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Greyhound

The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurgence in popularity as a family pet.

Greyhound
Other namesEnglish Greyhound
Origin(Widespread)
Traits
Height Dogs 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in)
Bitches 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in)
Weight Dogs 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb)*
Bitches
  • 25 to 34 kilograms (55 to 75 lb)*[1]
  • *Normal weight range[1]
Litter size 1–12 pups
Life span 10–14 years
Kennel club standards
The Kennel Club standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-coated, "S-shaped" type of sighthound with a long tail and tough feet. Greyhounds are a separate breed from other related sighthounds, such as the Italian greyhound.[2][3]

The Greyhound is a gentle and intelligent breed whose combination of long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine, and slim build allows it to reach average race speeds exceeding 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph).[4][5][6] The Greyhound can reach a full speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) within 30 metres (98 ft), or six strides from the boxes, traveling at almost 20 metres per second (66 ft/s) for the first 250 metres (820 ft) of a race.[7][8]

An ex-racing Greyhound settling into retirement.
"Gray-Hound" in a 1658 English woodcut
Margaret Gorman with her pet Greyhound, "Long Goodie", in April 1925
A Greyhound in the extended phase of double rotary suspension gallop
Greyhound in contracted phase of double rotary suspension gallop
Slow motion video of a greyhound's double rotary suspension gallop.

Appearance

Males are usually 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in) tall at the withers, and weigh on average 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb). Females tend to be smaller, with shoulder heights ranging from 66 to 71 centimetres (26 to 28 in) and weights from 25 to 34 kilograms (55 to 75 lb), although weights can be above and below these average weights.[1] Greyhounds have very short fur, which is easy to maintain. There are approximately 30 recognized color forms, of which variations of white, brindle, fawn (pale tan to dark deer-red), black, red, and blue (gray) can appear uniquely or in combination.[9] Greyhounds are dolichocephalic, with a skull which is relatively long in comparison to its breadth, and an elongated muzzle.

Pets

Greyhounds are considered to make good pets,[10] and are known for their loving nature and enjoyment of the company of humans or other dogs, though how well a Greyhound tolerates the company of other small animals such as cats depends on the individual dog's personality. Greyhounds will typically chase small animals; those lacking a high 'prey drive' will be able to coexist happily with toy dog breeds and cats.[11]

Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments.[12] They do well in families with children, as long as the children are taught to treat the dog properly with politeness and appropriate respect.[13] Greyhounds have a sensitive nature, and gentle commands work best as training methods.[14]

Occasionally, a Greyhound may bark; however, they are generally not barkers, which is beneficial in suburban environments, and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own families.[15] A 2008 University of Pennsylvania study found that Greyhounds are one of the least aggressive dog breeds towards strangers, owners, and other dogs.[16]

A common misconception regarding Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. This is usually not the case with retired racing Greyhounds.[17] Greyhounds can live comfortably as apartment dogs, as they do not require much space and sleep almost 18 hours per day. Due to their calm temperament, Greyhounds can make better "apartment dogs" than smaller, more active breeds.

Many Greyhound adoption groups recommend that owners keep their Greyhounds on a leash whenever outdoors, except in fully enclosed areas.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] This is due to their prey drive, their speed, and the assertion that Greyhounds have no road sense.[26] In some jurisdictions, it is illegal for Greyhounds to be allowed off leash,[27] even in off-leash dog parks. Due to their size and strength, adoption groups recommend that fences be between 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) tall, to prevent Greyhounds from jumping over them.[18] As with most breeds being rehomed, Greyhounds that are adopted after racing tend to need time to adjust to their new lives with a human family. Many guides and books have been published to aid Greyhound owners in helping their pet get comfortable in their new home.[28]

Abilities

Coursing

The original primary use of Greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe, was in the coursing of deer for meat and sport; later, specifically in Britain, they specialized in competition hare coursing.[29] Some Greyhounds are still used for coursing, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular. Many leading 300- to 550-yard sprinters have bloodlines traceable back through Irish sires, within a few generations of racers that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup.[30][31]

Racing

Until the early 20th century, Greyhounds were principally bred and trained for hunting and coursing. During the 1920s, modern greyhound racing was introduced into the United States, England (1926), Northern Ireland (1927), Scotland (1927), and the Republic of Ireland (1927).[32] Australia also has a significant racing culture.[33][34][35]

In the United States, 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 to compete.[36][37]

Companion

 
A blue female greyhound

Historically, the Greyhound has, since its first appearance as a hunting type and breed, enjoyed a specific degree of fame and definition in Western literature, heraldry and art as the most elegant or noble companion and hunter of the canine world. In modern times, the professional racing industry, with its large numbers of track-bred greyhounds, as well as international adoption programs aimed at re-homing dogs has redefined the breed as a sporting dog that will supply friendly companionship in its retirement. This has been prevalent in recent years due to track closures in the United States.[38][39][40] Outside the racing industry and coursing community, the Kennel Clubs' registered breed still enjoys a modest following as a show dog and pet.

