All About Greyhounds
Monday, July 02, 2018 04:08:15 PM America/Los_Angeles
The greyhound is a significantly large dog with a unique and slim body that is widely known for its top speed. Sometimes, this dog can race at 50 miles per hour. Despite its excessive energy and momentum, the greyhound still makes a good pet that is usually calm and quite gentle while it is indoors. Most people liken it to the cat due to its dignity and independence.
Once it grows past the puppy stage, the greyhound is a calm and quiet pet. However, the greyhound requires sufficient space where to sprint a couple of times a week since he is built for speed and reliance. This is the fastest dog breed, and it can even outrun a horse once he explodes into full action. This dog usually prefers quiet and soft-spoken people. He hates environments with loud noises and full of tension. Most greyhounds are reserved in nature and rarely will they approach a stranger. They prefer lying on the real grass, walking side by side, or leaning on their owner’s leg when they are not on the move.
Brief History and Background of the Greyhound
This dog species occupied a special place in the ancient Egyptian life as depicted in various artwork that dates back to 3,000 B.C. There aren't many dog species that can be traced back to this time. They were closely linked with the Anubis and the Jackal God. Both the noble and the common people highly cherished this dog. Around 1014 A.D, the Forest laws prohibited the common people from rearing Greyhounds near royal forests. This was only a reserve for the noble families. These laws existed for over 400 years. Even after the abolishment of these laws, the greyhound remained a dog breed that could only be reared by the high-profile citizens and royal families.
It was the American immigrants who introduced this dog into the new world where they allowed the dogs to race in open plains. The dog racing sport was popular by 1926, and the Greyhounds dominated these races making them popular among the people. Some prominent individuals in the society admired the speed and precision of the greyhound and started breeding them mainly for speedy chasing.
By Eric Isselee via Shutterstock
Physical Characteristics
The greyhound is characterized by its long legs and an arched back that allow it to stretch and contract easily with minimum effort. The dog's tail will act as the brakes and rudder while racing. The two main strains of the greyhound are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the National Greyhound Association type (NGA). The AKC type is usually taller and narrower while the NGA type tends to have less aesthetic muscles but faster than their AKC counterparts.
However, both types have smooth and shorter coats that come in varying colors such as red, blue, black, and white. The greyhound is also a disciplined servant and easy to handle when it comes to potty training. The NGA types have a thicker and less sleek coat and mostly develop moderate patches and hair loss around their leg and thigh area.
Personality
The Greyhound is one of the dog breeds that are easier to please, but they tend to have an independent temperament. This breed is also highly sensitive, timid and as mentioned earlier, don't embrace strangers. Indoors, the greyhound is also very quiet and well-mannered. It will never miss locating where its indoor potty for dogs is located. However, outside, the greyhound is ever excited and will always want to chase anything that comes by its way. It will also behave well and show a lot of love and care towards other pets that it has grown up with. The greyhound is also used to being with people, and they love it.
Health
This breed has an average lifespan of 13 years, and it isn't prone to any significant health problems. In fact, it is one of the healthiest dog breeds that you will ever come across. Some of the minor health issues that can affect the greyhound include esophageal achalasia, osteosarcoma, and the gastric torsion. Both the NGA and the AKC Greyhounds are also susceptible to tail-tip injuries while the retired NGA types are prone to common racing injuries such as toe, muscle and toe injuries. This is the best breed to have if you hate visiting the vet frequently. They rarely have eye and skin problems. Sometimes they also tend to experience shivers due to their thin coat. So, don’t be worried when you see your greyhound shivering especially during winter. It’s normal.
Although a greyhound puppy is always an incredible addition to the family, many adult greyhounds are always available for adoption after their racing time is over. Lots of greyhounds are abandoned or sold to the laboratories every year, but they can easily adapt to your home environment and offer incredible companionship to you.
Is a Greyhound Right for You?
A greyhound will be a perfect pet for you if you need a dog that:
- Has a taller, slim and elegant build
- Is extremely fast and graceful. Typically, a greyhound can run swiftly and jump great heights
- Is polite to people and especially strangers and also other pets in the home
- Is calm and quiet. It won’t disturb anyone or anything in your home. It will just sit back and watch most of the times.
- That has a sleek and easy-care coat that comes in a wide range of colors.
- Doesn’t need a lot of space since the greyhound will mostly be where you are.
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