Lurchers,

[Lakey]

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I've been a member of K9 for a while now and it sadens me to see that the lurcher is fast becoming show/poseing dog for the middle classes.

The lurcher is ment to be a working dog able to put food on the table not to be ponced around the show ring

Is it to go down the same road as the show whippet and not resemble the dog it was bred to be ?

I hope not as it will be a sad day for the lurcher

 

[boothros]

Whilst I agree with you Lakey, I think it could be argued that ALL breeds of dog have an origional purpose which is far removed from parading round a show ring.

Although the showing purists will undoubtedly have their ideals of what gives a dog star quality, I think there is nothing better for a dog than doing plenty of what it does best. Cant see a problem with dragging the poor mutt around the ring once in a while as long as the rest of the time its allowed to scrabble about in the undergrowth, upset the local wildlife, get absolutely filthy & run to its hearts content.

 

[juckler]

It would be interesting to see what the judges say on this do they work their dogs? i know when i was judging in the eighties i always chose working dogs as i thought that ought to be their main quality next i looked at condition then conformation if they didnt look like theyd done a bit i would pass them up i stopped judging cos i was fed up with seeing dogs owners win with non working dogs that had friends judging and on more than one occasion for permission the lurcher is a poachers dog if youve got permission get a sighthound ive got permission and dont go on it its just not the same when you can walk round doing what you want to me its about stealth and i love it! there will always be poachers out there that will keep the lurcher going but as i said at the start lets hear from some judges

 

[storm1]

ALOT OF THE SHOW PEOPLE DO NOT WORK THEIR DOGS AT ALL

THE PEOPLE I KNOW WONT LET THE DOGS CHASE QUARRY (w00t)

AS THE FEAR OF INJURY ANDSO CANNOT SHOW AT THE WEEKENDS

BUT EACH TO THEIR OWN

 

[Loopy]

I'm quite happy for my 2 lurchers to catch rabbits but they only seem interested in chasing cats & cows (I don't dare go near sheep offlead). They were 6 feet away from a baby rabbit the other day and didn't notice it - silly twits!

I know lurchers are designed to catch for the pot but what are you supposed to do if they aren't interested? Rescues/pounds are full of Lurchers who have been dumped, lots cos they weren't good at their 'job'. In the end if people didn't re-home these dogs as pets they would be pts so which is worse in your view?

Personally I wouldn't want to traipse up & down motorways going to shows every weekend (rather go for a walk) but like going to local ones every now & then cos you meet some nice people and even nicer doglets.

I don't see how Lurchers can be showified (new word!) anyway as they are so diverse.

 

[bappit]

Having kept longdogs for 26 years over that time seeing little change really, I would say they are in no danger of becoming unfit for the purpose they were bred for, its the owner that makes the choices for the hound and if that choice is to show and nothing else, then so be it, long as the dog is well cared for what's the problem? I see that it matters not one jot what the 'class' of the owner is :wacko: and without digressing too much beleive it was misconception of 'class' which brought about the ban.

As there is no breed standard for a lurcher or longdog a judges opinion is even more subjective than where they are clearly defined criteria. It is arguable that at the end of the day a show is a beauty contest after all and the judge is 'the eye of the beholder'.

A dog that is worked/exercised properly in my opinion shines when it moves in a ring.

:cheers:

Sheena

 

[sighthoundlover]

I love showing my lurchers, but not as much as i love working them. I work them in the winter and summertime is showtime. Lurchers aren't going to become a 'crufts' dog as there are so many different types and lurcher show judges all have different opinions on what lurchers they think are best. If every lurcher owned worked, then there would be no quarry left! Lots of rescue lurchers are showdogs and to me it's not a problem. Theres people who have working lurchers and people who work and show and people who show off their pets, lots of breeds and types of dogs were bred for work, but how many actually do work? Does showing actually harm a dog? No. It's just a bit of fun and the racing is best! )

 

[juckler]

Youve just got to look at the sighthound breeds that have been ruined by showing ALL OF THEM!!! doesnt that tell you something

 

[ja jumper]

Whilst I agree with you Lakey, I think it could be argued that ALL breeds of dog have an origional purpose which is far removed from parading round a show ring.Although the showing purists will undoubtedly have their ideals of what gives a dog star quality, I think there is nothing better for a dog than doing plenty of what it does best. Cant see a problem with dragging the poor mutt around the ring once in a while as long as the rest of the time its allowed to scrabble about in the undergrowth, upset the local wildlife, get absolutely filthy & run to its hearts content.