Health and physiology

 
Illustration of the Greyhound skeleton

Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long-lived breed, and hereditary illness is rare. Some Greyhounds have been known to develop esophageal achalasia, gastric dilatation volvulus (also known as bloat), and osteosarcoma. Because the Greyhound's lean physique makes it ill-suited to sleeping on hard surfaces, owners of both racing and companion Greyhounds generally provide soft bedding; without bedding, Greyhounds are prone to develop painful skin sores. The average lifespan of a Greyhound is 10 to 14 years.[41][42]

Due to the Greyhound's unique physiology and anatomy, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly when anesthesia is required. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate-based anesthesia in the same way that other breeds can because their livers have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes.[43] Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry [2], which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed and can result in an incorrect diagnosis.[44]

Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides.[45] Many vets do not recommend the use of flea collars or flea spray on Greyhounds if the product is pyrethrin-based. Products like Advantage, Frontline, Lufenuron, and Amitraz are safe for use on Greyhounds, however, and are very effective in controlling fleas and ticks.[46]

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.[47] Conversely, Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds.[48]

Delayed haemorrhage following trauma or routine surgery is more common in Greyhounds, with one study reporting significant haemorrhage in 26% of Greyhounds following routine gonadectomy,[49] compared to 0-2% in other dog breeds.[50] This is often termed greyhound fibrinolytic syndrome or breed-associated hyperfibrinolysis, where in there is a disorder of the fibrinolysis system without derangement of the primary or secondary coagulation systems, and is also not related to platelet count.[50] In this syndrome there is initial adequate hemostasis following trauma or routine surgical procedures, however 36–48 hours later the site undergoes inappropriate hyperfibrinolysis.[49] This results in delayed bleeding which can result in significant morbidity and mortality.[50] Standard pre-operative blood work does not identify those at risk[50] It is distinct from common bleeding disorders in other breeds such von Willebrand's disease, which is uncommon in Greyhounds.[51] Although high-quality research data are lacking, it is thought that this condition can be prevented and treated by administering antifibrinolytic medication such as tranexamic acid via the oral or parenteral route.[52][50] Intensive care and blood product administration may also be required in severe cases.[50]

Greyhounds do not have undercoats and thus are less likely to trigger dog allergies in humans (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 (both hot and cold); because of this, they must be housed inside.[53] Some Greyhounds are susceptible to corns on their paw pads; a variety of methods are used to treat them.[54][3]

The key to the speed of a Greyhound can be found in its light but muscular build, large heart, highest percentage of fast twitch muscle of any breed,[55][56] double suspension gallop, and extreme flexibility of its 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.[57]

History

 
Bronze figure probably of a vertragus (sighthound), Roman period (50 – 270 AD)
 
Sighthounds unleashed in Paolo Uccello's Night Hunt (Ashmolean Museum)

Origins

The ancient skeletal remains of a dog identified as being of the greyhound/saluki form were excavated at Tell Brak in modern Syria, and dated as being approximately 4,000 years old.[58][59]

Historical literature by Arrian on the vertragus (from the Latin 'vertragus', a word of Celtic origin),[60] the first recorded sighthound in Europe and possible antecedent of the Greyhound, suggested that its origin lies with the Celts from Eastern Europe or Eurasia. Systematic archaeozoology of Britain conducted in 1974[61] ruled out the existence of a true greyhound-type in Britain prior to the Roman occupation, which was further confirmed in 2000.[62] Written evidence from the early period of Roman occupation, the Vindolanda tablets (No. 594), demonstrate that the occupying troops from Continental Europe either had with them in the North of England, or certainly knew of, the vertragus and its hunting use.[63]

An archaeological find at the Chotěbuz fort in the Czech Republic of sighthound type, "gracile" bones dating from the 8th to 9th century CE, anatomically defined as those of a 70 cm (28 in) high "greyhound", were also genetically compared with the modern Greyhound and other sighthounds, and found to be almost completely identical with the modern Greyhound breed, with the exception of only four deletions and one substitution in the DNA sequences, which were interpreted as differences probably arising from 11 centuries of breeding of this type of dog.[64]

All modern pedigree Greyhounds derive from the Greyhound stock recorded and registered first in private studbooks in the 18th century, then in public studbooks in the 19th century, which ultimately were registered with coursing, racing, and kennel club authorities of the United Kingdom.[65] Historically, these sighthounds were used primarily for hunting in the open where their pursuit speed and keen eyesight were essential.

 
Contemporary illustration of Saint Guinefort, a greyhound sainted by people in the Dombes region of France around the 13th century.

