Your Dog — November 2017

Lurcher expert

Jackie Drakeford

explains

everything you

need to know

about one of

Britain’s oldest

cross-breeds.

T

he Lurcher is the fi rst

designer cross-breed,

and distinctly British

in origin. These dogs are

a cross between one or more

sight hounds — such as the

Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki,

or Deerhound — and one or

more pastoral working breeds,

most popularly the Border

Collie, or a terrier. Sometimes

there is no pastoral blood at

all, and they are then really

‘longdogs’ (a cross between

two or more sight hounds),

although all mixtures are

popularly called Lurchers.

They have been in this

country for hundreds of years,

from times when poor people

were forbidden by law to own

Greyhounds — so ‘Milord’s’

svelte hunting dog would

have an illicit tryst with

a scruffy farm dog, the results

hiding their racy lines under

a rough coat.

The working dog added

biddability to the sight hound,

while the running dog supplied

Dog behaviourist

Jackie Drakeford

is a Kennel Club

accredited instructor

with almost 50 years’

experience working

with dogs. While

a Lurcher and sight

hound specialist,

she loves all types of

dogs, and currently

owns a Lurcher and

a terrier.

ABOUT JACKIE

silence, speed, hunting ability,

and a kind nature.

Lurchers have come in from

the cold since those days,

and we common people can

own them, even though some

of them have sleek coats,

which advertise clearly what

they are. Because they are

cross-breeds, and many

have several breeds in their

make-up, there is a size,

colour, and coat type to suit

everyone, though the shape is

always the same.

Nowadays, there are

Lurcher events held all

summer, where like-minded

people can show their dogs,

meet with fellow Lurcher

owners, and take part in other

activities, such as Lurcher

racing, Lurcher obedience

(which is totally different from

Kennel Club obedience and

so suitable for all types), and

jumping competitions.

The Lurcher’s original

purpose was to put meat on

the table for the common

man, and though times have

changed, these dogs have

not: they are fast, furtive,

intelligent, and quick to react.

Although the Hunting Act

of 2005 made many of their

traditional tasks illegal, they

are still widely used within the

law for pest control of rabbits

and rats.

Any Lurcher you meet is

likely to have been bred from

working lines, and so retains

the desire and capability to do

his original job, whether you

want him to or not.

WHAT OWNERS

SHOULD KNOW

● You have never seen true

prey drive until you see

a Lurcher in pursuit, so pet

Lurcher owners must train

really reliable recalls, and

actively avoid situations

where their dogs might get

into trouble.

These are hunting dogs

and that is what they want to

do, wherever they are. You

cannot train it out of them,

nor call them back once they

have launched, so it’s all about

avoiding situations where they

would have the opportunity to

course and catch. Always keep

a good lookout for wildlife,

and never be afraid to put the

lead back on.

Do not let your dog run free

in woodland, as the risk of

collision with trees or running

onto a sharp fallen branch is

designer dog

The fi rst

Lurchers can have any

coat in any colour.

56 Your Dog November 2017 http://www.yourdog.co.uk

Dog behaviourist

Jackie Drakeford

is a Kennel Club

accredited instructor

with almost 50 years’

experience working

with dogs. While

a Lurcher and sight

hound specialist,

she loves all types of

dogs, and currently

owns a Lurcher and

a terrie r.

ABOUT JACKIE

man, and though times have

changed, these dogs have

not: they are fast, furtive,

intelligent, and quick to react.

Although the Hunting Act

of 2005 made many of their

traditional tasks illegal, they

are still widely used within the

law for pest control of rabbits

and rats.

Any Lurcher you meet is

likely to have been bred from

working lines, and so retains

the desire and capability to do

his original job, whether you

want him to or not.

WHAT OWNERS

SHOULD KNOW

●You have never seentrue

prey drive untilyou see

a Lurcher in pursuit, so pet

Lurcher owners must train

really reliable recalls, and

actively avoid situations

where their dogs might get

intotrouble.

These are hunting dogs

and that is what they want to

do, wherever they are. You

cannot train it out of them,

nor call them back once they

have launched, so it’s all about

avoiding situations where they

would have the opportunity to

course and catch. Always keep

a good lookout for wildlife,

and never be afraid toput the

lead back on.

Do not let your dog run free

in woodland, as the risk of

collision with trees or running

onto a sharp fallen branch is

Lurchers can have any

coat in any colour.

http://www.yourdog.co.uk

DO THEY MAKE GOOD PETS?

Lurchers defi nitely make great companions, as long as their

needs are recognised. Once exercised, they are happy to sleep

the time away until their next walk. As a friend of mine says:

“They are either fl at out or fl at out!”. Their bony bodies need

deep soft beds (yours will do nicely), preferably raised to keep

them out of draughts.

Lurchers are prodigious leapers, so your garden must be

securely fenced. They are generally quiet, though they have

a variety of mumbles and squeaks with which to talk to you, and

a deep bark if needed. If you want a busy, effusive dog who

loves everybody on fi rst meeting, these dogs are not for you;

they value their privacy, and will greet you and then go back to

bed. If a Lurcher leans against you and then grins at you, it is

a huge compliment.

56-58 YD Lurchers CS2(SW) CC.indd 56 22/09/2017 13:16