Kath responded to my post on 4 May 2013 03:41
'I guess you know that lurchers used to known as "Tumblers" years ago.'
Well I didn't and neither did Dad, so I set him on finding out more...
Hi, Bert's Dad here. I was fascinated by your reference to Tumblers Kath, we use the term with Bert because of the way he tumbles into his quarry [his friends] in an attempt to knock them off their feet, little knowing that there was some truth to the description!
So I've done a bit of Googling and found this goldmine of information at http://www.lurchers.org.uk ~ a site "...dedicated to "THE LURCHER & TUMBLER WELFARE & BREED CLUB".
Here's are a few snippets from the history section of the site:
The Lurcher and Tumbler types of athletic hunting dog's function was to provide meat for the cooking pot, by using a combination of stealth, brain, nose agility and speed. They hunted by both scent and sight being more fundamental and ancient than the specialist pure Sighthounds. They have occurred throughout the whole world since time immemorial.
Originally, the same dog would be called a Greyhound or Lurcher depending upon whether owned by a Norman Lord or an outlaw. It is the modern Greyhound which has moved away from the original type by becoming a pure Sighthound sporting dog.
There are no accurate historical references to Lurchers or Tumblers, because their function was illegal and their outlaw masters illiterate...
The descriptions ( because that's what they are) Lurcher and Tumbler originally differentiated between two styles of taking their quarry employed by stealth poaching dogs, whose function was to fill the cooking pot. The penalty for detection was execution for man and dog. Sagacity, loyalty and trainability were indispensable and they resided, out of sight, inside the dwelling as part of the family.
So thanks for the lead Kath, it's great to find out a bit more about this ferocious beast we keep hidden away in the house!
