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Lurchers

Thanks to "Nessmoon" of morguefile for this lovely photo of a lurcher

Lurchers were originally bred for poaching and are generally the result of crossbreeding a sighthound with another breed such as a collie or a terrier.  Their size is very variable.  They can be quite small like a whippet or as tall as a greyhound, but all of them tend to be slightly built.

Some lurchers are bred for agility but you would be well advised to read the comments below if you are considering getting a lurcher specifically for the sport.

I have to confess that I love the kind of lurchers in the photos.  Jamie was good friends with three of these beautiful dogs and you couldn't wish to meet a kinder or more equable breed.  

Jamie says hello to Misty, a greyhound deerhound cross.  Jamie is 22inches at the shoulder and Misty is 3 or 4 inches taller.

Lurchers may have a rough or a smooth coat depending on the cross.  They are generally easy to handle and to groom. 

Their temperaments and exercise needs can be very similar to the greyhound.  The dog in the photo on the left is called Misty and we believe she is a greyhound deerhound cross.  Her owners said that all three of their lurchers needed a good flat out run every day but tended to settle down quietly at home after that.   Usually they are light on the lead and easy to control but as with any breed you'll always get one or two awkward little devils that do just the opposite.  One thing you might have to watch is that they do have a strong hunting instinct and may chase small animals.

One lurcher we knew used to regularly jump a five barred gate with ease but the others were never quite brave enough to tackle jumps this high.

Comments:

Penny:
Hi I'm Penny and got my lovely lurcher Isaac from the Cat and Dog Home in Edinburgh two weeks ago. He has been lovely from the word go. The day after I got him my two young granddaughters visited and I was a little concerned - I needn't have been. He was not very good at "come" but is improving with every day training. I'm letting him off the lead in controlled environments but today I took him to the beach which he loved. He is inclined to roll in quite disgusting things but if that is his only fault I can live with it. He almost dislocated my shoulder yesterday when on an extending lead. He suddenly got the scent of deer and it was very hard to hold him. I'm hoping to let him off the lead properly soon

Sandra Barker (Lurchers Terrier/Whippet/Lab Retriever)
At present needs a nose cover to stop her smelling the ground.

Sandra Barker (lurcher/jrt/pharoah hound):
He's fast but a clown sometimes.

Karma:
I've had my two lurchers six years now and they are fabulous dogs, they are so good, sleep all day then run like mad when out walkies, I will always have lurchers I have become a absolute lurcher fan, I recommend everyone to get one they are so loving.

Hank Janssen:
Hello I'm Hank and I'm from the Netherlands. Can somebody tell me how I might get a Lurcher. Because it's almost impossible to get one in Holland. I own a Greyhound (Duke) and a Jack Russell (Hummer) a fantastic team these two.
Pat comments: Could you travel to England and take a puppy back to the Netherlands with you?   Alternatively we have so many of these dogs in rescue centres that need good homes.  Perhaps you would consider giving one of these dogs a home and taking him or her back to the Netherlands.  The only other alternative is to breed them but you would have to be certain that all the puppies were wanted.   This organisation always has dogs wanting new homes Greyhound and Lurcher rescue

Hazza 'n Philly:
Philly has a salukiXgreyhound with deerhound blood, I have a deerhound greyhound. They are both good workers and good pets.

Sam Sellars:
I want to tell you about my deerhound greyhound cross. He is 3 yrs old and is a lovely grey colour. He can run really fast and is so cute!!! He is my best freind!!!! I don't know what I could do with out him!!!! My name is Sam and I am 12 years old.

Lurcher Boy:
They are lovely dogs as companions or as workers and I have had plenty of fun with mine whether it ferreting training or just walking. love u roman !!!!!!!!!!

Mandy Ringwood:
I adopted Barney from a pound in ireland 3 years ago and think I must have been mad as a first ever dog!!! But he is my world he has a beautiful sensitive personality ,is very chilled in the home and is fantastic with all people........now the fields we live near is a different matter .I need eyes in the back of my head and to be able to run like Linford Christie !!!!

Michelle Ainsworth:
I will never ever find another Daisy, she is my dog in a million and I love her to bits!!

Lurcher handler (1/2 greyhound, 1/4 collie, 1/4 whippet):
They are bloody hard work!
(This handler found the dog difficult to train and would not recommend a lurcher of this breeding for agility.)

Sharon Footitt (Lurcher/collie):
Brilliant second dog for those of us who are a bit unsure about getting a collie. Not as loopy as WSD but just as fast.

Stacey:
I adopted a lurcher a few months ago. She is the most sweet tempered, well behaved dog I have ever known. She is beautiful to watch, she has speed and grace. She makes my life complete!! If I was ever to consider adopting another dog, it would definitely be a lurcher!!

Barbara Bullock (Border collie lurcher cross):
I have been teaching him to jump and weave, but having been to an Agility show I fear I have been doing it all wrong. I am desperately trying to find a local group to teach me how to train him properly. He is so fast and loves to please I think he would be perfect if I can keep his excitement levels down. He tries to guess what I want him to do next rather than listening to me when he gets excited.  

Shaun Jackson:
I have a Lurcher (whippet X Doberman we think). She is very fast and can turn on a sixpence. She has joined the Lurcher Dog Agility League.

Lurcher Handler:
Lurchers are excellent for agility but watch the cross I have 1 x lurcherxGSD (excellent), 1 x beardie x greyhound (looking promising) and 1 x bedlington x greyhound (never interested in the slightest!)

Kay Oxley
My little lurcher is a delight and has managed lots of top 10 Starter places this year. She is sweet, willing and incredibly athletic. The only consideration is that - like lots of lurchers - she has limited concentration and would be very easy to overtrain. The only reason I am not going for another one is that my pure bred kelpie (a flaming nightmare to train!) has got so far under my skin with his character, intelligence and 'kelpie traits'(nothing to do with agility) that I can't imagine having any other breed in future, but this is in no way detrimental to the lovely lurchers