Anyone Else Have Lurchers?

[ZigZagdiver]

I am moving to Rayong province in August with two lurchers, (one greyhound cross & one whippet cross).

What kind of car shall I get? In UK they travel in the boot with a dog guard. I want to be able to leave them in the car for very short periods if necessary, and for them to be comfortable on long journeys, but I don't want them in the front or back seats.

I have thought of a pick up with a cover over the back, but won't they get too hot?

Advice please, what do you do with your dogs?

ZZD

[sceadugenga]

Be too hot in August. Go for something with aircon and plenty of room in the back.

I thought only Geordies had lurchers, are you from Newcastle UK?

[Nienke]

I am moving to Rayong province in August with two lurchers, (one greyhound cross & one whippet cross). I've heard about Lurchers and my niece, who breeds Scottish Deerhounds has one as well.

But I got confused. This is what 'The new encyclopia of dogs - Bruce Fogle' says: although, historically, it was a cross-bred between greyhounds and either collies or terriers, now it's a full-bred dog and recognized as such at least at the KC. Another dog encyclopedia says (FCI standard) that the Lurcher is a combination name of several wind hound cross-breds. Can you enlighten me, please? (didn't do a google search, yet)

What kind of car shall I get? A very very fast one (Sorry, couldn't resist)In UK they travel in the boot with a dog guard. You can have something like that made, but have to find out yourself where as I can't help you there. There has been questions on this forum about ready-made. No one knew an answer to that question. I want to be able to leave them in the car for very short periods if necessary, and for them to be comfortable on long journeys, but I don't want them in the front or back seats.

I have thought of a pick up with a cover over the back, but won't they get too hot? A car, even in the shade on a clowdy day, can get super hot inside within 5 to ten minutes. It's really NOT advisable to leave your dogs EVER behind in the car unsupervised. Just resently there was a post of somebody who left the dog in the car for 30 minutes. The dog was dead when he came back. Really, DON'T DO IT EVER!!!

As for an open back with cover. Even that can become quickly dangerously hot, and for sure you need buckets of water in there. I think it depends on what you call 'short periods of time'. 5 minutes? That should be ok, but longer than that during daytime, you need to check on them every 5 minutes.

Advice please, what do you do with your dogs?Our first car was a small pick-up, on which we had made a frame. We did leave the dogs in there for short periods of time. But these periods were always really short. Now, I have a small 5-door car (small cars are great as you can just slip through when you make a mis-calculation ) and I leave my dogs at home, when I go to places where the dogs can't come with me.

Welcome to Thailand!

Nienke

ZZD

[ZigZagdiver]

Thanks for that, no not from up North, though one of the dogs is.

Lurchers are popular in all parts of UK and many very different types of people have them, they are fantastic, incredibly loyal, devoted and loving.

They are extremely fast when they run, (really quite impressive!) and sleep all the time at home, (except if you fancy a game).

They are tall, elegant & skinny, (in my opinion) and therefore I'm hoping they'll cope ok with the heat.

So are you suggesting an estate car so they get the benefit of the aircon?

ZZD

[ZigZagdiver]

Thanks Nienke,

Sorry, I'm still really slow at this, you replied while I was typing my last entry.

A Lurcher, is basically anything mixed with a sighthound, hence the greyhound, deerhound, whippet types. I have heard that the KC would never recognise them as a breed because they are all crosses.

Thanks for your advice...re the car. So a pick up with a cover & plenty of ventilation may be ok, but not for mor than 5 mins in the day? That is pretty much what I thought.

ZZD

[ZigZagdiver]

Whippet cross - he's a real character & great fun if you are not a rabbit!

Collie/greyound cross

My big collie/greyhound is very shy but would love some new friends to run with (who could keep up with him!)

[sceadugenga]

Thanks for that, no not from up North, though one of the dogs is.

Lurchers are popular in all parts of UK and many very different types of people have them, they are fantastic, incredibly loyal, devoted and loving.

They are extremely fast when they run, (really quite impressive!) and sleep all the time at home, (except if you fancy a game).

They are tall, elegant & skinny, (in my opinion) and therefore I'm hoping they'll cope ok with the heat.

So are you suggesting an estate car so they get the benefit of the aircon?

ZZD

Yeah, estate car, stationwagon, you know, the car with a back door.

I take my dog out all the time; he never seems to get hot, sits on the back seat, occasionally putting his paws between the front seats so he can see out the windshield. I know the popular thing in the West is they should have "doggy seatbelts", good luck finding them here.

