Lurcher Crosses -Does anyone use Gundogs?

[lurch4me 0]

Hi I am a Newbie to the art of Lurching and Gazehounds.

 

I own a dog and a bitch breed and used for what I call Versatile hunting. The dogs are expected to search, point, retrieve, track and recover game whether it has feathers or fur. I don't use my dogs for dispatching game such as fox, skunks, badgers, racoons, etc. From what I have experienced these dogs have been breed to work closely and want to please the hunter, although my dog is very independent and quite content to "Self Hunt" if I am not in possion of a firearm when we hit the fields, marshes or forests.

 

Now to my question regarding Lurchers: Given that Gundogs have been breed to want to work with their handlers, and most possess a strong desire to find and recover game, have good stamina for hunting long days end on end why would not someone use these breeds in a cross for a lurcher?

 

From what I have seen the majority of the lurchers are sight hound crosses; Sight hound/Terrier crosses; or Sight hound collie crosses.

 

If I am interested in a lurcher that will likely have a good success rate on hares in open fields, with hedgerows on the edges what cross would make sense?

 

The lurcher would also need a good coat as our winters are cold and long--6 months with 3 months of winter below -20C.

 

Size is also an issue as the wife prefers smaller breeds so deerhound/wolf hounds are out of the question.

 

I was looking at possibly a Whippet Cross with the possibility of getting a pair to increase their success rate on hares.

 

All thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[luke 2]

interested in that type of cross my self as most gun dogs have a good prey drive coat feet

and stamina but a whippet is to small to put such a cross over for hares.i think a three

quarter greyhound quarter gun dog would be a fine animal for all types of game and would

like to experiment with this type in the future all the best mate

[lurch4me 0]

... a whippet is to small to put such a cross over for hares

 

Why would a whippet be to small for taking down a hare? Or would it be to small to carry the hare back? Our hares usually average 6 - 10lbs.

 

What about a bedlington Terrier cross?

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

Interesting....................funnily I have thought the same over the years....................I wonder what an ESS Grey 1st cross would look like??

 

It certainly makes sence to have a multi functional dog that could bush flush and course............................sounds like a good arounder to me.

 

Would be interesetd to see if anyone has had an accidetal mating like this...and have any pictures of the offspirng

[luke 2]

... a whippet is to small to put such a cross over for hares

 

Why would a whippet be to small for taking down a hare? Or would it be to small to carry the hare back? Our hares usually average 6 - 10lbs.

 

What about a bedlington Terrier cross?

i run whippets and they take there fair share of hares but cross them with any thing other than

another running dog ie saluki greyhound or deerhound and you take to much pace out them

for hares.a pure bred whippet wouldent thrive in such a climate i dont think you have much choice

but to go for a bigger type running dog if your after hares only my opinion

[Guest world.hunters]

the lamper had wire haired pointer x greyhound i think it was only 1/4 grey tho. it looked very good for retrieving but didnt do to good on the lamp.

[Ray Mears 272]

well if it needs a good coat on it and is going to be out in -20 pointless getting a whippet imo

[Stabs 3]

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...57&hl=sammy

[lurch4me 0]

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...57&hl=sammy

 

Interesting Read Stabs. I guess I should of clarified what I meant by GunDog. I really meant a german breed type Gun Dog Like the following Breeds:

 

German Wirehair/Drahthaar

German Shorthair

Pudel Pointer

Small Munsterlander

 

New to this style of hunting and very interested in having a bitch/dog that can really make a go of it on hares. Interestingly enough Whippets are very common in my City even though the weather is not suited for them....Lots of Show ring people breed them, although some still have alot of run in them.

 

How do Collie x fair on hares?

[luke 2]

seen a first cross weimaraner(spelling)xgreyhound big powerful evil animal

to clumsy for hare but plenty of straight line speed picked my 40lb lurcher up

and shook it like a slipper never seen a dog that could do so much damage

in a short space of time my mate got rid of it after that it would have been

some tool for foxes

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

I WANT TO SEE PICTURES OF THESE CURS..............CANT FIND ANY ANYWHERE

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

Always fancied a springer x greyhound, a good picking up dog put over a good coursing bitch.