The Lurcher As The Gypsies' Pride

Posted by | Posted on 1:38 AM

By Dennis Silva

During the 17th century, the Gypsies and travelers who roamed Great Britain and Ireland tagged along with them a clever poacher dog called the Lurcher. This dog is not a breed but rather just a type which came from a combination of several dog breeds. The Lurcher is the result of crossbreeding of several sighthounds with Greyhounds, Terriers or Collies.

Originally, this dog was used as poachers of rabbits, hares and other small animals. Actually, the name Lurcher is derived from the Roman word lur, meaning thief. During these times, this dog became popular and has been adopted even by well-off families of Britain and Ireland.

The Lurcher is composed of three fourths sighthound, although it can also vary, and one fourth other breeds. The combination of the Lurcher can be Greyhound/Collie or Greyhound/Terrier. However, a Lurcher that is the same size and build as a Greyhound is much favored.

There is no standard set in terms of size for this dog therefore some may look small as a Whippet and some may look large as a Deerhound. The coat of this dog will also depend on the breed used. The coat can be like the Greyhound's which is short and smooth, like the Collie that is a bit longer and thick, and like the Terrier which is rough and harsh to the touch.

The Lurcher has a smooth undercoat which thickens in the winter season and can be a heavy or light shedder depending on its inherited traits. The legs of this creature are long and straight, and the chest is deep that provides better lung capacity for endurance. There is no set color for this dog because it varies greatly according to the sighthound with which it was crossed.

The temperament of the Lurcher will also vary accordingly. Some might inherit the temperaments of the Greyhound, Collie or Terrier. However, one trademark of the Lurcher is its innate instinct for hunting small game which it got mostly from sighthounds.

This dog is fun-loving, loves to be with the master and affectionate. It learns quickly and does not hesitate to follow commands of the master. The Lurcher is also very energetic that's why families who own a Lurcher are advised to allow the dog to be active.

A confined space is not recommended for this energetic dog as it needs to be active daily. It needs to live in a house with a wide fenced yard so it could perform exercises such as walking and running. This dog is extremely fast, a great racer and a natural chaser and catcher of small game that's why it should only be let loose in a wide, safe and enclosed area.

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