Dear Sir,

I often browse the magazines in my newsagents and upon noticing Jackie Drakeford's article about Lurchers promptly bought The Shooting Times. I was not disappointed.

Jackie has described, the working and companion qualities inherent in the genuine old-fashioned bloodlines as selected for poaching over the centuries, excellently. It is as important to be able to control the fierce hunting instinct, as it is to possess it. Many of these dogs made the ultimate sacrifice during two World Wars in the role of messenger carriers, chosen for the task on account of their loyalty and ability to find those they trusted and evade strangers be they Germans or Gamekeepers. Col. Richardson's book on War Dogs mentions this.

However, I should like to warn your readers not to expect the same qualities from everything that skulks under the misnomer of Lurcher today. The current fashion for crossing Pit Bulls, Salukies and Greyhounds often disguised under a Deerhound's or Bedlington's coats to make them more saleable are definitely not of the same controllable nature ……………

Woe betides anyone foolish enough to release one of those beasts into a rearing pen of pheasants. Sure it will kill the fox , but only after doing the fox's job for him first. Basically you have, the aggression of the Bull combined with the indifference to training of the Salukie added to the light-trigger of the Greyhound, with nothing but broken glass between the ears to control any of it. Personally I would rather stand in the rearing pen grasping a grenade with the pin removed.

So, the word Lurcher today covers a multitude of sins and it is buyer beware if you require the old-fashioned controllable nature of the original poaching dog that Jackie so aptly describes rather than a dog with the lights on upstairs but nobody at home. I eagerly await further articles on my pet topic.

Yours in sport Jeff

( The Lurcher & Tumbler Welfare & Breed Club).