Stop every 100kms or so to let them out for a drink and a walk.....ON THE LEAD. You don't want them heading of into the paddy after some farmer's buffalo.

Basically, use common sense. If the dogs look distressed, stop and park in the shade, let them drink and rest, you may have to wait till the evening to continue.

[sceadugenga]

Thanks for that, no not from up North, though one of the dogs is.

Lurchers are popular in all parts of UK and many very different types of people have them, they are fantastic, incredibly loyal, devoted and loving.

They are extremely fast when they run, (really quite impressive!) and sleep all the time at home, (except if you fancy a game).

They are tall, elegant & skinny, (in my opinion) and therefore I'm hoping they'll cope ok with the heat.

So are you suggesting an estate car so they get the benefit of the aircon?

ZZD

Some Thai cross dogs can run a bit as well!!

[ZigZagdiver]

Some Thai cross dogs can run a bit as well!!

Thanks for that! They should have plenty of fun then.

ZZd

[Mobi]

Í have a Golden, and I find my Toyota Fortuner is just great for her.

I put down the back two seats and put a rug on on the floor and she is fine - not too squashed, and there is even a separate aircon vent to keep her cool.

And she doesn't make any attempt to climb over the back seats, like she used to in a smaller SUV I used to drive.

And I still have five usable seats.

[MTW]

Hi ZigZagdiver,

I just want to suggest that a pickup with a cover and ventilation wouldn't be the best choice. Dogs don't sweat and hot air blowing on them is just hot air, not the same as for people because we sweat and any air works a little like aircon. If your dog is soaked in water, and then air is blown on them it can help them to cool, but they can't do it alone.

They only sweat with their tongues, and that is a very small portion of their body. If you want to confidently be able to travel with your dogs at any time of year, they need aircon in Thailand. I would suggest you do an internet search on how heat affects dogs so you make sure you understand before making a choice. And since you love your dogs enough to be bringing them to Thailand, and asking this question, I think you are a person who would want to pick the best for your dogs and not take too many risks.

And I would like to add, that if they are already hot in the car, and then you leave them parked for any amount of time, that might be enough to push them over the edge. It isn't the same as starting from nice and cool, to 5 minutes of heat.

Hope you and your dogs are happy here.

[elfe]

hi great dogs your lurchers

i suggest not to keep your dogs in an closed car for any time more than 3 minutes and then only if cooled down from aircon already a lot. just try it yourself, close aircon and stay in the car...

the best is a pickup with attached frame or crate. i got one made for my suzuki jeep and it's a very good solution. but still park the car in the shade and don't leave the dogs too long there in the hottest time of day...

here's my 'doggy car'

[ZigZagdiver]

This is GREAT! thank you!

I need to know all of these things!

I wasn't sure about the closed car thing because if you run into a shop to buy water, or even fill up with petrol & 'use the fascilities' somewhere, it can take a few minutes.

You would not want to leave the engine running, and could not always take them with you.....there may not be shade....so many worries!

Heat wise, I have the opposite problem in the UK, my two shiver with cold even in the summer if they're not running about!! And try to get IN the fireplace with the fire!

I know I can't compare that to Thailand, but aircon might not be good for them either.....?

I'll have a look at a Fortuna, I like the look of elfe's solution (especially with gangly big dogs), MTW has given me a fair bit to think about too.

I have decided not to leave them in a closed car though EVER! Which sways me more towards elfe's solution, maybe with side flaps that can be rolled down in the rain.

As They are so skinny, do you think they could cope with that?

What sort is your dog elfe? Looks like a greyhound type.

Thanks again!

[elfe]

hi zigzagdiver, the dogs in my pic are two mixes, madam and paco, and blue my (deaf) great dane. i got a lot of dogs and cram about 9 into the back of my car (leaving the dane then at home of course ) for the short trip to the beach. i found this solution the best since many years. also that the dogs are safe in there and cannot jump out or stick their heads out...

for trips to the vet or when i take only one or two dogs (depending on the dogs) with me i also put them in the passenger cabin with me. no problem and ok with aircon, but then i cannot go shopping longer than 2 minutes when they are in there. also cannot keep the car running as dogs like to step on the doorknob if left alone and also aircon (at least in my old vehicle) does not work well when the car is not moving...

sounds your dogs will like the hot climate here then as they are such freezers back home

[ZigZagdiver]

I certainly hope so elfe!

