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.

My rescue lurcher does this. It took him a while to settle down. Week 1 I was ready to give him back he was so nervous! He's getting there though. Was thinking of getting a pulling lead but not sure what one to get

It’s too early OP. He’ll be stressed getting to know his ‘manor’ and the lead pulling will be part of that. His senses and more are working overtime and he’ll be stressed in ways we don’t have the capacity to know about. Solid routine, letting him fit in around the family will support him.
A trainer, recommended, will support you all even more. I’d ask in your vet or feed store. We are v rural and our country store is a mine of information.

Also we did the same walk, every day for months with our very nervous ones. Deep in countryside very few ‘unexpecteds’ which built confidence slowly.

@OneOfTheGrundys thank you. He is noticeably calmer around the house today. There has been a bit of coming and going and a big brunch and he mainly slept on his bed and didn’t try and get any of the food so I am feeling a bit more confident about it. Still dithering about which harness to buy but hope to have one sorted in the next day or so.

Harnesses can make pulling worse because they can really put their back into it, id really recommend a head halty. It takes a little while for the doggie to adjust to them but no more pulling.

Don’t use a halti on a lurcher. @Oyoysaveloy a harness that allows you to clip a training lead onto two clips is completely different from a harness used to encourage dogs to pull.

Why not a halti Wolfie?

We have a whippet something rescue. Three weeks after getting her I cried as it was so much worse than I remembered, way worse than when my children had been babies.

She is fine on walks with a harness and with the vast majority of dogs but sometimes she still gets so bonkers that she spins round in the air in excitement if it is one of her 'friends' .
Something I am still working on.
And she will never be cat okay I do not think.

But now I love her with every bone in my body.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

This will be the future op for you op..

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!

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!

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!

He heard me. “LESS FOOD? NOOOOO!”

@Wolfiefan

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

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

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