A beautifully illustrated guide to keeping lurchers as pets, whether owning your dog from a puppy or adopting through a rescue charity. With detailed information on all aspects of care and practical advice on ownership throughout, Lurchers as Pets is essential reading for anyone considering owning a lurcher, or wanting to better understand and care for their dog. Further topics covered include puppy care and rescue lurchers; diet, grooming and health; socialization and play; training - recall, retrieve, muzzle training and basic commands; problem solving and behavioural issues and finally, responsible lurcher ownership including legal requirements. Comprehensively illustrated with 116 colour photographs by Liz Rodgers.
Since returning from a career in education, Carol Baby has spent the past decade working voluntarily for Greyhounds Rescue West of England, and is committed to improving people's knowledge and understanding of greyhounds. 116 colour
Lurchers and sighthounds have seen a huge rise in popularity over the past 40 years, and where once the lurcher was the shadowy, unseen tool of the poacher, it now enjoys a more legitimate role as a modern day pest control aid, as well as being valued as a companion and family pet. The pure sighthound breeds have always had their aficionados, whether as workers, pets or show and racing dogs; this book is written with all running dogs in mind, the term by which the author refers to lurchers and sighthounds alike in this book. Running dogs are athletes, which need committed care and understanding if they are to remain sound and healthy in their work, and the author has drawn upon her many years’ experience with working lurchers in order to compile a useful reference book for fellow owners. Written in a down to earth style this manual explains how to rear, feed and prepare the running dog for a healthy life, whether that involves strenuous work, competition or as a companion animal; how to avoid injury where possible and how to recognise specific types of injury when they do occur; how to treat them yourself and when to see the vet.
This book, Colonel Hancock's eighth, is about lurchers, the hunting dog of the humbler hunters. It covers not just the origins, uses, structure, breeding advice, blend of breeds and foreign counterparts, but the wide patronage of these hybrid talented hounds. Lavishly illustrated it covers many aspects of the lurcher scene for the first time. It is not a manual dealing with feeding, training, health concerns and rearing. It is a book for the hunter, the person more interested in what the lurcher does. No previous book has covered comparable hunting dogs abroad so fully; no other book on lurchers evaluates so deeply the value of the breeds contributing to this hybrid hound. AUTHOR: Colonel David Hancock MBE (not to be confused with the renowned lurcher breeder) has been studying dogs for over fifty years. He retired from the Army in 1983 when he became Director of the National Trust's Shugborough Estate. He has written a number of very successful books including The Mastiffs - The Big Game Hunters, now in its sixth edition. He judges working terriers and working tests for gundogs. He is a regular contributor to Country Life, The Field, Countryman's Weekly and Dogs Today. SELLING POINTS: *No previous book covers comparable hunting dogs worldwide *Sets out the essential physical and mental characteristics which make a successful lurcher REVIEWS 'Perhaps the most important living writer about dogs' a reviewer has described Colonel Hancock Colour throughout
Learn how to live happily with your lurcher at home and in public, and how to establish a sound recall so your lurcher can be exercised with confidence off the lead. All aspects of owning and training lurchers are covered in detail, with special attention given to those coming in from rescue homes.
Packed full of practical information and useful tips, this complete guide covers all aspects of owning a lurcher. Particular emphasis is placed on training and working the dog effectively.
Britain's answer to Marley and Me-the hilarious and heartwarming international bestseller about learning to live with a troublesome dog. Like many first-time pet owners, London-based novelist Stephen Foster was upbeat as he began his search for a puppy to adopt. How hard can it be to take care of a dog, he thought-read a guidebook or two, buy a few supplies, and get on with it. But all the books and supplies in the world couldn't have prepared him for life with Ollie, a willful and moody adopted dog who quickly demonstrated his displeasure at the notion of being told what to do. Walking Ollie tells the funny and charming story of how a growling, skittish man and his equally growling, skittish dog broke each other in, came to see eye to eye, and decided to become best friends.
Furgul is a puppy born in a slave camp for racing greyhounds, and he has a terrible secret--he is himself only part greyhound. When the cruel owner of the camp recognizes Furgul's impure origins he takes Furgul to be killed, but Furgal manages a spectacular escape. Now Furgul must confront the indifference, complexity, warmth, and ferocity of the greater world, a world in which there seem to be two choices: live the comfortable life of a pet and sacrifice freedom or live the life of a free dog, glorious but also dangerous, in which every man will turn his hand against you. In the best tradition of The Call of the Wild and Watership Down, novelist Tim Willocks offers his first tale for young adults, an allegorical examination of human life through a dog's eyes, infused with heart, heroism, and the mysteries of the spirit.
Every year many thousands of racing greyhounds retire from the racetrack and are successfully re-homed through dedicated greyhound charities. Written in association with Greyhound Rescue West of England, Retired Greyhounds - A Guide to Care and Understanding is essential reading for anyone who owns, or is thinking of owning a retired greyhound.The sound and practical advice contained within these pages will ensure that you have a clear understanding of your dog's needs, and will help to enable successful communication between you and your dog, thereby avoiding the common pitfalls that can arise through misunderstanding.Contents include:The first few days; Day-to-day care; Problem solving; Health care; Training for obedience; Fun and games. Approximately 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year and are re-homed by numerous dedicated retired greyhound charities.This book provides valuable insight and practical instruction to ensure that new owners are able to make a success of their new partnership through correct care and understanding.Written in association with GRWE - Greyhound Rescue West of England.Fully illustrated with 93 colour photographs and 2 line diagramsCarol Baby has worked as a volunteer for GRWE for over ten years.
“The next best thing to having an experienced Greyhound owner living with you.” —Joan Belle Isle, President, Greyhound Project “Anyone who reads this book and follows its guidance will have a happier, healthier dog and be a happier, more relaxed dog owner.” —Hal and Karen Hawley, Greyhound Friends Northwest The Greyhound has been celebrated in song and legend for thousands of years. Nowadays, Greyhounds are bred almost exclusively for racing. In the bad old days, prior to the 1980s, dogs that didn’t make the grade at the track, and those past their primes, were destroyed. According to official estimates, 60,000 of these noble, mild-mannered dogs were destroyed each year! Fortunately, a number of organizations now exist devoted to rescuing these unwanted dogs and placing them in good homes. Thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound? Or maybe you’re already sharing your life with one of these charming animals. Either way, this friendly guide tells you everything you need to know to: Understand the Greyhound personality Find a retired racing Greyhound to adopt Choose the right ex-racer for you and your family Educate yourself and your retired racer Give your new pal the diet and exercise it needs Keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come With plenty of good humor and straight-talk, Lee Livingood drawing on her forty-years of experience training adult rescue dogs to cover all the pros and cons of being a retired racing Greyhound owner, and she fills you in on: The amazing 8000-year history of the Greyhound Deciding whether an ex-racer is the right do for you and your family Physical and behavioral characteristics How to get a retired racer used to living in a home and be a companion Dealing with common behavioral and health problems Feeding, grooming, and exercising a Greyhound Fun things to do with your hound Bursting with expert advice on all aspects of living with an ex-racer, Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies is must reading for anyone considering adoption or who’s already taken the leap.