The Longdog It is a breed of dog of the sighthound type with origin in Ireland whose name literally means "long dog”referring to the elongated shape of its limbs.

Authors like the colonel Ted Walsh define it as a cross between two hunting dogs, What distinguishes it from the call Lurcher, race created from crosses between sighthound dogs and working dogs.

Currently no distinction is considered between the Lurcher and the Longdog and both are included within the Lurcher.

Because of that are the product of different crosses, the Longdog varies in appearance depending on the breeds that were used in the cross. They can be so light as a Greyhound or as robust as a Wolf dog. Their coats can also vary depending on the playback. Some have short fur, Some have long fur and some have hard coat.

Common crosses of Longdog usually: Saluki with English Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound with Greyhound (English Greyhound), and Whippet with Greyhound (English Greyhound). These dogs tend to be raised to (some of the) same purposes as the Lurcher, but they generally have a higher speed compared to general endurance and a higher training capacity than the Lurcher.

Each of these crosses carries distinctive characteristics...

• Saluki crossed with Greyhound: It is especially appreciated as a Hunter dog of hares in the United Kingdom and, for short time, in United States. The best copies shared resistance to high temperatures which possesses the Saluki and the capacity for acceleration and strength of the Greyhound.
• Deerhound crossed with Greyhound: specialist in hunting foxes and deer in United Kingdom, It has great body resistance and the ability to adapt without problems to different climatic characteristics., You can live outdoors. In United States, the blood of this can, He has contributed to the development of the American Hound (specialists in the pursuit of coyotes).
• Whippet crossed with Greyhound: highly appreciated by its balance is, Acceleration, agility, tenacity, heat resistance and, especially, by his rapid recovery. Depending on each dog, It can be used successfully in all kinds of hunting, but in the United Kingdom, stand out, especially in hunting rabbits.

The Lurcher (first cousins ​​of the Longdog) they were initially raised to catch rabbits when they were expelled from their burrows, but in the Decade of 1950, myxomatosis killed off most of the rabbits.

The myxomatosis, It is an infectious disease of rabbits, swellings on the skin and membranes of these animals, particularly in head and genitals. It is then often evolve into acute conjunctivitis, and sometimes blindness. The rabbit becomes listless, lost appetite and develops fever. In typical cases where the animal does not have resistance, death happens on average in 13 days.

Video "Longdog"

It was discovered in Uruguay at the end of the 19th century, in rabbits imported from the genus Sylvilagus. It was subsequently extended by the South American populations of wild rabbits. This was however a less virulent strain than introduced in Australia in 1950, that he slashed the population (of 600 to 100 million in two years).

For decades Britain's scientists, Germany and France sought a remedy against the plague that rabbits had become, but it was the French physician Armand Delille which believed the solution. It was introduced artificially in France in 1952 a few rabbits inoculated with the virus producer the myxomatosis and quickly spread to the European continent in a natural way, through arthropod blood sucking and decimated the French population in 2 years (90% mortality). The myxomatosis, together with viral hemorrhagic pneumonia, is the cause of the decline of the rabbit in the Iberian Peninsula, What has caused the decline of the iconic animals to the point that in the Spanish imperial Eagle were lost the 70 % nests and the Iberian lynx is found without their basic livelihood.

The mode of transmission is the flea and other sucking arthropods of blood in Europe, Although for example, in Australia is transmitted through mosquito.

There is a viral vector vaccine for domestic rabbits, While in wild specimens Europe have developed immunity and gradually extend.

As we said above, in the decade of 1950, myxomatosis killed off most of the rabbits, but the disease did not affect the hares.

Y, This led to the need to develop the race to achieve faster dogs to be able to catch hares. A Hare can run at speeds of up 72 km/h.

The need for, he is born Longdog, developed to get a dog appropriate to the preferred style of hunting and the need of the moment.

Y, Although they are not a pure breed, you cross them with him Greyhound (English Greyhound) purebred, has led them to be highly valued within the "elite" of canine sport.

Because the Longdog it is not a purebred are not recognized by any dog ​​club. But, North America has recently created the “Lurcher and Longdog Association” to serve as a registration body for dogs Lurcher and Longdog in the United States and Canada.

Similar to the Lurcher, beyond the different objectives of the crossing, What is certain is that the Longdog It is an excellent companion dog that adapts very well to home life., and is very grateful for the care received, She loves to be with people but it needs vigorous walks outdoors, like all dog. Y, above all, very large spaces to savor the aftertaste of freedom.