Home Calling Mrs Mitchell - Qs about your lurcher

[Loves Vintage]

Hi Mrs Mitchell,

I couldn't help but notice your post in the Pets/Babies thread, and didn't want to threadjack! I love lurchers!! My understanding is that they are a cross between a sighthound and another breed. Is your boy big? Have you posted photos of him on here? Is he part greyhound? Was he a rescue?

I absolutely love greyhounds and am involved with rescue here. We have only one greyhound, but we are petsitting a big senior boy now, so it's nice to have 2 around. Anyway, so that's why I was curious about your boy. I'd love to see a pic if you have one!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Bumping for Mrs. M!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Hey, sorry - I nearly missed this! My studies are getting in the way of my PS time.

I got Meggy from a local shelter when she was about six months old, although I don't know exactly what age she was, she still seemed quite puppy-ish. At a guess, I'd say she's half deerhound and half greyhound, or possibly whippet. She's not too huge, and she's quite slightly built.

It was a textbook lesson in how not to adopt a pet. I went into the shelter shop to get cat food and a new scratching post for my kitties and she was there. It was her last day, because this was not a no-kill shelter.

She had escaped from her leash and was cowering in a corner, she crawled over to me and licked my hand. No way on earth was I leaving without that dog. I had never liked dogs much or ever planned on having one. I lived in a 4th floor city appartment at the time.

So, after a bit of persuasion, they let me come back for her in a week's time, since they don't home pets on the same day as a first visit. I had to find somewhere else to live, because the appartment just wasn't suitable. I sold it and got a rural property with space for her to run. For the first year, she came to work with me, but then I had to change jobs and couldn't do that, so I got a pet-sitter to walk her while I was out.

She's a darling. Soft, sweet natured and very affectionate. She's an old lady now though, at least 12 - I think that's quite old for a lurcher. She snoozes in her basket in the kitchen most of the time. She's always hated rain and going for a walk (weird little thing) and will hide when she sees the leash on a wet day, but she loves to run in the garden.

So, I've written a book here.

I changed my whole life around to fit with that dog, after being a non-dog lover for the first 20 years of my life (my mother is actually phobic, so I never got near a dog as a child). Now I can't imagine her not being here, but she's the most undemanding, unobtrusive pet imaginable. She's more like a cat than a dog, I think.

I have lots of pics of her, let me see if I can find one.

Thanks for asking about her!
Jen

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Ooops, can''t seem to post a pic right now. I''ll try again later.

Our neighbours have the most enormous greyhound I ever saw. He''s a lovely dog and plays with Meggy in our garden. I do love greyhounds, I''ve never come across one that wasn''t sweet natured.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Ohhhh, reading your post makes me so happy!! Thank you for sharing your adoption story!! That is so wonderful, how you found each other, how she convinced you take her, how you changed your life around for her!! Ha, ha! She's a smart girl!!

Since you said part Deerhound, I suspect she may have a bit of a wiry coat, in which case, I must see pictures!

She sounds like a lovely girl.

I also had never been a dog person. I've always had cats, but I had always loved seeing greyhounds, so graceful and beautiful. I met a local group at a pet store. They bring in their greyhouns 1X/month for meet-and-greets. I called the group, went to meet a senior girl and took her home that day. She was a very very sweet girl (like you said, they ALL are!) She was with me for only a short time, was diagnosed with lymphoma and survived for a year after receiving chemo. She was my baby girl, and because of her, I will always have greyhounds.

I love a big greyhound. I bet Meggy loves playing with him. Was he a rescue? Do they have racing in Scotland? Do lots of people have greyhounds as pets? The Deerhound must be a very popular breed too?

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

I can''t get the pics I wanted to show you to upload, for some reason. I''m having trouble shrinking them. Here''s one, but it isn''t the greatest.

She does indeed have a wiry coat, with a sort of fluffy undercoat that falls out and collects in little wisps around the house. Deerhounds aren''t that common a sight here, I suspect they''re just too darned big. If I ever had another dog, it would be a deerhound. They are wonderful. There is dog racing here, but I''ve never been. Our neighbour''s dog was a rescued racing dog, unwanted because he grew just too big.

Sorry to hear about your sweet girl, how heartbreaking.

Meggy says hi

 

[cara]

What a beautiful dog, Mrs. M!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Thank you! She has a beautiful nature too.

In trying to post this, I've discovered that a whole file of my photos has corrupted. Mostly pics of Meggy. I have prints of them so it isn't a complete disaster, but I'm glad I found out. I'll take some more pics of her at the weekend to post.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Oh, she is beautiful!! She's such a little darling. She looks like she's filled with wisdom in that photo! And, I adore the wirey coat! Some of the galgos (Spanish greyhounds) have wiry coats, and I just love it. Yes, more pics, more pics!

And, if neighbor's huge greyhound comes over to play, we'll be happy to see a pic of him too!! Sorry to be so demanding!!

Glad to hear their GH is a rehomed former racer!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Happy to take more pics, I''m a little sad that I''ve lost the file, so I''ll get some at the weekend.

Meggy absolutely loves snow and it''s forecast for tomorrow, so that should be fun.

Anyone else here with a lurcher?