Talk to me about lurchers!

[PiafPilaf]

We’re currently second in line for a beautiful lurcher rescue puppy. She’s four months old which is perfect for us as we have 4yo DD. If she fails the ‘cat test’ with the other prospective owners then she can come to us (as we have no other pets).

Her parents were greyhound/saluki and greyhound/collie crosses, so she’s very slender and will probably be quite tall. Husband and daughter think she’s awesome, but there’s something stopping me and I don’t know what. I’ve always been a lab/retriever/Rottie/other big dog lover and it’s not the sort of breed I thought I’d ever get but I don’t know why! We lost our beautiful rescue Rottie last month so I can’t work out if I’m not ready, if I should stick to the breeds I’m naturally drawn to, or if I’m just being daft because she isn’t what I expected we’d get.

I love silly, sloppy, daft dogs who greet you at the door like you’re the best thing ever, put their head on your lap just for some fuss, roll over for tummy scratches, love playing, and have lovely personalities. Would a lurcher (or rather, this combination of parentage!) fit the bill? When we adopt a dog it’s with the intention of training it, loving it, taking it on holiday - we want it to be very much an integral part of life (rather than an aloof dog!) - so I don’t want to get it wrong.

My lurchers are certainly like that! Though rolling over for tummy scratches is a bit more challenging for deep chested dogs, ddog2 (who is sort of whippety doberman) does it a lot, but ddog1 (greyhoundy saluki ish) is more of an estatically leaning against your legs to get his ears rubbed.
I foster lurcher pups, so have met a lot of them, and they do vary by parentage as to what characteristics they show more of - but equally I've had known siblings who were very different personalities. They aren't like a lab, but mine are incredibly loving and ddog1 in particular is incredibly strongly bonded to ds.

Not a lurcher but my whippet is so the opposite of aloof it’s not funny. When I take him to the park he just wants to go and say hello to all the dog owners and get a pat before saying hello to the dogs. He also greets me very enthusiastically after I’ve been away and has a very waggy tail. Also a yes to putting his head in my lap. He even brings balls back (most of the time).

Lurchers are a joy! I'm jealous, I grew up with them and so wanted one, but my DP wanted a sturdier build so we adopted a GSD. Saluki mixes are so beautiful too! Personality wise, it just depends on the dog - I've known very affectionate lurchers and aloof ones - have you spent enough time with her to get an idea of her personality?

Not yet - we only met her yesterday! We’re waiting to hear the outcome of the cat test for the other family before we meet her again. If she goes to them we know she’ll be loved lots too.... all depends on whether she tries to eat their cat or not 😱😂 Obviously if we end up first in line we’ll spend a lot more time with her to make sure we’re right for each other.

I'm on my third lurcher. I don't know what mix they were but all have looked more or less like mini greyhounds. They were all mature when they came to me so I've no experience of puppies.

Mine as mature adults have all been very affectionate but in a calm way, not demonstrative and nothing like labs. They have all loved being petted, and switching the tv off at night has been a sign for two of them to roll over on their backs for a belly rub which makes them ecstatically happy.

Only one of them has been playful, though that might be different if you get them young.

They've all very much liked their own space and spend a lot of time lying on their adored beanbags.

It's hard, and when you lose a beloved dog it's natural to want another the same as you really want that dog back.

They need a huge amount of exercise but they're lovely. Very very clever. My dad has an Irish deerhound x collie who is the nicest dog but if he's bored he destroys things- not so much an issue because dad has a very big garden and the dog plays out all day but if dad is out all day (rare as he's quite ill) something will be chewed. He was a rescue.
We grew up with whippet x collies and they're little bleeders, they steal, they sneak, but they're very loving.
They never ever sit still unless they're asleep. At least ours didn't

A first degree border collie cross might need a huge amount of exercise and stimulation, but its not a general lurcher trait. They are more about short periods of being super fast and long periods of lying around