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Contrary to popular belief, adult Greyhounds do not need extended periods of daily exercise, as they are bred for sprinting rather than endurance. Greyhound puppies that have not been taught how to utilize their energy, however, can be hyperactive and destructive if not given an outlet, and they require more experienced handlers. {{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} <ref>"[http://www.friendsofgreyhounds.org/faq.html Greyhound Rescue and Greyhound Adoption in South Florida FAQ]". ''Friends of Greyhounds''. Accessed April 15, 2008</ref>
Contrary to popular belief, adult Greyhounds do not need extended periods of daily exercise, as they are bred for sprinting rather than endurance. Greyhound puppies that have not been taught how to utilize their energy, however, can be hyperactive and destructive if not given an outlet, and they require more experienced handlers. {{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} <ref>"[http://www.friendsofgreyhounds.org/faq.html Greyhound Rescue and Greyhound Adoption in South Florida FAQ]". ''Friends of Greyhounds''. Accessed April 15, 2008</ref>
chicken is relly good!!


===Greyhounds as pets===
===Greyhounds as pets===

Revision as of 17:46, 28 September 2010

This article is about the breed of dog. For the U.S. bus service, see Greyhound Lines. For other uses, see Greyhound (disambiguation).
Greyhound
Greyhound
Other namesEnglish greyhound
OriginSee History section
Traits
Height Males 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in)
Females 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in)
Weight Males 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb)
Females 27 to 34 kilograms (60 to 75 lb)
Coat Fine, smooth
Colour Any
Litter size 6-8 pups
Life span 10-13 years
Kennel club standards
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, but with recent resurgence of popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed. A combination of long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine and slim build allow it to reach average race speeds of in excess of 18 metres per second (59 feet per second) or 65 kilometres per hour (40 mph).[1][2][3]

Description

Appearance

Males are usually 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in) tall at the withers and weigh around 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb). Females tend to be smaller with shoulder heights ranging from 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in) and weights from less than 27 to 34 kilograms (60 to 75 lb). Greyhounds have very short hair, which is easy to maintain. There are approximately thirty recognized color forms, of which variations of white, brindle, fawn, black, red and blue (gray) can appear uniquely or in combination.[4]

Anatomy

Illustration of the greyhound skeleton

The key to the speed of a Greyhound can be found in its light but muscular build, largest heart, and highest percentage of fast-twitch muscle of any breed,[5][6] the double suspension gallop and the extreme flexibility of the spine. "Double suspension rotary gallop" describes the fastest running gait of the Greyhound in which all four feet are free from the ground in two phases, contracted and extended, during each full stride.[7]

Temperament

A male brindle greyhound

The Greyhound is not an aggressive dog, as some may believe due to muzzles worn during racing. Muzzles are worn to prevent injuries resulting from dogs nipping one another during - but more likely immediately after a race - when the 'hare' has disappeared out of sight and the dogs are no longer racing but still excited. The thin skin of the Greyhound can tear easily from a small nick from teeth so even a minor skirmish can result in stitches and time out from racing. Greyhounds with a high prey drive occasionally wear muzzles outside the racetrack; owners aware that their Greyhound has a high tendency to chase small prey will protect small prey by applying the muzzle.

Contrary to popular belief, adult Greyhounds do not need extended periods of daily exercise, as they are bred for sprinting rather than endurance. Greyhound puppies that have not been taught how to utilize their energy, however, can be hyperactive and destructive if not given an outlet, and they require more experienced handlers. [citation needed] [8] chicken is relly good!!

Greyhounds as pets

Greyhound owners and adoption groups consider Greyhounds to be wonderful pets.[9]

Greyhounds are quiet, gentle, and loyal to owners. Generally, the Greyhound is not a barker. Occasionally, the dog may bark or 'roo.' They are very loving creatures, and they enjoy the company of their humans and other dogs. Whether a Greyhound enjoys the company of other small animals or cats depends on the individual dog's personality. Greyhounds typically will chase small animals; those lacking a high 'prey drive' will be able to coexist happily with toy dog breeds and/or cats.

Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments. They do well in families with children as long as the children are taught to properly treat a Greyhound. Greyhounds have a sensitive nature, and gentle commands work best as training methods.

They are pack-oriented dogs, which means that they will quickly adopt humans into their pack as alpha. Retired racing Greyhounds occasionally develop separation anxiety when re-housed or when their new owners have to leave them alone for a period of time. The addition of a second Greyhound often solves this problem.[10]

A retired racing Greyhound as a pet, 5 years old

Greyhounds generally are not barkers, (which is beneficial in suburban environments,) and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own family.[11]

A very common misconception regarding Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. In retired racing Greyhounds, this is usually never the case. Greyhounds can live comfortably as apartment dogs, as they do not require much space and sleep close to 18 hours per day. In fact, due to their calm temperament, Greyhounds can make better "apartment dogs" than smaller, more active breeds.

At the race track, Greyhounds are housed in crates for upwards of 20 hours per day, and most know of no other way of life than to remain in a crate the majority of the day. Crate training a retired greyhound in a home is therefore generally extremely easy.

Greyhound adoption groups generally recommend that owners keep their Greyhounds on a leash whenever outdoors, except in fully enclosed areas.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] This is due to their prey-drive, their speed, and the assertion that Greyhounds have no road sense.[20] Due to their strength, adoption groups recommend that fences be between 4 and 6 feet, to prevent them being able to jump.[12]

Two online databases are available to search for all past and present registered purebred Greyhounds: Greyhound-Data.com and Rosnet2000.com Dogs can be searched by their Bertillon number [21], race name, or other attributes. Data includes photos, race statistics, and pedigree.

Breeds Roles

Racing

Main article: Greyhound racing

Until the early twentieth century, Greyhounds were principally bred and trained for coursing. During the 1920s, modern Greyhound racing was introduced into the United States and England (Belle Vue, Manchester, July 1926), as well as Northern Ireland (Celtic Park, April 1927) and the Republic of Ireland (Shelbourne Park, Dublin).[citation needed] The Greyhound holds the record for fastest recorded dog.[citation needed]

Aside from professional racing, many Greyhounds enjoy success on the amateur race track. Organizations like the Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA) provide opportunities for Greyhounds and other sighthound breeds to compete in amateur racing events all over the United States[22][23]

Coursing

Main article: Hare coursing

The original primary use of Greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe, was in the coursing of deer. Later, they specialized in competition hare coursing dogs[24]. Some Greyhounds today are still used for coursing, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular.

However, many breeders of racing Greyhound argue that coursing is still important. This is the case particularly in Ireland where many of the world’s leading breeders are based. A bloodline that has produced a champion on the live hare coursing field is often crossed with track lines in order to keep the early pace (i.e. speed over first 100 yards) that Greyhounds are renowned for prominent in the line. Many of the leading sprinters over 300 yards to 550 yards have bloodlines able to be traced back through Irish sires within a few generations that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup. [25][26]

The majority of pure-bred Greyhounds are whelped in Ireland. Also, researching via Greyhound data websites will note coursing champions within a few generations in the pedigree of track racing champions.

Health and physiology

Greyhound running

Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long-lived breed, and hereditary illness is rare. Some Greyhounds have been known to develop esophageal achalasia, bloat (gastric torsion), and osteosarcoma. Because the Greyhound's lean physique makes it ill-suited to sleeping on hard surfaces, owners of companion Greyhounds generally provide soft bedding; without bedding, Greyhounds are prone to develop painful skin sores. The typical Greyhound lifespan is 10 to 13 years.[27]

Due to the unique physiology and anatomy of Greyhounds, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly when anaesthesia is required. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate-based anesthesia as other breeds can because they have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes in their livers.[28] Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry, which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed; this can result in an incorrect diagnosis.

Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides.[29] Many vets do not recommend the use of flea collars or flea spray on Greyhounds unless it is a pyrethrin-based product. Products like Advantage, Frontline, Lufenuron, and Amitraz are safe for use on Greyhounds and are very effective in controlling fleas and ticks.[30]

Greyhounds have higher levels of red blood cells than other breeds. Since red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, this higher level allows the hound to move larger quantities of oxygen faster from the lungs to the muscles.[31] Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds.[32] Veterinary blood services often use Greyhounds as universal blood donors.[33]

Greyhounds do shed, but do not have undercoats and thus are less likely to trigger people's dog allergies (they are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "hypoallergenic"). The lack of an undercoat, coupled with a general lack of body fat, also makes Greyhounds more susceptible to extreme temperatures, and must be housed inside.[34]

History

Sighthounds unleashed in Paolo Uccello's Night hunt (Ashmolean Museum)

The breed's origin is romantically reputed to be connected to ancient Egypt, where depictions of smooth-coated sighthound types have been found which are typical of saluki (Persian greyhound) or sloughi (tombs at Beni Hassan c. 2000 BC). However, analyses of DNA reported in 2004 suggest that the Greyhound is not closely related to these breeds, but is a close relative to herding dogs.[35][36] Historical literature on the first sighthound in Europe (Arrian), the vertragus, the probable antecedent of the Greyhound, suggests that the origin is with the ancient Celts from Eastern Europe or Eurasia. All modern, pure-bred pedigree Greyhounds are derived from the Greyhound stock recorded and registered, firstly in the private 18th century, then public 19th century studbooks, which ultimately were registered with coursing, racing, and kennel club authorities of the United Kingdom.

Historically, these sighthounds were used primarily for hunting in the open where their keen eyesight is valuable. It is believed that they (or at least similarly named dogs) were introduced to the area now known as the United Kingdom in the 5th and 6th century BC from Celtic mainland Europe although the Picts and other hunter gatherer tribes of the northern area now known as Scotland were believed to have had large hounds similar to that of the deerhound before the 6th century BC.[citation needed]

The name "Greyhound" is generally believed to come from the Old English grighund. "Hund" is the antecedent of the modern "hound", but the meaning of "grig" is undetermined, other than in reference to dogs in Old English and Norse. Its origin does not appear to have any common root with the modern word "grey" for color, and indeed the Greyhound is seen with a wide variety of coat colors. It is known that in England during the medieval period, lords and royalty keen to own Greyhounds for sport, requested they be bred to color variants that made them easier to view and identify in pursuit of their quarry.[citation needed] The lighter colors, patch-like markings and white appeared in the breed that was once ordinarily grey in color. The Greyhound is the only dog mentioned by name in the Bible; the King James version names the Greyhound as one of the "four things stately" in the Proverbs.[37] However, some more recent translations have changed this to strutting rooster, which appears to be a more correct translation of the Hebrew term זַרְזִיר (zarzir).

According to Pokorny[38] the English name "Greyhound" does not mean "gray dog/hound", but simply "fair dog". Subsequent words have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *g'her- "shine, twinkle": English gray, Old High German gris "grey, old", Old Icelandic griss "piglet, pig", Old Icelandic gryja "to dawn", gryjandi "morning twilight", Old Irish grian "sun", Old Church Slavonic zorja "morning twilight, brightness". The common sense of these words is "to shine; bright".

In 1928, the very first winner of Best in Show at Crufts was Primeley Sceptre, a Greyhound owned by H. Whitley.[39]

Cultural References to Greyhounds

Greyhound Bus

The Greyhound Bus Lines bus company, in keeping with their logo which sports a racing Greyhound, occasionally airs television commercials starring a talking computer-generated Freyhound. The Greyhound in these commercial shorts is often noted for his dry, deadpan wit. In holiday season commercials, the Greyhound also sings about fare discounts, the song being set to a Christmas carol.

