Lurcher

Aliases Lurcher Dog, English Lurcher Height 22-28 inches (55-71 cm) Weight 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg) Life Expectancy 12-15 years (average is 13 years) Group Sight Hounds Recognition DRA

Description

The Lurcher has a short coat and a smooth undercoat that thickens in the winter. The legs are long and straight. The chest is deep, providing lung capacity for endurance. The small, wire-haired ears are high set. The small, dark eyes are round and alert. Colors vary widely since the Lurcher is derived from sighthound crosses. There is also a long-haired variety. Temperament

A Lurcher is a fun-loving, affectionate, lovable dog who thrives on the leadership of his master. These dogs were bred to hunt rabbit and hare in Ireland and Great Britain by Irish gypsies and tinkers in the 1600's. They have inherited fast agile movements from the sighthound crosses in them. Lurchers have the strong hunting instincts of the sighthounds. This combination also proved to be a good obedient dog which learns commands fast. Good for the outdoor type families, they are usually gentle with people, which makes an amendable companion.

Living Conditions: The Lurcher is usually not recommended for city life, as they are a very high-energy dog.

Exercise

The Lurcher needs to go for a walk at least once a day (especially in small living quarters). It will enjoy running free in a safe enclosed area. Having sighthound in it, it is extremely fast and is a natural racer. It will chase and kill small game. Be sure to provide a safe area for this dog to run so it does not get hit by a car should it decide to take off after an animal.

Grooming

Both the long-haired and short-haired variety of the Lurcher should be combed and brushed regularly. Some Lurchers are constant shedders, while others are average shedders. Origin

Lurchers were developed by the Romanichals and Mouchers in England (the Norfolk Lurcher being the typical moucher dog) and other British countries during a period when hunting of game was reserved for the landed classes. The penalties for poaching were extremely severe, and greyhounds (as well as being very difficult to train) were also the dog of the aristocracy, so obviously a different dog was required. They were used for poaching rabbits, hares and other small creatures. It is never bred to a specific standard and is not considered a breed, as the Lurcher is a crossbreed: usually three quarters sighthound but can have any amount of sighthound in them. The most common combinations are the Greyhound/Collie and the Greyhound/Terrier. The name Lurcher a is derived name from the Romany word lur, which means thief. The gypsies considered the short-haired Lurcher the most prized. The Lurcher is still common in its native land. The Collie crosses were often not large enough to do the work the Lurcher was intended for. Gypsies traditionally sneered at any Lurcher that was not predominantly Greyhound, since these "lesser" Lurchers were not as good at hunting and could not stand a full day's work of the hunt. Starting a dog working too young can ruin the dog in one season. It takes about 1 -2 years to get a dog ready to work. Today some breeding is carried out in a more systematic manner, with Lurchers bred to Lurchers to perpetuate the "breed's" prowess at rabbit and hare coursing. Hare coursing is now illegal in Wales, England, and Scotland. It is still legal in Northern Ireland but the two coursing clubs in NI now meet in the Republic, since the all other UK countries outlawed it and the Republic has not.

The lurcher is a dog breed. Not a pure breed, it is a hardy, crossbred sight hound, generally a cross between a sight hound and any other breed, usually a pastoral dog or terrier. Collie crosses have always been very popular given the working instinct of the sheepdog when mated with a sighthound gives a dog of great intelligence plus speed - prerequisites in this type of canine.

Description
Because lurchers are a crossbreed, there is no set type, so they can be as small as a Whippet or as large as a Deerhound; but most are chosen for a size similar to that of a Greyhound, and a distinct sighthound form is preferred.
 * Appearance

The coat type and upkeep requirements will vary depending on the type of cross. Coat types range from short and smooth like that of a greyhound, to slightly longer and thicker like that of a collie, to rough and broken like that of a terrier.

Temperament will also vary somewhat depending on the type of cross. Many lurchers have temperaments that are very similar to purebred sighthounds like the greyhound, but some have temperaments that are influenced by other breeds like herding breeds and terrier breeds.
 * Temperament

History
The lurcher was bred in Ireland and Great Britain by the Irish Gypsies and travellers in the 17th century. They were used for poaching rabbits, hares, and other small creatures. The name lurcher is derived from the Romani word lur, which means thief. The travellers considered the short-haired lurcher the most prized. The lurcher is rarely seen outside of Ireland or Great Britain, but is still common in its native lands. The collie crosses were often not large enough to do the work the lurcher was intended for.

