History
– The term ‘lurcher’ was first used in 1668 to describe a crossbred dog resulting from mating a sighthound with a working breed.
– In England, the right to keep a hunting dog was restricted to those who owned lands or had a certain level of wealth until 1831.
– The law limiting dog ownership based on wealth remained in force until 1831.
– In the 19th century, rough-haired regional greyhounds were referred to as lurchers and were banned from competition due to their hunting style.
– The term ‘lurcher’ is derived from the verb ‘lurk,’ meaning to steal.
Description
– A lurcher is a crossbreed between a sighthound and a working dog breed.
– The purpose of breeding lurchers is to produce a sighthound with increased intelligence for hunting rabbits, hares, and game birds.
– Lurchers are known for their combination of speed and intelligence, making them suitable for poaching.
– Over time, certain breeds were discovered to be more successful when crossed with sighthounds.
– Lurchers are valued for their intelligence and agility in hunting.
Use
– Lurchers were traditionally bred in England to assist poachers in hunting rabbits and hares.
– Lurchers are kept around the world as sporting dogs and family pets.
– They can also participate in sports such as lure coursing and dog racing.
– Crossbreeds like lurchers are not formally recognized by major kennel clubs.
– In North America, lurchers can be registered with the North American Lurcher and Longdog Association.
References
– Edmund Russell’s book ‘Greyhound Nation’ provides a coevolutionary history of England, including the history of lurchers.
– The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘lurcher’ as a crossbred dog and ‘lurch’ as a variant form of ‘lurk.’
– A dictionary from 1779 mentions the law that restricted dog ownership based on wealth.
– David Brian Plummer’s book ‘The Complete Lurcher: a manual’ provides information on lurchers.
– J. Drakeford’s book ‘The House Lurcher’ explores the topic of lurchers as pets.
Further reading
– ‘British Hunting: A Complete History of the National Sport of Great Britain and Ireland from Earliest Records’ by Arthur W. Coaten.
– ‘Whigs and Hunters: The Origin of the Black Act’ by E. P. Thompson.
– ‘Gentlemen and Poachers: The English Game Laws, 1671–1831’ by P. B. Munsche.
– ‘The Animal Estate: The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian Age’ by Harriet Ritvo.
– ‘The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy’ by David Cannadine.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurcher