A few questions from a newbie

[girodin 0]

I am completely new to hunting with sight hounds. I have hunted with terriers used to flush rabbits/hares to the gun and hunted birds over dogs but I have never used sight hounds. After being exposed to this type of hunting, I have become greatly interested in it. I am currently living in the western United States where rabbits, hares, foxes, and coyotes are VERY plentiful, and hunting them with dogs is legal.

 

I have tried to learn as much as I can and have been reading and learning much on this forum for some time. I have been doing as much research as I can on the internet but I have some questions I haven’t really found good answers to. I hope you will forgive my ignorance but I figured this board would be a good place for information.

 

It seems that most people serious about working their dogs use cross bred lurchers. I have some questions about the various breeds of sight hounds. I would like to learn more about the following breeds. Scottish Deer hound, Borzoi, Whippet, Greyhound, Afghan Hound, Irish wolf hound and the Saluki. I was hoping to hear the pros/positive traits and characteristics of each as well as their cons/drawbacks and shortcomings.

 

I would also like to hear about the coats/skin, feet, and general health, trainability of each as well as what quarry they are suitable for. Also to what degree are working strains of each available with in the United States.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Simoman 110]

Why don't you ask Kye, hes over there working American quarry, i'm sure he could tell you

[olly 0]

I use saluki crosses

 

They do not tire easily, over a mile you will not find a faster dog. Over short distances they cannot match the speed of a Grey or Whippet.

 

However, they are not that easy to train and if you want a dog that comes back every time you call ... look elsewhere. I have no idea on Coyotes but they will take Fox, Hare & rabbit not a problem.

 

Like most Lurhers/sight hounds they do have thin skin, feet are sound many people cross Greyhound with Saluki's as they are a little more hardy in the foot.

 

Goodluck

Edited July 16, 2007 by olly

[girodin 0]

Thank you for the responses.

 

I split my time between Colorado and Utah.

 

I am very interested in the staghound but have had great difficulty finding any reliable information on them, let alone good breeders.

[Royston2 0]

Thank you for the responses.

 

I split my time between Colorado and Utah.

 

I am very interested in the staghound but have had great difficulty finding any reliable information on them, let alone good breeders.

ask kye

[girodin 0]

I am interested. I would mainly be hunting hares (black tailed jack rabbits) but would like a dog that ould run coyotes. I dont know if they exist, and if they do how common they are but I would love to have a dog that could run coyotes singlely on occasion.

 

I found a website of a guy in Idaho www.geneticspecialties.com. Anyone know anything about his dogs?

[Guest quixflash]

I am completely new to hunting with sight hounds. I have hunted with terriers used to flush rabbits/hares to the gun and hunted birds over dogs but I have never used sight hounds. After being exposed to this type of hunting, I have become greatly interested in it. I am currently living in the western United States where rabbits, hares, foxes, and coyotes are VERY plentiful, and hunting them with dogs is legal.

 

I have tried to learn as much as I can and have been reading and learning much on this forum for some time. I have been doing as much research as I can on the internet but I have some questions I haven’t really found good answers to. I hope you will forgive my ignorance but I figured this board would be a good place for information.

 

It seems that most people serious about working their dogs use cross bred lurchers. I have some questions about the various breeds of sight hounds. I would like to learn more about the following breeds. Scottish Deer hound, Borzoi, Whippet, Greyhound, Afghan Hound, Irish wolf hound and the Saluki. I was hoping to hear the pros/positive traits and characteristics of each as well as their cons/drawbacks and shortcomings.

 

I would also like to hear about the coats/skin, feet, and general health, trainability of each as well as what quarry they are suitable for. Also to what degree are working strains of each available with in the United States.

 

Thanks in advance.

I use an afghan and she works really well. She has been a challenge to train but is stockproof and comes back when called, most of the time. She has not had any injuries yet, touch wood and is fairly tough. She hasn't the speed of a grey but can out turn them and has more long distance speed.

[lurch4me 0]

I am completely new to hunting with sight hounds. I have hunted with terriers used to flush rabbits/hares to the gun and hunted birds over dogs but I have never used sight hounds. After being exposed to this type of hunting, I have become greatly interested in it. I am currently living in the western United States where rabbits, hares, foxes, and coyotes are VERY plentiful, and hunting them with dogs is legal.

 

Here is a blog from I guy I found inlightening...not sure if he will reply to you but here is the info.

 

Mike Bilbo longdog-blog.blogspot.com

 

He runs staghounds on Coyotes and Hares regularly and is active with breeders who do the same.

 

Good Luck,

 

I would also like to get into coursing hares in Central Canada, but I need to place one of my Gun dogs in a new home first...wife only allows me to own 2 dogs.