The Most Favored Possession Of The Gypsies: The Lurcher Dog

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.

During this century, the Lurcher is most known as a hare, rabbit or other small animals poacher. In fact, its name is derived from the Roman word lur, which means “thief”. Today, however, the Lurcher is best known as a dependable and fun-loving pet.

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.

This dog has an undercoat that is smooth and which thickens in winter; and it can shed moderately or heavily. The legs are long and straight, and the chest is deep which provides a good lung capacity for the dog for a better endurance. There is no exact set of color for this breed because it will all depend on the sighthound used in breeding.

There is no fixed temperament for the Lurcher too because it also varies depending on breeds used for crossing. Some Lurchers may have temperaments similar to a Greyhound and there are some that have temperaments like that of the herding breeds or terrier breeds. Most Lurchers, however, possess strong hunting instincts that they got mostly from the sighthhounds.

This dog loves to have fun, loves to be surrounded by loving people and likes to be affectionate itself. It is a docile dog that learns commands quickly and trains highly, too. This creature is very energetic therefore it will appreciate being taken in by a family that shares its love for activities.

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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