Celebrating the Greyhound - July 2010
by The Fit Dog on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 9:41pm
THE GREYHOUND
Weight Male 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb)
Female 27 to 34 kilograms (60 to 75 lb)
Height Male 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in)
Female 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in)
Coat Fine, smooth
Litter size 6-8 pups
Life span 10-13 years
*Description
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 maneuvers 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 colors, including white, fawn (tan), cream, red (rust), black, blue (grey), many shades of brindle, and with patches of these colors 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. Bitches average around 10 to 15 pounds less than dogs. 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 65-70lbs for males, 60-65 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.
*History
Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs, and appear in art and literature throughout history. In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, and tombs were often decorated with Greyhound figures. A hieroglyph of a dog very much resembling the modern breeds Greyhound, Saluki, and Sloughi can be found in the writings of ancient Egypt. Alexander the Great had a Greyhound named Peritas. The Greyhound is mentioned in the Old Testament (Proverbs 30:29-31), Homer (Odyssey, where the only one to recognize Odysseus upon his return was his Greyhound, Argus), Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), and Shakespeare (Henry V and Merry Wives of Windsor). Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were often portrayed with Greyhounds.
As Clarke, in The Greyhound states:
But, ancient as the Greyhound is, it would be stretching the truth to claim that the Arabian hounds depicted on the ancestral tombs of ancient Egyptians were identical to the Greyhounds we know today. In their conformation, in their grace and pace, in the poetry of their motion, yes -- but not in the style of coat they wore! [...] In fact, there is reason to believe that the Arabian Greyhound may well have resembled a Saluki -- but for all, still a dog of the Greyhound family.
There are many differing explanations for the origin of the term Greyhound. One writer suggests that the original Greyhound stock was mostly grey in color. Another says the term derives from the Old English "grei," meaning "dog," and "hundr," meaning "hunter." Another explanation is that it is derived from "gre" or "gradus," meaning "first rank among dogs." Finally, it has been suggested that the term derives from Greekhound, since the hound reached England through the Greeks.
Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty. In fact, from the 11th to the 14th century, English law decreed that no "mean person" was allowed to keep a Greyhound. Penalty for breaking this law was death!
*Characteristics and Temperament
Greyhounds have a very gentle and quiet disposition. They are very pack oriented dogs and will quickly adopt human masters into their "pack." To allow different Greyhounds to hunt and race together, aggressiveness towards other dogs and people has been nearly eliminated from the breed. Many do retain a strong prey drive (which is a compnent to their racing) and are sometimes unsuitable for houses with other small pets such as cats or rabbits. Their sensitivity and intelligence make them quick learners, and good candidates for obedience training.
Greyhounds are often tolerant of children, especially if they have been raised with them. Being non-aggressive, a Greyhound will generally walk away from a worrisome child, rather than growl or snap. However, even the gentle Greyhound has its limits, and should not be subjected to continuous harassment.
Although Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog, they achieve their incredible speed in one all out sprint, and do not have a lot of endurance. A Greyhound is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. Since they don't have a lot of endurance, a Greyhound actually requires less exercise time than most dogs.
Greyhounds are the prototypical sighthound, a group of hounds that pursue their prey by sight rather than scent. As with all sighthounds, Greyhounds have a very strongly developed chase instinct. In spite of this, it is possible for Greyhounds to peacefully coexist with other pets, including cats, dogs, and even rabbits. Cohabitation will be easier if the other pets do not run away. Even after you've trained the Greyhound to not chase the family indoor cat, this does not mean that it won't chase the neighbor's cat, or even the family cat outdoors.
*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). The greyhound holds the record for fastest recorded dog.
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.
* Coursing
The original function of greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe was in the coursing of deer. Much later they specialised as competition hare coursing dogs. Some greyhounds still fulfill their live coursing function, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular.
However to many purest breeders of racing greyhounds, the sport of coursing is still vitally 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 will have bloodlines that can be traced back through Irish sires within a few generations that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup.
