Lurchers and stalking

[Bowland blades]

Not in my decades of experience

Really strange that we have through history called this "type" of dog SIGHT HOUNDS . Thats not to say you haven't had them with great noses , they are still dogs. also i would expect a hound cross etc or similar to have a better nose than a suluki x greyhound for instance. Any dog beats the human of course , many times over even the monstrosity of the modern pet Pug !
When the bans and legal hassles started I stopped with running dogs and got seriously into Gundogs , it was a revelation . I had just one running dog with a fair nose and she was a terrier cross 1/2 - 1/2 and slow most of her successes on rabbits where basically pegged or near enough to that description .

 

[Camdig]

If I was getting another lurcher for deer work I would be inclined to find a first cross beardie collie, good coat a little more trainable being first cross and excellent noses.
Probably best going for one that throws more to collie than greyhound/whippet, just be prepared for occasional accident a white arse bouncing away will test the steadiness of the very best lurcher.
Sight hounds often need to use their nose especially if hunted traditionally off lead hunting through cover very common infact hunting threshes for rabbits.

 

[Bowland blades]

If I was getting another lurcher for deer work I would be inclined to find a first cross beardie collie, good coat a little more trainable being first cross and excellent noses.
Probably best going for one that throws more to collie than greyhound/whippet, just be prepared for occasional accident a white arse bouncing away will test the steadiness of the very best lurcher.
Sight hounds often need to use their nose especially if hunted traditionally off lead hunting through cover very common infact hunting threshes for rabbits.

Of course and Bedlington Terriers , whippets of none show type are pretty much pedigree mongrels if you get where i am coming from ? Look at say what races at a game fair and one at crufts . No different with Labs though or other breeds .
Do we need a faster stalkers dog though ? if they can out pace a fit Lab , it will have a fairly high chance of mending up perhaps ? depending on where the strike was

 

[Klenchblaize]

Perhaps I could have been more succinct:

1. The mutt and the owner will be viewed with both suspicion and fear!
2. The mutt will be a challenge at heel!

K

 

[Keith Edmunds]

If I was getting another lurcher for deer work I would be inclined to find a first cross beardie collie, good coat a little more trainable being first cross and excellent noses.
Probably best going for one that throws more to collie than greyhound/whippet, just be prepared for occasional accident a white arse bouncing away will test the steadiness of the very best lurcher.
Sight hounds often need to use their nose especially if hunted traditionally off lead hunting through cover very common infact hunting threshes for rabbits.

 

[Boosh]

You would have to be careful how you bring it up to noise of a rifle, and even then it may spook some lurchers.
Most don't stand heavy weather whilst static.
Noses are great on lurcher, its just seen traditionally as a sight hound due to the coursing/slipping nature where a dog is not allowed to use its nose.
I've seen good lurchers put good spaniels to shame in the field with there noses, not that the lurcher can smell any better, they just seem to process the information they are getting from the snozzer better, rather than quartering a scent line half a dozen times they just follow it straight to source.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

If I was getting another lurcher for deer work I would be inclined to find a first cross beardie collie, good coat a little more trainable being first cross and excellent noses.
Probably best going for one that throws more to collie than greyhound/whippet, just be prepared for occasional accident a white arse bouncing away will test the steadiness of the very best lurcher.
Sight hounds often need to use their nose especially if hunted traditionally off lead hunting through cover very common infact hunting threshes for rabbits.

Something like this one 3/4 border/beardie 1/4 greyhound Lovely do from the 90's when Hancock bred a few of them. Owned by my old rabbiting buddy

 

[Tyla]

I have a lurcher bitch who worked very well as a stalking dog and tracked well enough to pass the UKDTR test and do cold scent call outs. She retired a couple years ago but has done the odd track for me since. She was a collie based bitsa and wasn't introduced to stalking til she was 5 or 6. Had to be retrained as she had a different interest in deer prior to that. She was steady as anything once she knew what I wanted and would stalk and indicate on foot or sit quietly under a high seat. I miss her alot when I'm out

 

[John Gryphon]

There were and probably still are some excellent dogs about bred using English greyhound, English pointer, Scottish deerhound (or derivatives) with the addition of English bullterrier. Some lines I knew had 1/4 or 1/8th English foxhound in the mix however the foxhound blood in them can make them cast out a long long way.
Combinations of the above made for hard fast running, rough and tough dogs that had rippin` noses that were/are surprisingly well behaved and loyal.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Lurchers have decent noses - they mark rabbits to ground and hunt up just fine so I can’t see that they wouldn’t do at least a job.

I quite fancy putting a bull cross over my lab bitch - not much would get away from that!