Irish Gypsies were instrumental in developing the breed, and traditionally sneered at any lurcher that was not predominantly genetically greyhound, since these "lesser" lurchers were not as good at hunting and could not stand a full day's work of the hunt. The stringent training methods of the Gypsies are looked down upon in some lurcher circles, since the pups began working at six months old. Only the top-producing pups were kept; the rest were sold at traditional bargain rates. Today some breeding is carried out in a more systematic manner, with lurchers bred to lurchers to perpetuate the "breed's" prowess at rabbit and hare coursing - an unlikely ideal and therefore pointless exercise given that the lurcher does not breed true.

Generally, the aim of the cross is to produce a sighthound with more intelligence, a canny animal suitable for the original purpose of the lurcher: poaching. Developed in the Middle Ages, the lurcher was created because only nobility were allowed to have purebred sighthounds like Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, and Greyhounds, whereas crosses had no such perceived value. Similarly, nobility owned most land and commoners were not allowed to hunt game on crown land or other noble estates.

It was important that the lurcher did not resemble too closely a sighthound, as the penalties for owning a sighthound were high, particularly given that if you owned one then by default you were considered a poacher. The original lurchers therefore were generally heavier-coated dogs who could herd sheep as well as bring home a rabbit or hare for dinner.

Modern Roles
The modern lurcher is growing from its old image of disrepute to heights of popularity as an exceptional family dog, and many groups have been founded to rehome lurchers as family pets.
 * Lurchers as Pets

The lurcher has as many varied uses as types can be crossbred, but generally they are used as hunting dogs that can chase and kill their prey. Most lurchers today are used for general pest control, typically rabbits, hares, and Fox|foxes, although some of the larger types have been successfully used on bigger game like wild boar and deer. Lurchers can be used for hare coursing, although most hare coursing dogs are greyhounds. Lurchers move most effectively over open ground, although different crosses suit different terrains.
 * Hunting/Coursing

Lurchers excel at sports like lure coursing and dog racing which are very popular in areas with little available hunting, or for people who dislike hunting. Lurchers are eligible to compete in lure coursing events sanctioned by the National Lure Coursing Club.
 * Amateur Sports

Lurchers have also proven to be very good at dog sports such as obedience and agility, where they are becoming increasingly popular due to their speed and willingness to please.

In addition, lurchers are appearing in Alaska. Sled-dog breeders are breeding sighthounds with their sled dogs to produce a faster dog. Often in the first generation, pups that do not have the coat or temperament to create a good sled dog candidate are adopted out to new non-mushing homes.

Recognition and Registration
Because lurchers are not purebreds they are not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs. However, the North American Lurcher and Longdog Association was recently created to serve as a registering body for lurchers and longdogs in the United States and Canada.

The English Lurcher is not a purebred dog but is of definite type, usually having a member of the greyhound family as one of its parents. It is thought to have been developed because, at one time in England, only those of noble blood were permitted to own a Greyhound or any other sight-dogs such as the Saluki, Wippet, Borzoi, Afgan hound, irish wolfhound, Deerhound, etc. So these crosses were made to produce an efficient hunting companion for commoners and a popular poacher's dog. Possibly the best Lurchers result from a Greyhound X working herding cross.

The Lurcher's coat can be rough or smooth and it should look like a relative of the Deerhound, Saluki, or Greyhound. The Lurcher is generally an obedient dog, which makes an excellent coursing hound and hunter, and will combine this role with that of a faithful and affectionate family pet. It needs plenty of exercise and a daily brushing.

This is the official list of Lurcher dog crosses One of the parents has to belong to the first group of the Sighthounds and the other from ONE of the other groups. A SIGHTHOUND crossed with a PASTORAL DOG or a TERRIER = a LURCHER. Therefore, Lurchers can come in all shapes, sizes and colors and can either be smooth or rough coated.

Sighthounds Greyhound Whippet Saluki Deerhound Afghan Hound Wolfhound Borzoi Ibizan Pharaoh Hound Sloughi Italian Greyhound

Terriers Bedlington Bull Terriers - Staffordshire or English Kerry Blue Terrier Wheaten Terrier Irish Terrier Jack Russel Airedale Terrier

Other breeds (Pastoral Dogs) Foxhound Beagle Golden Retriever Setter Spaniel Labrador Old English Sheepdog Australian Cattle Dog (Heeler) German Shepherd Rottweiller Doberman Rough Collie Bearded Collie Border Collie

Lurchers are elegant, stylish, fast, beautiful, breathtaking dogs.

