Lurchers

[tjp]

any body agree ?

 

[KathyM]

Yup

 

[demonmagus]

what are lurchers?

lol

 

[LisaLQ]

My rescue lurcher Sky

Lurchers are a cross between a sighthound and another working breed (collie, bull, etc), sometimes with multiple different types. Longdogs are a cross between two (or more) sighthounds. Sighthounds being greyhounds, whippets, salukis, borzoi (rare), wolfhound, deerhound (commonly used in both lurchers and longdogs)....all the lanky pointy nosed breeds really

They're bred for hunting or coursing, but now that's illegal, there's loads in rescues needing homes. There always were loads in rescue anyway, similar situation to racing greyhounds - once they're no good for their job, they're dumped - if lucky at a rescue centre, and that's a good scenario. Greyhounds and lurchers have been found hung, decapitated, burned to death, skinned and thrown in the sea (seriously, this happened). In the case of greyhounds, their ears are usually removed or damaged as their tattoos are traceable and those getting rid of them dont want them to be traced.

Must say, not all working homes are like that, and many more dogs are abandonned or handed over rather than killed - but the majority dont have a loving owner who will care for them in their retirement. Luckily for us, that meant we found Sky. She was abandonned on an allotment, pregnant, with an old break in her leg and several scars (most likely from barbed wire or similar damage when hunting).

Lovely lovely dogs which make excellent pets. Most aren't cat friendly, but some are - and it's worth being patient if you're looking for one in rescue - as they do come up

 

[demonmagus]

they are cute

 

[LisaLQ]

Wait til someone posts a piccie of a rough coated one, super cute

 

[KathyM]

http/www.rain.org.uk/homes/henry.htm

http/www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=109104

http/www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/yourdogs18.html

http/www.sheyagreyhoundandlurcherrescue.com/gallery.htm

http/www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=109502

Wot Lisa, like these?

 

[Jessica13]

My friend's Lurcher - Greyhound x Dalmation




Not a dog i would choose personally as it would eat my 5 cats But my friend loves hers

 

[KathyM]

It's really only some of the ex workers and those that havent been trained that aren't cat safe. I've had two retired greys here with cats One was very keen but easily cat-trained, the other used to nurse them *lol*.

 

[Jessica13]

Murphy (friends dally x greyhound) is just a rescue one that was dumped on the motorway and had never seen a cat but he still tries to get the neighbours cat if it gets in their garden!! That said though, even my pug has a habit of trying to chase our cats so i think its natural for all dogs, but i think greyhound/lurchers are one of the few breeds fast and agile enough to actually catch one

Most rescue greyhounds are only available to homes without cats (we tried to rehome one but couldn't because of this) so i guess they maybe are more prone to trying to attack cats?

 

[KathyM]

A whole racing greyhounds "career" is based on them chasing a small furry object so yes, most aren't cat safe. I know some rescues won't rehome with cats, but it's generally dependant on the dog unless the rescue has a blanket rule. And obviously a lot have raced for a long time so there are the ones that won't change. There are for example lots of "non chasers", greyhounds that never made it past their first trial because they couldn't be arsed chasing the rabbit - Tinkerbelle was like that, a little gorgeous bouncy greyhound pup with absolutely no cat/small furry chasing instinct whatsoever. Daft as a brush though.