Dogs and motorcross tracks.

I would of thought that it would be common sense not to take a dog that isn't use to motorbikes or doesn't like them to a motorcross open day!! I went to one today as a spectator, I took my teo, but they have been use to such things since they were puppies, but the amount of people who took dogs that were obviously not socailised with them, some of them were thrashing around at the sounds, and then the owners were shouting at them or pulling them, there was loads of them there, and it was loud, poor things.

Mind you I have another pet hate, people who go to such places and have their dogs off lead, do they realise that not everyone follows the rules, that some people ride up to the tracks, and away from them through the pits, its another reason why you have to have dogs use to motorbikes, as Diesel almost got hit by a bike today, some person on a pit bike, who decided to ride up to the pit bike track and fast, luckily he knew to come towards me, and I managed to pull him in aswell, but some people's dogs were off lead, even right near the tracks, or on extenables aswell, where the dogs will be a risk to themselves or others if anything does go wrong.

Oh and also people standing around, sometimes for a hour or so with their dogs without coats on who are expected to be fine, there was a Italian Greyhound there with no coat, the poor thing was shivering next to its owners, who were in coats, scarves, hat and gloves and seemed to forget about the poor little thing that looked miserable

Other then that the day was great, I got a few photos and Honey and Diesel had a great time, and met loads of new friends, although most of them were talking about how nice Greyhounds are, and how they use to have one who was the best dog, yeah thats great, but these are crosses, the faces on them then

I wouldn't take my dog to such place. He is socialised, but dog hear much better than us and it is a noisy place. It's very uncomfortable for the dog, specially if he stays there all day.

it's madness isn't it when people know so little about their dogs or indeed care so little.

if they're used to it (and wrapped up warmly like your 2 ) then fine. a lovely day spent together out in the fresh air and meeting lots of new people, brilliant!

i have to admit to not always knowing the difference between smooth coated lurchers and greyhounds. is there an easy way to tell the difference?

Mine do love it and Diesel always thinks that when the pit bikes are racing around their track then their is always the chance (in his mind) to have a go and race them himself

I look at the faces, normally a Greyhound has a longer slimmer face, as a lurcher has another breed in there aswell, and the build too, as Greys are naturally very muscular dogs, and most if not all of the Lurchers I've seen have the same muscle mass, if anyone of that makes sense. Plus when it comes to my two they are tiny, they are both 24in tts, which I would also expect Greys to be bigger mind you saying that both of mine are registered as Greys at the vets, as they didn't have Lurcher or longdog on the system, and they both look like Greys even though this was different vets at different times, well they were students, but I would of thought that they would of just put cross breeds in that instance.

My friends son races (enduro or something) i've seen some of his videos on youtube and although i've never been i can't believe people have their dogs offlead at places like that....no sense eh

I mean socialised to bikes, dogs can be as socailised to other things as you want, but it wont help them with bikes, it sounds wierd thinking of dogs being socailised to a machine, but mine have been to places with varying numbers of bikes since I got them, whether its just me, the dogs and a quad, or to a group of friends, machines and the dogs, they don't really seem to notice them anymore, infact just today a bike backfired, I jumped in the air, and they just carried on sitting there as if nothing had happened lol, but I wouldn't take a adult dog, who isn't use to bikes to a place like we went today.

Whenever I've gone to a meeting or somewhere simalar there is always at least a couple dogs being walked around off lead, with the amount of dogs, bikes, cars and people around it really is surprising that people would let their dogs off lead, but then in a way it sort of isn't which is a shame.

thanks! i had a lurcher for 12 and a half years, but he was greyhound/deerhound/saluki i think! much easier to recognise as a lurcher that's for sure! interesting about their faces though. i met a rescue greyhound last weekend and she was tiny which led me to assume she was a lurcher. i was really surprised when the lady told me she was a grey. her face was long and slim though so i will remember that when i'm trying to work out what they are!

Hi,

I agree. It's silly and inconsiderate at best to have dogs off-lead at such events. As you said, what happens if something goes wrong?!

I think it's also very sad that owners will wrap up warm to go out to events like this and not have a second thought for the dog.

My dogs all have coats since we had the very cold weather recently. And my dogs have a fair amount of fur - especially Ellie. Now I don't think GSDs or Akitas in coats are a good look at all. But they were warm and cosy when we went outside and had the time of their lives in the snow. Either they wear their coats in the coldest weather or I can't take them out. I don't want them getting cold. After all, they can't tell us if they're freezing.

So, what is lurcher exactly? Is it any type of greyhound cross? I thought it was a separate breed!

Laura xx

I think that any dog which is use to central heating could benefit from a coat, espcailly ones with a thin coat, as dogs who are use to the same temps as us inside must still get cold outside, as their own coats aren't ues to it

A lurcher is any sighthound cross with another dog, normally pastoral or working, but any dog really, as they are all loveable crosses, now do you want to add another type in too, the Longdog, tha name is not commonly used, but its a dog that is a cross of different types of sighthounds, I've got one of each, Diesel, who is 3/4 Grey, 1/4 GSD, and Honey was is a first cross of a Grey and a Saluki