#lurchers

GALTx eNews: What’s In A Name? Sometimes A Lot!

When we say “Greyhound” almost everyone immediately thinks of a racing Greyhound registered with the National Greyhound Association (NGA). That makes sense as the majority of hounds moving through our program over the last 20 years have been Greyhounds bred for racing. Sometimes, when we talk about other kinds of hounds though, we get a lot of questions.

For instance, “AKC Greyhounds” are the same breed as NGA Greyhounds, but come from different bloodlines. AKC Greyhounds are bred to match the AKC breed standard rather than exclusively for speed. They tend to have longer necks, longer legs, deeper chests, more arched backs, and thinner bodies than NGA Greyhounds. Our Poppy is an AKC Greyhound.

“Lurchers” are sighthound crosses, typically a mix of Greyhound and another kind of dog, such as terrier or herding dog. Because the mix can vary, Lurchers can be small or large, smooth or rough coated, and of differing temperaments. They are often used in rural areas as hunting dogs. Although we do not have DNA test results, our Joey is likely a Lurcher.

Staghounds, on the other hand, are a cross between two breeds of sighthounds, often Greyhound and Deerhound or Wolfhound. To add confusion, some refer to Staghounds as “American Lurchers.” And much like Lurchers, Staghounds can come with smooth or rough coats and in varying sizes depending on their particular mix of breeds. Like Lurchers, Staghounds are often used in rural areas as hunting dogs. Our adopted MazeandCheyenne (pictured) are Staghounds.

“Greyluki” is a nickname for a Saluki and Greyhound mix. Sometimes, the mix is one Saluki parent and one Greyhound parent, but some Greyluki are mixed going back a few generations. Greyluki’s are also commonly used as hunting dogs. Our adoptable DennyandWaffles are likely both Greyluki.

No matter what variety of hound, lovability is a common theme consistent across all of the breeds and mixes!

1/20/2022