Just asking this as a speculative question, for now. We currently have 2 deerhounds, one male and one female. Emma is fixed, but her brother Jacob is not. We've been thinking about getting a new dog to raise with my nephew, and I was wondering if a lurcher would be a good idea. He's 5 years old now (my nephew, I mean) but the 2 deerhounds are a bit too boisterous with him, so we were thinking of getting a puppy. Don't get me wrong, I love our deerhounds, but the ones we've had recently have been quite short lived, and it's heart breaking, I was hoping a lurcher would have a better chance at a longer life span.

The thing is though, I would love it if we could put Jacob out as a lurcher stud, and get one of his pups back to keep, since we know his temperament and that of his relatives.

Just throwing the idea out there to see whether I may be on to something, or I'm being completely loony.

PS, my nephew has been raised with deerhounds, he is good with dogs (he was fantastic with Jorja, who had PSS), it's just that Emma and Jacob are a bit too prone to sending him flying, no matter what we try.

Nia

You could always try rescue first,

Not being funny or anything, but you have to think of the other pups
that will be born, will there be the homes out there for them - the lurcher rescues are full to bursting at the moment, theres pups and adults coming in from all over the place.

But yes - lurchers can be fantastic with kids and raised up together
they can end up best friends, although you would have to look at which breeding,
as they can be bouncy as well, depending on the size you want, beddy x's are good with kids
as they do have a carm nature.

Hi Gwynapnudd
I think the size of a deerhound cross would leave you in pretty much an equivalent position e.g. potentially the dog being too big/strong for your nephew to hold perhaps. We have a three year old son and the deerhounds are great with him but realistically when we're out and about its our Bedlington/Whippet cross lurcher that he takes and has much more interaction with in general.
I've always liked the idea of him having one of the smaller poodles having greatly admired them when I went to agility clubs/shows. However, I'm not sure my mother would agree and I'm also not sure how that combination would work with deerhounds. Lurchers though I think are usually great with deerhounds. I'm sure though there are many possibilities here. All the best Elise

Poodles and Deerhounds? Ask Sue Rose - her Standard Poodle Magic blends wonderfully with the Deerhounds.

Yes of course - I should have remembered that. Magic works well with the deerhounds so a definite possibility then. Elise

Recently sold a litter of D/H x collie pups and the funny thing is that all purchasers had owned one before,so it might be a bit of a niche market with not many on-a-whim buyers...

hairybeasty wrote:


How's the 'rogue' puppy and its owners getting on Hairybeasty?

Panic over. I passed on the wisdom learned here and everyones fine now,must update the relevant thread..thanks for asking Trish.

Briefly on the subject of life-span: I'm on the 4th lurcher of my life. Tinker was ?x part bearded collie, (a great HUGE hairy beast and son of my aunt's tiny short haired whippety lurcher!) lived to age 17, very gentle but could be quite intimidating because of his size!; Tinker 2 (rescue, long haired, part deerhound in shape but not so big) lived to age 24 - very gentle and was fabulous with our/all children when they were young; Reiver (rescue) ?x greyhound (very greyhoundish) lived to age 11-13 - was a very physically strong handful and more "aggressive"; and the wonderful Feshie (deerhound/...?) is a big softy, has a "given" birthday of 1st May when he "will be 2", and hopefully will live to a good age.
Hope that helps?

They all sound wonderful Feshie

houndy wrote:


After 12 weeks she's decided that a dog is too much of a commitment and he's coming back to hairybeasty's house tomorrow...

what a shame - pity she didnt consider the committment aspect of gettng a puppy before getting it

Yeah well,she's a hippy masseuse,single parent,with murals on her walls,doubt if she can commit to anything...I have done about 6 home training visits,should never have sold her the dog...blame myself..but she said she wanted the dog,....thought it would be ok...some bl@@dy people..

will you be able to re-sell the pup?

hope so..poor little beggar is at it's third home already..

Nothing wrong with being a hippy masseuse single parent with murals, Hairybeasty. If the breeder who sold us our first Deerhound had felt like that about hippies with kids, I wouldn't be where I am today. The Mad Scientist might feel differently about it, but I'm damn glad that Andy and Astrid saw past the hair and the clothes and let us have a puppy. I must admit, I might draw the line at the murals, though. And being a single parent isn't always a matter of choice, as my daughter will no doubt confirm.

Sid wrote:



You are a wummin of many hidden sides sid

No offence meant Sid,used to have long hair and walk into town barefoot myself, just a bit cross,and just an excuse for something to moan about.Totally off topic..just cross with the lady for not thinking about it properly...oh,and had some beers too...

And none taken either. Dinnae fash!

You could always have a whippet, they go with Deerhounds and are good with children.