Szyndlar, Z. 1984. A description of a small collection of amphibians and reptiles from the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, with notes on the distribution of the herpetofauna in that country. Acta Zool. Cracov. 27 (1): 3-18

Older Lurchers are not fussy eaters but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. Because Lurchers are predisposed to suffering from bloat it's essential they not be exercised straight after having been fed and to wait until they have cooled down before feeding them too. All reputable Lurcher breeders would always ensure their puppies vaccinated before they are sold but as previously mentioned it is up to their new owners to make sure they are given their follow-up shots at the right time which should be as follows: weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination Getting the home ready for a Lurcher puppy's arrival takes a bit of time and planning because it is essential that their new environment is safe for them to be in. Lurcher puppies are extremely playful and boisterous which can make their education a little more challenging than in other breeds and it also means that valuables need to be put safely away to avoid breakages. It's also a good idea to put electric cables and wires out of a puppy's reach because they might decide to chew them which could end up with an expensive trip to the vet. Generally they are around medium sized although again with reasonable scope for variance, and may have short, close-cropped coats or rather shaggier coats in more or less any shade.

Personality

Lurchers are renowned for their playfulness and remain extremely puppy-like well into their senior years which can often be mistaken for a dog being mischievous and naughty. They adore playing interactive games which includes activities like "fetch" which they thoroughly enjoy and would typically tire an owner out well before they would give up retrieving whatever it is that's thrown for them. What about adaptability? Emma Griffin (2007). Blood Sport: Hunting in Britain since 1066. New Haven; London: Yale University Press Lurchers were originally prized for their skills as hunting dogs that could sight, outrun and promptly catch small prey like hares and rabbits. This means that dogs of this type have an incredibly high prey drive, and it is virtually impossible to train them out of this. Arthur W. Coaten (1909). British Hunting: A Complete History of the National Sport of Great Britain and Ireland from Earliest Records. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co The main intention of creating the lurcher dog breed was to take the instincts of a sighthound and improve them by combining them with a more intelligent dog. The resulting animal would be able to chase bunnies, hares, deer, or game birds, and hunt them more efficiently.

A lurcher is a crossbred dog resulting from mating a greyhound or other sighthound with a dog of another type such as a herding dog or a terrier. The lurcher was for hundreds of years strongly associated with poaching; in modern times, it is kept as a hunting dog or companion dog. Lurchers are charming dogs that clearly have a great aptitude for life and loyalty to their owners and friends. They’re kind and affectionate and have a great ability to switch between outdoors and indoors ‘modes’. Lurchers were developed as an aid for poachers, to be a sighthound with a modicum of intelligence, who could help these poachers to score game for themselves and their families.Lurcher, illustration from The Sportsman's Cabinet by William Taplin, 1803; engraved from a painting by Philip Reinagle This also means that they tend to think for themselves a little bit. So, the initial training period can sometimes take longer than with dogs like hounds who lend themselves to training sooner. lurchers need patient and repetitive training with plenty of positive reinforcement. However, once they have understood what’s required of them, they are very obedient dogs and remember their training very closely. Lurchers have an extremely high prey drive having been bred to "hunt" which is a trait deeply embedded in a dog's psyche. Even in a home environment a Lurcher would need to "express" themselves as they should for them to be truly happy well-rounded characters. What about playfulness? P. B. Munsche (1981). Gentlemen and Poachers: The English Game Laws, 1671–1831. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press