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In 17th century, the Irish Gypsies and Tinkers roamed parts of Great Britain and Ireland together with their most prized companion, the Lurcher. The Lurcher is not a breed but rather just a type of dog. This creature is the result of several crossings between the sighthound and other breeds such as the Collie, Terrier and Greyhound.

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 set size for the Lurcher and so it can come out looking small as a Whippet or as big as a Deerhound. The coat can also vary depending on which breed was used for crossing. The coat can be short and smooth like the Greyhound, long and thick like Collie, and coarse and broken like the Terrier.

The Lurcher possesses an undercoat that thickens during the winter and it can shed heavily or lightly, too. The legs of the Lurcher are long and straight while its chest is deep providing a better lung capability to the dog. There is no standard color for this dog since it will vary greatly on the sighthound used for 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 is fun-loving, loves to be with the master and affectionate. It learns quickly and does not hesitate to follow commands of the master. The Lurcher is also very energetic that’s why families who own a Lurcher are advised to allow the dog to be active.

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.