The Lurcher is considered the hunting and family dog of the "travelling people" in Great Britain and Ireland.
The origin of the Lurcher
In the British and Irish Isles, the travelling people are referred to as "Gypsy" and "Tinker". These people had been engaged in tinkering or doing minor unskilled work for centuries. The "gypsies" were as unpopular on the islands as they were on the mainland. To survive, people had to steal and poach.
For hunting hares and small game, they bred themselves a very special dog - the Lurcher. "Lurch" means as much as thief. Typical is the crossbreeding of sighthound breeds like the Greyhound, Whippet and Deerhound. Regionally, Collie, Border Collie and other practical dogs were also brought in. The traveling people fashioned the dog as they needed it and used animals that were available.
The breed characteristics of the Lurcher
Condition for a "Lurcher" was always a sighthound-like parent animal and another dog breed. Crosses from two sighthounds were called "Longdog".
That was it with the breed standards. The FCI did not recognize this dog breed, which was considered a "hybrid".
- Hunting dog of the travelling people
- Crossbreed of sighthounds and other
- Hybrid breed without official recognition