Etymology

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 Old Norse. The word "hund" is still used for dogs in general in Scandinavian languages today. Its origin does not appear to have any common root with the modern word "grey"[66] for color, and indeed the Greyhound is seen with a wide variety of coat colors. 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 (Hebrew: זַרְזִיר מׇתְנַיִם, zarir mosna'im) in Proverbs 30:29–31. Many versions, including the Jewish Publication Society and King James Version, name the Greyhound as one of the "three that are stately of stride". However, some newer biblical translations, including the New International Version, have changed this to 'strutting rooster', which appears to be an alternative translation. However, the Douay–Rheims Bible translation from the late 4th-century Latin Vulgate into English translates this term as "a cock."

According to Pokorny,[67] the English term 'Greyhound' does not mean "grey dog/hound", but simply "fair dog". Subsequent words have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *g'her- "shine, twinkle": English 'grey', 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."[citation needed]

In 1928, the first winner of Best in Show at Crufts was breeder/owner Mr. H. Whitley's Greyhound Primley Sceptre.[68] Greyhounds have won the award three times in total, the most recent being in 1956.[69]

Historically, English Greyhounds were grouped: two for coursing, as a "Brace", three for hunting, as a "Leash", otherwise known as a "couple and a half".[70]

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Greyhound Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  3. ^ "Greyhound Type - The Archtypical Sighthound". Greyhound Club Of America. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
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  5. ^ Gunnar von Boehn. "Singleton (NSW) Track Records". Greyhound-data.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  6. ^ Gunnar von Boehn. "Capalaba (QLD) Track Records". Greyhound-data.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  7. ^ Kohnke, John. BVSc RDA. "GREYHOUND ATHLETE". Greyhound Racing Betting. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  8. ^ Sharp, N.C. Craig.Animal athletes: a performance review Veterinary Record Vol 171 (4) 87-94 2012
  9. ^ "American Kennel Club – Breed Colors and Markings". Akc.org. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  10. ^ "Breed Standard – Greyhound – Hound". NZKC. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  11. ^ "Chuckster's Greyhounds".
  12. ^ Livinggood, Lee (2000). Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, p. 31. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. ISBN 0-7645-5276-7
  13. ^ Livinggood 2000, p. 55-56
  14. ^ Livinggood, Lee (2000). Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. ISBN 0-7645-5276-7
  15. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, pp. 17-18. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 0-87605-193-X.
  16. ^ https://www.csus.edu/indiv/m/merlinos/pdf/2008breeddifferences.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ "The Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) in Australia and New Zealand: A survey of owners' experiences with their greyhounds one month after adoption" Applied Animal Behaviour Science Elliott, 2010 vol. 124, issue 3-4. pp. 121-135.
  18. ^ a b . Greyhound Adoption League of Texas. Archived from the original on 27 January 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
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  29. ^ Turberville, George (7 October 2018). "Turbervile's Booke of hunting, 1576". [Oxford] : Clarendon Press; New York : [Oxford University Press] – via Internet Archive.
  30. ^ Irish Greyhound Stud Book
  31. ^ Gunnar von Boehn. "The Greyhound Breeding and Racing Database". Greyhound-data.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  32. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  33. ^ "Greyhound racing". Animals Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  34. ^ "Tribute to Chief Havoc -- Australian Greyhound Racing Association".
  35. ^ "GREY2K USA: Greyhound Racing in Australia".
  36. ^ "Large Gazehound Racing Association". Lgra.org. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  37. ^ "National Oval Track Racing Association". Notra.org. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  38. ^ Flaim, Denise (2010) 'Forward Thinking', Sighthound Review, Vol 1 Issue 1.
