Longdog

Infobox Dogbreed
name= Longdog


image_caption= A Longdog (please provide provenance!)
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A longdog is a type of lurcher, a crossbreed between two sighthounds. "A longdog is a dog or a crossbreed arrived at by blending two different breeds of sight hound." [ [http://www.k9magazinefree.com/k9_perspective/iss1p11.shtml Lurchers and Longdogs] by Bob Jeffare, K9 Perspective Magazine, Issue 1, pg 11 2001] . A lurcher is a mixed breed dog: ""The lurcher is an intentional cross between a long dog and a herding dog, or the offspring of parents so bred". [ [http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/lurcherclubs1.htm#p7 The Lurcher Submission for the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales] by Deborah Blount, M.B.A., February 2000] Lurchers were originally kept to catch rabbits when driven from their burrows; In the early 1950s, myxomatosis wiped out most of the rabbits ("Oryctolagus cuniculus") but did not affect the hares ("Lepus europaeus"). [ [http://www.k9magazinefree.com/k9_perspective/iss1p11.shtml Lurchers and Longdogs] ] Faster dogs were needed for coursing, or running down the hares (the hare can run at speeds up to 72 km/h / 45 mph.) The longdog lurchers were developed, mixing various types to get a dog with the preferred style of coursing. Coursing with purebred Greyhounds is still considered an "elite" sport. [ [http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/lurcherclubs1.htm The Lurcher Submission, 3.32] ]

The longdog differs from the lurcher in that there is no cross to a working or terrier breed. The longdog is an attempt to create a better coursing dog, and is not expected to have the working qualities of a good lurcher, although a few come close.

Longdog crosses

Common longdog crosses are Saluki crossed with Greyhound, Deerhound crossed with Greyhound, and Whippet crossed with Greyhound.These dogs are generally bred for some of the same purposes as the lurcher, but usually have more speed as opposed to the generally greater endurance and trainability of the lurcher.

* The Saluki x Greyhound is especially prized as a hare coursing dog in the UK, and more recently in the US on jackrabbits (typically Black-tailed Jackrabbit and White-tailed Jackrabbit). The best have near the endurance and heat resistance of the Saluki, and near the acceleration and drive of the Greyhound.

* The Deerhound x Greyhound is considered a top fox and deer sighthound in the UK with good endurance and weather resistance. In the US, it appears to have been the foundation of the American Staghound (coyote sighthound).

* The Whippet x Greyhound is prized for its compactness, acceleration, agility, tenacity, heat resistance, and fast recovery. Depending on the individual dog, it can be successfully used on all UK game but excels at lamping rabbits, and is generally a decent hare courser.

Popular culture

"Longdog" is a song by folk duo Show of Hands - the gist of the song being that if you own a longdog you are probably a poacher. Show of Hands' fan club members refer to themselves as Longdogs.

Further reading

* Walsh, E.G. "Lurchers and Longdogs" Woodbridge:Boydell 1977
* Walsh, E.G. "Longdogs by day" Woodbridge:Boydell 1990

References

External links

* [http://www.sussexlongdogs.org.uk Photos of longdogs coursing with the The Sussex Longdog Association]