Police Force

Andhra Pradesh (India) police has a special ops force named Greyhounds.

Sports

The Greyhound is often used as a mascot by sports teams, both professional and amateur, as well as many college and high school teams.

Professional

College

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?page=stadia&st=1002&land=au&stadiummode=1
  2. ^ http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?page=stadia&st=1060&land=au&stadiummode=1
  3. ^ http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?page=stadia&st=1042&land=au&stadiummode=1
  4. ^ American Kennel Club - Breed Colors and Markings
  5. ^ Snow, D.H. and Harris R.C. "Thoroughbreds and Greyhounds: Biochemical Adaptations in Creatures of Nature and of Man" Circulation, Respiration, and Metabolism Berlin: Springer Verlag 1985
  6. ^ Snow, D.H. "The horse and dog, elite athletes - why and how?" Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 44 267 1985
  7. ^ Curtis M Brown. Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis. Wheat Ridge, Colorado: Hoflin 1986 ISBN 0866670610
  8. ^ "Greyhound Rescue and Greyhound Adoption in South Florida FAQ". Friends of Greyhounds. Accessed April 15, 2008
  9. ^ NZKC - Breed Standard - Greyhound - Hound
  10. ^ Livingood, Lee (2000). Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, p. 143-144. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. ISBN 0764552767.
  11. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, p. 17-18. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 087605193X.
  12. ^ a b Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, Inc. - About the Athletes
  13. ^ Microsoft Word - SEGA_Foster_Manual_V7_FINAL_JUne_2006.doc
  14. ^ FAQ
  15. ^ "Greyhound Adoption Program - Is a Greyhound Right for You?"
  16. ^ How Safe is an Off-Lead Run?, Adopt a Greyhound
  17. ^ CompassionforGreyhounds.org :: View topic - Leash Rules
  18. ^ Greyhound Angels Adoption
  19. ^ Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option
  20. ^ GRV Clubs - GAP
  21. ^ http://www.dictionaryofgambling.com/gambling_terms/greyhound_racing/b/
  22. ^ - Large Gazehound Racing Association
  23. ^ - National Oval Track Racing Association
  24. ^ see p.246 Turbervile: A short observation ... concerning coursing http://www.archive.org/details/turbervilesbooke00turb
  25. ^ Irish Greyhound Stud Book
  26. ^ http://www.greyhound-data.com/
  27. ^ Coile, Caroline, Ph. D., Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, Barron's Educational Series, 2005, p. 77.
  28. ^ Blythe, Linda, Gannon, James, Craig, A. Morrie, and Fegan, Desmond P. (2007). Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound, p. 416. American Greyhound Council, Inc., Kansas. ISBN 0964145634.
  29. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, p. 99-101. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 087605193X.
  30. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, p. 101-103. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 087605193X.
  31. ^ Blythe, Linda, Gannon, James, Craig, A. Morrie, and Fegan, Desmond P. (2007). Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound, p. 82. American Greyhound Council, Inc., Kansas. ISBN 0964145634.
  32. ^ http://www.animalmedicalcentreofmedina.com/library/Greyhound%20Labwork.pdf.
  33. ^ United Blood Services article about Greyhounds as blood donors.
  34. ^ Blythe, Linda, Gannon, James, Craig, A. Morrie, and Fegan, Desmond P. (2007). Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound, p. 394. American Greyhound Council, Kansas. ISBN 0964145634.
  35. ^ Mark Derr (May 21, 2004). "Collie or Pug? Study Finds the Genetic Code". The New York Times.
  36. ^ Parker et al. (May 21, 2004). "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog". Science volume 304, pp. 1160–1164.
  37. ^ Proverbs 30:29–31 King James version.
  38. ^ Pokorny, Indogermanisches Woerterbuch, pp. 441–442.
  39. ^ "Besti hundur sýningar á Crufts, frá árunum 1928-2002" (in Icelandic). Hvuttar.net. Retrieved 2009-12-28.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greyhound.
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