Lurchers are affectionate, loving, have bags of character, make fabulous pets, and despite the fact they can run at over 40 mph, they do not require you to spend most of your life out of the house exercising them, as, aside from running, the other thing they love best in the world is sleeping. The one downside of being a Lurcher owner is that Lurchers seem firmly convinced that sofas and all other types of comfy furniture were designed for them, not humans.

Lurchers are crossbreed sighthounds, so they come in all shapes, colors and sizes - from small smooth coated Whippet crosses to big hairy, rough coated Deerhound crosses...they all have two things in common though - pointy noses and very long legs.

The term "Lurcher" is used to describe a dog that is a cross between a sighthound (a dog that hunts by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance) and a pastoral dog (a dog bred to work livestock) or a terrier (a small hunting dog originally developed for driving game from burrows).

There are various theories about the origin and meaning of the word "Lurcher" :)

The most common explanation, given that Lurchers derive from hunting dogs used for poaching rabbits, hares and other small creatures by gypsies and travellers throughout Great Britain and Ireland in the 17th century, is that the word "Lurcher" comes from the from the Romani (or Romany) word "lur", which means thief. A perfectly reasonable name for a poachers dog!

On the other hand, "Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary" has this entry on Lurchers;

"A traditional dog of the Romany gypsies in the United Kingdom; not an officially recognized breed, but generally a smooth-haired dog of variable conformation. It resembles a cross between a Whippet and a Greyhound. The name comes from the habit of hanging around in the background, more as a camp follower than as a family pet."

"Lurcher" is a similar word to "lurker", so that explanation is feasible too.

Lurchers - The Poachers Dog! Lurchers - Traditional "Silent" Hunting Dogs

Lurchers are believed to have originated in the UK and Ireland in the 17th century. They were bred by Irish Romany Gypsies for use in hunting small game such as rabbits and hares.

According to About Lurchers;

"It (the Lurcher) is thought to have been developed because at one time in England, only those of noble blood were permitted to own a Greyhound or any other sight-dogs such as the Saluki, Whippet, Borzoi, Afghan hound, Irish Wolfhound, Deerhound, etc. So these crosses were made to produce an efficient hunting companion for commoners and a popular poacher's dog."

Characteristically, Lurchers have long legs, deep chests, long pointed noses and are very agile and fast.

Until the UK banned hunting with dogs, traditionally Lurchers were used for pest control (rabbits, hares, foxes etc) and for hunting rabbits and hares (hunting at night using a lurcher and a powerful lamp was known as lamping).

Lurchers were also used in the sport of hare coursing, (banned in Great Britain with effect from February 2005 and disallowed in Northern Ireland since 2002). Lurchers are also used in the non-hunting sports of Lure Coursing and Lurcher Racing.

Lurchers make wonderful family pets due to their gentle, loving natures, but would-be Lurcher owners need to be aware that not all of them are tolerant of cats and other small furry pets...or animals you might encounter on walks such as rabbits, squirrels, deer etc). If you are squeamish at the thought of a dog acting on instinct and chasing and killing a bunny rabbit, then a Lurcher would not make a good pet.

Lurchers were "designed" (for want of a better word) to put food in the cooking pot and while it is quite possible to teach them that you would rather they did not catch a rabbit for you, some Lurchers will act on their instincts and it is better that you are aware of this simple fact from the outset. Some never kill anything, but that is probably more because the owner is careful not to give them the opportunity rather than them having overcome their natural instinct.

Lurchers are definitely not a good choice for those who dislike dogs on the furniture. Lurchers love comfort and a house filled with warm, snuggly sofas and armchairs, and spacious beds covered in soft cuddly duvets and pillows is a Lurcher's favorite.

Other than that, like any other dogs, Lurchers need exercise but they do not need anything above and beyond what is "normal" for most other dogs, so do not think you need to be out of the house several times a day for hours on end.

Lurchers love to run, but bear in mind that you need to be sensible and responsible about where you allow your Lurcher to be offlead. Think of their safety and that of other people and animals who may be in the vicinity. A Lurcher at full pelt tends to tune out of most things other than the sheer joy of running and they can cover a lot of ground fast. This means that they can be a long way away from you very quickly indeed.

Lurchers do not need anything more than routine grooming (obviously rough coated Lurchers need a bit more "maintanence" for their coats than smooth coated ones). They shed hair of course, but nothing excessive. The one difference some people have found between Lurchers and other dogs, is that their nails seem to grow very long and they dislike having them clipped.

Foodwise, they do not cost a fortune to feed and some do pretty well on a dental chew for breakfast, a main meal in the afternoon, and a couple of dog biscuits, rawhide chews or something similar such as a pigs ear or a bit of paddywhack during the day to help keep their teeth clean.

