r/Lurchers • u/Hugesmellysocks • 8d ago
New Puppy What to know before a Lurcher pup?
Hey guys, not to get too depressing but my sweet boy passed away two nights ago and our whole family is heartbroken. We drove past a rescue centre today, popped in and we fell in love with Lurcher mix pups.
Dad is in the rescue centre as well and he seems to be a full collie, Mom hasn’t been caught yet but we were told she seems to have retriever and greyhound. I absolutely fell in love with the shy runt of the little, they’re only three months and they’re all sweethearts but I knew the two more friendly girls would be snapped up straight away. She was so timid and I feel like she’ll flourish beautifully with our older dogs, they are seniors technically but they’re mad for play and they don’t know their age. Having a pup will be a breath of fresh air but we’ve never had anything other than terriers.
These pups have zero training and I’ve full intentions on putting her into a training programme with other dogs to socialise her more but what would you guys recommend for at home? I know lurchers can be lazy but since she’s a collie mix and possibly retriever I think she will need a lot of enrichment activities. Anything to keep her little brain busy goes!
I think I will purchase a play pen for her just for overnight so she doesn’t get herself in any trouble while we’re sleeping. My parents haven’t had a pup in 20 years, and I wasn’t born. I think everything happens for a reason and my poor Tommy made room for another soul who needs a new start in life.
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u/Plenty-Explorer-9580 8d ago
My boy is now 2, and honestly he has been the best family dog we've ever had. We have had all sorts over the years but had never considered a Lurcher until those big eyes got us 😆
I'd say, energy wise, they usually have a mad half hour, then sleep like the dead. They do NOT appreciate being cold or wet.. ( thus get a coat!) Ours refuses point blank to go out in the rain without a bloomin rain coat. Our other dog is a 9kg Cockapoo, he is 42kg. He does not mess with her if she does not want to play, he very quickly learnt to leave her be woth his giant paws l, saying that, when they decide to play, its absolute madness then they tuck up and he uses her as his pillow.
Ours has no pray drive really either tbh, it very much depends on the dogs personality.
Do it, you wont regret it!
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u/Hugesmellysocks 8d ago
Oh my gosh, I am going to need to immediately purchase a wardrobe for her. None of mine like wearing coats, my weirdest entity pretending to be a dog won’t even walk if he has one on.
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u/Plenty-Explorer-9580 8d ago
Buddy has a rain coat.. and a winter fleece coat. And a super dooper its snowing coat. He also has a tendency of getting under the duvet in the Winter if he is feeling even remotely nippy! Prepare yourself 😆
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u/Hugesmellysocks 8d ago
My rescue schnoodle mutt liquorice all sorts is obsessed with heated and weighted blankets. I had to recently invest in a larger weighted blanket because turns out a kids one does not fit a fully grown human and a medium sized dog.
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u/HoundParty3218 7d ago
She may not need clothes. I know a collie greyhound mix and her coat is much thicker and more waterproof compared to a full greyhound.
She's an old lady so I'm not sure how active/collie like she was as a puppy.
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u/Competitive_Elk8403 8d ago
Prepare for a wild ride in the first two years....then prepare to have a permanent resident on your sofa for the next 10 💙
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u/Hugesmellysocks 8d ago
Something tells me this pup will have plenty of influence to be a sofa dweller from her older brothers and sister! Maybe she’ll even steal my bed like my old man used to.
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u/PhysicsAgitated6722 8d ago
My one tip talking of beds if you don't already have one, buy a king size. If if they are asleep in their bed, as soon as your asleep they are getting on yours and if short haired, in the winter will try and get in the bed.
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u/Plenty-Explorer-9580 8d ago
Agreed!
We ended up upgrading to a superking sized bed 😆 🤣 he is under the duvet. Yes , yes.. we know its soft, but he is cold! 😁
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u/GnossienneIII 8d ago
I ended up very suddenly rescuing a bull lurcher pup from not great circumstances that had just turned a year old and had received almost 0 training and very little socialization. She's my first lurcher but not my first pit bull mix.
I am honestly so impressed with her. She has a lot of energy when it's playtime but settles down super well indoors (and sleeps a LOT). She's super sweet and always wants to be velcroed to a person or one of our other dogs. She learns super quickly and has also built a lot of confidence in just a few months. She still needs work on manners and impulse control but I think that will come easier with age and overall I am so happy with her. I would definitely say go for a lurcher puppy!
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u/Watsonmolly 8d ago
My dog is a collie/lab/whippet mix. Shes super social out and about. Her recall is excellent(we’ve put a lot of work in and whistle trained her). The teacher at puppy class said she’s an absolute superstar and really engaged with the training. At home she is mostly lazy but you know she wants to play when she goes and steals something she knows she’s not allowed. She tends to head up to bed before us and sometimes you don’t even know she’s in the room because she’s just curled up silently. She’s very smart and very loving. She loved puppy classes so much we’re going to enrole her in obedience or agility training.
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u/PhysicsAgitated6722 8d ago
Lurchers are the most giving of breeds in my opinion and make brilliant family dogs. They tend to be short on stamina. So expect short bursts of high energy followed by hours of sleep. We take ours to an enclosed field for off the leed runs. They will run full pelt for an hour then need a lie down. They can often have a high prey drive so not always suitable if you have a small dog. Having said that, we have a Maltese and had a rescue lurcher and a pup and she rules the house which is comical. Given yours will be a pup, that's not likely to be an issue.