Lurchers? What are they like?

I *think* i would like to have some sort of Lurcher in the future. Seems like they are popular in the UK but next to unheard of here!

Isnt a lurcher basically a sight-hound mixed with a terrier? I have seen a greyhound collie mix and they called it a lurcher.
I love the look of a sight-hound, and we have considered a greyhound or whippet in the future, but i would like something with more energy. an on the go most all of the time dog that I can run with, play long games of tug, and even do some rough housing with! From what I read, that's not your typical sight-hound. I love boundless energy, and seems like sight-hounds are borderline LAZY!

How can I research the breed and contact breeders? I am having such a hard time finding breeder in the states!

a sighthound crossed w/ anything other than a sighthound is a lurcher but so is lurcher to lurcher & lurcher to sighthound. each cross has something different to offer. don't discount a pure sighthound, they ARE borderline lazy but when it's time to work they leave it all on the field. lurchers aren't common here but there is a sighthound hunting subculture that can probably help you find something you might like. the downside is most will only sell to a hunting home. most of the sighthounds used in the USA are coldblood greys, stags, salukiX & borzoiX and the purebreds are used to compete in open field coursing. the majority of lurchers are bullX used as fast catchdogs foe hog hunting & kill dogs on coyote by people who own softer dogs.

Lurchers are any sighthound mixed with anything else. So there's a HUGE variety of coat, size, temperament, etc. with this type depending on what went into the dog. Pops has a lot of contacts with working lurchermen, so hopefully he'll stop in and comment.

In UK rescue sites I do see a lot of whippet/grey mixed with either terriers, and collies see to be another popular ingredient. The bearded colliesXgrey makes some nice looking dogs but I have no idea what the temperament or energy level is like.

I can send you a link to a sighthound forum that has sections on hunting and lurchers/staghounds, there's at least one breeder on there that works with lurchers.

ETA: Nevermind, pops got here first, lol

Thanks everyone!
can lurchers be cat and small dog freindly?

I am having a hard time finding our next dog.

I have rabbits in the house, but now they are in a very large room not running around the house like they used to be.

They can be. So can pure sighthounds. Our foster shag, Seamus, was 100% fine with our cat and house rabbit.

This sounds like a whippet. Many well bred whippets raised nicely are exactly that. I find the whippets have more energy than the JRTs. Dash loves to tug.. Bounce not so much but I didn't foster it in her (I have had many JRTs who aren't big tuggers as I didn't work on it as puppies) Many whippets live with cats too.

a friend of mine has a lurcher, she is a purebred whippet (mom) and purebred border collie (dad) an "oops" litter, he is a cool dog,,has no problem laying around, but he runs faster than any border collie I've seen in agility which he does)

He's pretty cool looking, very short coat like a whippet, has a whippet face, taller than a whippet, border collie coloring..

Teddy Moritz writes a column for full cry magzine & is involved w/ the north american teckel club. she hunts groundhog, rabbit & coons (& the occassional fox) w/ mini dachshunds & lurchers (& hawks). lots of brits use theirs w/ ferrets to catch rabbits. obviously small animal aggression can be channelled or eliminated w/ the animals they grow up with. the biggest problem is that bigger sighthounds don't understand their size & injure small dog by accident.
i think a whippet cross would be a good choice but since we don't have a huge amount of whippetX lurchers here an accidental cross would be more likely. then it just becomes a matter of finding such accidents. OTH a pure whippet is a great choice too.

The more you talk, the more i want a longhaired whippet. I've always adored the sight hounds but most are too big for my tastes and dont fit in with my life. But the whippets really sound like they would. How big are yours?

Bounce is tiny at about 18 inches, dash is about 20. Bounce is the original height standard for a female whippet. The LHW breeder are trying to keep the size down (many north american whippets are too large)

I think after Argon, or maybe even with things are more strable, I'll be getting a long haired whippet. I just hope I can find a good breeder for them.
I looked at Lurchers also, but I was a little put off by the lack of consistancy.

Long haired whippets are VERY rare. (there is a group breeding percentage whippets.. they out cross them to get hairy whippet like dogs, but its not a standardized breeding program in any way. And they mix various breeds in so you aren't likey to get the whippet temperament)

If anyone ever wants one I can point you in a direction

the consistancy is in the specific crosses all collieXs look like collieXs, bullXs look like bullXs, wheatonXs look like wheatonXs. it would be ridiculous to expect consistancy between different crosses or follow on breedings of first crosses. even their performances are different due to the specific cross. it's like being put off by the lack of consistancy at the shelter.

Not the same thing as a LHW by any means, but you will get a very consistently sight hound temperament with them. I've met several and they all have a strong playful streak.The lines are made a pure whippet, borzoi, and some long haired whippety dogs from Walter Wheeler.

If you're looking for a companion, it would probably be much easier getting your hands on a silken windhound than a LHW.

Kennel Kristull - Silken Windhound History

Pops2- Thats exactly what I mean. If I am going to go through a breeder, I would want consistancy. Otherwise, I would go to a shelter and choose a greyhound mix of some sort. I am just looking for a pet who may dabble in sports, I understand that you have working dogs are are looking for something more.
I've looked at Silken Windhounds also and I haven't discounted them yet.

I was looking in to silkens. I even contacted a breeder. she acted like she thought they were too soft for me.

you're missing the point. within a specific style of cross, the consistancy (especially in first crosses) is often as good or better than in purebreds because performance is the focus and form really does follow function. OTH expecting consistancy between different crosses is like expecting the same conformation between a beagle & a bloodhound since they are both hounds. most lurchermen like a specific style of cross so you aren't likely to see a breeder w/ beddyXwhippets, fellXwhippet, jrtXwhippet, collieXgreys, wheatonX, airedaleX & bullX and mixes of them. what you'll find is one style for a specific purpose like fox, deer or rabbit and the lurcherman accepting less than superior performance on other game.

Ah, I understand where we missed eachother. I was looking at Lurchers as a whole, while you are looking more at the specific crosses that make up the whole, right?

Exactly

The silkens I have met (granted only 2) have seemed softer than whippets. BUt some whippets are really soft too...