Will My Lurcher Get It?

[mikaakim]

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Ok so i grew up with lurchers...6 of them. however by the time i grew up they were already trained.

I now have one of my own. with my wife. (she got him for me as i came to Canada from the UK and missed having a companion.)

ANYHOW

Azreal is unlike any of the Lurchers I have had... he is a REAL handful!

His mother was a Greyhound (pedigree)

His Dad was a Irish wolfhound (Pedigree)

So here is the thing.

I tried to train him on my own - I failed, i got him to sit and stay for a few seconds but that was it, he is so stubborn it is intolerable.

So for his 2 year b'day we got him into Lvl 1 obedience class which is all on lead! and at class, his lurcher working dog side showed, after the first 2 hour lesson he picked up heel instantly and has never faulted on it yet. We are now 6 weeks into it and he is doing Excellent.

However this is all on lead!

When he is off leash at home in the yard he become stubborn and pretends he doesn't hear a damn word i say. We just got new neighbors...Literally... they moved in yesterday, with 2 little dogs, and he went berserk by the fence...not barking, he doesn't bark, just running up and down the fence and trying to get over the fence! I had to drag him in by his scruff!!! I was close to dyeing of embarrassment

Now my question is this, he has always had a problem with small dogs...he doesn't attack them, just bully's them, and sometimes he worries me that he might!

When we complete on leash training, do you think due to his breed he will pick up off leash training just as well? because when he gets his headlights on he will not listen to me, and i mean he just blocks me out like i don't even exist!

Also - this may be a stupid question!! BUT seeing he is a working dog breed...(please don't laugh) Can he tell the difference between a small dog, and a rabbit in which he instinctively wants to chase and bring home for dinner???

Thanks!!

Richard

 

[jinnyfizz]

Wow! He is handsome :wub:

I'm no expert but it sounds as though he needs alot of socialisation with smaller dogs before you will ever be confident with him.

My lurcher went through a stage when each and every jack russell was potential dinner for her (w00t) ..... this was unfortunate for the neighbouring farm to me as they have a JRT which was persistantly coming over the hedgebank and into my field looking for rabbits!

He did it once too often and Poacher chased after him, over the hedge and caught him. She inflicted a bite wound around his neck but luckily he screamed so loud that she dropped him and left him alone.

He no longer comes onto my land :- and I have had horsewire put around the perimeter of my field now so my dogs cannot get out!

Poacher no longer has an issue with terriers as I have been taking her to gamefairs and dog shows all summer long. She has now seen so many, and been told NO by me whenever she has shown any interest that she now ignores them :sweating:

I guess it will be time and consistent direction and pack-leadership from you which will sort your boy out. You will have to be firm with him and yes, you will have to put him in situations where he shows the behaviour you want to correct in order to make progress!

I guess the first thing is to make friends with your new neighbours so that the dogs can meet under supervision. That way, Azreal will know who is living next door and should see them as part of your pack

Good luck and keep us updated - he is a lovely dog! :luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[TTT]

He's a handsome lad! It may be a good idea to stick at the training classes to make him come into contact with other types of dogs. Perhaps walking your and the new neighbours dogs on leads together on neutral territory and under firm supervision a few times might help the dogs (and people) all bond?