First Time With A Longdog.

[Justin Glover 12]

Good Morning everyone.

 

As soem of you might have seen in my introduction post I am a new owner of a rescue lurcher that was handed into to a local animal rehoming centre. I have only had him since Sunday and yet he has already made progress. The most important thing is he has been accepted by our other dog who is a Ridgeback Doberman cross. Merlin as I have called is approximately eighteen months old, I will be getting that clarified by the vets this week. He is a lurcher with definite saluki in there and aside from that I don't know anything about him.

 

His temperament is wonderful. gentle around my grand daughter and not aggressive around other dogs. He had been found dumped on the street so I did have some concerns but he is wonderful.

 

All my past experience has been with English Springer Spaniels and so this is a new journey for me. Initially he was only going to be a companion for our other dog but his instincts are so attuned I am going to work him.

 

I would be grateful for any advice at all. From the simplest things to the more advanced in fact forget what I've said about the springers and pretend I'm a complete novice with any working dogs. Based on his background and what I know. Where would you start.

 

 

Thank you in advance and I will look forward to your advice.

 

[dytkos 17,800]

Make sure he's steady with stock number one priority.

Good luck with him.

 

Cheers, D.

[desertbred 5,490]

No matter how placid he seems never trust him or any dog around kids on their own not even for a minute. Now first keep him on a slip outside until you bond properly with him preferably in an enclosed space your garden etc,try out basic commands and recall once these are satisfactory take him out on the slip to see what his reactions are to any live stock,let him see a few bunnies see what interest he shows while still on the slip , hopefully he may have been worked before. Build him up food and exercise wise for a few weeks, then you will be ready for the new season good luck and many happy days enjoyment.

Edited July 13, 2016 by desertbred

[beast 1,884]

if you stockbreak him, and get decent recall, that is all you need for starters. everything else is a bonus. good luck!

[Justin Glover 12]

Thank you everyone. I've just been speaking to my cousin with whom dad and I used to go shooting and working the Springers. My dad passed last year so this is something that he would have been excellent with helping with but I'm having to seek advice elsewhere nwo. I've jsut been told the same thing. Get him walking behind me off the lead and then build from here.

[BGD 6,436]

Great to see a rescue lurcher getting the chance to work, hate seeing them dragged round the park on leads by the fur mummy brigade

 

Good on you pal

[flipbull 1,139]

Do you wanna work him nightime/daytime ?

[flipbull 1,139]

Thank you everyone. I've just been speaking to my cousin with whom dad and I used to go shooting and working the Springers. My dad passed last year so this is something that he would have been excellent with helping with but I'm having to seek advice elsewhere nwo. I've jsut been told the same thing. Get him walking behind me off the lead and then build from here.

Personally I would have him walking in front or at your side mate.

[tb25 4,627]

Get it out in the day were you no there's some hares about....then away you go..as said get it round some stock ...

[Justin Glover 12]

No matter how placid he seems never trust him or any dog around kids on their own not even for a minute. Now first keep him on a slip outside until you bond properly with him preferably in an enclosed space your garden etc,try out basic commands and recall once these are satisfactory take him out on the slip to see what his reactions are to any live stock,let him see a few bunnies see what interest he shows while still on the slip , hopefully he may have been worked before. Build him up food and exercise wise for a few weeks, then you will be ready for the new season good luck and many happy days enjoyment.

I've already had him around my granddaughter. We have another rescue dog a Ridgeback x and I agree children should never be left unsupervised around any animal for both their sake. He has just seen his first cat whilst on the lead and whilst it's not a good choice his head when went up straight away and he was waiting to go. I will need to be-careful he never chases one because I can't expect to encourage him to chase one thing and another although I'm sure many of us have both cats and lurchers together I simply won't take the chance.

[Justin Glover 12]

 

Thank you everyone. I've just been speaking to my cousin with whom dad and I used to go shooting and working the Springers. My dad passed last year so this is something that he would have been excellent with helping with but I'm having to seek advice elsewhere nwo. I've jsut been told the same thing. Get him walking behind me off the lead and then build from here.

Personally I would have him walking in front or at your side mate.

 

Sorry for the multiple post I only just saw this one. I'm down in Chepstow so to my knowledge there are no hares around here so it will be rabbits unless I find otherwise. I have got a friend who I'm in university with who has two farms and so I'm hoping that she will let me take him here once he's broken to stock. I don't have a preference for day or night work but I would quite like him to be able to do both so that any opportunities I get I can take advantage of. I've noticed in the short time I've had him he will already follow to heel in the field I walk him, okay field is an exgeration it is a patch of grass that used to be a small park. It's is small enough not to lose him but big enough I can let him run on a long rope and still control him. So far he is responding well to his new name and when you consider I've only had him three days I'm really pleased with him.

