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Lurcher
Harry, the Lurcher at 4 years old. He is a Greyhound / Saluki/Bearded Collie.
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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
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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. |
Height, Weight
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Height: 22-28 inches (55-71 cm.)
Weight: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg.) |
Health Problems |
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Living Conditions |
The Lurcher is usually not recommended for city life, as they are a very high-energy dog. |
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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. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 13 years |
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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.
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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. |
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Group |
Sighthound |
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Recognition |
DRA |
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. |
"Penny, a Whippet x
Border Collie mix (Lurcher) at 9 years
of age. She hunted actively for ten years. She looked just like a miniature deerhound."
Penny has been said to look like a 50/50 Beardie x Greyhound, by other Lurcher fanciers, which is a type pioneered by David Hancock. In general any 1/2 cross (also called a first cross, since it is the first cross from two pure breds) bred lurcher will be shorter and less leggy than a 3/4 greyhound (i.e. a second cross from a purebred greyhound and a first cross lurcher).
Digit is half Whippet and half
Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Digit, the Whippet / Rhodesian Ridgeback
mix.
Flash
Lurcher Calendars!
Molly (left) is a Deerhound /
Greyhound / Bearded Collie and Leo (right) is a Greyhound /
English Bull Terrier.
Lurcher Pictures 1
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