Lurcher wanted

lightening

Hi all.

Myself and my wife want to take on an unwanted lurcher. I know there are a lot of you out there that are familiar with the breed and I want you opinions. We were on to the DSPCA and because we work they refused us.

I really don't want to pay for a dog, I would prefer to donate/pay the same amount to a rescue centre and get one that was abandoned or unwanted.

I will set out our weekly schedule and situation we are in.

We recently lost our 13 year old Sheepdog and have a two year old gundog. We have a medium size back garden, enclosed with high brick walls. Our front garden is quiet large and is raised, it is surrounded by bushes and there is a five foot drop from it on to the footpath. Our present dog roams around in and goes to the loo in it when we are around, he never jumps off the wall. That might not be the case for the new dog...:D

We live in large house in a mature area in Dublin opposite a 170 acre park which we walk in every day all weather.

Weekly schedule

Monday to Thursday (one of us only works four days a week)

8.30 dogs are walked for an hour.

9.30 dogs are left with treats, Marrow Bones, bedding, kennels, chews and kongs.

5.30 One of us is home and dogs are walked for an hour in the park in summer, half an hour on the leads in winter (they are let off for about 15 minutes in a smaller lit park) They are then fed and are in with us for the night then. The gundog prefers to sleep in the back garden, the new dog may want to sleep in the house.

On Friday, Saturday, Sunday there is someone at home all day (give or take, shopping, socialising etc...) We live within walking distance to the bull island, so beach and dune walks are a common weekend thing.

I don't want a lecture on how long people feel dogs should or shouldn't be left on their own. The dog I have is a well adjusted, happy dog that leads a more active life than a lot of dogs. I think I could offer a good life to a dog that would otherwise be in kennels.


If this doesn't work out. Do i have to go to a breeder and buy a dog???

Can any of you people help?

MsFifers

Have you tried contacting PAWS?
http://www.greyhound-data.com/adoption.htm?id=326&filter_sex=&x=&z=jCOoMv

They have lots of gorgeous greyhounds (whats the difference between greyhounds & lurchers?:D Bad at the breed business!)

I know PAWS are based in Tipperary - but as they are currently shipping dogs to Prague - I'm sure they could get one to you in North Dublin!

M0use

I volunteer with Dogs in Distress. It is very hard to rehome lurchers, and so most of the lurchers that come in to us are taken on by PAWS. You might be best of contacting them. I know they have taken at least ten of us this year. Lurchers and Lurcher crosses come in quite often. If you go to www.dogsindistress.org, you can always have your homecheck done now and then when the dog you want comes into us, the paperwork is already completed. Most lurchers would be surrenders and so can be rehomed immediately.

PAWS can be contacted at http://www.paws.ie.htm or http://www.greyhound-data.com/adoption.htm

hadook

You could also try contacting Mary Jane in the Orchard Greyhound Rescue - she takes in lurchers too

http://www.orchardgreyhoundsanctuary.com/

Glowing

lightening wrote: »

I would prefer to donate/pay the same amount to a rescue centre and get one that was abandoned or unwanted

Good on you - there is very little difference between Greyhound and lurchers - generally only their size, but you can get small greyhounds anyway.

Either way, you won't be short on choice.

The only concern is that greyhounds/lurchers are not really suited to staying outside in the cold, they have hardly any body fat or hair. Is it possible that they would have access to an indoor area while you're away? They would also need to sleep indoors. You'll probably find that you won't release a rescue to you until you can prove they'll sleep indoors.

Good luck!

Edit: Sorry about your sheepdog

lightening

We are thinking of getting a large wooden kennel built with a "porch" we have extremely good bedding. No problem with the dog sleeping indoors.

fits

hadook wrote: »

You could also try contacting Mary Jane in the Orchard Greyhound Rescue - she takes in lurchers too

http://www.orchardgreyhoundsanctuary.com/

This lady runs a small rescue and therefore can afford to look at each individual case and really match the dog to the owner (rather than needing to follow set rules for homing like a larger rescue would). PAWS and cottage rescue are also good options.

Your lurcher will jump off that five foot drop though. Guaranteed. Once your back garden is secure though, you should be fine.

lightening

fits wrote: »

Your lurcher will jump off that five foot drop though.

