Sighthound Day

Dog lovers have their sights set on Sighthound Day, which takes place each year on September 27th! In celebration of this pet holiday, we’ve fetched a few interesting facts about sighthounds–including some on sighthound breeds that might be new to you!

Did you know that sighthounds are also referred to as gazehounds?

Sighthounds are so called because they depend on their vision, as well as lightning fast feet, to capture prey, while other canines rely on their sense of smell.

There was once a breed known as the Old Croatian Sighthound, which was pronounced extinct in 1995. Only slightly smaller in stature than the greyhound, the dogs– which were also known as the Old Bosnian Sighthound– may have walked the earth as far back at the 5th century B.C.

There are 27 breeds that are considered, across the board, as sighthounds. They are:

Afghan hound

A belief is held by some experts in the dog world that the Afghan is the oldest purebred dog.
An Afghan’s field of vision is 270 degrees!
Did you know that Barbie was a pet parent to an Afghan Hound? Beauty made her debut in the Barbieverse in 1979.
The breed has been popular with several prominent artists, including Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Azawakh

This breed name was inspired by the Azawagh Valley, the area in West Africa where the dog originated.
The Azawakh is also referred to as the Bareeru, Hanshee, Idi, Oska, Rawondu and the Wulo.
The breed was once called the Tuareg Sloughi, in reference to the nomadic people with whom the breed often lived.

Borzoi

This breed’s name comes from the Russian word for “fast,” borzyi.
The Borzi’s ancestry dates back to the 17th century.
The breed has a 270 degree view of their surroundings, which aids the dogs when hunting for wolves.
Standing up to 33 inches tall, this sighthound is the largest of all the greyhounds.
The Borzoi is also known as the Russian Wolfhound and the Russian Greyhound.

Chippiparai

This breed’s origins can be traced to the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The name Chippiparai was inspired by the Indian village of Sippiparai.
The breed has long been a favorite of Indian royalty.
This sighthound has been deemed the smartest of all of India’s native dogs.

Chortai

This breed originated in Russia and Ukraine.
Other names for the Chortai are Chortaj and the Eastern Greyhound.

Galgo Espanol

A day to shine a spotlight on the plight of this sighthound, World Galgo Day is held every year on February 1. The date holds poignant significance, as it signals not only the end of the annual hunting season in Spain, but also the start of a vicious cull of dogs who are seen to have outgrown their usefulness.
The sighthounds’ keen eye can spot their target from a distance of more than 800 meters.

Greyhound

This breed is so beloved that it is celebrated by dog lovers with several pet holidays! World Greyhound Day is held each February 1, National Greyhound Day takes place each year on June 2. and National Adopt A Greyhound Month happens each April.
These swift sighthounds have been clocked at up to 45 miles per hour, making the Greyhound the fastest dog breed in the world!
The very first Best in Show awarded at the international dog competition Crufts was presented in 1928 to a Greyhound named Primle Sceptre.
The Greyhound is the only dog breed mentioned by name in the King James version of The Bible.

Irish Wolfhound

Growing up to seven feet tall, the Irish Wolfhound is the world’s tallest dog breed!
This breed has a lineage that stretches farther than that of almost any other dog. The first known mention of the Irish Wolfhound was recorded in 391 A.D., but history has lost sight of sighthounds’ true origin.
The paws of several Irish Wolfhounds have promenaded through the halls of the White House. John Tyler was a pet parent to a pair of Irish Wolfhounds whose names seem to have been lost in the mist of time. Craigwood Padrick, who was known by his humans as Patrick, was the barking buddy of Herbert Hoover, and Wolf (aka Wolfie) was one of President John F. Kennedy’s canine companions.

Italian Greyhound

The breed was once called the “miniature Greyhound.”
The Italian Greyhound arrived in England in the 17th century, with its popularity reaching its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria.
These regal dogs were the canine companions of Mary Stuart, Catherine The Great, Frederick The Great, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The first Italian Greyhound to live in the White House was 10th President John Tyler’s canine companion, Le Beau.

Kaikadi

This sighthound hails from India.
The breed’s name is in honor of the nomadic Kaikadi people with whom many of the dogs live.
Small in stature, the Kaikadi stand approximately 15 to 18 inches tall.
The Kaikadi depend on each other when hunting. Stalking their prey in packs, the dogs’ diet consists of small animals, including rats, lizards, squirrels and monkeys.

Kanni

Like many other sighthounds, the Kanni’s origins can be traced back to the state of Tamil Madu in India.
Kanni is a Tamil word meaning “pure”.
The breed is also known as Maiden’s Beastmaster.
The Kanni is closely associated with the Chippiparai, with some experts stating that their sole difference lies in the color of their coat, with the Kanni representing only dogs with mixed color coats.
A Kanni dog is often presented to new brides as a protector (hence the name Maiden’s Beastmaster).

Kombai

The breed was named after a town in the Theni district, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The Kombai is also known as the Polygar.
Originally living with wealthy landowners as guard dogs and hunting dogs, the Kombai were also once used in the Indian military.

Levriero Sardo

This breed originated in Sardinia.
On the brink of going extinct, there are only 100 Levriero Sardo left in the world.
The dog is also known as the Sardianian Greyhound due to its physical similarities to that breed, and Vertreddru (“little hunting dog”) in reference to its skill at field sports.

Magyar agar

This Hungarian sighthound dates back at least one thousand years!
The breed is named in honor of the Magyar people, with whom they originally lived.
Due to their physical appearance the Magyar Agar is sometimes referred to as the Hungarian Greyhound.