  39. ^ "As Dog Racetracks Close, Where Do All the Greyhounds Go?". BlogHer. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  40. ^ Madden, Raymond (2010) 'Imagining the greyhound: 'Racing' and 'rescue' narratives in a human and dog relationship', Continuum, 24: 4, 503 — 515 .
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  42. ^ O’Neill, D. G.; Church, D. B.; McGreevy, P. D.; Thomson, P. C.; Brodbelt, D. C. (2013). "Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England" (PDF). The Veterinary Journal. 198 (3): 638–43. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.020. PMID 24206631. (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-31. "n=88 median=10.8 IQR=8.1-12.0"
  43. ^ 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 0-9641456-3-4.
  44. ^ Veterinary Consultants Are Sighthounds Really Dogs?, 2017
  45. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, p. 99-101. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 0-87605-193-X.
  46. ^ Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). Adopting the Racing Greyhound, p. 101-103. Howell Book House, New York. ISBN 0-87605-193-X.
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  48. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 5 Nov 2014.
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  50. ^ a b c d e f Birkbeck, R.; Humm, K.; Cortellini, S. (November 2019). "A review of hyperfibrinolysis in cats and dogs". The Journal of Small Animal Practice. 60 (11): 641–655. doi:10.1111/jsap.13068. ISSN 1748-5827. PMID 31608455. S2CID 204544250.
  51. ^ Zaldívar-López, S.; Marín, L. M.; Iazbik, M. C.; Westendorf-Stingle, N.; Hensley, S.; Couto, C. G. (December 2011). "Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds". Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 40 (4): 414–425. doi:10.1111/j.1939-165X.2011.00360.x. ISSN 1939-165X. PMC 3816276. PMID 22092909.
  52. ^ Osekavage, Katie E.; Brainard, Benjamin M.; Lane, Selena L.; Almoslem, Mohammed; Arnold, Robert D.; Koenig, Amie (October 2018). "Pharmacokinetics of tranexamic acid in healthy dogs and assessment of its antifibrinolytic properties in canine blood". American Journal of Veterinary Research. 79 (10): 1057–1063. doi:10.2460/ajvr.79.10.1057. ISSN 1943-5681. PMID 30256146. S2CID 52823458.
  53. ^ 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 0-9641456-3-4.
  54. ^ "Greyhound Health. Corns in Greyhounds". www.ngap.org. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  55. ^ 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
  56. ^ Snow, D.H. "The horse and dog, elite athletes – why and how?" Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 44 267 1985
  57. ^ Curtis M Brown. Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis. Wheat Ridge, Colorado: Hoflin 1986 ISBN 0-86667-061-0
  58. ^ Clutton-Brock, J., 1989. A dog and a donkey excavated at Tell Brak. Iraq, 51, pp.217-224.
  59. ^ Structured Deposition of Animal Remains in the Fertile Crescent during the Bronze Age, José Luis Ramos Soldado, Archaeopress, 2016, p12, ISBN 9781784912697
  60. ^ Arrian; Dansey, W. (1831). Arrian on coursing : the Cynegeticus of the younger Xenophon, translated from the Greek, with classical and practical annotations, and a brief sketch of the life and writings of the author. To which is added an appendix, containing some account of the Canes venatici of classical antiquity. Bohne. pp. 74.
  61. ^ Harcourt, R.A., 1974. The dog in prehistoric and early historic Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 1(2), pp.151-175.
  62. ^ Clark, K.M., 2000. Dogged persistence: the phenomenon of canine skeletal uniformity in British prehistory. BAR International Series, 889, pp.163-170.
  63. ^ Bowman, Alan K; Thomas, J David (2003). The Vindolanda writing-tablets (Tabulae Vindolandenses III). British Museum Press. ISBN 978-0-7141-2249-6.
  64. ^ SVOBODOVÁ, H., BARTOŠ, M., NÝVLTOVÁ FIŠÁKOVÁ, M. and KOUŘIL, P., (2015). Genetic analysis of possibly the oldest greyhound remains within the territory of the Czech Republic as a proof of a local elite presence at Chotěbuz-Podobora hillfort in the 8th–9th century AD. SbNM B, 71, pp.17-24. [1]
  65. ^ The Greyhound and the Hare: A history of the breed and the sport Charles Blanning, The National Coursing Club, 2018
  66. ^ Richardson, Charles (1839). A New Dictionary of the English Language. Oxford University. p. 357.
  67. ^ Pokorny, Indogermanisches Woerterbuch, pp. 441–442.
  68. ^ (No.584, pp19 & 121)
  69. ^ "The winners from the past and present - Crufts". www.crufts.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  70. ^ Turbervile's Booke of Hunting 1576 Clarendon Press 1908 p242

