Lurchers have a reputation for being large, the typical poacher's dog, but in truth they can be all shapes and sizes. Not a breed but type of dog, the Lurcher usually has a member of the Greyhound family as one its parents. They are rarely seen outside of Great Britain and Ireland, from where they originate. A Lurcher is the result of a Sighthound crossed with any other breed of dog, and in some cases there may be multiple crossing involved. A Longdog is a cross between two or more Sighthounds such as a Greyhound and a Borzoi.

The Lurcher is thought to have been developed at the time that only those of noble blood were permitted to own a Greyhound or any other sight-dogs such as the Saluki, Whippet, Borzoi, Afghan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Deerhound etc. So these crosses were made to produce an efficient hunting companion for commoners and a popular poachers's dog.

Legends and lore of the eighteenth century tell of a truly amazing beast, a dog which was brave, bold, trainable, cunning, fast and very adept at hunting. A beast which Lurcher enthusiasts insist was the Lurcher of yesteryear, and which they believe is still in evidence today. During both World Wars Lurcher's were used as messenger dogs, along with German Shepherds and Border Collies. The Lurcher was regarded as the all time greatest illicit hunting dog.

The Lurcher's name is derived from the Romany word lur meaning thief. Before the 1940’s, anyone who owned a Lurcher would have been regarded as a social outcast, a man no-one trusted. According to Brian Plummer the Lurcher was the “Hallmark of the disreputable”.

Many Lurchers are used for coursing or hunting. Some owners will look after their dogs as pets but many owners will abandon or destroy their dogs if they cannot earn their keep or hunt for a living. The Lurcher is generally an obedient dog, which is why they are often used as coursing hounds or hunters. But much more importantly they make faithful and affectionate family pets.

Types of Lurcher

Afghan X


Bedlington X


Borzoi X


Bull Terrier X


Collie X


Deerhound X


German Shepherd X


Labrador X


Pharaoh Hound X


Pointer X


Retriever X


Saluki X




Terrier X



Whippet X


Wolfhound X