This is my first cache hide and pays tribute to my faithful companion in life and on a number of caching jaunts, Maddie, a lurcher who was rescued by the RSPCA at an early age.
Lurchers and longdogs are two types of sighthounds that most Australians won't have heard of as they are not a recognised breed due to the large variation in breeding. They are common in the UK as household pets.
Sighthounds cover a range of dogs that were bred to hunt by sight. A Lurcher is the offspring of a sighthound crossed with another dog, often a working dog or terrier. Longdogs are the offspring of the crossing of two sighthounds. Dogs were origninally bred depending on what the breeder wanted to hunt. They could almost be considered the original designer mongrel. Their appearance (coat length and colouring) and size varies depending on the cross that they originate from.
The name "Lurcher" comes from the ancient Romany words for "lur" meaning thief and "cur" meaning a mixed dog breed. They were the original gypsy and poacher's dog that would provide meat for the pot when poaching was hanging offence.
Lurchers and longdogs make good pets as they seem to have retained a lot of their relaxed, mild mannered sighthound nature. They love a good walk or run, but very much enjoy just being with their family.
********* FTF: mtrax *********