That is a worry. I will have to keep an eye on that. The other dog enjoys a good bit of freedom because of the size of the front garden. I will have to think about fencing it if a lurcher or greyhound is on the cards.

Whispered

MJ at orchard rescue is fantastic. We are considering getting a greyhound/lurcher too she has invited us out to spend a bit of time with her dogs and we have exchanged long emails about what type of dog would suit us best. She looks at each case seperately and puts a lot of time into finding the perfect dog for your situation. You should contact her, even if you don't get your dog from her she will give you great advice.

lightening

I have contacted Orchard rescue. Thanks a mil everyone!

Glowing

lightening wrote: »

I have contacted Orchard rescue. Thanks a mil everyone!

Yay! Make sure to post pictures when you get him/her!

lightening

If it happens I will... I'm being realistic about this.

Ruby Soho

I have two greyhounds in a large garden, although they sleep/live inside, they have access to it whenever they want. The walls are 5ish foot high, with a high hedge increasing the height to 6 foot in most parts although it is low in others. The dogs have never even attempted to jump over this. I know that they are more than capable of this, I saw the bitch jump about 8 foot after a cat on a wall while out walking, and her trainer used to call her 'the CAT', because she couldn't be kept in any enclosure!! I've just been really lucky I guess, but they are capable of it! Incidently I think it was a lurcher who broke the canine high jump 'up and over' record, about 13 foot I think it was. Although, as Im sure other sighthound owners could concur, COULD THEY BE BOTHERED???!! No!!!

fits

Ruby Soho wrote: »

Incidently I think it was a lurcher who broke the canine high jump 'up and over' record, about 13 foot I think it was.

Oh I have a candidate for that competition here.

Although, as Im sure other sighthound owners could concur, COULD THEY BE BOTHERED???!! No!!!

so true.

I think the problem in lightening's case though (correct me if I'm wrong), is that it is a raised garden with a five foot drop, rather than being a 5 foot high wall (if you get what I mean).

lurchin along

Lurchers jump.Most greyhounds don't.Your garden isn't suitable for a lurcher.

lightening

lurchin along wrote: »

Lurchers jump.Most greyhounds don't.Your garden isn't suitable for a lurcher.

Thanks for all the info. What you are talking about is my front garden only. My back garden on the other hand is walled and enclosed.

The dogs are allowed out in to the front garden for a supervised ramble the odd time.

Danes

Best of luck with your search for a lurcher. As others have said, MJ at Orchard Rescue is your woman - you wont find better and she wont home a dog with you unless it suits your family. Lurchers make fantastic pets. I find mine to be a little on the sensitive side - she can sulk for Ireland but she's also gentle, affectionate and very, very trainable. Some of them are spookily smart and learn to be very in tune with their owners.
I hope you find the dog for you.

lurchin along

lightening wrote: »

Thanks for all the info. What you are talking about is my front garden only. My back garden on the other hand is walled and enclosed. The dogs are allowed out in to the front garden for a supervised ramble the odd time.

Unlike greys lurchers don't havethe best recall.Supervision isn't enough when there's a road within a mile!Your back garden as long as the fence is at least six ft (five for a grey ) is fine and l'd home one of my hounds to someone with your schedule

lightening

lurchin along wrote: »

Unlike greys lurchers don't havethe best recall.Supervision isn't enough when there's a road within a mile

Right. Point taken. Maybe a grey is better for me. I am off on Holiday for a week (dogs are in the best kennels we could find!) I will be on to you when I get back. Thank for all your help.

Wokie

lurchin along wrote: »

Unlike greys lurchers don't havethe best recall.Supervision isn't enough when there's a road within a mile!Your back garden as long as the fence is at least six ft (five for a grey ) is fine and l'd home one of my hounds to someone with your schedule

I'm sorry but I have to take issue with the 'lurchers don't have the best recall'! I have a lurcher myself and his recall is absolutely excellent but only because I put in the time training him which I think would be the same with most dogs? Having said that regardless of any dogs recall, unsupervised access near a road isn't an option. And I agree with you, I would have no problem homing a dog to someone with the OPs schedule!:) (obviously given that everything else that a home check incurs is ok!!)

I think that some rescues lose out on amazing homes just because people can't guarantee that they will be there 24/7:rolleyes:

fits

Wokie wrote: »

I'm sorry but I have to take issue with the 'lurchers don't have the best recall'! :

or that greys do?

