Lurcher

Origin & history

The Lurcher comes from Britain and Ireland and has a long history tied to rural and working-class life. For centuries it was the poacher's dog, bred quietly because in earlier times the law reserved pure sighthounds for the gentry, so country people crossed Greyhounds and other sighthounds with herding dogs and terriers to get an animal that could run down rabbits and hares and also think for itself. The Collie cross added biddability and the terrier cross added grit, while the sighthound supplied the speed. The name is thought to come from a Romani word meaning thief, a fair description of the job. Lurchers were and still are worked at lure coursing and rabbiting, and in recent decades many have become family pets, including a steady stream of retired or rehomed dogs through rescue here in Australia.

Temperament

Lurchers are gentle, affectionate and generally calm at home, often described by owners as quiet and undemanding once their exercise needs are met. They bond closely with their people and are usually fine with children, though their size means play with small kids should be supervised. With other dogs they are commonly sociable, particularly other sighthounds, but the strong prey drive means cats and small pets can be a real problem unless the dog has been raised with them and even then care is needed. They are intelligent and independent, a trait from both sides of the cross, so training works best with patience and rewards rather than repetition or harshness. They are not natural guard dogs, being far too friendly, though some will bark at strangers. The key behavioural need is plenty of free running in a safe, enclosed area.

Appearance

Because a Lurcher is a cross, size and look vary a lot with the parents, but most stand somewhere from 55 to 70 cm at the shoulder and weigh roughly 20 to 35 kg. The build is the giveaway, a deep chest, tucked-up waist and long legs inherited from the sighthound side, made for speed. The coat may be smooth like a Greyhound, broken or rough and wiry where there is Collie or terrier in the mix, or anything in between. Any colour or pattern turns up, including brindle, fawn, black, blue and white combinations. The head is usually long and narrow with dark eyes and a soft, watchful expression.

Suitability

A Lurcher does best in a house with a securely fenced yard, ideally with an active owner who can provide regular off-lead exercise somewhere enclosed. They are not ideal for homes with cats or small pets given the prey drive, and a first-time owner should be ready to manage recall and that hunting instinct carefully. Despite the need for exercise they are calm indoors and tolerate normal working hours reasonably well once properly exercised, though they would always rather have company. On climate, the thin-coated sighthound types feel the cold badly and appreciate a coat in winter, while in the Australian heat they need shade, water and walks timed for the cooler parts of the day.

Health

Lurchers are often long-lived and hardy, helped by their mixed parentage, with many reaching 12 to 15 years. Health depends heavily on what went into the cross, so look at both parents. Sighthounds are sensitive to some anaesthetics because they carry little body fat, which is worth telling your vet before any procedure. Deep-chested dogs of this shape carry a risk of bloat and gastric torsion, a sudden emergency where the stomach distends and twists, so learn the warning signs. Their fine skin and thin coat tear and bruise easily. Where there is Collie in the background, ask about the MDR1 drug-sensitivity gene, which has a DNA test. There is no formal health scheme for a crossbred type, so the best safeguard is honest, healthy working or pet parents you can meet and ask about.