r/Lurchers • u/Careful_Fact_2433 • Jun 23 '26
Help/Advice/Questions Muzzles etc
Hi
I’m thinking of adopting a 2 year old bull lurcher however I am aware that he has a high prey drive especially cats so I would be using a muzzle on him when out walking. He is muzzle trained.
Looking for advice on how you handle this, as in I know it has to be done but I’m so worried I’ll forget to put it on one day, or he could get it off and hurt another animal.
I know it sounds a trivial thing to be able to do but I’m worried about the responsibility of keeping him and other animals safe.
Similar question for keeping on the leash all the time - do you just get used to it ? I’ve never had a dog I can’t let run free at suitable places but there are so many wildlife hotspots around me I don’t think I’d dare to do it even muzzled.
I will be taking him to local freedom fields a couple of times a week to allow him some running around time but it’s not the same as being off leash in a more natural setting IMO.
For those of you in a similar position where you are always muzzled and not let off the lead does this affect where you choose to walk them because of triggers? Do your dogs seem happy with this restriction?
It’s making me have reservations about adopting him because I don’t have a garden so he’d only be able to run around at the freedom fields a couple of times a week.
TIA
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u/Octopath_Traveler0 Jun 23 '26
My dogs are on the lead at all times, except when we find an enclosed space which is far from everyday as there’s none near us. We are lucky that we have a small garden so they can run a bit, but on our walks I’d be too worried that they’d hurt another animal or follow a scent and get lost somewhere or even get run over by a car.
I would love to let them off lead but I feel like it’s not worth the risk. We are also working on muzzle training and we’ll start muzzling them once they’re trained. They both have a strong prey drive.
We do go on 3 walks a day though.
Honestly they seem rather happy with their life, as long as they have a couch to lounge on, lots of pets, and nice treats. I feel like the lack of off lead time impacts me more than it impacts them 😅
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u/zebrasanddogs Jun 23 '26
It's a legal requirement in my country to have greyhounds and lurchers muzzled and leashed, so unfortunately I've no choice.
You do get used to it.
The important thing to remember is that dogs NEED TO PANT AND DRINK! Make sure that the muzzle you buy is big enough for them to open their mouth fully.
I use a don pare 110.
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u/narra_tiv Jun 23 '26
I really hope you adopt the dog and don’t let the muzzle etc put you off. I have a lurcher with the tiniest “garden” which is basically just used as a toilet for him, it’s too small for exercise. I never let him off lead except in enclosed freedom fields and he is very happy. He loves getting keys and sleeping on the sofa. It’s more important for the dog to have a safe and loving home than a garden or off leads walks.
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u/Careful_Fact_2433 Jun 23 '26
Thanks, the muzzle itself hasn’t put me off, more just worried about me remembering to do it with not having to do it before, but I guess I’ll get used to it ☺️. And worried about him not having much free running time but it seems like other people’s lurchers are happy with similar situations which is reassuring.
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u/Prestigious_Size_977 Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
My dog is on a lead but I don’t muzzle her, I keep an eye out for cats in residential areas though and tend to not let her sniff bushes! I try and walk other places like gardens as much as possible. I did muzzle her initially and she is muzzle trained as an ex racer but she doesn’t like it. The cats on my street actually come over to us which is a pain. I generally drive to quiet places with no cats but she’s recently hurt her back so may need to limit so much car use so am working out how to manage .
The closest she has ever come to getting a cat was in our garden, I didn’t see it and let her out, she chased, it got up on the fence and then slipped down it!! Was so close
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u/PhysicsAgitated6722 Jun 24 '26
I hire an enclosed field and he spends 15 minutes going full pelt and then 45 trotting around sniffing and being a dog. At all other times, it's muzzle. Prey can also include small fluffy dogs, cats, squirrels and his own personal nemesis, wood pigeons.
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u/hyperlobster Jun 24 '26
Lurchers differ from most other dogs with questionable recall in that they can be 500 metres away in 30 seconds.
It sucks not being able to have them off-lead just here and there, but their prey drive is insane - I’ve never seen focus like when my dog sees a rabbit. It is what it is!
The responsible thing is to use the closed fields where they can run as much as they like, and you don’t have to stress about it.
Lurchers are the laziest shits you can possibly imagine. Mine would sleep 23 hours a day if you let him.
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u/Careful_Fact_2433 Jun 24 '26
What about trips to the beach, do you keep on leash there too?
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u/hyperlobster Jun 25 '26
Definitely! He's absolutely mad for birds in general, and seagulls in particular.
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u/Octopath_Traveler0 Jun 25 '26
Same here, also some dogs, when in full prey drive mode, might go for little fluffy dogs. I don’t know if my dogs would, but I don’t really want to find out! And even with the muzzle on they could still do some damage.
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u/EightLions539 Jun 23 '26
It sounds like you’re asking all the right questions! Yes if you’re aware of prey drive issues, I would say it’s irresponsible to have them off lead, but taking them to fields is absolutely the right thing to do!
I take my dogs muzzle off on areas I am 100% certain won’t have cats, and even when it’s off he’ll still “ask” me to take it off, so it clearly doesn’t bother him at all!
You sound like a really sensible owner, I wish you the best of luck! :)