 Lurchers
A
Lurcher is not a specific dog breed; it is a type of dog. By definition, a
Lurcher is a Sighthound cross, most often part Greyhound. Lurchers that are the
result of a cross of two Sighthounds (such as, the popular cross of a Greyhound
and Deerhound) are a subgroup of Lurchers called Longdogs. In America, a
Deerhound Lurcher is often called a Staghound.
Greyhounds |
Deerhounds |
Although Lurchers have historically been the result of accidental
cross breeding (as was typical during the middle ages), they are increasingly
the result of planned breeding. |
For
example, many Border Collies are crossed with Greyhounds to produce exceptional
sheep herding dogs. Those who want a smaller dog often cross small Greyhounds
with Whippets (or Terriers).
Lurcher mix of
Greyhound, Deerhound,
and
Collie. |
Lurcher mix
of
Greyhound and
Terrier. |
The Deerhound-Greyhound cross produces dogs with speed, stamina,
loyalty, and gentleness. Our breeding Lurchers
are a result of this cross and reflect these characteristics.
| Many a county
fair in Britain will offer Lurcher trials with conformation classes and lure
coursing. At local
pubs, Lurchermen (any Lurcher owner) will happily spend the evening arguing
about which cross produces the best Lurcher.
Most Americans are unfamiliar with the Lurcher, but in Britain, they are quite
common as family pets and working dogs. Travelers (modern day Gypsies in the
U.K.) are often accompanied by Lurchers trotting beside their
wagons. |
Britisher with his Lurchers |
|
Probably the most
common trait of the Lurcher is a great love of people. Lurchers, even if they
have had a bad start in life, tend to be very affectionate. They are great
characters with a genuinely human sense of humor. The calm and mild-mannered
Lurcher can prove to be an enthusiastic playmate, but also a couch potato. True
to their Greyhound parentage, they love to sleep most often belly
up.
Typical Lurcher
sleeping position. |
|
History
| Lurchers are ancient dogs and are documented in
medieval manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. |
Sketch of Lurcher
in the Book of
Kells |
The name "Lurcher" comes from the ancient Romany words
for "lur" meaning thief and "cur" meaning a mixed dog breed.
|
Ancient sketch of
lucher
with hunted
game |
|
| In Britain, during the Middle Ages,
only the nobility could own and breed purebred dogs like Greyhounds,
Deerhounds, and Wolfhounds. |
Noble Lady with Deerhound |
The
accidental crossbred pups were unwanted except by the peasants and gypsies who
trained the dogs to poach (steal) small game from the royal forests. Hunting in
these forests was a hanging offense, so the dogs were trained to bring the kill
home for the pot, often providing their families with their only source of
meat.
Gypsy with
his Lurchers |
|
In
modern times, Lurchers retained their value as sport hunting dogs for a wide
variety of wildlife, but were most commonly used to hunt hares.
Lurcher hare hunting sketches |
|
Competition
Lurchers compete in Coursing - an
event which is the fast pursuit of game using sight rather than scent. Animals
coursed are hares and rabbits.
Lurchers with a hare |
|
Coursing
is the oldest recorded form of dog sport in the Western world. It originated as
a hunting technique, was practiced by all levels of society (nobility, land
owners, wealthy, and commoners) until the Carolingian hunting law (Forest Law)
appropriated hunting grounds, or commons, for the king, the nobility, and other
land owners. |
The competitive version of hare coursing was given definitive
form when the first complete set of English rules was created by Thomas Duke of
Norfolk during the reign of Elizabeth I. Since the conception of coursing, it
has been a tradition to give the hare a headstart, which later became "law," to
minimize the chance of a catch and to increase the duration of the competitive
work.
|
Catches are rare with the most
common catches occurring with slower hares resulting in the survival and
proliferation of faster hares. The fastest hares are the U.S. jackrabbits which
are faster than the swiftest Sighthound: the Greyhound. |
Lurcher hare coursing in the
U.K. |
The
object of coursing is to test the dogs, not to kill the hare. Today in Ireland
the dogs are muzzled. Muzzling allows hares to escape that might otherwise have
been caught. |
Most present day coursing competitions use artificial lures
rather than live animals. The lures are mechanically pulled over a designated
course with two or three dogs giving chase. Dogs are judged on speed, agility,
and endurance.
In Britain, competitions often take
place at country fairs where Lurchers are judged like show dogs, take part in
straight racing, hurdle racing, simulated coursing, long jump, high jump, and
even obedience tests where they have to be called off a lure that flies under
their noses! |
Lurcher in a time
trial at a fair In Britain |
|
|
