Lurcher

The lurcher is the offspring of a sighthound mated with another type, most commonly a pastoral breed or a terrier. Historically a poacher's dog, lurchers in modern times are used as pets, hunting dogs and in racing.

This article is about the dog type. For various ships, see HMS Lurcher.
Lurcher
Longhaired Lurcher
OriginGreat Britain and Ireland
Breed statusNot recognized by any major kennel club.
Traits
Coat Any
Colour Any
Litter size variable
Life span 12-15 years
NotesLurchers may be registered with the North American Lurcher and Longdog Association (NALLA)
Dog (domestic dog)

Description

A lurcher is generally a cross between a sighthound and a working dog breed.[1]

The distinction in England between a greyhound and a lurcher was both legal and biological. Greyhounds were used to hunt legally only by the privileged upper class who could show qualification by sufficient income or estate. Anyone else with a lower income was, from 1389, prohibited from hunting with any hound whatsoever, including a lurcher ('lerce' in Norman French).

Brian Plummer identifies the Norfolk Lurcher as the predecessor of the modern lurcher. [2] [3]

Etymology

The word 'lurcher' is from Norman French, Middle English lurch, to lurk or remain in a place furtively.[4]

While it has been suggested the word 'lurcher' is from the Romani word for thief, the word for thief in Romani is "Chor".[5] It is more recently related to the dog's ability to suddenly turn=lurch, to strike its usual prey, the hare. However, the archaic meaning of the word lurcher in English is a prowler, swindler, or petty thief.[4]

History

From the late 14th century in England, to the repeal of the Game Laws in Britain of 1831, those without financial qualification were prohibited from owning and hunting with any hunting dogs, including lurchers. Generally, the aim of the cross is to produce a sighthound with more intelligence, a canny animal suitable for poaching rabbits, hares and game birds. Over time, poachers and hunters discovered that the crossing of certain breeds with sighthounds produced a dog better suited to this purpose, given the lurcher's combination of speed and intelligence.

Modern roles

Lurchers as pets

The modern lurcher has left behind its old image of disrepute, and is now regarded as an exceptional family dog. Many groups have been founded to re-home lurchers as family pets.[6]

Amateur sports

Lurchers excel at sports such as lure coursing and dog racing, which are very popular in areas with little available hunting, or for people who dislike hunting. In the U.S., lurchers are eligible to compete in lure coursing events sanctioned by the National Lure Coursing Club.[7]

Recognition and registration

Because lurchers are not purebreds they are not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs although the acronym HJCK serves in some circles: Hunt Jump Catch Kill. However, the North American Lurcher and Longdog Association[8] was created in 2007 to serve as a registering body for lurchers and longdogs in the United States and Canada.

See also

References
  1. Blount, Deborah (February 2000). "The Lurcher Submission for the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales". The Association of Lurcher Clubs. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. Rogues and Running Dogs David Brian Plummer, 1976 Tabard Press
  3. Plummer, Brian (1979). The Complete Lurcher. The Boydell Press. ISBN 9780851151182.
  4. "Lurcher". Oxford Dictionaries UK Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. Lee, Ronald (2005). Learn Romani. University of Hertfordshire Press. p. 365. ISBN 978-1-902806-44-0. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  6. Drakeford, J. (2003). The House Lurcher. Shrewsbury: Swan Hill Press. ISBN 978-1-904057-34-5.
  7. Lure Coursing Club
  8. "Lure Coursing, Amateur Whippet & Sighthound Racing - NALLA Overview". Lure Coursing, Amateur Whippet & Sighthound Racing. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.