Further reading

  • "The Greyhound in 1864: ..." Walsh 1864
  • "The Greyhound, ..." Dalziel 1887
  • Of Greyhounds and of Their Nature, Chapter XV: "The Master of Game", Edward of York circa 1406
  • "The Greyhound" Roger D. Williams, in The American Book of the Dog Editor George O. Shields. Chicago: Rand Mcnally, 1891
  • Greyhound Nation: A Coevolutionary History of England, 1200–1900. Edmund Russell, Cambridge University Press, 2018. ISBN 978-0521762090
  • The Greyhound and the Hare: A History of the Breed and the Sport. Charles Blanning, The National Coursing Club, 2018.
  • Twenty Two Waterloo Cups 1981-2005. Charles Blanning, Fullerton Press in association with the National Coursing Club, 2022.

External links

  •   Media related to Greyhound at Wikimedia Commons

greyhound, this, article, about, breed, other, uses, disambiguation, english, simply, breed, sighthound, which, been, bred, coursing, greyhound, racing, hunting, since, rise, large, scale, adoption, retired, racing, breed, seen, resurgence, popularity, family,. This article is about the breed of dog For other uses see Greyhound disambiguation The English Greyhound or simply the Greyhound is a breed of dog a sighthound which has been bred for coursing greyhound racing and hunting Since the rise in large scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds the breed has seen a resurgence in popularity as a family pet GreyhoundOther namesEnglish GreyhoundOrigin Widespread TraitsHeightDogs71 to 76 centimetres 28 to 30 in Bitches68 to 71 centimetres 27 to 28 in WeightDogs27 to 40 kilograms 60 to 88 lb Bitches25 to 34 kilograms 55 to 75 lb 1 Normal weight range 1 Litter size1 12 pupsLife span10 14 yearsKennel club standardsThe Kennel ClubstandardFederation Cynologique InternationalestandardDog domestic dog Greyhounds are defined as a tall muscular smooth coated S shaped type of sighthound with a long tail and tough feet Greyhounds are a separate breed from other related sighthounds such as the Italian greyhound 2 3 The Greyhound is a gentle and intelligent breed whose combination of long powerful legs deep chest flexible spine and slim build allows it to reach average race speeds exceeding 64 kilometres per hour 40 mph 4 5 6 The Greyhound can reach a full speed of 70 kilometres per hour 43 mph within 30 metres 98 ft or six strides from the boxes traveling at almost 20 metres per second 66 ft s for the first 250 metres 820 ft of a race 7 8 An ex racing Greyhound settling into retirement Gray Hound in a 1658 English woodcut Margaret Gorman with her pet Greyhound Long Goodie in April 1925 A Greyhound in the extended phase of double rotary suspension gallop Greyhound in contracted phase of double rotary suspension gallop source source source source source source source source source source source source source source source Slow motion video of a greyhound s double rotary suspension gallop Contents 1 Appearance 2 Pets 3 Abilities 3 1 Coursing 3 2 Racing 4 Companion 5 Health and physiology 6 History 6 1 Origins 6 2 Etymology 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksAppearance EditMales are usually 71 to 76 centimetres 28 to 30 in tall at the withers and weigh on average 27 to 40 kilograms 60 to 88 lb Females tend to be smaller with shoulder heights ranging from 66 to 71 centimetres 26 to 28 in and weights from 25 to 34 kilograms 55 to 75 lb although weights can be above and below these average weights 1 Greyhounds have very short fur which is easy to maintain There are approximately 30 recognized color forms of which variations of white brindle fawn pale tan to dark deer red black red and blue gray can appear uniquely or in combination 9 Greyhounds are dolichocephalic with a skull which is relatively long in comparison to its breadth and an elongated muzzle Pets EditGreyhounds are considered to make good pets 10 and are known for their loving nature and enjoyment of the company of humans or other dogs though how well a Greyhound tolerates the company of other small animals such as cats depends on the individual dog s personality Greyhounds will typically chase small animals those lacking a high prey drive will be able to coexist happily with toy dog breeds and cats 11 Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments 12 They do well in families with children as long as the children are taught to treat the dog properly with politeness and appropriate respect 13 Greyhounds have a sensitive nature and gentle commands work best as training methods 14 Occasionally a Greyhound may bark however they are generally not barkers which is beneficial in suburban environments and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own families 15 A 2008 University of Pennsylvania study found that Greyhounds are one of the least aggressive dog breeds towards strangers owners and other dogs 16 A common misconception regarding Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive This is usually not the case with retired racing Greyhounds 17 Greyhounds can live comfortably as apartment dogs as they do not require much space and sleep almost 18 hours per day Due to their calm temperament Greyhounds can make better apartment dogs than smaller more active breeds Many Greyhound adoption groups recommend that owners keep their Greyhounds on a leash whenever outdoors except in fully enclosed areas 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 This is due to their prey drive their speed and the assertion that Greyhounds have no road sense 26 In some jurisdictions it is illegal for Greyhounds to be allowed off leash 27 even in off leash dog parks Due to their size and strength adoption groups recommend that fences be between 4 to 6 feet 1 2 to 1 8 m tall to prevent Greyhounds from jumping over them 18 As with most breeds being rehomed Greyhounds that are adopted after racing tend to need time to adjust to their new lives with a human family Many guides and books have been