lurchers, cats, horses and sheep

[clare1965]

I've been looking for a new dog since my rescue collie died recently. I have done lots of research on lurchers, know acouple of friends who have them, read the House Lurcher from cover to cover and fallen in love with a 7 month old greyhound/deerhound/whippet x!
BUT now it's decision time a nagging voice is telling me that asking him to live with my cats and horses in a difficult to fence small holding is asking for trouble. Even worse my neighbour keeps his sheep the other side of a (sheep) wire fence.
I took him for a walk (on lead) when I went to view him and we met a cat who just sat and looked at him and he didn't seem particularly interested but I guess he's going to be a whole lot more interested when a cat/rabbit/horse/sheep runs. Obviously he will have to spend time on the lead for mnay months if I got him BUT I would like to think we could potter round the smallholding together eventually.

Would really like to hear others experience.............

[nataliesian]

I'm not sure how helpfull it is to you but I have a greyhound and he's fine with cats sheep and horses but he would love a bit of rabbit for breakfast dinner or tea- he's not fussy :0) and he runs through wire fences- last time he took all the skin off his legs. lurchers though can be a completely different kettle of fish. I'm sure others will be along with more useful advice so il leave that to them, but I just wanted to say hi and that I hope things work out for you xxx

[julies]

If he's been worked properly he should ignore all livestock BUT my last lurcher had (obviously from his behaviour) been worked and he would chase running sheep (luckily I found this out when next doors sheep got into my horses field) .. he ignored them when told My greyhound ignored my horses after she chased one, wouldn't come back and he kicked her in the head- not recommended but certainly worked the vet said luckily she'd got a thick skull !!!!
My current lurcher Charlie was frightened of the horses at first but I was careful that he was only off lead when I was watching him carefully and he's now fine and the horses don't chase him LOL.

I think if you choose a lurcher carefully and are prepared to put some training in then you'll be fine but that may mean a lot of supervision at first and on-lead walks not just free range exercise. My hounds do seem to know the instant your attention is elsewhere and disappear.. and make sure the cats have a safe escape route in case he forgets himself. I find they do remember where 'prey' is and will go back and revisit it so don't be fooled if he ignores them .. he may just be clocking them for later

Lurchers are the most fabulous dogs and well worth the effort tho don't expect them to be as trainable as your collie- they are very intelligent but think very differently ...

Good luck if you have one and keep asking on here ... we've all been thro it before

Julie