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The doghouse

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Original poster

walking my lurcher

52 replies

karala · 17/02/2021 10:03

I would really appreciate some advice: we adopted a gorgeous lurcher late last year and he is a beautiful gentle boy about 2 years old. We don't know much about him because he was a stray but the rescue centre felt that he was probably a traveller's dog. He walks reasonably well on the lead in that he doesn't pull but he wants to sniff EVERYTHING. I understand that sniffing is a major part of a dog's reason for life but he won't respond when he's sniffing so we end up in this ridiculous situation of him being dragged down the road/across a field by whoever is walking him. We are dealing with some reactivity as well but that's another story but I'd really appreciate some help with the sniffing just to make it a more enjoyable experience for us all, dog included.

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GreyDoggo · 17/02/2021 10:46

Hi
I have a lurcher and he is also an enthusiastic sniffer. We just let him do it because it is an important part of being a dog. I have noticed that it really tires him out which is a bonus. Why can't you just let him sniff if he wants? It's his walk after all. I do sympathise that it can be annoying but now we just let him sniff for a few minutes at any one spot and move him on by coaxing him gently to follow us.
Well done on getting a lurcher. They are beautiful and loving dogs.

Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 10:55

I really don't mind him sniffing but it's the fact that he won't move along after a minute or two even with gentle coaxing. It's like he's lost to the world and I hate having to pull his lead. Thank you - he is very loving.

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SirSniffsAlot · 17/02/2021 11:01

Sniffing can be a displacement behaviour for nervous dogs (like fidgeting for us) so could be actively helping him if his reactivity comes from anxiety. i.e. it might not be that he is lost to the smell, it might be that he feels unable to cope with moving on at that very moment and using sniffing as a distraction.

Might it be worth reviewing to see whether or not you think nerves are playing a role? That would change how you might tackle this.

Of course, he could also just be enjoying a lovely smell Smile

SirSniffsAlot · 17/02/2021 11:01

p.s. as per my username, I do rather empathise! Grin

Soontobe60 · 17/02/2021 11:06

We had a lurched for many years. Boy did he love a good sniff! The solution was to have a pocket of treats on the walk so that he could be bribed along in certain places and left to sniff away in others.

Soontobe60 · 17/02/2021 11:07

Also, make sure you take him the same route for his daily walks so the route becomes very familiar - he’s less likely to sniff so much then.

Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 11:14

@SirSniffsAlot

Sniffing can be a displacement behaviour for nervous dogs (like fidgeting for us) so could be actively helping him if his reactivity comes from anxiety. i.e. it might not be that he is lost to the smell, it might be that he feels unable to cope with moving on at that very moment and using sniffing as a distraction.

Might it be worth reviewing to see whether or not you think nerves are playing a role? That would change how you might tackle this.

Of course, he could also just be enjoying a lovely smell Smile

Yes, I think you may be right. I suspect the reactivity is down to nerves because he isn't aggressive. I suppose it's just a question of being calm and patient with him and waiting for him to feel that it's safe to move on. Sometimes he stops dead on the pavement and won't move and there is no sniffing so perhaps he is sensing something that he isn't happy about. Thank you
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Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 11:14

Thanks all - I think I need to be more aware of his anxiety and be a bit more patient about things

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reefedsail · 17/02/2021 11:21

Our lurcher was a total diva about walking on the pavement- combination of soft pads and claws designed to be running spikes made it uncomfortable. He'd look for any patch of grass he could walk on and try all different bits of the pavement to see if any were softer.

Do you have anywhere safe to let him off- lead so you can just stand and let him sniff away? In the end we only let ours off in racing muzzles for the sake of the wildlife, and knew certain places where there was no barbed wire or roads within a mile or so in case of a bolt where we would let them off to just be dogs.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 17/02/2021 11:51

I regard the dog's walk as his time in the day, to do with as he wishes. If he wishes to sniff, that's absolutely fine. If you reframe it in your mind as "the hour in the day dedicated to the dog's wishes" then it feels a lot better!

Sniffing is a naturally calming activity, and so your dog may also be using it as a self regulating activity.

Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 11:54

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

I regard the dog's walk as his time in the day, to do with as he wishes. If he wishes to sniff, that's absolutely fine. If you reframe it in your mind as "the hour in the day dedicated to the dog's wishes" then it feels a lot better!

Sniffing is a naturally calming activity, and so your dog may also be using it as a self regulating activity.

I take my dog to as many places as I can so it's not always his walk and I suppose that is difficult for him to understand that sometimes we're walking for him and other times we're walking because i am doing errands etc
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Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 11:55

@reefedsail

Our lurcher was a total diva about walking on the pavement- combination of soft pads and claws designed to be running spikes made it uncomfortable. He'd look for any patch of grass he could walk on and try all different bits of the pavement to see if any were softer.