published to aid Greyhound owners in helping their pet get comfortable in their new home 28 Abilities EditCoursing Edit 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 for meat and sport later specifically in Britain they specialized in competition hare coursing 29 Some Greyhounds are still used for coursing although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular Many leading 300 to 550 yard sprinters have bloodlines traceable back through Irish sires within a few generations of racers that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup 30 31 Racing Edit Main article Greyhound racing Until the early 20th century Greyhounds were principally bred and trained for hunting and coursing During the 1920s modern greyhound racing was introduced into the United States England 1926 Northern Ireland 1927 Scotland 1927 and the Republic of Ireland 1927 32 Australia also has a significant racing culture 33 34 35 In the United States 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 to compete 36 37 Companion Edit A blue female greyhound Historically the Greyhound has since its first appearance as a hunting type and breed enjoyed a specific degree of fame and definition in Western literature heraldry and art as the most elegant or noble companion and hunter of the canine world In modern times the professional racing industry with its large numbers of track bred greyhounds as well as international adoption programs aimed at re homing dogs has redefined the breed as a sporting dog that will supply friendly companionship in its retirement This has been prevalent in recent years due to track closures in the United States 38 39 40 Outside the racing industry and coursing community the Kennel Clubs registered breed still enjoys a modest following as a show dog and pet Health and physiology Edit Illustration of the Greyhound skeleton Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long lived breed and hereditary illness is rare Some Greyhounds have been known to develop esophageal achalasia gastric dilatation volvulus also known as bloat and osteosarcoma Because the Greyhound s lean physique makes it ill suited to sleeping on hard surfaces owners of both racing and companion Greyhounds generally provide soft bedding without bedding Greyhounds are prone to develop painful skin sores The average lifespan of a Greyhound is 10 to 14 years 41 42 Due to the Greyhound s unique physiology and anatomy a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment particularly when anesthesia is required Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate based anesthesia in the same way that other breeds can because their livers have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes 43 Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry 2 which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed and can result in an incorrect diagnosis 44 Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides 45 Many vets do not recommend the use of flea collars or flea spray on Greyhounds if the product is pyrethrin based Products like Advantage Frontline Lufenuron and Amitraz are safe for use on Greyhounds however and are very effective in controlling fleas and ticks 46 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 47 Conversely Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds 48 Delayed haemorrhage following trauma or routine surgery is more common in Greyhounds with one study reporting significant haemorrhage in 26 of Greyhounds following routine gonadectomy 49 compared to 0 2 in other dog breeds 50 This is often termed greyhound fibrinolytic syndrome or breed associated hyperfibrinolysis where in there is a disorder of the fibrinolysis system without derangement of the primary or secondary coagulation systems and is also not related to platelet count 50 In this syndrome there is initial adequate hemostasis following trauma or routine surgical procedures however 36 48 hours later the site undergoes inappropriate hyperfibrinolysis 49 This results in delayed bleeding which can result in significant morbidity and mortality 50 Standard pre operative blood work does not identify those at risk 50 It is distinct from common bleeding disorders in other breeds such von Willebrand s disease which is uncommon in Greyhounds 51 Although high quality research data are lacking it is thought that this condition can be prevented and treated by administering antifibrinolytic medication such as tranexamic acid via the oral or parenteral route 52 50 Intensive care and blood product administration may also be required in severe cases 50 Greyhounds do not have undercoats and thus are less likely to trigger dog allergies in humans 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 both hot and cold because of this they must be housed inside 53 Some Greyhounds are susceptible to corns on their paw pads a variety of methods are used to treat them 54 3 The key to the speed of a Greyhound can be found in its light but muscular build large heart highest percentage of fast twitch muscle of any breed 55 56 double suspension gallop and extreme flexibility of its 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 57 History Edit Bronze figure probably of a vertragus sighthound Roman period 50 270 AD Sighthounds unleashed in Paolo Uccello s Night Hunt Ashmolean Museum Origins Edit The ancient skeletal remains of a dog identified as being of the greyhound saluki form were excavated at Tell Brak in modern Syria and dated as being approximately 4 000 years old 58 59 Historical literature by Arrian on the vertragus from the Latin vertragus a word of Celtic origin 60 the first recorded sighthound in Europe and possible antecedent of the Greyhound suggested that its origin lies with the Celts from Eastern Europe or Eurasia Systematic archaeozoology of Britain conducted in 1974 61 ruled out the existence of a true greyhound type in Britain prior to the Roman