Smithfield Lurcher

[Saluki71 110]

Hi Phil that looks like a proper lurcher, my dad bred his own line of lurchers they were deerhound greyhound collie greyhound but line bred, they looked like typical Norfolk types. I don't know if you remember but there were two rough coated lurchers one fawn and one blue on the cover of the shooting times about 1979 or , I've been trying to source a copy but to no avail.

Atb

Nick

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Yes, I remember that colour cover,...what a great image of two iconic lurcher types...

Edited October 19, 2016 by Phil Lloyd

[stagmad 91]

google tasmanian smithfield and have a look at them.

[Neal 1,854]

One of my Australian herding books has a section on the Tasmanian Smithfield with photos of dogs very similar to mongrely beardies(I think it's the Rod Cavanagh book but I'm not sure without checking).

 

My humble opinion is that the "original" Smithfield was a collection of different herding/droving dogs with nothing in common other than the era they worked in whereas the Australian type is a breed originating from one of those types. You Australians have a knack for taking something and improving it.

 

N.B. That's a compliment...not a criticism.

Edited October 20, 2016 by Neal

[forest of dean redneck 11,524]

When you read about stalkers in Scotland crossing deerhounds with shepherd dogs ,for tracking shot deer,would not some of the offspring be given to estate shepherds or drovers to use,a taller stronger dog would been ideal travelling and herding the highland cattle.

[TOMO 25,991]

One of my Australian herding books has a section on the Tasmanian Smithfield with photos of dogs very similar to mongrely beardies(I think it's the Rod Cavanagh book but I'm not sure without checking).

 

My humble opinion is that the "original" Smithfield was a collection of different herding/droving dogs with nothing in common other than the era they worked in whereas the Australian type is a breed originating from one of those types. You Australians have a knack for taking something and improving it.

 

APART FROM SCRUMAGING,,,,AND BEER OF COURSE...

 

N.B. That's a compliment...not a criticism.

[Saluki71 110]

I've just looked at an old book of my dads by colonel David Hancock called old working dogs and in it there is a picture from the 1800s of a drover and his dog and what I found interesting is that the dog is marked in the black and white pattern of today's border collies.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

From what I've seen, some of the continental herding/farm dogs such as the picardy, briard and bouvier would be a good start for trying to recreate a Smithfield type. ZX12 edges youngster strikes me as a perfect type stud to put to a longdog saturated lurcher to create the mythical 800 years of breeding type.

[gamerooster 1,179]

From what I've seen, some of the continental herding/farm dogs such as the picardy, briard and bouvier would be a good start for trying to recreate a Smithfield type. ZX12 edges youngster strikes me as a perfect type stud to put to a longdog saturated lurcher to create the mythical 800 years of breeding type.

I don't see what the point would be from a working perspective, there's better herding dogs around these days and faster greyhounds, I can't see any one getting a better mouching dog of old then your modern day sheepdog x greyhound.... and just to note, more so a farm dog than a trial dog, plenty of dogs on farms up and down the country that are demon guard dogs and can use there brain to catch the odd bit of fur and feather

[trenchfoot 4,243]

 

From what I've seen, some of the continental herding/farm dogs such as the picardy, briard and bouvier would be a good start for trying to recreate a Smithfield type. ZX12 edges youngster strikes me as a perfect type stud to put to a longdog saturated lurcher to create the mythical 800 years of breeding type.

I don't see what the point would be from a working perspective, there's better herding dogs around these days and faster greyhounds, I can't see any one getting a better mouching dog of old then your modern day sheepdog x greyhound.... and just to note, more so a farm dog than a trial dog, plenty of dogs on farms up and down the country that are demon guard dogs and can use there brain to catch the odd bit of fur and feather

 

From a working perspective, you may well be right. But in the realms of the long gone Smithfield lurcher, and those with an inclination to try to recreate something similar in appearance/type to what they think the Smithfield to have been, I believe the breed mentioned have merit. I have already said on this thread that I know of enough farm dogs that would give the working ability either as a pure or put to a running dog. I've kept, and will always keep that type of collie cur.

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

I've just looked at an old book of my dads by colonel David Hancock called old working dogs and in it there is a picture from the 1800s of a drover and his dog and what I found interesting is that the dog is marked in the black and white pattern of today's border collies.

For anyone interested in the writings of Colonel David Hancock, this site - http://www.davidhancockondogs.com/ will be of interest. Look in the archives, linked on the left side of the home page.

[stagmad 91]

One of my Australian herding books has a section on the Tasmanian Smithfield with photos of dogs very similar to mongrely beardies(I think it's the Rod Cavanagh book but I'm not sure without checking).

 

My humble opinion is that the "original" Smithfield was a collection of different herding/droving dogs with nothing in common other than the era they worked in whereas the Australian type is a breed originating from one of those types. You Australians have a knack for taking something and improving it.

 

N.B. That's a compliment...not a criticism.

That sounds about wright, The few i have had have been just bred for stock work so the best herders bred to the best herders they aren't bad at that job, I wouldn't want to be relying on them to catch me a feed though.