Lively Lurcher on the lead

[BarbarAnna]

Hi all. We have just taken in a rescue Lurcher. We have already had to lock the bin! He is sleeping at night fine and not too many accidents. He is thieving food off our plates which we are working on. However, he goes completely crazy on walks if he sees other dogs. To the extent that I thought he was going to slip his collar. I know it is early days and we need to work on his confidence and settle him, but just wondering whether people would recommend a harness (which I would use along with the collar I think) for added security. He just wants to play and misses his kennel mates I am sure, but he is incredibly strong. Any suggestions would be great.

[noodlenosefraggle]

Ours does too! He'll leave his dinner half eaten but the other day snaffled the empty tin of his own dog food out of the recycling, took it over to the sofa and gave it a good lick out even though the contents of the tin were sitting in his bowl

[Wornoutalready]

What is it with sighthounds and bins?
Ours used to be a nightmare.
She still snaffles anything she can find too. The more disgusting the better.

[BarbarAnna]

Thanks all. Quite a lot of pulling tonight but I have been holding him very close when other dogs were in sight and he was mainly good, a bit skitty. New challenge over the last couple of days is lots of mouthing. Which we are walking away from when it happens. Less lipstick thank goodness. He is a total sweetheart though.

[EnidPrunehat]

What I would say about walks is that we, as humans, tend to think they are a great deal more beneficial to dogs than your dog necessarily does! My boy (who is hiding under my desk not speaking to me since yesterday's castration) is a people dog. Not a dog's dog. He's not reactive and he loves a really good walk but he doesn't mind at all if he doesn't see another dog. He certainly doesn't need to go out in order to meet one. He particularly dislikes organised gatherings and I shan't be trying another Sighthound Meeting after the last two have involved him sitting, thoughtfully, on my feet while most of the other dogs ran around like zoomy things. I'm admiring of his discernment, to be honest.

It sounds as if your lurcher is settling down on his walks but I'd just say that if they do ever get very stressful for him, just walk somewhere very quiet or actually, just stay home for a day or so. 'Flooding' reactive dogs doesn't help.

[janey15]

Forgot to add - it took a good 5 weeks for him to settle in. At that point we suddenly realised we were seeing his true personality not an unsure dog trying to work out what the hell is going on!

[janey15]

Our rescue lurched worked out how to open the bin within minutes of bringing him home 🙈
We were recommended to get a perfect fit harness and we have always bought these since then for both dogs.
He was 10 months when we got him and was completely loopy - we just walked and walked and walked until he could relax. He began to calm down at 3 and now at almost 6 he still gets zoomies but he's probably got less stamina than our 10 yr old Jack Russell who I'm pretty sure is aging in reverse!

[Windydaysuponus]

A neighbour of mine rushed her ddog to the emergency vet the first time she saw his lipstick!!
Imagine!!

[BarbarAnna]

[Wolfiefan]

@BarbarAnna fix him with your sternest look and say Wolfie says it’s for stirring his tea with.

[BarbarAnna]

@Wolfiefan if you could ask him to stop getting his ‘lipstick’ out it would be most appreciated!

[Wolfiefan]

@BarbarAnna just let me know next time he misbehaves and I’ll sort it out via the medium of MN. No charge.

[BarbarAnna]

@Wolfiefan

[Wolfiefan]

He heard me. “LESS FOOD? NOOOOO!”

[BarbarAnna]

Since I posted, he has eaten his breakfast and all the treats he had rejected that he left on his bed! Just fussy I reckon, just like my old sighthound!

[Wolfiefan]

Mine often refuses food. A hound thing! Offer a small amount of food at feeding time. If it’s eaten then more is fine. If not then take it away. No treats until the next meal. Then offer less!
Unless you’re concerned they’re ill of course. Mine is hormonal and also self regulates!

[BarbarAnna]

Hello all. Update from us is that lead walking has greatly improved. He is pulling much less and has not done the crazy spinning and bucking again with me. He is now however refusing food! We started giving him a pig’s ear whilst we eat dinner to keep him away from the table and he also had a bit of roast chicken on Sunday. He now is very sniffy with his own food and also refusing treats. But still trying to steal our food and eat from every bin bag we walk past! This dog is going to make my already mainly grey go white I think!

[Windydaysuponus]

This will be the future op for you op..

[Remarked]

My sighthound is calm , collected and very dozy the vast majority of time.

[BarbarAnna]

My previous sighthound was calm collected dozey and easy to handle so think I must have got very lucky!

[BarbarAnna]

Thanks all. Had sighthounds before but not a Lurcher. Better day today. Met lots of dogs out and was very good. A bit of spinning and excitement but that was on a bit of today’s route which was unfamiliar. For most of our route, he has walked that way before, and he was easier to handle. He was very anxious this afternoon when DH went out so that is going to be our next challenge. Bit definitely feeling better about it.

[Windydaysuponus]

I can't wait to be a Lovely Lurcher Lady in my dotage. 2 just ain't enough!!

[Treenymph]

Don't give up on him sighthounds are amazing they are however stubborn excitable and full of character a harness and collar work well together allways a greyhound type collar their throats are easily damaged. Do not let him run loose without an escape proof area sighthounds are hunters and once launched recall will be when they feel like it selective hearing is built in.be aware small fluffy dogs can look like prey.if you want calm collected dozey easy to handle dog sighthounds are not for you but if fun loyalty and laughter is your thing go for it just be ready for the unexpected and lots of chaos. I wouldn't have any other dogs enjoy him you have a friend for life.

[Remarked]

Thanks Wolfie,
Obviously I didn't mean using one with a worked up new rescue but I see lots of people using halti locally so wondered.

[Wolfiefan]

A halti won’t train a dog to walk nicely and in a lurcher that pulls it could cause real distress or injury. This is a rescue dog that has only just entered a new home. OP needs to tread lightly.

[goodwinter]

A harness is definitely the right choice :) this is my boy in his. Hope your new dog settles in well OP.