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  1. #1
    Senior Member No vice's Avatar
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    Wink Whats the best runners dog?

    Usually run with company, However yesterday there were no mates so I gave our old fella a bell and borrowed his 3 year old chocolate Labrador. Like most chocolate labs, this one is insane. I'd not let it off the lead as if it sees another dog it won't just pull, it'll do this weird vertical take off jumping.

    So, off I went for a gentle run of about 5-8 miles. Figured lets get out there and see how it feels.
    Felt great to me. There were a couple of very early pauses to chat with other dog walkers and assess 'Flynn's reaction with other dogs. After this we continued along the trails. Thats kinda where the good bit ends. I got to about a mile and Flynn was knackered. He could walk all day, but get to a jog and he's out of it. Still did the 5 miles, but at his pace.

    Just wondered if anyone else has tried running with a hound and if so what breeds have proved up to the task and what breeds have been blatant failures.?

  2. #2
    david
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    If the dog has never done any running before it's a little unfair to expect it to cope with 5-8 miles but a fit labrador can run for miles. Break it in gently, give it time to get fit and it will soon be outrunning you.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Longdogs's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    You can't beat a good lurcher i say! One with the right combination of speed, stamina and trainability

  4. #4
    Moderator noel's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Quote Originally Posted by Longdogs View Post
    You can't beat a good lurcher i say! One with the right combination of speed, stamina and trainability
    In your experience, what is an average lurcher like at resisting the temptation to chase rabbits through sheep fields? I like the idea of a lurcher, but would worry having a sight hound around lambs.

  5. #5
    Master Darth domain's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    i take my border collie, fells are their terraine after all, he will go to chase sheep, but with a stern shout will come back, he is getting better, and when it's just us two running, he bareley takes notice of the sheep!
    there is no way of tiring the little bugger, and he's done 22 miles so far max (old crown round) and regularly does half marathon road runs with me
    go play on the m 6, now, how does that sound

  6. #6
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Beagles...lots of 'em :-)

  7. #7
    Senior Member Longdogs's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Quote Originally Posted by noel View Post
    In your experience, what is an average lurcher like at resisting the temptation to chase rabbits through sheep fields? I like the idea of a lurcher, but would worry having a sight hound around lambs.
    I have to say you make a very good point there.. the average lurcher chases anything that moves, and many will kill if they can! That's what they're bred for after all. I have 3 and only one is sheep trainable. It's no coincidence that she's the least sighthoundy of the 3. If the others go on the hill, which is rarely, they are muzzled and shackled to me with cables and reserve cables! But you CAN have a lurcher that's safe with sheep- specially something like a first cross greyhound x collie.

    I reckon unless you have an incurable sighthound fetish like me you're probably alot better off with a lab x collie type or similar. The rehoming centres are heaving with this kind of dog. I try and persuade people not to get a pure bred- they're much less healthy, and every pedigree dog sold takes a place that could go to a homeless dog, which may otherwise be destroyed. Although i have got a bit of a thing for Hungarian Viszlas

  8. #8
    Master Boy Wonder's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Quote Originally Posted by Longdogs View Post
    You can't beat a good lurcher i say! One with the right combination of speed, stamina and trainability

    Seconded... lurchers rule... but not too sure about trainability!! Mine was so so with sheep.. so normally had to keep her under close control.. a couple of time we came across a fox when she was loose and that then meant a 45min wait while she ran across the county and back.. absolutely knackered! Happy days! Now dog-less but would certainly choose a lurcher again if circumstances were different.
    "You gotta put a little bit of ****ing fairy dust over the bastard"

  9. #9
    Senior Member Longdogs's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Quote Originally Posted by Boy Wonder View Post
    Seconded... lurchers rule... but not too sure about trainability!! Mine was so so with sheep.. so normally had to keep her under close control.. a couple of time we came across a fox when she was loose and that then meant a 45min wait while she ran across the county and back.. absolutely knackered! Happy days! Now dog-less but would certainly choose a lurcher again if circumstances were different.
    yeah trainability all relative... am familiar with the 45 min wait. All the lurcher books i've read say they should retrieve their prey.. not bloody likely!!! Take it off and eat it resisting all attempts to be caught.. good job there's Tesco or we'd starve

  10. #10
    Senior Member Tea & cake's Avatar
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    Re: Whats the best runners dog

    Border collie - rescue & she's luuurvely & will run & run & run........

    We do have recall issues, she was a stray & had hunted but we're working hard on this & she is definately getting better.

    Can reccomend Wiccaweys which is where ours came from. They are really good at sussing out collie characters, some have v active brains & need to be rehomed into a farm working environment. Others seem quite happy to run, play, eat & sleep (preferably on the sofa )

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