I think they will love it, sounds like Thailand has lots of dog lovers......and lots of dogs in need of some love.....maybe better get a bigger truck!

ZZD

[Nienke]

hi zigzagdiver, the dogs in my pic are two mixes, madam and paco, and blue my (deaf) great dane. i got a lot of dogs and cram about 9 into the back of my car (leaving the dane then at home of course ) for the short trip to the beach. i found this solution the best since many years. also that the dogs are safe in there and cannot jump out or stick their heads out...

for trips to the vet or when i take only one or two dogs (depending on the dogs) with me i also put them in the passenger cabin with me. no problem and ok with aircon, but then i cannot go shopping longer than 2 minutes when they are in there. also cannot keep the car running as dogs like to step on the doorknob if left alone and also aircon (at least in my old vehicle) does not work well when the car is not moving...

sounds your dogs will like the hot climate here then as they are such freezers back home

Yep, that kind of frame with similar roof was what we had on our masda familiar (our first car). Went pretty well. Makes some noise though

Against possible rain or hard wind side-flaps do the trick. But be careful with that as well, as it can be humid and with a couple of dogs painting inside, it still can become pretty hot, as not much air comes through.

Also, always keep a good eye on where you park your car. It can be in the shade when you go and in the sun when you come back, if you calculate wrongly. And the plastic roof gives shade, but also gives lots of heat.

We have been driving in our Masda for at least a year, and it always went quite well, and just like Elfie with upto 10 dogs in the back of different sizes (although some of the dogs, Afghans, boxer, rotties, GSD's were still pretty young and not so big at the time). But of course, we never left the dogs in the back for long periods of time AND there were always buckets of water available.

Nienke

[Nienke]

I certainly hope so elfe!

I think they will love it, sounds like Thailand has lots of dog lovers......and lots of dogs in need of some love.....maybe better get a bigger truck!

ZZD

You need a BIIIIIG truck where LOTS of dogs can fit in. We can give you a loving and helpful hand in finding those dogs. Isn't it, Elfie?

[elfe]

I certainly hope so elfe!

I think they will love it, sounds like Thailand has lots of dog lovers......and lots of dogs in need of some love.....maybe better get a bigger truck!

ZZD

You need a BIIIIIG truck where LOTS of dogs can fit in. We can give you a loving and helpful hand in finding those dogs. Isn't it, Elfie?

you bet, nienke

but i'm sure some of these dogs will find their way to adopt zzd

[ZigZagdiver]

Thanks guys.....better have a word with the rest of the family about this big truck!!

[ZigZagdiver]

Thinking some more.....

If I bought an estate, or fortuna (with back seats down) or suchlike, ...

a) The dogs will want to sit on my lap when I'm driving....

What if I HAVE to stop and leave them for a few minutes?

c) It's baking.....

d) there IS no shade to park in....

e) but I could tie them in the shade away from cars.....

THEN how would they protect themselves against any territorial soi dog while I was gone?

I think it has to be a pick up type vehicle, or jeep (don't think I can afford that) with a cage and cover on the top...

unless anyone else thinks that really is not a good idea.

At least they have the option of riding in the cab on long journeys if it is too hot....

[bina]

in israel in the summer a 10 minute jump to our local vet in our subaru covered pickup (no a/c, the back has two open windows) the boxer, canaan and danexboxer mix suffer. by the time we park and release them (really its five minutes from the house in a normal car, just the subaru suffers fromt eh heat as well) the boxer has already moved to overheat (tongue out all the way, panting heavilyetc)...

i think the open but caged pickup is best and if u worry about being cold, put good dog rain coats on the dog- it covers their chest etc but they still have air circulating. i know western countries have dog apparrel for hunting/working dogs and lurcher types.

has anyone thought of using straw padding in summer wetted down or even put ice under the straw and as it melts it cools the area also (only for pickups)and the dogs are 'on ice'? winter, good and warm?

bina

[Jet Gorgon]

Welcome, ZZDriver. I see our doggie wizards have looked after you well! Best of luck with your dogs in Thailand.

In that one snap of your collie cross, it looks like she/he is sitting on the low wall. 555 Very nice dogs.

[ZigZagdiver]

In that one snap of your collie cross, it looks like she/he is sitting on the low wall. 555 Very nice dogs.

Yes he always sits like that, quite peculiar! ZZD