Greyhound – Fast, Friendly, and Gorgeous

The greyhound is a dog that most people know because of their sleek, slim build. This build helps them to achieve magnificent speeds. Despite the recent association with the racetrack, greyhounds were not always bred to race. In this article, we will tell you about the history of the greyhound breed. We will tell you how to care for them, possible health concerns, and more. If you are considering getting yourself or your household greyhound, you must read this article!

History

The ancestors of the greyhound have been traced back to Ancient Egypt. It was thought that the Celts, Picts, and other people in the northern part of the UK that sighthounds very similar to the greyhound were first introduced to Europe. Greyhounds are named from the Old English, grighund, which can be best interpreted as dog-hound, or even fair dog. A lot of similar words to “grig,” in other romantic languages means bright or even twinkle. Grey is not the only color that these dogs appear in, so that part of the word has nothing to do with the modern word, “grey”.

Appearance

Greyhounds are very long, slim, and sleek. Some might even say they look famished, even when healthy. Their fur is short, adding to this sleek appearance. Greyhounds come in a wide variety of color variations. Around 30, to be exact, of which variations of white, brindle, fawn, black, red and blue (gray) can appear uniquely or in combination. You will find that most dogs are between two and two and a half feet at the tallest point. Males are larger than females. You will find that these larger dogs weigh from 50 to around 80 pounds. The head is very narrow, and elongated.

Temperament

If you are looking to keep a greyhound for a pet, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that they are very friendly to all members of the family. Greyhounds are very quiet dogs. Although they are not aggressive to those who they do not know, they very well might appear to be disinterested in them. You can easily win them over by being very nice to them. Give them a pet and a treat and they will instantly love you. You will also find that greyhounds are extremely smart. The greyhound, in a strange way, it probably the one dog that is most similar to cats in the ways that it acts toward people.

Amazing Speed

Why are greyhounds so fast? Not just for racing! Ancestors of these dogs were used for coursing deer and hares by sight. Spotting these animals and then running after them in an open space means that speed is very important. These days, coursing a lure is much more likely. Over time, the speed of these animals brought them to racing. Despite the fact that most people just think of greyhounds as being speedy, they are also incredibly agile. You might find as an owner that your greyhound excels at doing tricks and feats that show off their agility.

Care

Caring for your greyhound is surprisingly simple. Their coats require very little grooming. Just use dry shampoo every once in a while on them. Brush about as often. You will want to be sure that your greyhound gets enough exercise. Greyhounds do just fine in apartments as long as they are taken out to walk and play often enough. They also do well in all climates. You will, however, want to put them in a coat before going outdoors when it is very cold. Be sure to feed them a few small meals per day, instead of one very large one because of certain health concerns.

Health Concerns

Greyhounds are pretty hardy. You will find that without proper feeding (as mentioned above) they may have issues with bloat. Some greyhounds are also very sensitive to certain chemicals and have allergies to things like insecticides, or even anesthesia used in surgery. Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that is common in very large breeds, might be of concern. Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid is not as active as it needs to be. This condition can be controlled with medication. To avoid other health concerns, be sure that your dog or puppy comes with the proper papers from a shelter or breeder.

Getting Your Own Greyhound

Be sure to select your greyhound puppy carefully. You will want to meet the mother of your dog to check their mother’s temperament. If the entire litter is present, see how they interact with one another. Select the pup that wants to be petted by you. Do not go for the shyest puppy of the litter, in face you usually don’t want to select the ones that seems to be extremely shy. If you are not looking for a puppy but an adult dog, visit a racing rescue shelter. Each year, they receive many sweet dogs that are retired from the racing industry.

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