Greyhounds and Lurchers in Rescues Throughout the UK, All If You Are Interested in Rehoming a Looking for Loving Homes

If you welcome an ex-racer into your home, remember that they will have spent most of their life in kennels and will need time and gentle encouragement to get used to the home environment. Take care when out with your new dog, around smaller dogs and other animals that may remind them Greyhounds of their hunting instincts. Providing toys to chase and play with can help to channel and Lurchers their hunting urges away from the local wildlife!

As with any dog, having the time to devote to them and providing them with a comfortable and secure environment really can bring the best out in these dogs – making them a loyal and loving What to do if you want to welcome companion for many years to come. a Greyhound into your life... Be a responsible owner and neuter Choosing to get a dog is a very big your dog – it’s simply the best choice decision, whatever breed you want to for you and your pet. get. There are many Greyhounds and Lurchers in rescues throughout the UK, all If you are interested in rehoming a looking for loving homes. You can visit dog, supporting Dogs Trust or for your nearest Dogs Trust rehoming centre, more information and factsheets or look up breed-specific rescues in your about all aspects of dog ownership, area to find the right dog for you. please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or contact: As with any dog, if children are sensible Dogs Trust and calm around them, Greyhounds and 17 Wakley Street Lurchers can make great family pets and should not pose a problem in families London with young children. Given the Lurcher’s EC1V 7RQ love of food it is worth making sure that children know not to feed them from the Tel: 020 7837 0006 table or share their food with them – to Reg. Charity Numbers: 227523 avoid them challenging children over and SC037843 food in future. Photo by Andy Catterall The Greyhound is one of the oldest to welcome one of these ‘long dogs’ into known breeds of dog, dating back to your home you will be rewarded with a an ancient breed in Egyptian times. gentle, loyal - and surprisingly lazy - pet. They were often owned by royalty, and Read on to find out more about these by the 11th century in England were leggy lovelies... owned exclusively by nobility. No longer the ‘dog of kings’, they are now most What you should know about famously used for our amusement and Greyhounds and Lurchers gambling on race tracks across the UK. Sadly many ‘retired’ racers end up in Greyhounds and Lurchers are strong, rescue kennels waiting for a loving home muscular dogs, with a keen eye and a to spend the rest of their lives in once talent for sprinting. They usually get on their working days are over. well with other dogs but will instinctively chase cats and small animals. And being Lurchers are usually a cross between a so fast, they may be quick enough to sighthound breed (e.g. Greyhound, Saluki catch them! and Whippet) and a Collie or Terrier. Originally bred for hunting and poaching, • Contrary to what people usually think, they share many of the sighthound Greyhounds and Lurchers are often traits, both in their speed and brains! couch potatoes and need very little • Lurchers need lots of mental stimulation They can vary more in their looks, exercise. They like nothing more than to prevent boredom and destructive particularly as their coats can to cosy up on a comfy bed and behaviour. Obedience training and be long- or short-haired, snooze in a warm home, being fetch games are a good way to occupy and colouring can differ quite lazy at heart. them, and food is a great reward tool greatly depending on to use in their training. Giving them the mix of breed • Dog-proof your garden! As chew toys or rawhide chews will also in each dog. with all breeds, Dogs Trust help prevent them chewing your best recommends a secure furniture too. There are large garden to play in. This numbers of is especially so for • They eat the same food as other dogs Greyhounds Greyhounds and – and the same amount. They are also and Lurchers Lurchers as they prime scavengers so make sure you in rescue centres all are extremely don’t leave your dinner where they over the UK. athletic and can reach it – you may want to get a If you choose some can clear dogproof bin too or their heads will a 6-foot fence! be in it looking for scraps.

Photo by Andy Catterall