I saw a very sensible piece of advice to potential Lurcher owners on Arundawn Rescue’s FB pages the other day and thought “ they’re going through the same thing as us, trying to convince potential new owners that Lurchers are not cute dogs which lie around on the sofa all day”. Yes, they can be lazy - but that’s normally after they’ve had a good run. Yes, they can live with cats and small furries - but they were originally bred to hunt and that instinct is still in them. Yes ,they can be friendly with other dogs, but only if they’ve been socialised properly as pups.

Please, please, please folks - do your research on Lurchers, but not only on “Lurchers” as a generic type of dog, but on the various crosses which can make up a Lurcher. A saluki x is going to behave in a totally different way to a Bedlington x and if you’re going to take a dog into your life, you need to know what you’re taking on!

And that’s without all the “Lurcher x’s” as people try to pass off their unwanted, long legged Mongrels of indeterminate parentage. There’s nowt wrong with a good old fashioned mongrel as long as you don’t expect it to be something it’s not. I admit I have little faith in most of these DNA tests people are wasting their money on as they seem to detect breeds of dogs which no sane Lurcherman would entertain including in a Lurcher’s breeding. However, 20 odd years ago, I remember people scoffing at Bull x Lurchers and now they’re one of the most common types (in rescue anyway!) - but that’s the thing with Lurchers, they’re adaptable “tools” for whatever people want to do with them. I’ve seen saluki x’s doing Obedience and Agility,; Bull x’s doing Scentwork - “horses for courses”.

There are various forums / groups on the Internet which you can join and seek advice (everyone wants to talk about their dogs!!) and I’d recommend reading every book you can find about Lurchers, whether you intend to “work” your dog or not - it helps you understand how they tick.

Also - I’ve come to realise that because of Covid 19, the prices of puppies - both pedigree and crossbreed- have skyrocketed because people want a “ Lockdown Puppy”. I’ve heard of prices from £900 for a “Whippet x” to over £3k for a pedigree Whippet and I’m sure there’s worse. So people are looking at rescue dogs as a cheaper alternative. I’m being asked on a daily basis for dogs which are xxx coated / xxx colour/ good with kids/ cats/ goats/ chickers : under 22 ins tall etc, etc. You cannot come to rescue with a shopping list. We take in other people’s rejects. Sometimes we have some history for them, if they’re found straying, we don’t. Some of the dogs we take in need months and months of work to make them fit to rehome and my only concerns are finding the RIGHT home for the dogs in our care. We don’t rehome dogs on looks, but on their temperament and needs. So If I think a dog you’ve “fallen in love with” isn’t suitable, I will tell you and try to find one which is better suited.

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This is from Arundawn Rescue ( https://www.arundawndogrescue.co.uk/ ) :

Please note that lurchers are NOT all 'couch potatoes' needing little exercise and lying around on sofas with legs in the air! We are getting many applications which are sadly unsuitable for lurchers as there seems to be a belief that these fabulous 'running dogs' are lazy. (The internet plays a big part in this) Whilst an older lurcher often becomes a home loving and comfort seeking companion, a younger one will generally thrive on good exercise, free running, socialisation and stimulation. There are so very many 'varieties' of lurcher from straight sighthound crosses to any sighthound cross with any other dog that we really cannot and should not generalise, however many of the lurchers arrving in rescue are Saluki crosses and these crosses are generally high energy, have great stamina and resiance, play hard and fast, are not for the 'faint hearted', love their human company but also love their independence and more ... They make fantastic friends and loyal companions but need time and training - they rarely come 'ready made'!
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Just to make a point - I know these dogs’ breeding, but to look at them, how many people would guess what they are???

Advice to people thinking of getting a Lurcher

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