Looking After Greyhounds, Lurchers & Other Similar Breeds: Top Tips & Tricks

Many people are under the false impression that lurchers, greyhounds and other similar breeds don’t make great family pets due to their general association with being working dogs, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s face it – hunting, racing and other ‘sports’ that these breeds are forced to take part in are not enjoyable for dogs in the slightest, and they would much rather be cuddled up on the sofa with a loving owner instead! 

Owning a lurcher, greyhound or other similar breed of dog can be such a fun and rewarding experience. However, they require a lot of care and attention, and have their own unique needs that you should take the time to understand before you consider welcoming one into your family. It’s important that you can take the opportunity to research the topic of caring for lurchers and greyhounds if you plan on adopting one, as this way you can make sure they benefit from the best quality of life as soon as they enter into your care. 

Thankfully, this guide contains some of the best steps that you can follow to look after your lurcher, greyhound or other similar pup, helping to keep them as happy and healthy as possible. So, what are you waiting for? Read on to learn more so that you can confidently care for your long nosed furry friend!

Image Source – Pexels 

Finding The Right Collar 

First and foremost, when you adopt a lurcher, greyhound or other similar breed you need to make sure that you can find the right collar. You won’t be able to leave the house without it, as you need something secure to attach their lead to whenever you take them outside for a walk. The main issue with a normal, average collar is its shape in comparison to the shape of a lurcher or greyhounds head. In many cases their neck is actually thicker than their jaw or head, meaning a basic collar will slip right off if they were to pull their head back for any reason. Unless you want your dog to have a high chance of escaping, then you need to find a specially designed thicker collar that won’t slip off their more narrow head! It’s easy to find the right collar, just search specifically for a lurcher or greyhound style so that you can maintain total confidence whenever you take them outside. 

Walk, Walk & Walk Some More 

Lurchers, greyhounds and other similar breeds absolutely love exercise, and would enjoy nothing more than running ragged around an open field for hours on end. However, this isn’t always feasible when you have a hectic schedule and no land to release them on, so you need to make an effort to walk them as much as possible. It’s a good idea to aim to walk your new lurcher or greyhound for at least 2-3 hours per day, although it is well known that greyhounds can be “couch potatoes”. You should take them around some natural locations if possible, as walking by the side of the road will provide them with little stimulation and will likely be very boring for both you and your dog. If you don’t have the time or energy to walk your lurcher or greyhound for several hours a day, then find a local dog walker who can take them out – exercise is essential for their well-being, and it’s your responsibility to ensure their needs are met. 

Check Their Health Regularly 

Unfortunately, there are a variety of different health conditions that a lurcher, greyhound or other similar breed will be more susceptible to compared with other types of dog. As a result of this, you should always take the time to visit the vets and check their health regularly. Having a basic check up every few months will allow you to spot any potential warning signs that could be causing pain or discomfort for your dog, and you can implement preventative measures to minimise their chances of falling ill. Any good dog magazine will detail information about potential conditions that your dog may experience in their lifetime, so do your research.

Looking after a lurcher, greyhound or other similar breed can be so fulfilling, as they are such loving and affectionate dogs that are so loyal. Following some of the steps detailed above can certainly help you to take great care of your pup, so take the time to utilize these recommendations for the sake of their long term health and happiness. Start by finding the right collar, walk them often, and be sure to check their health regularly.

How Do I Stop My Dog Chasing Other Animals?

How Do I Stop My Dog Chasing Other Animals?

Before dogs became domesticated they were wild and lived by preying on other animals big and small. Their predatory drive was a mechanism that ensured their very survival as a species and was hard wired into their brain. The predation sequence in such dogs was “see-chase-grab-kill”.

In domesticating the dog some of this sequence has become weaker though it has never been totally removed, and all domestic dogs exhibit instinctive predatory behaviours to a certain extent, with some breeds of dog being more prone to this type of nature than others.

As humans we have, over time, also been responsible for breeding some dogs specifically in order to take advantage of that instinct, such as Herding breeds, Sporting breeds, Hounds, Terriers, Northern breeds and Wolf hybrids. . we often use and work many of these dogs.

Through years of genetic selection and training we have produced these working dogs that are very good at chasing and moving livestock but without the “bite-hold-kill” sequence thrown in.

Predatory Aggression, is a term often used to describe the behaviour of domestic dogs who target another dog, cat, sheep or indeed any other animal, then move with sudden impulsive action, silently and rapidly to bring that target down and then attack the vital organs of that creature in order to kill it. The main difference between an attack of this nature and standard aggression is that the dog fully intends to kill either by shaking the prey violently or choking it.

This behaviour is due to the retained instinctive desire to chase things that resemble prey; and because predation is instinctive, it is not based on the dog being hungry. Moreover, it is a behaviour that is marked by the absence of anger, neither is it based on self protection or competition for resources.

Dogs who exhibit predatory behaviour usually do not advertise their intent prior to attack which can make it all the more shocking.

Movement of the “prey” will always be the trigger that starts the sequence, so by allowing your dog to chase down small creatures will only serve to strengthen this instinctive drive. The behaviour is particularly dangerous because it cannot be fully trained or conditioned out of the dog, neither will medication be of any help because the instinct is hard wired into the dogs mind.

Just because the behaviour is inherited and instinctive doesn’t mean that it is either desirable or acceptable and it can be downright dangerous.

Such a dog living in a home with an infant child is also very risky because children under three years of age move quickly and often make high pitched noises that can make such a dog believe they are prey, whereas very tiny babies may resemble injured prey to the dog who may then pounce.

However, we can manage predatory behaviours by managing the environment – a suitably trained behaviourist will help you to assess how strong your dogs prey drive is. Once you know this you can then manage the environment by:

Ensuring that your dog can’t get out of your garden or get loose without you

When out walking, always ensure that your dog is kept on a leash, no matter what time of day it is.

If necessary, use a muzzle on your dog. This may seem cruel but preventing the behaviour is better than having your dog removed and destroyed because it has attacked and killed

Get the help of a professional trainer to develop exercises that will re direct and address the challenges of the prey drive, and find an appropriate outlet for him

Ensure that your dog gets sufficient exercise in general, but keep him out of situations that arouse his predatory instincts and never leave him alone with a child, even if he has never shown a desire to attack a child before.

Dogs are amazing creatures, and a delight to be with – Stay Safe, Stay Informed and Stay Happy with your best friend.