In light of recent news stories about gruesome discoveries it is apparent that there are still many, many greyhounds seeking a permanent sofa. I am convinced that many people avoid ex-racers believing they are impossible to train and will never settle into a normal home. We have two ex-racers and would love to see Victoria show what can be done with this unique breed and dispell some of the myths. It would be a fantastic opportunity to do something positive for ex-racers and help towards reducing the numbers destroyed. And lets face it until there are fewer of them needing homes it is vital that we do anything we can. Any chance?
PS Our two will happily volunteer for the programme but I have to tell you neither my husband nor I will be leaving home anytime soon because of our dogs behaviour.
Greyhound special?
Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost
Great idea ... same goes for many lurchers!
I have a funny feeling the mis-information (Greys can't be trained) hails from the fact that a lot of those dogs cannot perform a SIT due to their muscle build-up and that they are easily given up due to simple matters like that.
Bea
I have a funny feeling the mis-information (Greys can't be trained) hails from the fact that a lot of those dogs cannot perform a SIT due to their muscle build-up and that they are easily given up due to simple matters like that.
Bea
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar/Mark Twain
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar/Mark Twain
I hadnt thought of that.
I think a lot of it stems from the fact that people usually only see them running after a fake hare.
Id like to see something pointing out that greyhounds are NOT the same as lurchers.
So many times i see people told that a greyhound wouldnt suit them as tehy cant be let off the laed (not always true at all) and cannot be trusted wtih stock or other domestic pets (ditto)..... adn then that is applied to lurchers as well.
Nothing could be further from teh truth, aside from small furries (ie strangers cats, rabbits etc), most lurchers are bred to work and thus bred to be biddable trainable and in many cases, hunt their particular quarry THROUGH fields of livestock, be expected to leave one rabbit yet go after another..... most lurchers are no more or less likely to pose a threat to small dogs, your own cats if brought up wtih them, or off lead than any other dog. The only difference is that a lurcher is far more likely to catch whatever it chases, but many dogs are capable of this (ive got a staffy x who can do 25mph + and can easily catch fox, rabbit or cats, and pheasants! hes not allowed to.... but he can!).
Greyhounds are trainable, ex racers need to be trained with the thought in mind that they are little more than overgrown puppies who have led a very sheltered life and havent experienced the real world at all.
I highly doubt a greyhound is going to win crufts obedience, but thats not how a greys mind works.
A lurcher CERTAINLY could though! (i used to know someone who did obedience and working trials with a lurcher!).
Em
I think a lot of it stems from the fact that people usually only see them running after a fake hare.
Id like to see something pointing out that greyhounds are NOT the same as lurchers.
So many times i see people told that a greyhound wouldnt suit them as tehy cant be let off the laed (not always true at all) and cannot be trusted wtih stock or other domestic pets (ditto)..... adn then that is applied to lurchers as well.
Nothing could be further from teh truth, aside from small furries (ie strangers cats, rabbits etc), most lurchers are bred to work and thus bred to be biddable trainable and in many cases, hunt their particular quarry THROUGH fields of livestock, be expected to leave one rabbit yet go after another..... most lurchers are no more or less likely to pose a threat to small dogs, your own cats if brought up wtih them, or off lead than any other dog. The only difference is that a lurcher is far more likely to catch whatever it chases, but many dogs are capable of this (ive got a staffy x who can do 25mph + and can easily catch fox, rabbit or cats, and pheasants! hes not allowed to.... but he can!).
Greyhounds are trainable, ex racers need to be trained with the thought in mind that they are little more than overgrown puppies who have led a very sheltered life and havent experienced the real world at all.
I highly doubt a greyhound is going to win crufts obedience, but thats not how a greys mind works.
A lurcher CERTAINLY could though! (i used to know someone who did obedience and working trials with a lurcher!).
Em
"Id like to see something pointing out that greyhounds are NOT the same as lurchers"
I agree ... that would nearly make a mini-series on sighthounds ...
- greyhounds
- ex-racers
- lurchers
- ex-lampers
... t.b.c.
I think my lurcher Opi must be the best-est dog ever, he babysits pups, brings them for photoshoots, socialises aggressive dogs, doesn't chase our alpacas, used to clear 8 foot fences without thinking (before his seizures), and I managed to train him to fetch and retrieve in order to f+r a deaf-blind puppy when she couldn't respond to my stamping-signal when she was out of reach on a different surface.
Bea
I agree ... that would nearly make a mini-series on sighthounds ...
- greyhounds
- ex-racers
- lurchers
- ex-lampers
... t.b.c.
I think my lurcher Opi must be the best-est dog ever, he babysits pups, brings them for photoshoots, socialises aggressive dogs, doesn't chase our alpacas, used to clear 8 foot fences without thinking (before his seizures), and I managed to train him to fetch and retrieve in order to f+r a deaf-blind puppy when she couldn't respond to my stamping-signal when she was out of reach on a different surface.
Bea
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar/Mark Twain
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar/Mark Twain