The majority of pure-bred greyhounds are whelped in the Republic of Ireland. Also any sample check on the back breeding on the greyhound data website will show coursing champions within a few generations in the pedigree of track racing champions. Just to give a few examples, 2005 Irish Oaks winner, Grayslands Pixie, is a granddaughter of Lady Tico, the dam of 1992 Irish Coursing Derby winner Newry Hill. The 2005 Irish Derby winner, He Said So, 2007 Irish Derby winner, Razldazl Billy, and 2009 Irish Derby winner, College Causeway, all have 1983 English Derby Winner, I'm Slippy, in their immediate pedigree, whose dam was coursing bitch Glenroe Bess. The current number one United States sire of greyhounds running between 0 and 503 meters is Dodgem By Design, who is descended from coursing bitch Ballyhenry Black in the fourth generation of his back breeding. The current top sires in Ireland and the UK, Top Honcho and Brett Lee, have the fully coursing-bred Supreme Fun (by Newdown Heather ex Top Note) in the 4th and 5th generations of their respective pedigrees.
In Ireland the ICC (Irish Coursing Club) oversees about 80 live hare coursing meetings per year. Both the American Kennel Club and the American Sighthound Field Association sponsor lure coursing events in North America.
*Famous Greyhounds/Greyhound Owners
Cleopatra VII - Royalty
Diana - Roman Goddess - Grey's name Lelaps
Odysseus - Greek God - Grey's name Argus
Pharaoh Amenhotep II - Royalty
Pharaoh Tutankhamen - Royalty
Queen Hatshepsut - Royalty
Thutmose III - Royalty
King Canute - Royalty - creator of the "Forest Laws"
King Howel of Wales - Royalty
Alexander the Great - Royalty - Grey's name Peritas
Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn - Royalty - Grey's name Urian (after her brother)
Elizabeth I - Royalty
Frederick the Great - Royalty
James II of England - Royalty
Louis XV of France - Royalty
Prince Albert & Queen Victoria - Royalty - Grey's name EOS
Richard II - Royalty - Grey's name Mathe/Gift Of The Lord
Sir Joseph Banks - Explorer
Sir Walter Scott - Author - Greys' names Percy & Hamlet
General George Custer - Military - Greys names Byron & Blucher
General Von Stuben - Colonial Military - Grey's name Azure/Azor
Alfonso Faustino - Actor/Model - Grey's name Miles
Annette Crosbie - UK Actress
Bart Simpson - Cartoon - Grey's name Santa's Little Helper
Billy The Kid - "The Wild West Show"
Buffalo Bill (W F Cody) -"The Wild West Show"
Bo Derek - Actress
Catherine Bell & Adam Beeson - Actress/Actor
Charlie Watts - Drummer
Charlotte Cornwell - UK Actress
David Boreanez - Actor - Grey's name Bertha Blue
David & Kathy (Kirkpatrick) Life - Jivamukti Yoga Schools & Life Cafe
Don Mattingly - NY Yankees
Duane Black - Actor - Grey's name Phillip
Gale Sayers - Pro Football Player
Gary Dornhoefer - former Philadelphia Flyers - Greys' names Troon, Pebbles, Miss Ellie, Medina and Goofy
George Pennachio - Entertainment Reporter - Greys' names Billy, Viv, Bronco & Desilu
Germain Greer - Author - Grey's name Magpie
Hamish & Andy - Aussie Comedy Duo - Grey's name Fred Basset
Jane Wiedlin - Bassist - Grey's name Georie Laforge
Jeanette Walls - Author
Jef Mallett - Creator Comic Strip Frazz - Grey's name Schuyler
Jimmy Cefalo - NFL WR Miami Dolphins/Sports TV, Radio Commentator/Restauranteur - Grey's name Max
JK Rawlings - Author - Grey's name Sapphire
John Barrymore - Actor
John Tyler - 10th US President
Lasse Kukkonen - Philadelphia Flyers - Grey's name Beyond The Sun
LaTroy Hawkins - Pro Baseball Player - Grey's name Magic
Laura Lippman - Author - Grey's name Dulcie
Mari Hulman George - Indianapolis Speedway Owner
Matt Groening - Creator - The Simpsons
Maxine Feldman - Singer
Roger Caras & Family - Author/Broadcaster - Greys' names Rowen, Tiger & Jane
Ron Gardenhire - Minnesota Twins Manager
Rutherford B Hayes - 19th US President - Grey's name Grim
Stan R Young - Country Western Singer
Steve Stone - Pro Baseball Player/TV Commentatory - Grey's name Tex
Tea Leoni - Actress
Texas Rangers Captain - (mascot aka Walter Dootson)
Trent Reznor - Musician
Uri Geller - UK Entertainer - Greys' names Jon Jon & Barney
ADOPTING A RETIRED RACER
Find out all about adopting a greyhound and the agencies involved at:
http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/
Weight Male 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb)
Female 27 to 34 kilograms (60 to 75 lb)
Height Male 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in)
Female 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in)
Coat Fine, smooth
Litter size 6-8 pups
Life span 10-13 years
*Description
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 maneuvers 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 colors, including white, fawn (tan), cream, red (rust), black, blue (grey), many shades of brindle, and with patches of these colors 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. Bitches average around 10 to 15 pounds less than dogs. 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 65-70lbs for males, 60-65 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.
