Owning a pet dog

[pdq1]

What are your views on owning a lurcher from a puppy? There are 4 young children under 6 in the house. Do they require a lot of exercise? Do they cost much to feed?
Thanks in advance.

[tonyav]

Lurcher's are part Greyhound, so I would think that they will most probably need a fair amount of exercise.

[friedgreentomato]

We had a lurcher x lab and it was a gannet!! Had to be watched all the time because it would steel food, saying that it was also the most loving and tender dog - so gentle with youngsters.

If you are worrying at this stage how much a dog is going to cost to feed then I would suggest it is better not to get one - as there is all sorts of variables in the cost to be taken into consideration.

[Zacs-Master]

From the Dog's trust website:
“It is a huge misconception that Greyhounds, Lurchers and Whippets need lots of exercise – the complete opposite is true! They are actually quite lazy creatures and will need only a couple of short walks a day.

“People are also often put off by their size but breeds like these are very gentle, hugely sociable and appreciative of human affection. They are also generally excellent with children. They absolutely adore our dedicated kennel staff and will make exceptional pets!”

[woofgang]

Taking on a dog from a pup they will need a ton of attention and someone home all the time at first. they will wee and poo in the house if this is not managed, disturb your sleep, chew everything including the kids toys and anything else not put out of their reach and need a LOT of careful training including socialisation with other dogs and people. They will need somewhere they can go (not be put) where the children will leave them alone and the children will need to be taught how to behave around the dog and MUST comply because if they don't it will get risky. Pups are nippy and the kids may get nipped.

With 4 littlies in the house unless you have the organisational skills of Alexander the Great, then I would wait until the children are older.
You sound from your question as though you are not an experienced dog owner?

[AlwaysConfused]

Zacs-Master is right, they do not need a lot of exercise.

[woofgang]

maybe an adult dog from a rescue might be a better idea?
Dog food is a comparatively small item in the cost of dog ownership. There's insurance, vacs, collars, leads, beds, damage repair, cost of training, etcet etcet.

[AlwaysConfused]

http://www.lurchers.c...urcher-care/training/
check this link out, good information.

[FredPuli43]

With Zacs' quote on that. Greyhounds are, like other sight hounds, a lazy lot. The exercise they like consists of energetic but shortish runs, off the lead.They don't require miles of road work to keep them happy. They were bred for short bursts of action in hunting down prey, not spending hours constantly on the steady move. The rest of the time the laze about. They're a sloppy lot, raised as pets, and there seems no reason to think a lurcher is any different.

But the usual rules apply, in particular that all dogs must be watched with children; children should not be left unattended with any breed.

[pastafreak]

I have a lurcher-but she was already 2 years old when I got her.
Contrary to popular belief...they do not need a lot of exercise. They are bred to chase-so run in short bursts....then spend the rest of the day stretched out on the sofa.
I've heard that they steal food,etc....Sally never has-except for once when she stole my unfinished chicken from my plate. But I could leave the rubbish under her nose and she won't touch it (oh-unless there is a bit of wax from cheese in there...!)

[ladybirder]

My views are forget it. With 4 small children to be looked after the puppy is not going to get the attention it deserves and I doubt you will have time to teach the children how to behave around it. No it won't need a lot of exercise but it will need to be taken out, socialised with other dogs and taught to walk on a lead. Definitely wait until the children are older. A puppy isn't a toy but too many people think it is.
As to the cost of feeding it, that will be nothing compared to vet bills. You will need to take it for flea treatment every few weeks plus worming, plus vaccinations, plus spaying, plus plus plus pet insurance.
And never forget, a puppy is for life, not just for Christmas.

[pastafreak]

oops...posted too soon...
I chose Sally because I live in a flat,and am not a youngster...I wanted a dog that was gentle(she is!) and would not pull me all over the place...she did a bit at first-but she'd never been on a lead,nor had she seen stairs-or even toys for that matter.
I'd definitely reccomend a rescue dog-they give so much back....

[pastafreak]

She is cheap to feed-as she is not a big eater...and flea treatment does not need to be done by the vet...so that's about £4 per month.
But yes-I'd wait until the children are older. also.

[pastafreak]

aarrggh...more to write here...lurchers are not necessarily part greyhound. They are any sighthound crossed with another breed...so not always big either.

[Baldric]

Just got back from Vets, 2 x Dobermann, annual jabs, check ups and some antibiotics for the one with a sore foot £147. They aint cheap!
But wouldn't be without them!

[jd_1984]

I would say give it a miss!
It will require a lot of exercise, my uncle bred them a few years ago.
They have a pretty good temperament but even so, with 4 under 6's not a good idea! I was criticised slightly for introducing a kitten to our family and we have one 4 year old and some felt too young to have a kitten, never mind large energetic dogs

[Anneho]

As someone who runs a dog rescue operation I cannot believe that you would even consider taking on a puppy when you have 4 children under 6. Dogs are not cheap to have and I get so angry when idiotic people take on puppies when they have got no idea what they are doing. PLEASE PLEASE let this puppy go to a home with owners that know what they are doing.

[islasmum]

My lurcher (lab x greyhound) was the most gorgeous gentle dog with everyone but the moment she saw a squirrel or anything fairly small that ran, she was after it, up trees, over fences etc - also they really good at nicking food - with four small children you probably wouldn't need to buy much dog food! (joke - I mean that the dog would have have a great time nicking stuff off plates, rather than eating the children!) I really would leave getting a dog until after Christmas - unfortunately you'll probably have more choice then.

[slinky.kate]

i have a lurcher and he is the best dog ever,sleeps all day with his 3 legs in the air,he does tend to eye up food when we are eating,so lovable,funny,quiet,never barks.goes out twice a day,at teatime he goes to the park and runs about for an hour or so with his pals,when he gets home he just colapses and sleeps all night,he was a rescue dog,6 months old,we have had him 2 years now.

[lankeela]

Anneho think you reply was a little harsh, pdq1 has come on here asking for our views. While I agree that its probably taking on too much at this point there are ways of telling people. Although people say certain dogs don't need a lot of exercise, that doesn't mean they can be just shoved out in the garden every day without a good walk and a free run if safe. Training a puppy is hard work, and needs consistency. You will need to be up early to make sure it has time outside to learn housetraining and you will need to stay outside with it whatever the weather as a puppy left outside on its own will just cry to come back in. Training not to chew will also be difficult with toys and shoes lying around, and food there for the taking from sticky little fingers. As other say food is not the major consideration from a cost point of view, but feeding the cheapest cr*p food from the supermarket will probably mean a lot more squitty poos to clear up. The better quality food the easier it is to digest in most cases. Insurance is quite expensive but if you don't have access to a reasonable sum of money for vets bills then perpaps its a good precaution. I would suggest you think about maybe an older dog from a rescue - most greyhounds are retired from racing at about four years old and do make good pets provided the children are taught to be sensible with them, and not prod and poke them particularly when they want to sleep. While I think its a great idea for kids to grow up with a dog, I wonder if you would be taking on a bit much with four youngsters - perhaps waiting a couple of year might make life a bit easier for you.