My lurcher doesn't want to walk!

[tootsietoo]

No doubt I shall be bombarding the dog forum over the next few months with random questions about my lovely new lurcher.

He is about 6 months, greyhound x collie.

He is HATING this weather! When I go out to do the horses he sits on the door step in front of the house waiting for me to come back. To get him to come for a walk I have been CARRYING him over the mud to get him out to the field! And he is not nearly as enthusiastic once we are walking than he was last week. He even has a cosy warm waterproof coat on.

So which is meaner - dragging him off the sofa to take him for a walk, or not taking him for a walk?

 

[Suelin]

Most longdogs hate the wet and cold. Mine have to go, no question. Persevere he'll get used to it. Better that he has exercise than not and at 6 months he shouldn't be dictating to you really.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would persevere otherwise you might find his house training will slip a bit. Having said that at 6 months he really shouldn't be doing too much in the way of structured on lead walking, a maximum of 30 minutes a day.

 

[Elsbells]

Haha! Oh this brings back some wonderful memories of ALL the long dogs we've lived with and loved.

You have a greyhound crossed with a collie, , you must be prepared to be outrun and outwitted.

They don't like the cold and wet, end of, but take them coursing or lamping and all of a sudden, who cares!!?

He sounds wonderful. Enjoy him

 

[tootsietoo]

Suelin I agree! I have been doing 5 minutes work on basic training 3 times a day in the garden with the tastiest treats I can find, and he doing brilliantly. As soon as I start asking him to come in the direction of the cold mud, he suddenly is not so brilliant. I need to try a long bit of string I think to enforce it.

Murphy's that is useful, I have been careful not to do too much, 30 minutes really is not much at all - fine in this weather!

Elsbells someone else said the same to me. It is a lovely cross!

 

[Suelin]

I have an Italian Greyhound. They are real lapdogs if allowed to be. When we first had her we went to do the horses in the pouring rain so she and whippets had their raincoats on and off we went. Whippets jumped straight out of the car but little IG said "Not bl**dy likely!" I reached into the car and took hold of her jacket and gently pulled her out and closed the door with the words "You're a country dog now, get on with it!" She wasn't amused but strangely she didn't dissolve in the rain either and will not be left behind now whatever the elements are chucking at us.

Sometimes you just have to be a bit tough.

Just be firm (not rough) and your lurcher will soon get the message. Good luck and enjoy every minute they are wonderful dogs.