Its much more an individual thing. I've two lurchers.. one is really trainable, has great recall and always stays by my side. The other will always have poor recall.

Wokie

fits wrote: »

or that greys do?

Its much more an individual thing. I've two lurchers.. one is really trainable, has great recall and always stays by my side. The other will always have poor recall.

I was just reacting to the generalisation re lurchers more because I'm more familiar with them than with greys! I really just wanted to illustrate that training is needed to get recall - one can't expect a dog to have a good recall just because of its breed and yes I agree it is an individual thing...not a general thing!

fits

Wokie wrote: »

I was just reacting to the generalisation re lurchers more because I'm more familiar with them than with greys! I really just wanted to illustrate that training is needed to get recall - one can't expect a dog to have a good recall just because of its breed and yes I agree it is an individual thing...not a general thing!

I was reacting to the original generalisation... not to you at all.

lurchin along

l believe that l have enough experience after 35yrs of having packs of hounds of many different kinds to make the generalisation with both confidence and authority.No hound should ever be near a road without a fence or a leash.l have a lurcher with 'good' recall and several greys who don't.But in general lurchers are more independant than greys.Fact.

lightening

lurchin along wrote: »

l believe that l have enough experience after 35yrs of having packs of hounds of many different kinds

Wow... tell us your history.

lurchin along

Raised in grey racing kennel.lst pet grey at 6.Sickened by industry! lst 'pack' formed 73 when pet collection got to 12.3 greys,2 borzois,3 salukis,1 deerhound,1 wolfhound,2 whippets. Lurchers started in 79. I've had whip x bedlington,whip x collie.whip x saluki,whip x beardie,grey x deerhound,grey x gsd,grey x saluki, grey x wolfhound,grey x wheaten,grey x pitbull and every less identifiable combi of several bloodlines imaginable.l don't breed them and never have.They're neutered pets.2O of them now.

Glowing

lurchin along wrote: »

Raised in grey racing kennel.lst pet grey at 6.Sickened by industry! lst 'pack' formed 73 when pet collection got to 12.3 greys,2 borzois,3 salukis,1 deerhound,1 wolfhound,2 whippets. Lurchers started in 79. I've had whip x bedlington,whip x collie.whip x saluki,whip x beardie,grey x deerhound,grey x gsd,grey x saluki, grey x wolfhound,grey x wheaten,grey x pitbull and every less identifiable combi of several bloodlines imaginable.l don't breed them and never have.They're neutered pets.2O of them now.

Can I come over?

Wokie

fits wrote: »

I was reacting to the original generalisation... not to you at all.

Kinda thought we were pretty much saying the same thing alright!!

lurchin_along - I won't argue with your experience! Think I'm just jealous now:D Again, I was just making the point that regardless of breed a dog needs training when it comes to recall! No?

OP I think regardless of greyhound or lurcher, you will end up with an amazing dog (ok now I'm generalising!) and that will be one more dog out of rescue (or the pound) and into a home:)

katy_00

Hi Lightening

I know you posted some time ago so I'm not sure if you're still looking for Lurcher pups???

Inistioge Puppy Rescue in Kilkenny have Lurcher pups at the moment for adoption.
They have a website www.inistiogepuppyrescue.com, there's pics of the pups on the website. We adopted a beautiful pup there a couple of weeks ago, a collie cross. I think they might transport the pup for you and they just look for donations.

whitser

lurchin along wrote: »

Raised in grey racing kennel.lst pet grey at 6.Sickened by industry! lst 'pack' formed 73 when pet collection got to 12.3 greys,2 borzois,3 salukis,1 deerhound,1 wolfhound,2 whippets. Lurchers started in 79. I've had whip x bedlington,whip x collie.whip x saluki,whip x beardie,grey x deerhound,grey x gsd,grey x saluki, grey x wolfhound,grey x wheaten,grey x pitbull and every less identifiable combi of several bloodlines imaginable.l don't breed them and never have.They're neutered pets.2O of them now.

thats some pack. do you work them?

lightening

That poster is banned whitser, don't know why, I'm sure the moderator will tell you...

Everyone else, thanks for your help. We are holding off for now. DSPCA is happy to work with us now.