A noble yet gentle dog with a long, fascinating history – Greyhounds are a regal companion that love the thrill of the chase as much as they do a good slumber.
They are mostly known for their long, slender legs and majestic figure, and with muscles straining against their skin, making them the fastest dog breed in the world.
History
The Greyhound’s history is fascinatingly rich. And for as long as ancient civilization prospered and lived, Greyhounds have been an object of fascination for artists, poets, and kings alike.
The Greyhound is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. And all sighthounds of today descended from the ancient greyhounds.
Their likeness have appeared in tomb drawings, dating back to at least ancient Egypt. And they were also found throughout Celtic, Irish, and British history and literature as early as the 9th century.
They were also used as sight hunters in North Africa and Middle East in their ancient past. And their history has also been traced to Ancient Greece.
Furthermore, Greyhounds were originally dogs of high status and lived among the aristocrats and royalty.
In fact, in England, there was a law enacted in the year 1016 in which the murderer of a Greyhound was subjected to the death penalty. This is because the breed was of high value, and only high status people or royalty were allowed to own them.
As one of the oldest dog breeds, there is an uncertainty on when or where the origin of the term “Greyhound” came from. However, it is said that the name was derived from either Graius or Grecian. Or it could have come from “grech” or “greg”, the Old British words for dog, and “hundr” which means hunting.
Another explanation is that most of them, especially the original breed, are colored gray, hence, “gray hound”.
The breed belongs to the hound breed group. However, unlike their fellow hounds, they do not rely on their sense of smell to hunt. Instead, they mainly use sight for hunting, a technique which is known as “coursing”.
Greyhounds are bred to have the speed and agility to chase down hares, deer, foxes, and other small game. They are known to be the fastest dog breed in the world, even reaching a top speed of up to 72km/h.
And for the same reason, Greyhounds are also bred for racing, coursing games, and later in dog tracks.
However, in recent years the brutality of breeding and training dogs for these gambling “sports” has come to light, and several laws have been enacted to protect them.
Many of the dogs used in racing were abused or abandoned, or in many cases just simply killed once they had served their usefulness. Many organizations have active programs for rescuing these dogs from such illegal activities.
Today, Greyhounds make regal, and wonderful family companions who are gentle, intelligent, and non-aggressive.
Physical Characteristics
Greyhounds have a body that is built for speed. They have a beautifully lean and muscular body with a slender head, a long neck, wide nostrils to allow them to breathe easier, a deep chest that helps them have good stamina, a long and slim tail, and long muscular legs for sprinting.
And these physical characteristics doesn’t only make them fast runners, but also give them the beauty of an ‘inverted S’ shaped-body, which humans have found fascinating for thousands of years.
Furthermore, they have a short and smooth coat that is easy to maintain. And because of this, they are also well-adapted and perfect for warmer climates.
Virtually, Greyhounds have no body fat and their skin is quite delicate. And while they are famous for their gray coat color, Greyhounds also come in a variety of other colors including white, fawn, red, brown and brindle.
During racing and sprinting, their ears are folded back, but they are upright whenever they become alert or excited.
They have dark eyes and feet that are a bit cat-like that are well-suited for racing sports and running activities in general.
Furthermore, in the standard breed, the Greyhound has a height of about 26 to 30 inches and weighs about 60 to 90 pounds.
Temperament
The Greyhound has a very gentle and quiet temperament. They make wonderful family companions but because they are a sensitive breed that get easily startled with sudden noises, they thrive better in quieter and calmer homes.
As these dogs were bred to hunt in groups, aggressiveness towards others dogs has almost been completely eliminated from them.
And because of their non-aggressive characteristic, they are often tolerant of children and will choose to walk away rather than growl or bite in annoyance.
However, the Greyhound has a high prey drive. This means that living with small animals such as cats, or rabbits will not be good, as they will see them as “prey”.
And while they love running and are an athletic dog breed, they are also big couch potatoes and love sleeping at home for hours.
Training And Exercise
Training a Greyhound can be a bit easier than other breeds because they are highly intelligent and are easy-going.
Although, their sensitive nature calls for training with positive reinforcement. A food reward will definitely hold their attention during training!
When it comes to exercise, two 30-minute walk a day will be sufficient as long as they can also run around in a spacious backyard to exert their energy.
Furthermore, when going on walks outdoors, it’s best to always have them on a leash. With their high prey drive, they can spot a squirrel or a bird in the park and can immediately chase it.
Health Issues
Having a deep chest helps Greyhounds have better endurance. However, it makes them be more prone to bloat. Bloat is when the stomach fills with air and subsequently twists in itself. It is a deadly health problem if not addressed properly.
Furthermore, Greyhounds are also sensitive to anesthesia. They are the only known breed that have a sensitivity to particular anesthetic drug such as thiopental. As a matter of fact, anesthesia that is completely safe for other dogs can kill a Greyhound.