[Justin Glover 12]

Great to see a rescue lurcher getting the chance to work, hate seeing them dragged round the park on leads by the fur mummy brigade

 

Good on you pal

I grew up with English springer Spaniels, working and field test and scurry dogs. I had mine dropping to the shot at the age of sixteen and she was the first bitch I trained myself so I'm reasonably confident with the right advice I'll be okay. I'm in complete agreement with you they are working dogs and need to be worked. My friends mum has told me all hers were neuroitic and chewed everything, so far he's not been too bad and there are always solutions. This will be a first for me so hence why I'm asking a lot of questions from people here and looking to make friends with people close by to work him with. We always worked our inexperienced dogs alongside the more experienced ones to give them confidence and to help bring them on. I'm taking him up the vets this evening for a check up because of his background and hopefully they can give me a better idea of his age and what I'm working with. I'll no doubt be asking more. Thank you.

[flipbull 1,139]

 

 

No matter how placid he seems never trust him or any dog around kids on their own not even for a minute. Now first keep him on a slip outside until you bond properly with him preferably in an enclosed space your garden etc,try out basic commands and recall once these are satisfactory take him out on the slip to see what his reactions are to any live stock,let him see a few bunnies see what interest he shows while still on the slip , hopefully he may have been worked before. Build him up food and exercise wise for a few weeks, then you will be ready for the new season good luck and many happy days enjoyment.

I've already had him around my granddaughter. We have another rescue dog a Ridgeback x and I agree children should never be left unsupervised around any animal for both their sake. He has just seen his first cat whilst on the lead and whilst it's not a good choice his head when went up straight away and he was waiting to go. I will need to be-careful he never chases one because I can't expect to encourage him to chase one thing and another although I'm sure many of us have both cats and lurchers together I simply won't take the chance.

Get him out on some young easy bunnies nightime on the lamp, away from stock for now. Get him used to his surroundings and hazards. Take him alone for now and get his recall spot on. Build that bond mate and you will both learn together. Rome wasn't built in a day. Bit of wind, rain and dark nights will all go in his favour. Go into the lamping equipment section and get yourself a decent lamp. There's loads of info on lamps and prices. Good to see your gonna give him a working life. Good on ya

[dodger 2,765]

Nice strong dog sounds like he's in good hands sure you'll have some fun together..

[Justin Glover 12]

 

 

No matter how placid he seems never trust him or any dog around kids on their own not even for a minute. Now first keep him on a slip outside until you bond properly with him preferably in an enclosed space your garden etc,try out basic commands and recall once these are satisfactory take him out on the slip to see what his reactions are to any live stock,let him see a few bunnies see what interest he shows while still on the slip , hopefully he may have been worked before. Build him up food and exercise wise for a few weeks, then you will be ready for the new season good luck and many happy days enjoyment.

I've already had him around my granddaughter. We have another rescue dog a Ridgeback x and I agree children should never be left unsupervised around any animal for both their sake. He has just seen his first cat whilst on the lead and whilst it's not a good choice his head when went up straight away and he was waiting to go. I will need to be-careful he never chases one because I can't expect to encourage him to chase one thing and another although I'm sure many of us have both cats and lurchers together I simply won't take the chance.

Get him out on some young easy bunnies nightime on the lamp, away from stock for now. Get him used to his surroundings and hazards. Take him alone for now and get his recall spot on. Build that bond mate and you will both learn together. Rome wasn't built in a day. Bit of wind, rain and dark nights will all go in his favour. Go into the lamping equipment section and get yourself a decent lamp. There's loads of info on lamps and prices. Good to see your gonna give him a working life. Good on ya

 

The good thing is I've just taken him up the vets and he is in relatively good condition. The weight thing with him isn't as bad as I thought. He's 23 kg and the vet said he needs to be about 25 or 26. so it will come in time. she's placed him between 2 and five but he is still quite puppyish so probably the lower end and so I'm saying two. In that regards he's not too old and not too young. His recall is coming on lovely but he does get carried away when he's out playing with Freya. I'm not doing ever such a lot with him at the moment, three days in and already starting to respond to his new name. I appreciate all your help thank you.