THE LURCHER is viewed with suspicion by some, historically labelled as the charge of ‘ne’er-do-well’ poaching types who were often discovered slinking through places they ought not to have been. Yet today’s modern lurcher has found himself a broad fan base, ranging from rural pest controllers and the inhabitants of small city apartments to the owners of sprawling estates.
But what exactly is a lurcher? Many assume that the lurcher is a recognised breed in its own right but this is not the case; it is quite simply a ‘type’. The term ‘lurcher’ first appeared around 1668 and is thought to be derived from the verb ‘to lurch’, a variant of ‘lurk’, meaning to lurk or steal. In the 17th century the right to keep a hunting dog (typically a greyhound) was limited to those owning lands or holdings or who had an income over a certain annual threshold. Anyone who fell short of these requirements could not legally own a hunting dog.
The commoners soon realised they could own a ‘lurcher’ without reprisal as it wasn’t strictly considered a hunting dog. By