*History
Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs, and appear in art and literature throughout history. In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, and tombs were often decorated with Greyhound figures. A hieroglyph of a dog very much resembling the modern breeds Greyhound, Saluki, and Sloughi can be found in the writings of ancient Egypt. Alexander the Great had a Greyhound named Peritas. The Greyhound is mentioned in the Old Testament (Proverbs 30:29-31), Homer (Odyssey, where the only one to recognize Odysseus upon his return was his Greyhound, Argus), Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), and Shakespeare (Henry V and Merry Wives of Windsor). Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were often portrayed with Greyhounds.
As Clarke, in The Greyhound states:
But, ancient as the Greyhound is, it would be stretching the truth to claim that the Arabian hounds depicted on the ancestral tombs of ancient Egyptians were identical to the Greyhounds we know today. In their conformation, in their grace and pace, in the poetry of their motion, yes -- but not in the style of coat they wore! [...] In fact, there is reason to believe that the Arabian Greyhound may well have resembled a Saluki -- but for all, still a dog of the Greyhound family.
There are many differing explanations for the origin of the term Greyhound. One writer suggests that the original Greyhound stock was mostly grey in color. Another says the term derives from the Old English "grei," meaning "dog," and "hundr," meaning "hunter." Another explanation is that it is derived from "gre" or "gradus," meaning "first rank among dogs." Finally, it has been suggested that the term derives from Greekhound, since the hound reached England through the Greeks.
Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty. In fact, from the 11th to the 14th century, English law decreed that no "mean person" was allowed to keep a Greyhound. Penalty for breaking this law was death!
*Characteristics and Temperament
Greyhounds have a very gentle and quiet disposition. They are very pack oriented dogs and will quickly adopt human masters into their "pack." To allow different Greyhounds to hunt and race together, aggressiveness towards other dogs and people has been nearly eliminated from the breed. Many do retain a strong prey drive (which is a compnent to their racing) and are sometimes unsuitable for houses with other small pets such as cats or rabbits. Their sensitivity and intelligence make them quick learners, and good candidates for obedience training.
Greyhounds are often tolerant of children, especially if they have been raised with them. Being non-aggressive, a Greyhound will generally walk away from a worrisome child, rather than growl or snap. However, even the gentle Greyhound has its limits, and should not be subjected to continuous harassment.
Although Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog, they achieve their incredible speed in one all out sprint, and do not have a lot of endurance. A Greyhound is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. Since they don't have a lot of endurance, a Greyhound actually requires less exercise time than most dogs.
Greyhounds are the prototypical sighthound, a group of hounds that pursue their prey by sight rather than scent. As with all sighthounds, Greyhounds have a very strongly developed chase instinct. In spite of this, it is possible for Greyhounds to peacefully coexist with other pets, including cats, dogs, and even rabbits. Cohabitation will be easier if the other pets do not run away. Even after you've trained the Greyhound to not chase the family indoor cat, this does not mean that it won't chase the neighbor's cat, or even the family cat outdoors.
*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). The greyhound holds the record for fastest recorded dog.
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.
* Coursing
The original function of greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe was in the coursing of deer. Much later they specialised as competition hare coursing dogs. Some greyhounds still fulfill their live coursing function, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular.
However to many purest breeders of racing greyhounds, the sport of coursing is still vitally 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 will have bloodlines that can be traced back through Irish sires within a few generations that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup.
The majority of pure-bred greyhounds are whelped in the Republic of Ireland. Also any sample check on the back breeding on the greyhound data website will show coursing champions within a few generations in the pedigree of track racing champions. Just to give a few examples, 2005 Irish Oaks winner, Grayslands Pixie, is a granddaughter of Lady Tico, the dam of 1992 Irish Coursing Derby winner Newry Hill. The 2005 Irish Derby winner, He Said So, 2007 Irish Derby winner, Razldazl Billy, and 2009 Irish Derby winner, College Causeway, all have 1983 English Derby Winner, I'm Slippy, in their immediate pedigree, whose dam was coursing bitch Glenroe Bess. The current number one United States sire of greyhounds running between 0 and 503 meters is Dodgem By Design, who is descended from coursing bitch Ballyhenry Black in the fourth generation of his back breeding. The current top sires in Ireland and the UK, Top Honcho and Brett Lee, have the fully coursing-bred Supreme Fun (by Newdown Heather ex Top Note) in the 4th and 5th generations of their respective pedigrees.