Mudhol Hound

This breed received the honor of appearing in a series of postage stamps that celebrated India’s native dogs.
The Mudhol Hound is also known as the Caravan Hound, Karwani Hound, Kathewar Hound, Maratha Hound and the Pashmi Hound.
In ancient times the Mudhol Hound was often employed as hunters’ aides, guard dogs and military dogs.
The Mudhol Hound seemed destined for oblivion until recent years, with an effort by dedicated breeders in the town of Mudhol to revive the breed.

Patagonian Greyhound

As the dogs’ name implies, this breed is believed to have derived from Patagonia.
Other names for the Patagonian Greyhound include the Bearded Creole Greyhound and the Patagonic Barbucho Galgo.

Polish Greyhound

Originating in Poland, it is possible that this breed has existed since the 12th century.
The breed came close to extinction during the second World War.
In their native land the Polish Greyhound is known as the Chart Polski.
The Polish Greyhound is not actually related to the Greyhound.

Rajapalayam

This sighthound’s name derives from a town in Tamil Nadu, India.
A hauntingly beautiful dog with a white coat, the Rajapalayam is also known as the Indian Ghost Hound.

Rampur Greyhound

The name reflects the area of the dogs’ origin, the Rapur region in Uttar Predesh, India.
This breed has also been called the North- Indian Greyhound, the Rampur Dog and the Rampur Hound.
The ancestors of this sighthound are thought to be the predecessor of the Afghan Hound.

Saluki

An ancient breed, the Salukis’ ancestors originated in the Middle East
region known as the Fertile Crescent.
The mummified remains of the Saluki have been discovered in the tombs of Egyptian nobility, prompting the breed to be called “the royal dog of Egypt.”
Over the years the Saluki has also been referred to as the Arabian Hound, the Gazelle Hound and the Persian Greyhound.

Scottish Deerhound

The breed has been referred to as “the royal dog of Scotland.”
Scottish novelist/poet Sir Walter Scott, (who wrote such classics as Ivanhoe and Rob Roy), once penned what all pet parents feel about their own fur babies when he described his Scottish Deerhound Maida as “the most perfect creature of heaven.” A constant companion for many years, the adored dog’s memory lingers on in Abbotsford House, the home Maida shared with the author, where paintings of the sighthound are on display.
Sir Walter Scott’s canine companion is also remembered whenever visitors to the estate stroll along the Maida Family Trail, or look at the epitaph, carved in Latin, on Maida’s stone monument, which guards the manor’s hall door: at Maida’s stone monument, which guard’s the manor’s door. “Beneath the sculpted form which late you bore, Sleep soundly Maida at your Master’s door.”
Did you know that the dog who portrayed Padfoot (aka Sirius Black) in the Harry Potter movie franchise was a Scottish Deerhound named Champion Kilbourne Macleod?

Silken Windhound

A fairly new breed on the scene, the Silken Windhound’s roots can be traced back to 1985, when the first litter was born in Austin, Texas.
The breed’s DNA includes the Borzoi and the Lurcher.
In 1999 The International Silken Windhound Society was established.

Sloughi

This breed has also been referred to as the Arabian Greyhound, the Berber Greyhound, the Sloughi Mughrabi and the Uskay.
The Sloughi originated in Northern African countries.
The United States welcomed its first Sloughi in 1973.
Images of the Sloughi have been found in Egyptian hieroglyphs and New Stone Age drawings!

Taigan

Kyrgyz Sighthound and Kyrgyzskaya Borzaya are two other names for this breed.
The Taigan’s beginning can be traced back to Kyrgyzstan.
The Taigan shares DNA with the Saluki and the Tazy.
This breed is known to hunt alongside birds of prey.

Tazy

The Tazy is the national dog of Kazakhstan.
This sighthound is believed to be one of the oldest dog breeds in existence.
A breed on the brink of going extinct, there are believed to be onlyv300 Tazy dogs left in the world.

Whippet

This beloved breed is celebrated with a pet holiday! International Whippet Day takes place annually on July 4th.
One of the most fast-moving of our four-legged friends, the whippet can run up to 35 miles per hour!
This sighthound was also once known as the “poor man’s Greyhound” and the “poor man’s racehorse.”
It is believed that the breed’s name came from the word “whappet,” a term that is no longer in use, which means “a small dog that yaps.”
Named after the man who Scarlett O’Hara pines for in Gone With The Wind, Ashley Whippet may be gone, but the legacy of the dog considered the best Frisbee catcher in history lives on through the first and longest-running disc dog competition in the world, the Ashley Whippet Internationals. Fans of sports and Spots can also discover more about this iconic canine at the Ashley Whippet K-9 Frisbee Museum in Naperville, Illinois.

Xigou

A rare breed from China, the Xigou has been known by many names, among them the Chinese Xiquan, Chinese Hound, Cina Canines, Chinese Saluk, Qidan Hound and the Chinese Greyhound.
The Xigou are an ancient breed that have been a fixture in Chinese culture for at least 2,500 years.
Not only does the Xigou possess a regal appearance, over the centuries the breed has been a presence in the lives of Chinese nobility.
In 2017 the China Kennel Union began collecting DNA from Xigou in order to keep the breed from the brink of extinction.

Paris Permenter is the award-winning co-author, with John Bigley, of over 30 pet and travel books including The Healthy Hound Cookbook and Texas with Dogs, both available through Simon and Schuster. Paris is also a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

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