On Greyhounds
About the Breed
For
thousands of years Greyhounds have been bred to hunt by outrunning
their prey. They were not intended to be solitary hunters, but
to work with other dogs. Switching from hunting to racing has
kept this aspect of their personality very much alive. The fastest
breed of dog, Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45 miles per
hour, and can average more than 30 miles per hour for distances
up to one mile. Selective breeding has given the Greyhound an
athlete's body with the grace of a dancer. At the same time, the
need to anticipate the evasive manoeuvres of their prey has endowed
the Greyhound with a high degree of intelligence.
The Greyhound has a long neck and head, with a barely noticeable stop, or bridge to his nose. The ears are small and usually folded flat back against the neck. The ears may stand semi- or fully erect when the Greyhound is attentive. This is called a "rose ear".
The back is long and muscular with an arch over the loin. The deep chest and narrow waist give the Greyhound its distinctive silhouette. The legs are long and powerful. The feet are small and compact, with well knuckled toes. The tail is long and curved.
The coat of a Greyhound is short and smooth, and is the result of
crossing Greyhounds with Bulldogs in the mid-1700s. Greyhounds
come in an endless variety of colours, including white, fawn (tan),
cream, red (rust), black, blue (grey), many shades of brindle,
and with patches of these colours on white. There is virtually
no body fat. In general, Greyhounds are very clean and do not
require a lot of grooming.
A show Greyhound typically stands between 26 and 30 inches and the shoulder, and weighs 60 to 85 pounds. The average lifespan is twelve to fourteen years. Track Greyhounds are often between 25 and 29 inches and 50 to 80 pounds. The AKC standard specifies 65-70 lbs for males, 60-65 lbs for females as ideal.
The Greyhound is a quiet and docile animal when not racing. While they can be somewhat aloof in the presence of strangers, more often they are generally friendly to most people. They are very affectionate toward those they know and trust.
To find out more about greyhounds as pets...
To go back to:
The History of the Breed