Lurchers snuggle, cuddle, and snooze as much as they can on the softest, snuggliest surface they can find and they love their humans. Whatever they cost in terms of money and time, they repay a million times over in love and devotion. "Roaching" is the term used to describe the tendency of a lurcher to lie on their back with their legs in the air when relaxing on a comfy sofa, bed, etc. Lurcher + Sofa = Roaching.

Lurcher personality traits and things you need to be aware of...

They are sweet, cosy, and downright adorable. They are also placid, adaptable, reasonably obedient, and wonderful, affectionate companions. They are the waggiest, cuddliest, lickiest, most loving dogs most owners have had. When they are loved totally and completely, they love back unconditionally and wholeheartedly in return.

Lurchers love to sleep, they love their comfort, they do not pester incessantly for walks.

If it is raining or cold, they literally rush outside to "do their business" and rush back in again as quickly as possible, heading for the nearest heater/snuggly sofa and more sleep.

They are not faddy eaters, they do not shed excessive hair, and smooth-coated Lurchers do not require much grooming beyond nail cutting and teeth cleaning - pretty much perfect, as far as pets go.

However, outside of the home, there can often be a very different side to lurchers.

Lurchers are hunters. That is what they were bred to do, and they do it instinctively, metamorphising into a sleek, powerful, muscular, turbo charged hunting machine in the blink of an eye, if so inclined and given the opportunity.

Any lurcher is easily capable of catching and killing a smallish animal very easily indeed. Not all will, but you need to be aware of the fact that they can. They do not differentiate between wild animals or domesticated pets either. To a lurcher, there is absolutely no difference between your neighbor's cat or a wild rabbit, squirrel, or fox. If the fancy takes them and instinct takes over, they will run after it and kill it if they can.

Many lurchers co-exist very happily indeed with their owner's other pets, but some can never overcome their natural instinct that small furry creatures are nothing more than prey.

This is an instinct, and if you are thinking about getting a lurcher as a pet, it is wise to consider this aspect.

The desire to hunt is not evil or bad. It is what any dog is capable of, lurcher or non-lurcher. Dogs are animals, not toys. It is just that lurchers have more inbred tendency to instinctively hunt than many other types of dog. Any dog will chase a cat, rabbit, etc., but lurchers are seriously fast and are far more likely to catch what they chase and if they do, that is where human conditioning stops and animal instinct takes over.

Not every lurcher will do this, but some of them do, as owners have found out to their horror (and grief). Even dogs that are normally pretty responsive to commands, seem to become deaf in the excitement of being out and about and forget that the person who they normally shadow even exists, much less listen to any attempts to recall them unless they feel like it.

There is a simple solution, which is just as well as lurchers are so perfect in just about every other way. It involves muzzling your lurcher in public and never letting them off lead to run anywhere that there might be other animals around.

The Lurcher may be the original "hybrid" breed. Used by Gypsies in the British Isles for centuries to poach small game, they have always been a mix of a sight-hound, typically a Greyhound, and a "pastoral" breed (herder, drover, or livestock guardian) or a terrier. The Gypsies prefer the Greyhound mix, primarily for their hunting ability. The original reason for the cross-breeding was to avoid having a hunting dog that looked like a sight-hound - sight-hounds were only allowed to be owned by the nobility, and the mixed-breed Lurcher allowed the common man to have a hunting dog.

The Lurcher (from the Romany word for "thief") is generally only seen in Great Britain and Ireland, where it is still a very common "breed". Although no longer used for poaching (more or less) Lurchers are used for legitimate hunting and in lure coursing. As they are bred to run down and kill their prey, they are also used as pest control.

Appearance Lurchers typically have a short wiry coat, with an undercoat that thickens in winter. They resemble a Greyhound in size and structure, but the appearance depends on what the Greyhound has been mixed with. Gypsies prefer a shorter-coated Lurcher.

The size varies from 27 t 30 inches, and from 60 to 70 pounds, but this varies depending on the combination of breeds.

Temperament Lurchers are fun-loving and affectionate, and make great companions, however they have a reall, instinctual need to hunt, and they may become escape artists, to pursue their prime directive. And as hunters (and killers) of small game, they are generally not considered suitable if you have other small animals.

Health problems Generally healthy, they may suffer any of the problems associated with the breeds in their ancestry.

Exercise requirements Bred as hunting dogs, they demand a lot of daily exercise, preferably off-leash, so they have a chance to run.

