Lurchers, terriers and gun dogs...

[Hannah4181 260]

Having trained both, i would say gundogs . . . . i'm new to the gundog side of things, i never realised how much was involved or that it was such a massive area, and the discipline expected when at work in the field is much higher than for lurchers imo.

[poacher3161 1,766]

Gundogs.A collie lurchers a doddle at the side of some strains of springer spaniels.

[bradaz2009 9]

It also depends what you want a lurcher to i like mine to a very high standard and very versatile i take mine shooting expect birds or rabbits to be retrieved well but i dont want them chasing birds while out i expect them for teeth but soft mouthed for everything else but after saying that i would still say a gundog but then again aren't they meant to be easier to train than a bull x or saluki x but the only way would be to ask somebody who does the lot all to a very high standard

[danw 1,748]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Edited April 21, 2011 by danw

[baw 4,360]

Well said Danw

[Lab 10,979]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Don't agree dan....... Takes a hell of alot of time to get a gundog to a high standard never mind to ftch standard. The only time I see in getting a lurcher to a high standard is fitness, the owner has to put the time in to get to this level. Apart from that the dog either has it in it or it doesn't, I think jacker is the correct terminology,,,,,,,,;-)

[DottyDoo 500]

gundogs pmsl lol shroom got a staffy gundog ffs, how hard can that be, we all know shroom aint the sharpest knife in the rack

 

 

iv only ever seen a handfull a well trained lurchers, most are point an slip merchants, same as terriers, walking up to a hole on a lead is hadrly steady, tho i know of a few rock steady terriers, can ferret an bush allday wae them, an i doubt that training them was easy............

 

 

all dogs are invidual if ye ask me, to be honest tho, most breeds i have had, have pretty much been a doddle to train

[danw 1,748]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Don't agree dan....... Takes a hell of alot of time to get a gundog to a high standard never mind to ftch standard. The only time I see in getting a lurcher to a high standard is fitness, the owner has to put the time in to get to this level. Apart from that the dog either has it in it or it doesn't, I think jacker is the correct terminology,,,,,,,,;-)

 

My point is mate it is only fair to compare their difficulty to train if you train them to the same standard IE same job, try teaching a saluki x to retrieve then take out any gundog breed which of the 2 will take the lesson quickly, easily and permanently??

[Lab 10,979]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Don't agree dan....... Takes a hell of alot of time to get a gundog to a high standard never mind to ftch standard. The only time I see in getting a lurcher to a high standard is fitness, the owner has to put the time in to get to this level. Apart from that the dog either has it in it or it doesn't, I think jacker is the correct terminology,,,,,,,,;-)

 

My point is mate it is only fair to compare their difficulty to train if you train them to the same standard IE same job, try teaching a saluki x to retrieve then take out any gundog breed which of the 2 will take the lesson quickly, easily and permanently??

Horses for courses though mate....... Be a lot harder training a lab to kill a fox than it would a saluki?

[danw 1,748]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Don't agree dan....... Takes a hell of alot of time to get a gundog to a high standard never mind to ftch standard. The only time I see in getting a lurcher to a high standard is fitness, the owner has to put the time in to get to this level. Apart from that the dog either has it in it or it doesn't, I think jacker is the correct terminology,,,,,,,,;-)

 

My point is mate it is only fair to compare their difficulty to train if you train them to the same standard IE same job, try teaching a saluki x to retrieve then take out any gundog breed which of the 2 will take the lesson quickly, easily and permanently??

Horses for courses though mate....... Be a lot harder training a lab to kill a fox than it would a saluki?

 

I take your point but I consider the basics sit,stay,lie,walk to heal unrestrained,recall and retrieve as essential and it is just easier to instil those in a gundog to a satisfactory standard than a lurcher and lets face it if training good lurchers was that easy then there would be a lot less for sale

[Hannah4181 260]

I think most people have missed the point gundogs are easier to train because they accept adapt and learn much quicker than lurchers the amount of work required to take a gundog to ftch pails into insignificance compared to taking a lurcher to the same standard.

Don't agree dan....... Takes a hell of alot of time to get a gundog to a high standard never mind to ftch standard. The only time I see in getting a lurcher to a high standard is fitness, the owner has to put the time in to get to this level. Apart from that the dog either has it in it or it doesn't, I think jacker is the correct terminology,,,,,,,,;-)

 

My point is mate it is only fair to compare their difficulty to train if you train them to the same standard IE same job, try teaching a saluki x to retrieve then take out any gundog breed which of the 2 will take the lesson quickly, easily and permanently??

Horses for courses though mate....... Be a lot harder training a lab to kill a fox than it would a saluki?

 

I take your point but I consider the basics sit,stay,lie,walk to heal unrestrained,recall and retrieve as essential and it is just easier to instil those in a gundog to a satisfactory standard than a lurcher and lets face it if training good lurchers was that easy then there would be a lot less for sale

 

 

The basics you have mentioned are IMO the very least i expect from all my dogs, regardless of breed all dogs can be taught that, how quick they pick it up is dependant on the individual. I think the difference with lurchers and gundogs is the actual job they are required to do . . . . a gundog if used properly in the field to its full potential has a lot broader spectrum of skills to cover and master. Lurchers have a lesser variety of skills expected of them, yet as you've pointed out, often the breed make up in a lurcher is a more challenging pupil. With gundogs they are often required to contradict one discipline in order to achieve another. I agree with you that a lot comes down to choosing the right breed for the job, IMO the real skill is getting your dog to exceed what he was bred to do and to do it with style, adapting your training methods accordingly.

[Ideation 8,216]

To a low standard - easiest are lurchers.

To a medium standard - easiest are gundogs.

 

To a high standard, both are probably as hard as the other, but a gundog probably pips it, especially when it comes to field trailing.