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Rufus

Lurcher · Male

Rufus is a truly scrumptious sighthound who has made wonderful progress since coming into our care. When he arrived he was very underweight and unfamiliar with home life, but he is now thriving in foster and enjoying all the comforts that come with it, especially sofas and snuggles. He is 26 inches TTS, and weighs 24kg.Rufus is an incredibly affectionate and cuddly boy who adores human company. He is a real people dog, sometimes a little shy at first, but he quickly warms up and then believes wholeheartedly in personal space being optional. He is playful, curious and a bit of a goofball, with a lovely silly side that makes him a joy to live with.He is now fully toilet trained, though he may have the odd accident in a brand new environment. He can be left for short periods and is currently comfortable with around 20 minutes, with this gradually being built up. Rufus will settle in a crate when given a high value chew. He enjoys enrichment toys, treat puzzles, soft toys and has recently discovered balls.On walks, Rufus is generally friendly or unbothered by people and dogs depending on their energy, but this is his biggest area for ongoing training. He is a frustrated greeter and will bark at other dogs until he can say hello, then bark again once they leave. He also has a high prey drive and will pull on the lead if he spots cats, foxes or dogs. Because of this, Rufus will need a home committed to continuing his training, ideally with sighthound experience.Rufus can live as an only dog and would be very happy soaking up all the attention, though with careful introductions he may enjoy a calm canine companion in the future. He may be slightly better suited to living with small dogs than larger ones, but this would need to be managed sensibly. He does not guard toys or food generally, though he has very occasionally growled if a high value treat has been taken away.He has a moderate energy level and is not a high energy dog. He is happy with one proper walk and a gentle stroll each day, provided he also gets enrichment, playtime and plenty of naps. Rufus travels in the car but finds it stressful, so daily car journeys would not suit him.Rufus is learning quickly and is responsive to his name. He knows sit and is currently learning lie down and shake. He is very food motivated and keen to please, which will help with his ongoing training.Rufus is currently in foster in South London and we are now accepting applications for him. He would thrive in a calm, patient home that understands sighthounds and is happy to continue building his confidence and skills. In return, Rufus will offer endless affection, laughter and some of the best cuddles you could ask for. Apply to adopt

Size
Small
Age
Location
🇬🇧Farnham
Shelter
Lurcher SOS
Living with Rufus
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
Cared for by Lurcher SOS · FarnhamLearn about Lurcher

Listed Today

Bringing Rufus home

What you'll need for Rufus in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

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    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

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    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

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    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Rufus

What life with Rufus looks like

Rufus is a small adult lurcher dog waiting at Lurcher SOS in Farnham.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

Farnham, United Kingdom browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Rufus, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Rufus?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Lurcher SOS handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Rufus on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Rufus if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Lurcher SOS will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Rufus already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Rufus isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Lurcher SOS early rather than rehoming privately; they know Rufus and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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