Grooming The short, stiff coat needs occasional brushing and bathing only when necessary. Watch for burrs and injuries too. Because of their energetic running, keep a close eye on their nails as well.

Lifestyle They are hunters and sight hounds, so they will need a lot of exercise and open space to run free. Following their Greyhound heritage, they may be happy to be a couch potato at a hard day's work, but if they are mixed with terrier or a hard working breed, their working day may be much longer than yours.

The term Lurcher is applied to any dog that has parentage consisting of one part collie (Welsh, Border, or similar) and one part Sight-, Wolf- or Deerhound. Often, through interbreeding, Lurchers may be cross bred with other Lurchers, or with others of the parentage to develop specific traits, coloring or temperament. Lurchers are not recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club of Great Britain, although Lurchers are far more common in the UK than in any other country.

Similar cross breed results are often given the mis-name of Lurcher, including terrier x hound and German Shepherd x hound litters. Sighthounds commonly used to breed Lurchers are Greyhounds and Whippets, although Salukis, Afghans and Borzois can also be parents. As the breed is not recognised, no standard is available. The characteristics of the Lurcher can be generalised into visual characteristics and behavioural ones.

A typical Lurcher stands around 25 inches (60cm) tall to the shoulder. They have a flat skull with a long muzzle, usually slightly broader than a Greyhound. In appearance they often closely resemble the Greyhound, as traditionally that is one parent. The back should be straight, sloping slightly downwards towards the tail. The ears are not docked, and lie flat except when the dog is excited or in motion. The eyes and eyebrows are particularly expressive, although sight problems are common in middle-aged dogs. The tail is not docked, and is carried low, curving at the tip, sometimes between the hind legs. The hind legs are longer than the forelegs, and all are lean and muscular. The chest is deep, and the belly is usually tucked right up, though a little less in some cross breeds than in a standard Greyhound. The Lurcher coat can be either flat and smooth, or dense and wavy such as the Deerhound, or a combination of the two. Colours vary widely from white through beige and brindle, to black, and patches of white on other colours are common.

Lurchers are not quite as elegant in gait as their pure-bred cousins, though they have an easy and fluid trot. At full gallop, they can rival any Greyhound and have a greater ability to negotiate sharp turns at speed. The breed has been developed over the years as an animal suited to hunting rabbits and hares, so the ability to maintain agility as well as speed is crucial. An excited Lurcher will prance on its toes, and they can jump to a surprising height; those bred from larger cross combinations are able to clear 6 feet high obstacles and fences if given room to do so.

As pets, Lurchers are well suited to families with teenage children. It is an assumption that Lurchers and Greyhounds need a lot of daily exercise, but this may not be the case. Lurchers will happily trot in and out of the garden during the day and be perfectly satisfied with one or two 20-minute walks in the morning and evening, provided it has a secure space to run freely and really stretch its legs. Lurchers should not live with cats. Though there may be anecdotal evidence of cats and Lurchers co-existing happily, it is rarely the case. Lurchers are bred to chase and catch small furry things; a Lurcher cannot distinguish between a rabbit, a cat, a squirrel, or even some small dogs. All are fair game in the Lurcher's mind, so using a muzzle while outside of the garden is recommended.

Although Lurchers are large dogs, their stomachs are relatively small, so they do not need a lot of food, and several small meals per day are much easier for them to digest than one or two larger meals. Whatever a Lurcher lacks, it more than makes up for in loyalty and affection. They enjoy lying on the couch next to their family, usually travel well, and are enthusiastic chasers of balls and other toys although do not always understand the concept of retrieval. Lurchers are usually quiet dogs, except when defending their territory. Training Lurchers to sit can be difficult because of the position of their tails; it is so obviously uncomfortable for them to sit for more than a few seconds, it is often better to teach them to lie down instead, as they can perform that movement very well.

Typical age-related illnesses are sight deterioration and arthritis. Decreasing the amount of strenuous exercise can help older dogs, and food should be eaten in proportion to the amount of exercise In all, the Lurcher is a fun and friendly dog, and can make a very good companion pet.

Most breeders are not knowledgeable about Lurchers because of their rareness. This rare breed appeared in Great Britain in the 16th century. It is not recognized as a separate breed, because it is actually a cross of several hounds. The dog lurcher is a dog breed that most breeders are not knowlegeable of because of the rareness. These creatures are intelligent enough to perform in circuses. Some puppies have been known to work in circuses from the age of 6 months. This breed is seldom seen outside Great Britain and it is difficult to find breeders working with it.