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i think as long as you look after your dog,let them do what their happy doing if its showing racing etc who cares what they are bred for .its like us women just because we can breed doesnt mean we have too

everone has their own views on whats best for their dogs the people showing and racing etc are only highlighting for us and others what a fantastic breed we have ,as others seem to class our dogs as just SKINNY DOGS who just chase things

 

[ja jumper]

Youve just got to look at the sighthound breeds that have been ruined by showing ALL OF THEM!!! doesnt that tell you something

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we have some of the best show dogs here and like i said highlight to others what a fab breed of dog they really are (dutch gold ruined by showing i dont think) :clown:

 

[juckler]

sorry but the whippets of today just arent the same as they were when i was a kid they were 14 to 16 pounds in weight would strike in bramble and dog rose i aint seen whippets like them for over twenty years people have gone for an increase in size which makes em unsuitable for working heavy cover they were stocky with flat backs more like little bull xs what we have got today look nothing like

is a show greyhound good on the track?

How many deerhounds can do the job they were bred for?

Salukis are ok if you get the right strain?

and if people continue to breed for looks ability goes out the window im not against showing dogs but am against people keeping a working dog and denying it the thing it was bred for lurchers are already diverging in type with this and that cross a lurcher was a mongrel greyhound and used to be bred for work if they couldnt do the job they didnt get bred from ensuring the breed nowadays their is already much difference in types whereas the lurchers of my youth were more of a type on their own all similar so perhaps the breed is already on its way out only time will tell

 

[Lakey]

sorry but the whippets of today just arent the same as they were when i was a kid they were 14 to 16 pounds in weight would strike in bramble and dog rose i aint seen whippets like them for over twenty years people have gone for an increase in size which makes em unsuitable for working heavy cover they were stocky with flat backs more like little bull xs what  we have got today look nothing like is a show greyhound good on the track?

How many deerhounds can do the job they were bred for?

Salukis are ok if you get the right strain?

and if people continue to breed for looks ability goes out the window im not against showing dogs but am against people keeping a working dog and denying it the thing it was bred for lurchers are already diverging in type with this and that cross a lurcher was a mongrel greyhound and used to be bred for work if they couldnt do the job they didnt get bred from ensuring the breed nowadays their is already much difference in types whereas the lurchers of my youth were more of a type on their own all similar so perhaps the breed is already on its way out only time will tell

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For the most part i agree with Juckler, but the true whippet is still out there you just have to look for them :thumbsup:

As for Dutch Gold, a fine dog in the show ring if thats whats you like :blink:

Try him in the role he was ment for against a whippet that was bred to work/race, it wouldn't have a look in.

Now dont get me wrong I have owned and still own a show bred whippet but with one exception they were /are lacking in working ability. The dog I have at the minute I cannot fault for determination but he lacks a burst of speed that I feel a whippet was bred to have. For this reason I sought out a line of whippets that were bred for working/coursing under rules and bought a bitch from these lines and she appears to be at 8 1/2 months old the type of whippet I have being missing, so I'm more than happy with her. :thumbsup:

 

[juckler]

A breif history of the whippet as i remember it

Started out as a rabbiting/ratting dog super fast and super game excelled at rabbits in cover and raced on a sunday morning [before the pub] 100 yard dash to a hand wound lure

Then progressed on to greyhound tracks running bends [the appearence of greyhound cross whippets] increase in size for speed over a distance

show whippets now in vogue roached backed and devoid of hunting instinct too tall to work in cover too nesh with thorns etc

show people get into racing

working whippets replaced by lurchers lamping becomes the easy way to catch rabbits [20 a night] instead of a couple of bunnies during the day

I hope their is somewhere still some real whippets but as i said its been twenty years since ive seen one that ive rated the ones ive seen out and ive seen more than a few just couldnt live with the whippets of my youth

 

[juckler]

Im not knocking anyone who works their whippets the ban could work to the whippets advantage as a lot of people will get more into hunting bunnies instead of all game this might see a turnround and as regards the class thing we the working man used to be frowned upon for our mongrel greyhounds not anymore to quote bob dylan the times they are a changing!