field/paddock a couple of times a week for yours to have a good run. Other than the recall I cannot fault ours. They always say you can easily spot a sighthound owner - it's the one that's been sat in a field on their own for 40 minutes waiting for their dog to come back.

Once they've had a quick blast of energy they're the laziest dogs known to mankind and may well sleep the rest of the day.

They can be quite sensitive so positive reinforcement training methods only and no shouting (but that goes for all dogs). Also if yours has much greyhound in it I have heard that hounds metabolise anaesthetic differently from other breeds so mention it if your dog ever needs any kind of operation.

You're in for a treat, enjoy!

Thanks so much everyone. Keep your fingers crossed that the shelter think that one of the puppies is suitable for us. I will be gutted if we don't get one.

I've been absolutely clobbered by a lurcher. They're anything but delicate.
Also, as mentioned prey drive can be an issue.
Some do need kept on lead tbh(my dog has the scars to prove it) , others can have a low prey drive and are as safe as most other dogs they meet.
Generally find out when they run together and the lurcher is in chase mode.

Yes the death howl is alarming! Mine is not a lurcher but similar hound type. She absolutly screams if she knocks herself! It took me a while to trust that nothing serious was wrong each time, as is had other breeds before who had never screamed like that . Mine seemed delicate as a puppy (very spindly legs) but that didn't last long really. Good luck!

I have two lurchers of my own, and almost always have a foster puppy (or two) with me, inc the current one who is a lovely fawn floofy girl.

I start recall with my fosters from day 1 (even the tiniest pups), working on the principles of Total Recall by Pippa Mattison. Basically its consistency, making it really worth their while to come back (my analogy is that if I wave a piece of ryvita at you, the chances of you coming over is much lower than if I wave a big bar of your chocolate of choice), and generally being super excited and happy for them coming to you. This may make you look like a mad woman but it seems to work.

On prey drive, I work on 'leave it' a lot so that ignoring the resident chickens/cats is rewarded, and any silliness is nipped in the bud immediately every time. So my boys live very happily with free ranging cats and chickens to the extent that they won't stop the chickens coming in.

Some pups are much more laid back than others - my last two were bonkers, but current miss doesn't do zoomies at all really.

You have to share photos though!

Goodness thanks for all the stories and info.

Do they need special food other than good quality dog food?

Will definitely post photos if we're lucky enough to get one. Knew I could count on Mumsnet for info!

No special food, although many do better (and smell better) on a grain/wheat free food. It can be a bit hit and miss imo on what will suit a particular dog so don't stock up too much.

You will need a lurcher collar - they have thin necks the same diameter as their heads, so martingale collars are brilliant as they can't slip off. And even if you use a harness, never ever use a retractable lead. Greyhounds can reach 40mph in 6 strides (and obv your dogs top speed will depend a bit) and you can imagine what that kind of acceleration will do to you if your dog decides to take off

I'm so sad to report that they all failed their cat tests. 😭😭😭😭😭

Oh no - I'm so sorry, what an utter shame.

Was coming on to say I had a lurcher puppy as a child (well family pet) and his recall was absolutely fine. I don't recall any prey drive (that said he did catch a hare and a rabbit on two separate occasions so that probably puts paid to that argument). We now have a beautiful greyhound. We didn't have her as a puppy and I'm grateful every day for that. We got her as a beautifully adaptable, calm three year old and she brings us joy every single day.

Anyway, hang in there, you will get your lurcher I'm sure. I would never go for anything other than a pointy as they are so comparatively calm and quiet. Our lurcher barked once in the whole time we had him (a tragically short 4 years but that's another story) and our grey has barked three times since we've had her in nearly a year, so she's doing badly!

I'm sorry to hear that. But would you consider Maisie ? She is living with cats in her foster home

Oooh please consider Maisie - she's beautiful (with MASSIVE feet!!)

Ooh she's lovely. Where about in the country is she?

EGLR foster all over the place, and can homecheck anywhere, so give them a call and they'll be able to tell you more about her and where she is

Will do!

Just to set the record straight
not all lurchers will jump a fence/gate - I have had 2 lurchers and neither of them have ever jumped a hedge or gate
Maybe it was because they could not see through it
How I wish rescues would listen to what I tell them re my lurchers and realise not every lurcher has to be contained within a 6 foot barricade
They are beautiful dogs - I miss my last lurcher so much - no other dog comes close.

We have 6 ft plus fences/walls anyways. I'd think a dog would be hard pressed to jump out. I'm more worried about the small gaps under the gates we've left for the cat (though they're easy enough to fix).

Please consider rehoming from EGLR. I found them through CMOT posts on here. I got my girl lurcher from them. Home check was done quickly. Spoke to both the lady that runs the rescue and my girls foster mum at length. The information they gave meant we knew exactly what she was like. we travelled 350 miles to get her and she was worth it. Our boy lurcher came from Lozzas lurchers. Another small rescue run by a wonderful lady. He is the easiest dog ever. Without CMOT I would not have these wonderful dogs.

sadly onion not everyone can travel 350 miles to pick up a lurcher - lovely though they may be.

Maisie is going to a new home tomorrow!