My daughter has just got a Lurcher puppy. I am not sure it was very well thought about but never the less it will be well looked after. What worries me is that she has cats and also we have two shih-tzu's one of which is quite small.  Are Lurchers by nature likely to chase small animals. My husband sometimes takes our two dogs round there but I am a bit worried as to how the Lurcher puppy will be with them. Can anyone with a Lurcher help please

I have a houseful of deerhounds and an IW who all live completely amicably with two cats and two Shetland Sheepdogs. In fact if any bullying is done it is by the Shelties nipping the hounds' hocks.

A lurcher puppy brought up sensibly with cats will be friendly with those cats. That said, it may well still chase strange cats. Hounds and lurchers will only chase small dogs if they make a mistake - eg if the small dog is in long grass. Even then they will pull up when they realise their mistake and recognise that it actually another dog.

You should have no problem at all introducing your shih-tzus to the lurcher pup. The only possible difficulty is the lurcher's play being too rough when it is adolescent, but that would be true of any larger dog. In my experience, and in all probability, the smaller dogs will have the upper paw from the start.

Thank you ! No doubt my little one will stand her ground.

Hi

I have a  6 mth whippet pup and a jack russel. I also breed rabbits. I have had no problems with the whippet apart from the useual puppy nosiness. Out walking the other day we came across a cat and she had no urge to chase it. In fact the oposite she was frightened of it wuss lol

Wendy

Ive got two lurchers here - one ive had from a pup, one from 9 yaers old who is an ex worker (and was im reliably informed, used to hunt CATS!!!)

Both are fine with MY cat, even outside of the house. However neither are safe with unknown cats(but then neither of my non lurchers are safe with unknown cats either!)

As a pup, they are no more likely to pose a problem in socialising to other dogs and cats or other small furrys than any other breed, but you do have to put the work in.

Knowing how the lurcher is bred often helps with training, collie bred lurchers will still show some herding and driving behaviour, terrier bred lurchers will often show keen terriery behaviour.

Lurchers SHOULD be taught how to play nicely with other dogs, theiri play frequently involves a 'dumbed down' version of hunting, ie chase, grab/trip, pin down..... its rare that they mean business however it can be deeply unpleasant for other dogs so a good solid 'leave' is wise and preferably lots of play with the sort of confident dog that just ignores this lurchery stupidness and says 'sod off you pointy lunatic', as opposed to submissive dogs who will roll over and cry for mummy or really aggro dogs who will fight back.

That said, all dogs need to nkow how to play nicely!

Em

Its all about how you bring them up, if you get them used to small furries from a young age, it shouldnt be too much of a problem. good luck