In Ireland the ICC (Irish Coursing Club) oversees about 80 live hare coursing meetings per year. Both the American Kennel Club and the American Sighthound Field Association sponsor lure coursing events in North America.
*Famous Greyhounds/Greyhound Owners
(J.K. Rowling and Sapphire)
Cleopatra VII - Royalty
Diana - Roman Goddess - Grey's name Lelaps
Odysseus - Greek God - Grey's name Argus
Pharaoh Amenhotep II - Royalty
Pharaoh Tutankhamen - Royalty
Queen Hatshepsut - Royalty
Thutmose III - Royalty
King Canute - Royalty - creator of the "Forest Laws"
King Howel of Wales - Royalty
Alexander the Great - Royalty - Grey's name Peritas
Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn - Royalty - Grey's name Urian (after her brother)
Elizabeth I - Royalty
Frederick the Great - Royalty
James II of England - Royalty
Louis XV of France - Royalty
Prince Albert & Queen Victoria - Royalty - Grey's name EOS
Richard II - Royalty - Grey's name Mathe/Gift Of The Lord
Sir Joseph Banks - Explorer
Sir Walter Scott - Author - Greys' names Percy & Hamlet
General George Custer - Military - Greys names Byron & Blucher
General Von Stuben - Colonial Military - Grey's name Azure/Azor
Alfonso Faustino - Actor/Model - Grey's name Miles
Annette Crosbie - UK Actress
Bart Simpson - Cartoon - Grey's name Santa's Little Helper
Billy The Kid - "The Wild West Show"
Buffalo Bill (W F Cody) -"The Wild West Show"
Bo Derek - Actress
Catherine Bell & Adam Beeson - Actress/Actor
Charlie Watts - Drummer
Charlotte Cornwell - UK Actress
David Boreanez - Actor - Grey's name Bertha Blue
David & Kathy (Kirkpatrick) Life - Jivamukti Yoga Schools & Life Cafe
Don Mattingly - NY Yankees
Duane Black - Actor - Grey's name Phillip
Gale Sayers - Pro Football Player
Gary Dornhoefer - former Philadelphia Flyers - Greys' names Troon, Pebbles, Miss Ellie, Medina and Goofy
George Pennachio - Entertainment Reporter - Greys' names Billy, Viv, Bronco & Desilu
Germain Greer - Author - Grey's name Magpie
Hamish & Andy - Aussie Comedy Duo - Grey's name Fred Basset
Jane Wiedlin - Bassist - Grey's name Georie Laforge
Jeanette Walls - Author
Jef Mallett - Creator Comic Strip Frazz - Grey's name Schuyler
Jimmy Cefalo - NFL WR Miami Dolphins/Sports TV, Radio Commentator/Restauranteur - Grey's name Max
JK Rawlings - Author - Grey's name Sapphire
John Barrymore - Actor
John Tyler - 10th US President
Lasse Kukkonen - Philadelphia Flyers - Grey's name Beyond The Sun
LaTroy Hawkins - Pro Baseball Player - Grey's name Magic
Laura Lippman - Author - Grey's name Dulcie
Mari Hulman George - Indianapolis Speedway Owner
Matt Groening - Creator - The Simpsons
Maxine Feldman - Singer
Roger Caras & Family - Author/Broadcaster - Greys' names Rowen, Tiger & Jane
Ron Gardenhire - Minnesota Twins Manager
Rutherford B Hayes - 19th US President - Grey's name Grim
Stan R Young - Country Western Singer
Steve Stone - Pro Baseball Player/TV Commentatory - Grey's name Tex
Tea Leoni - Actress
Texas Rangers Captain - (mascot aka Walter Dootson)
Trent Reznor - Musician
Uri Geller - UK Entertainer - Greys' names Jon Jon & Barney
ADOPTING A RETIRED RACER
Find out all about adopting a greyhound and the agencies involved at:
http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/
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