Gundog Training Forum

Hi am new to this site I've just got an 8 week old lurcher I've got it sitting but just wondering when and how I will get it to bring things back to me

Hi Steven,

You seem to have got a bit lost, this is a gundog training forum! However, in answer to your question, as soon as you get the pup, play retrieves, nothing formal until much later.

Might do better for answers if you join this forum; http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/forum/2-lurchers-

thank you for the help

Depends largely on the cross, my practice is start young as in very young. Get it locked into it as a game as it ages Big field and a tennis racket can be a big friend as regards exercise and agility / speed. Do not hunt it till it is retrieving proper or you will forever have a non- retriever and always start with cold game then warm dead game just like a gundog.

A hallway with a well worn smelly sock knotted up in a ball is ideal, once you get the pup to hold interest in a stationary object your half way there, they all want to chase few want to pick up initially. Expect it to loose the desire to pick anything but real game once you start it, most of mine did. an eight week lab will pick up all sorts of stuff and wander around with it - quite different in a lurcher, the desire needs building

Its different from gundog work a little only and it must be a mad game. Don't listen to most of todays Lurcher writers most couldn't train a proper pot filling dog to save their lives. Having become obsessed with bull cross stuff etc

Judy wrote:Hi Steven,

You seem to have got a bit lost, this is a gundog training forum! However, in answer to your question, as soon as you get the pup, play retrieves, nothing formal until much later.

Might do better for answers if you join this forum; http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/forum/2-lurchers-

You won't get any decent answers on the hunting life mate!

Has a gun dog to be any certain breed?? Thought it was any dog that could do the job??

Welcome to the forum Dave M
All gun dog work is relevant here. Tell us a little of your interests and experience

Bill

Hi Steven

Welcome to the forum. Lurchers can make ideal gundogs.

What cross is your lurcher and what type of work are you training it for. This is an ideal forum for learning all basic obedience and basic gundog training is ideal for a a young lurcher. Sit , stay , recall , walking to heel off lead and breaking to livestock are important for all young working dogs and there are lots of experience on here.

I grew up with lurchers and they can be trained to a high standard . They may take longer to learn and can be more sensitive than gundogs but you'll learn loads on here and can sift out what you need.

One of my lurchers initially would only retrieve at night or if she thought I was walking away. But I stuck at it and she got to retrieving everything she caught. My lab is a natural retriever as you would expect. It just takes time , keep it all light hearted and fun and make a big fuss when they do retrieve. Pre ban she once coursed and caught and retrieved a huge hare which later weighed nearly 12 lb.
All the best

I thought we were trying to be a little more congenial on here,would have liked to hear more of his efforts. Maybe someone on here could have used a different perspective on training,like recall? I think it might be something to get a "lurcher" to come back. At some point we all have trouble with that. Made short work of him.

I owned a fist cross collie/ghound lurcher, she was so intelligent basic training was a breeze.

Saluki type lurchers are more of a challenge.

Training a lurcher to work to the gun can be done, getting them steady is or can be hard and needs a somewhat different approach (usually getting them to twig that they only run in once its actually hit LOL) . Gun shyness is very common indeed with sight hounds and anything with collie blood is very noise sensitive (an airgun is too much for many) but it can be done. I have owned two that worked to the gun, one was my back up dog when foxing during the pelt hunting days the other was that dog of a lifetime we all get to own but once in a lifetime, long nets, gate nets, ferrets, lamp, gun or rifle that dog did it all and had the uncanny ability to learn something once she connected a command with an action it was like glued in for good. Her party trick was retrieving hens eggs over a 5 bar gate without cracking them, don't train for it BTW coz she got a habit for random egg retrieving or rather thieving . She was too slow for daylight hares but if you didn't call her off she would stick her nose down and carry on into the next county if I let her and maybe had the stamina enough to kill them from sheer exhaustion if you were daft enough to let her.