Constitution, under rated?

[Simoman 110]

Not something that gets mentioned all that often but in my opinion a very important make up in a lurcher. I am running two dogs at the moment, one(touch wood) seems to have the constituion of an ox and seems to run rough ground, take knocks and scrapes and still be bouncing in his run after a short rest. My bitch is in her prime and same as the dog gives her all on each run but is slightly more susceptable to injury and after a hard night looks like she needs more recovery time. Both dogs perform well to my standard and yet the only injuries between the two last season were a knocked toe and a couple of wire tears.

Now some of this will be down to luck as anything can happen but is it also down to the constitution of the dogs? Is it an inherited trait, i think so?????

[WILF 48,030]

I think, like horses, you get good "doers" and bad "doers"............if you get a bad doer, its a f*****g nightmare JMHO

[KittleRox 2,147]

Aye constitution, some dogs definately have good and some dogs bad

 

What are the factors though

 

is it the breeds used

 

is it inherited

 

how well is the pup/pups are reared

 

whats the diet ?

[DottyDoo 500]

iv seen some dogs that look nowt but strange in shape an conformation an yet they catch....

 

 

seen some dogs that look as they were designed by the god a hunting himself, but couldnae catch a cold....

 

 

does it really matter all that much???? obviously barring genetic faults an disabilities, as long as the dog can do its job, leave it be

[Simoman 110]

Aye constitution, some dogs definately have good and some dogs bad

 

What are the factors though

 

is it the breeds used I think so, salukis for instance, i think they have one of the toughest constitutions, bulls too

 

is it inherited Again i think so, as wilf says some are bad doers and some aren't, i think its inherited

 

how well is the pup/pups are reared I think a pup reared on a good diet, brought on slowly and entered carefully will be physically better than a whelp fed poorly, entered too sonn and had the legs run off it

 

whats the diet ? As above

 

 

Thanks for the replies fellas, perhaps i should of called the thread lets see your bull cross or can a bull/whippet kill 35 foxes a week :laugh: :laugh:

[KittleRox 2,147]

On the whole I agree with your post Simo

 

but I have a saluki grey here just needs to look at a rabbit and its a trip to the vets, retired a 6, I know the pup was poorly reared though( origanaly just got her as a pet cause the wifes mutt died ) so I suppose the poor rearing cancelled any hardiness out

 

also have a collie type here, reared on a farm bred from workers and although she,s only 18 months I know she,s a much hardier dog and I shouldn,t have the problems with feet, stamina etc

 

so I think try and get all the factors mentioned correct to increase yer chances of having a " good doer "

[leegreen 2,221]

Aye constitution, some dogs definately have good and some dogs bad

 

What are the factors though

 

is it the breeds used ; yep

 

is it inherited ; yep

 

how well is the pup ; yep. pups are reared ; a bit yep

 

 

I don't think you can change it much as most of it is inherent, but I think it is very important.

Edited September 10, 2011 by leegreen

[bunnys 1,228]

constitution to me usually comes in the very best animals coursing dogs ,and of course some other types .the ability to work several times per week or daily plus night ,and retain condition .shake of knocks and injury free.the types that need days to recover when put in a hard shift can be hard work in itself ,the animal that gets fat on meagre rations and has the ability to still look well when worked hard his the animal for work this his the type of dog i prefer no matter what breed or cross, constitution his a big plus in any working dog .atb bunnys

[forest of dean redneck 11,775]

i was thinking about this earlier,

and trying to think whether health/constitution or temperment would be my top list of priorities in a dog.

 

i like a dog to have a good stomach as well as not needing trip to vets apart from worming or jabs.

[artic 595]

Diet is another factor people seem to forget.

 

Good balanced diet = Better recovery rate and performance.

[weasle 1,119]

To be honest i thinkits directly linked to running styles as much as anything, a slow half cross collie or,bull xis not going to get hurt as much as a real speed freak.

[stabba 10,745]

To be honest i thinkits directly linked to running styles as much as anything, a slow half cross collie or,bull xis not going to get hurt as much as a real speed freak.

Tbh i think that statement is entirely wrong mate...a dog is born with good constitution whether he,s fast or slow ...look at some of the fen dogs..like shit off a shovel but very hardy and robust...thats because they have been bred that way for donkey,s years with the bad traits bred out. you can rear a pup as well as you like but if he constitutionally unsound then there,s nothing you can do to put it there...sure you can help him along a little with fitness..good diet and such but nothing and i mean nothing is going to alter the way he was born ...jmo..atb stabba

[Penda 3,341]

I think its got to be bred into the dog, ive got a pup im bringing on at the moment shes had a few knocks and bangs all ways manages to get to her feet and finsh the job off best she can she has got gritt and determination thats all i ask for in a dog

[paulus 26]

some dogs have it some dogs dont simple as, do your homework, pay your money and hope for the best

[bird 10,012]

constitution to me usually comes in the very best animals coursing dogs ,and of course some other types .the ability to work several times per week or daily plus night ,and retain condition .shake of knocks and injury free.the types that need days to recover when put in a hard shift can be hard work in itself ,the animal that gets fat on meagre rations and has the ability to still look well when worked hard his the animal for work this his the type of dog i prefer no matter what breed or cross, constitution his a big plus in any working dog .atb bunnys

 

my 1x colliegrey Bryn as a good constitution , he as many hard night in the lamp, where he as been well fecked, but good food and a day rest is up again for it the next day. And he as quite few bangs when out, even a horse kicked him into a edge, and got up shook him self, and just walked on. I know it comes down to (each) dog and not the x, but colliexgreys do seem to handle all kinds of work, with good coats and very good feet. Not sure if coursing dogs ever have collie in them, as most are line bred salukis xs , but i think alot of dogs with collie in the mix give good constitution.