occupation which was further confirmed in 2000 62 Written evidence from the early period of Roman occupation the Vindolanda tablets No 594 demonstrate that the occupying troops from Continental Europe either had with them in the North of England or certainly knew of the vertragus and its hunting use 63 An archaeological find at the Chotebuz fort in the Czech Republic of sighthound type gracile bones dating from the 8th to 9th century CE anatomically defined as those of a 70 cm 28 in high greyhound were also genetically compared with the modern Greyhound and other sighthounds and found to be almost completely identical with the modern Greyhound breed with the exception of only four deletions and one substitution in the DNA sequences which were interpreted as differences probably arising from 11 centuries of breeding of this type of dog 64 All modern pedigree Greyhounds derive from the Greyhound stock recorded and registered first in private studbooks in the 18th century then in public studbooks in the 19th century which ultimately were registered with coursing racing and kennel club authorities of the United Kingdom 65 Historically these sighthounds were used primarily for hunting in the open where their pursuit speed and keen eyesight were essential Contemporary illustration of Saint Guinefort a greyhound sainted by people in the Dombes region of France around the 13th century Etymology Edit 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 Old Norse The word hund is still used for dogs in general in Scandinavian languages today Its origin does not appear to have any common root with the modern word grey 66 for color and indeed the Greyhound is seen with a wide variety of coat colors 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 Hebrew ז ר ז יר מ ת נ י ם zarir mosna im in Proverbs 30 29 31 Many versions including the Jewish Publication Society and King James Version name the Greyhound as one of the three that are stately of stride However some newer biblical translations including the New International Version have changed this to strutting rooster which appears to be an alternative translation However the Douay Rheims Bible translation from the late 4th century Latin Vulgate into English translates this term as a cock According to Pokorny 67 the English term Greyhound does not mean grey dog hound but simply fair dog Subsequent words have been derived from the Proto Indo European root g her shine twinkle English grey 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 citation needed In 1928 the first winner of Best in Show at Crufts was breeder owner Mr H Whitley s Greyhound Primley Sceptre 68 Greyhounds have won the award three times in total the most recent being in 1956 69 Historically English Greyhounds were grouped two for coursing as a Brace three for hunting as a Leash otherwise known as a couple and a half 70 See also EditDogs portal List of dog breeds Afghan Hound Azawakh Borzoi formerly known as Russian Wolfhound Combai Chippiparai Fastest animal Galgo Espanol Spanish Greyhound Hortaya borzaya Russian shorthaired sighthound Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Kanni Longdog cross between two sighthound breeds Lurcher sighthound ancestry Magyar agar Hungarian Greyhound Mudhol Hound Polish Greyhound Rajapalayam India Rampur Greyhound Saluki Scottish Deerhound Sloughi WhippetReferences Edit a b c 2018 Oaks first round results Greyhound Board of Great Britain Greyhound Dog Breed Information American Kennel Club Retrieved 2021 10 07 Greyhound Type The Archtypical Sighthound Greyhound Club Of America Retrieved 2021 10 07 Gunnar von Boehn Shepparton VIC Track Records Greyhound data com Retrieved 2011 05 31 Gunnar von Boehn Singleton NSW Track Records Greyhound data com Retrieved 2011 05 31 Gunnar von Boehn Capalaba QLD Track Records Greyhound data com Retrieved 2011 05 31 Kohnke John BVSc RDA GREYHOUND ATHLETE Greyhound Racing Betting Retrieved 2012 01 06 Sharp N C Craig Animal athletes a performance review Veterinary Record Vol 171 4 87 94 2012 American Kennel Club Breed Colors and Markings Akc org Retrieved 2011 05 31 Breed Standard Greyhound Hound NZKC Retrieved 2011 05 31 Chuckster s Greyhounds Livinggood Lee 2000 Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies p 31 IDG Books Worldwide Inc Foster City CA ISBN 0 7645 5276 7 Livinggood 2000 p 55 56 Livinggood Lee 2000 Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies IDG Books Worldwide Inc Foster City CA ISBN 0 7645 5276 7 Branigan Cynthia A 1998 Adopting the Racing Greyhound pp 17 18 Howell Book House New York ISBN 0 87605 193 X https www csus edu indiv m merlinos pdf 2008breeddifferences pdf bare URL PDF The Greyhound Adoption Program GAP in Australia and New Zealand A survey of owners experiences with their greyhounds one month after adoption Applied Animal Behaviour Science Elliott 2010 vol 124 issue 3 4 pp 121 135 a b About the Athletes Greyhound Adoption League of Texas Archived from the original on 27 January 2007 Retrieved 2011 05 31 SEGA Foster Manual V7 FINAL JUne 2006 doc PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2008 09 10 Retrieved 2011 05 31 FAQ Psgreyhounds org Retrieved 2011 05 31 Greyhound Adoption Program Is a Greyhound Right for You Archived 2008 01 21 at the Wayback Machine How Safe is an Off Lead Run Adopt a Greyhound Peanut View topic Leash Rules CompassionforGreyhounds org Archived from the original on 2011 07 25 Retrieved 2011 05 31 Greyhound Angels Adoption Greyhound Angels Adoption Archived from the original on 2011 05 15 Retrieved 2011 05 31 StartLogic GRV Clubs GAP Gap grv org au Archived from the original on 2011 04 26 Retrieved 2011 05 31 DOMESTIC ANIMALS ACT 1994 SECT 27 Restraint of greyhounds www austlii edu au Retrieved 2015 12 13 Greyt Books on Greyhounds and Greyhound Adoption 2 March 2014 Retrieved 2019 10 17 Turberville George 7 October 2018 Turbervile s Booke of hunting 1576 Oxford Clarendon Press