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The Lurcher is not a dog breed, but rather a type of dog. It is a hardy crossbred sighthound that is generally a cross between a sighthound and a working breed, usually a pastoral dog or Terrier. Collie crosses have always been very popular. Lurchers can be crossed several times. There is no set type, so they can be as small as a Whippet or as large as a Deerhound; but most are chosen for a size similar to that of a Greyhound, and a distinct sighthound form is preferred.
The Lurcher was bred in Ireland and Great Britain by the Irish
gypsies and tinkers in the 17th century. They were used for
poaching rabbits, hares and other small creatures. The name
Lurcher is a derived name from the Romani language word lur,
which means thief. The gypsies considered the short-haired
Lurcher the most prized. The Lurcher is rarely seen outside of
Ireland or Great Britain, and is still common in its native
land.
The Collie crosses were often not large enough to do the
work the Lurcher was intended for. Gypsies traditionally
sneered at any Lurcher that was not predominantly Greyhound,
since these "lesser" Lurchers were not as good at
hunting and could not stand a full day's work of the hunt.
The stringent training methods of the Gypsies are looked
down upon in some Lurcher circles, since the pups began
working at six months old. Only the top-producing pups were
kept; the rest were sold at traditional bargain rates. Today
some breeding is carried out in a more systematic manner, with
Lurchers bred to Lurchers to perpetuate the
"breed's" prowess at rabbit and hare coursing.
Generally, the aim of the cross is to produce a sighthound
with more intelligence, a canny animal suitable for the
original purpose of the lurcher, poaching. Developed in the
Middle Ages in Great Britain and Ireland, the lurcher was
created because only nobility were allowed to have purebred
sighthounds like Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds,
Greyhounds, and Whippets, whereas crosses, or curs, had no
such perceived value. Similarly, nobility owned most land and
commoners were not allowed to hunt game on crown land or other
noble estates.
It was important that the lurcher did not resemble too
closely a sighthound, as the penalties for owning a sighthound
were high, particularly given that if you owned one then by
default you were considered a poacher. The original lurchers
therefore were generally heavier-coated dogs who could herd
sheep as well as bring home a rabbit or hare for the pot.
Roma, more commonly known as Romany Gypsies, were
instrumental in developing the lurcher type, and the word
'lurcher' is believed to derive from a Romani word 'lur'
meaning thief.
The lurcher has as many varied uses as types can be
crossbred, but generally they are used as hunting dogs that
can chase and kill their prey. Most lurchers today are used
for general pest control, typically rabbits, hares, and foxes.
They have also been successfully used on deer. The only
truly sporting use of the lurcher is in hare coursing,
although most hare coursing dogs are Greyhounds. Lurchers move
most effectively over open ground, although different crosses
suit different terrains.
Lure coursing and dog racing are also popular in areas with
little available hunting, or for people who dislike hunting.
The modern Lurcher is growing from its old image of disrepute
to heights of popularity as an exceptional family dog, and
many groups have been founded to rehome lurchers as family
pets.
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