I’ve never had any trouble with people and mine. She wouldn’t be my first choice as a stalking companion but if you really want one and maybe got a reverse three quarter cross it could work

 

[Bo Diddley]

Quite a tale associated with this pic. Lurcher bitch with her pup. Victoria.View attachment 356147

And in hot tropical far north Queensland, the old girl on left even found quail for me when she realised that i was after them. Foxes/cats/hares/rabbits what an allrounder.

.View attachment 356149

Ever thought of writing a book John before you meet your maker? It would be a jolly good read bud
Edit; Put me down for #1, signed of course sir xx

 

[John Gryphon]

Ever thought of writing a book John before you meet your maker? It would be a jolly good read bud

Thank you for your vote of confidence Bo D and yes it has passed my mind often enough.

Btw re this "Quite a tale associated with this pic. Lurcher bitch with her pup." I have added the tale to the gralloch thread.

 

[Ross1980]

It’s also a sad fact of rural life that to be seen with anything other than a handbag-sized Lurcher is to court the same disapproving looks as someone dragging an XL Bully around a City Street.

A curly-haired Lurcher the size of a lamb but with the heart of Lion is the way to go if you must have one.

K

I’ve never had so much as a dirty look in rural Wales with my lurcher, but coursing isn’t a problem around here. However, a few years ago I went on a stalking trip to the East Yorkshire Wolds accompanied by my lurcher, and to make matters worse I had borrowed my parents caravan to stay in. To say I was unpopular is an understatement !

 

[Bo Diddley]

I’ve never had so much as a dirty look in rural Wales with my lurcher, but coursing isn’t a problem around here. However, a few years ago I went on a stalking trip to the East Yorkshire Wolds accompanied by my lurcher, and to make matters worse I had borrowed my parents caravan to stay in. To say I was unpopular is an understatement !

Best chuckle I've had all day, thanks for that

 

[sakoson]

have been using lurchers for stalking for 30 years, my latest one is half beardie/greyhound , who was trained tracking a deer leg out to 400yds before she was a year old ,then introduced to live stuff, they are very adept at letting you know there is deer about long before you see them.

 

[Marrajack1]

A proper bred Bedlington x is a great dog I have seen a few work. Intelligent and great nose.
My own view is a terrier will find a deer you’re looking for on the hunting visit After a few hours you may need a specialist.
As for gundogs having a better nose, not sure. I have owned and seen terriers prove hounds wrong many times at a mark. And before anyone piped up I mean at times one in they overlook not claiming a false mark cos the terrier potentially couldn’t find it.

 

[SikaSeeker]

A proper bred Bedlington x is a great dog I have seen a few work. Intelligent and great nose.
My own view is a terrier will find a deer you’re looking for on the hunting visit After a few hours you may need a specialist.
As for gundogs having a better nose, not sure. I have owned and seen terriers prove hounds wrong many times at a mark. And before anyone piped up I mean at times one in they overlook not claiming a false mark cos the terrier potentially couldn’t find it.

Hunt terriers will go to ground regardless if hounds mark one in. They’re used to being dropped in a spot that 99% of the time is holding. Some hounds won’t cold mark a place.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Really strange that we have through history called this "type" of dog SIGHT HOUNDS . Thats not to say you haven't had them with great noses , they are still dogs. also i would expect a hound cross etc or similar to have a better nose than a suluki x greyhound for instance. Any dog beats the human of course , many times over even the monstrosity of the modern pet Pug !
When the bans and legal hassles started I stopped with running dogs and got seriously into Gundogs , it was a revelation . I had just one running dog with a fair nose and she was a terrier cross 1/2 - 1/2 and slow most of her successes on rabbits where basically pegged or near enough to that description .

Aye whatever.
Spoken like someone who know hee haw about lurchers.

Something like this one 3/4 border/beardie 1/4 greyhound Lovely do from the 90's when Hancock bred a few of them. Owned by my old rabbiting buddy

Just put my last Hancock done the other month.
Was a great dog , regardless of the ribbing for having a Hancock lurcher

 

[Marrajack1]

Hunt terriers will go to ground regardless if hounds mark one in. They’re used to being dropped in a spot that 99% of the time is holding. Some hounds won’t cold mark a place.

Not when you’re stopping - and not all the time. Some terriers are excellent at marking and are used on a lead to save time - there are terriers and there’s terriers. Some have fantastic scenting abilities Hounds sometimes mark where a fox runs over an earth - from known encounters etc
All I am saying is some terriers have an excellent nose and prey drive for live scent

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Aye whatever.
Spoken like someone who know hee haw about lurchers.

Just put my last Hancock done the other month.
Was a great dog , regardless of the ribbing for having a Hancock lurcher

Let's face it, he sourced good working collies and, certainly back in the day, had well-bred greyhound brood bitches. That one in the photo was out of Linnet, whelped in the early 90's.