New York Oxford University Press via Internet Archive Irish Greyhound Stud Book Gunnar von Boehn The Greyhound Breeding and Racing Database Greyhound data com Retrieved 2011 05 31 Genders Roy 1990 NGRC book of Greyhound Racing Pelham Books Ltd ISBN 0 7207 1804 X Greyhound racing Animals Australia Retrieved 3 September 2016 Tribute to Chief Havoc Australian Greyhound Racing Association GREY2K USA Greyhound Racing in Australia Large Gazehound Racing Association Lgra org Retrieved 2011 05 31 National Oval Track Racing Association Notra org Retrieved 2011 05 31 Flaim Denise 2010 Forward Thinking Sighthound Review Vol 1 Issue 1 As Dog Racetracks Close Where Do All the Greyhounds Go BlogHer Retrieved 2011 05 31 Madden Raymond 2010 Imagining the greyhound Racing and rescue narratives in a human and dog relationship Continuum 24 4 503 515 Summary results of the Purebred Dog Health Survey for Greyhounds PDF The Kennel Club Kennel Club British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee Archived PDF from the original on 2014 06 06 Retrieved 6 June 2014 n 69 median 9 years 1 month O Neill D G Church D B McGreevy P D Thomson P C Brodbelt D C 2013 Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England PDF The Veterinary Journal 198 3 638 43 doi 10 1016 j tvjl 2013 09 020 PMID 24206631 Archived PDF from the original on 2019 12 31 n 88 median 10 8 IQR 8 1 12 0 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 0 9641456 3 4 Veterinary Consultants Are Sighthounds Really Dogs 2017 Branigan Cynthia A 1998 Adopting the Racing Greyhound p 99 101 Howell Book House New York ISBN 0 87605 193 X Branigan Cynthia A 1998 Adopting the Racing Greyhound p 101 103 Howell Book House New York ISBN 0 87605 193 X 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 0 9641456 3 4 Making Sense of Blood Work in Greyhounds PDF Archived from the original PDF on 25 March 2009 Retrieved 5 Nov 2014 a b Lara Garcia A Couto C G Iazbik M C Brooks M B May 2008 Postoperative bleeding in retired racing greyhounds Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 22 3 525 533 doi 10 1111 j 1939 1676 2008 0088 x ISSN 0891 6640 PMID 18466249 a b c d e f Birkbeck R Humm K Cortellini S November 2019 A review of hyperfibrinolysis in cats and dogs The Journal of Small Animal Practice 60 11 641 655 doi 10 1111 jsap 13068 ISSN 1748 5827 PMID 31608455 S2CID 204544250 Zaldivar Lopez S Marin L M Iazbik M C Westendorf Stingle N Hensley S Couto C G December 2011 Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds Veterinary Clinical Pathology 40 4 414 425 doi 10 1111 j 1939 165X 2011 00360 x ISSN 1939 165X PMC 3816276 PMID 22092909 Osekavage Katie E Brainard Benjamin M Lane Selena L Almoslem Mohammed Arnold Robert D Koenig Amie October 2018 Pharmacokinetics of tranexamic acid in healthy dogs and assessment of its antifibrinolytic properties in canine blood American Journal of Veterinary Research 79 10 1057 1063 doi 10 2460 ajvr 79 10 1057 ISSN 1943 5681 PMID 30256146 S2CID 52823458 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 0 9641456 3 4 Greyhound Health Corns in Greyhounds www ngap org Retrieved 2019 05 09 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 Snow D H The horse and dog elite athletes why and how Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 44 267 1985 Curtis M Brown Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis Wheat Ridge Colorado Hoflin 1986 ISBN 0 86667 061 0 Clutton Brock J 1989 A dog and a donkey excavated at Tell Brak Iraq 51 pp 217 224 Structured Deposition of Animal Remains in the Fertile Crescent during the Bronze Age Jose Luis Ramos Soldado Archaeopress 2016 p12 ISBN 9781784912697 Arrian Dansey W 1831 Arrian on coursing the Cynegeticus of the younger Xenophon translated from the Greek with classical and practical annotations and a brief sketch of the life and writings of the author To which is added an appendix containing some account of the Canes venatici of classical antiquity Bohne pp 74 Harcourt R A 1974 The dog in prehistoric and early historic Britain Journal of Archaeological Science 1 2 pp 151 175 Clark K M 2000 Dogged persistence the phenomenon of canine skeletal uniformity in British prehistory BAR International Series 889 pp 163 170 Bowman Alan K Thomas J David 2003 The Vindolanda writing tablets Tabulae Vindolandenses III British Museum Press ISBN 978 0 7141 2249 6 SVOBODOVA H BARTOS M NYVLTOVA FISAKOVA M and KOURIL P 2015 Genetic analysis of possibly the oldest greyhound remains within the territory of the Czech Republic as a proof of a local elite presence at Chotebuz Podobora hillfort in the 8th 9th century AD SbNM B 71 pp 17 24 1 The Greyhound and the Hare A history of the breed and the sport Charles Blanning The National Coursing Club 2018 Richardson Charles 1839 A New Dictionary of the English Language Oxford University p 357 Pokorny Indogermanisches Woerterbuch pp 441 442 No 584 pp19 amp 121 The winners from the past and present Crufts www crufts org uk Retrieved 2021 08 11 Turbervile s Booke of Hunting 1576 Clarendon Press 1908 p242Further reading Edit The Greyhound in 1864 Walsh 1864 The Greyhound Dalziel 1887 Of Greyhounds and of Their Nature Chapter XV The Master of Game Edward of York circa 1406 The Greyhound Roger D Williams in The American Book of the Dog Editor George O Shields Chicago Rand Mcnally 1891 Greyhound Nation A Coevolutionary History of England 1200 1900 Edmund Russell Cambridge University Press 2018 ISBN 978 0521762090 The Greyhound and the Hare A History of the Breed and the Sport Charles Blanning The National Coursing Club 2018 Twenty Two Waterloo Cups 1981 2005 Charles Blanning Fullerton Press in association with the National Coursing Club 2022 External links Edit Media related to Greyhound at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greyhound amp oldid 1141322103, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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