Do you have anywhere safe to let him off- lead so you can just stand and let him sniff away? In the end we only let ours off in racing muzzles for the sake of the wildlife, and knew certain places where there was no barbed wire or roads within a mile or so in case of a bolt where we would let them off to just be dogs.

his recall isn't good enough yet to let him off and given that he was a stray he may very well have run off once already. I am making arrangements for him to go to an off-lead field locally but have to wait for his kennel cough jab to kick in
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reefedsail · 17/02/2021 12:21

It's not for the feint-hearted letting sight hounds off-lead and has to be planned very carefully. IME they can't run AND think.

SnarkyBag · 17/02/2021 12:28

@reefedsail

It's not for the feint-hearted letting sight hounds off-lead and has to be planned very carefully. IME they can't run AND think.
I’ve always said that about my lurcher. He’s fast but not bright! I remember watching a TV programme about collie pups being trialled as potential sheep dogs and the farmer saying if the tail and ears are there’s no thinking going on and that’s no good. Generally ddog is a tail and ears up kinda guy Grin He’s also stubborn on a path walk and will stop still and not move or only want to walk in specific direction Hmm
bucketofcoffee · 17/02/2021 12:32

We have a Dachshund who is also a natural sniffer/hunter. He has two walks a day, one is a "sniffy walk" where he sniffs for 45-60mins. Some days we barely make half a mile. His other walk tends to be a doggy meet up where he just plays with others for an hour. The sniffy walk is tedious for us as it involves a lot of standing around but he loves it.

SnarkyBag · 17/02/2021 12:36

It might just be easier to not take him on errand walks. If he’s getting enough exercise and doesn’t have separation anxiety then I wouldn’t take him. I always imagined my dog would come everywhere with me but lurchers are sensitive souls with their own way of doing things.
I often go walking with friends and don’t bring him much to their surprise but he takes up so much focus with his sniffing, reactivity and expectation that he gets to plot the route that it’s about as much fun as meeting a friend for coffee with a toddler in tow!

ThePricklySheep · 17/02/2021 12:40

We have a greyhound like this.
I am teaching her ‘leave’ with a treat. It barely works. We do a mixture of letting her sniff and then trying to keep away from sniffing areas, so get her to walk on the road side of a pavement or in the middle of a wider path.

Sprig1 · 17/02/2021 12:53

Could you try a squeaky toy (or just a squeaked, which will easily fit in your pocket) to distract him from the sniff when you want to move on. You could then either treat and walk on, or just walk on sharply if he isn't bothered about treats.

Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 12:59

thanks all - it's really helpful to read all the different things - I like the idea of the squeaky toy and maybe I do need to rethink whether he needs to stay at home a bit more and do his second favourite thing which is snoozing

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SirSniffsAlot · 17/02/2021 15:11

There's also the possibility of using different equipment for different types of walk.

e.g. a harness for walking walks where we must keep moving and a collar for sniffy walks where you can take your time.

If you're consistent in keeping him moving on a harness and more relaxed on a collar then he'll pick up on the difference, I would imagine.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 17/02/2021 15:18

I'm a big believer in dog walks being their time, not yours.

You might be going on an errand but by taking him with you, you need to see the walking time as being "his" time. If you don't have the time to let him sniff or wander at his pace, then I think it's better to leave him at home.

I'm also a dog walker and on a professional level, I am a HUGE fan of slow, sniffy walks. They're fantastic for dogs and an excellent way of keeping them calm and entertained on a walk.

It can be boring for owners but in the nicest way, it's not about you. My own dog gets a mixture of slow, sniffy walks and off-lead walks where he's more inclined to run about. The former often tire him out more than the latter Grin

Snowymcsnowsony · 17/02/2021 15:29

I explained sniffing to my dd's as ddog's window shopping!! We have 2 Lurchers and they must be odd indeed as they never ever stop and sniff!!
Maybe spend a whole week allowing sniffing for as long as he wants. He may get all sniffed out and lose interest!!
Apparently it is the best treat to give your ddog - a walk of sniffs!

Snowymcsnowsony · 17/02/2021 15:30

Oh and yabu to mention a Lurcher without a pic...

walking my lurcher
SnarkyBag · 17/02/2021 15:37

@Snowymcsnowsony

Oh and yabu to mention a Lurcher without a pic...
Ooh I need a pair of smooth ones that colour to go with my scruff bag
walking my lurcher
Original poster
karala · 17/02/2021 15:40

i can't get the picture to upload

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