Lurcher Breed description: Character & Co

About

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

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Lurcher dog of the gypsies from Ireland, Irish dog breed, large dog breed, greyhound, hybrid breed, greyhound mongrel with rough coat, grey white dog with prick ears and very large, giant dog breed, racing dog, hunting dog

Lurcher dog of the gypsies from Ireland, Irish dog breed, large dog breed, greyhound, hybrid breed, greyhound mongrel with smooth and short coat, tiger with prick ears or tilt ears and very large, giant dog breed, racing dog, hunting dog stands on a flower meadow and has his tongue out

Alternate Name	-
Origin	Ireland
Life expectancy	12 - 15 years
Care requirements	low-maintenance

Activity level	high
FCI group	not recognised
AKC group	not recognised
KC group	not recognised

Hybrid Breed

Greyhound + Scottish deerhound + Silken Windsprite

Scottish Deerhound, big dog with rough coat, grey big dog, greyhound

Dog,Mammal,Vertebrate,Dog breed,Canidae,Longhaired whippet,Carnivore,Whippet,Silken windhound,Companion dog,

Characteristics

Character traits and nature of the Lurcher

Lurchers are dogs that have been bred and used in a very unique way. The Gypsys and Tinkers still live very close to nature and train their animals mostly intuitively.

Lurchers were always used to live very close to and with their humans. They were a very normal and valued part of the community. Such an animal is affectionate and needs a lot of attention.

If you are looking for a buddy for life, are very sensitive and have a lot of time on your hands, then this dog could be for you.

It is considered easy to train, if you offer it a cooperative style. A pure command receiver and function dog it is certainly not. Since these animals can have a strong hunting instinct, they should only be in dog-experienced hands.

very sensitive, affectionate and people friendly
needs a lot of attention and love
can have hunting instinct

Character

Usage

Lurcher dog of the gypsies from Ireland, Irish dog breed, large dog breed, greyhound, hybrid breed, greyhound mongrel with rough coat, tiger with prick ears or tilt ears and very large, giant dog breed, racing dog, hunting dog mongrel

Breeding

Breeding, acquisition and keeping of the Lurcher

Everybody can breed a Lurcher and call him so. If you want to have such a dog, you simply have to search in relevant portals.

Of course, Lurchers also end up on the streets, breed wildly or are abandoned. The organization Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue takes care of these dogs in Great Britain. Perhaps the organization mediates with serious interest also an animal to Germany.

Lurcher dog of the gypsies from Ireland, Irish dog breed, large dog breed, greyhound, hybrid breed, greyhound mongrel with smooth coat, black dog with prick ears or tilt ears and very large, giant dog breed, racing dog, hunting dog mongrel

Appearance and coat of the Lurcher

Typical for the Lurcher is the stature similar to the greyhound. Then it becomes colorful. Sometimes a Lurcher can show the shaggy coat of a Deerhound, sometimes it is smooth. Depending on what other dogs were involved in the creation, they may have longer hair on their face, a bib, or "pants".

All colors occur. The ears resemble mostly the small foldable ears of the greyhounds, but can also look completely different. The tail is similar.