Description

The favored dog of betting tracks everywhere, this tall and slim dog is all about speed. They have been clocked in excess of 40 miles per hour and absolutely love running. Their gait is graceful and easy.

Greyhounds have many adaptations that facilitate their fantastic speed. For instance, their spines are unusually flexible and they can often be seen in what appear to be impossibly hunched positions. Their tails are long and slightly curled at the bottom. Their bones are long and thin and they often appear as if they need a sandwich because of their very deep chests and small waists.

Their heads are small for the size of their body and the ears are small for the size of their head. They are primarily sight and scent hounds and certainly have the height and keen eyesight to see a long way.

As a breed, the next most obvious greyhound characteristic is their obsession with chasing down and snapping the neck of any small creature that your dog may spy. This includes the family cat and it is generally not recommended that greyhounds share a home with a cat or any other prey-like animal that might be your pet such as ferrets, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, etc. Even specimens that don\'t seem nearly as interested in chasing small animals will go after them, often when you least expect it.

In the home as companion animals they are very relaxed, often to the point of laziness. While they love physical activity, they seem to forget this when confined to a house and make very good housedogs, assuming your couch is large enough to accommodate them.

Coat Description

Very short, fine hair is continually shed. However, there\'s so little of it most people don\'t notice. Some greyhounds so thoroughly shed in the summer that they go bald on the chest, though this is considered a fault in show.

In fact, the coat is so thin that many greyhounds are seen sporting sweaters during the winter months in temperate climates. It may become a bit spotty during the summer moult.

History

The origins of the greyhound go back to the early middle ages, when traders brought Sloughi dogs to England from Arabia. They became the basis for what would soon become a fearsome hunting dog the ability to run down game without stopping. They are usually associated with the hunting of smaller animals such as fox, but have been known to catch up with and take down full-grown deer.

They were also prized for ability as a sight hound as well and have been selected for a long time to have a noble carriage when not actually on the hunt but ready to leap into action at a moment\'s notice.

The breed itself is known to have been the companion of nobility from the 16th century onward; achieving particular fame in Great Britain during the 19th century when dog shows first became popular.

Since the early 20th century there have been essentially two breeds of Greyhound that are registered with separate stud books: racing dogs and show dogs. As such, they differ with the show dogs typically making better companion animals because they have fewer congenital disorders later in life.

The breed has gotten larger and heavier over the course of the 20th century. As such, they may be somewhat more prone to hip dysplasia.

Temperament

Unless you\'re a rabbit, greyhounds are among the most gentle and calm dogs with your family or strangers. They are generally not interested in the affairs of people unless there is a chance they\'ll be let outside for some running.

Quite intelligent, the greyhound is able to pick up training rather quickly. The racing industry has had a profound effect on the breed, with many dogs having been bred for speed and the ability to remain calm in the crate before being sprung for a race. As such, while there may be many disorders that plague this breed in old age, they usually are very good with people, though not always friendly in the traditional sense of the word.

Greyhounds are usually quite good with other dogs, and former racing dogs have already been well socialized while young. If you buy a greyhound pup you\'ll have to do that yourself, but they seem to readily accept the company of other dogs.

The breed is surprisingly good with children, and greyhounds tolerate a great deal of shenanigans from older children without problem. Being somewhat fragile, they are leery of roughhousing and will simply get up and walk away from a situation they deem dangerous. Very young children may find themselves chased due to their high pitched squeals that sound more like wounded animal than a human being.

Barking is usually not a major problem, as this too has been carefully bred out of the dogs, though they often bark and yip when confined too long or are chasing prey. In a household situation they make terrible guard dogs since they\'re simply too relaxed to care much what humans are doing.

Thyroid Disease - Low Risk

The Greyhound ranks #129 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it). 

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

Generally speaking greyhounds are healthy dogs, in no small part because they have to be. Sadly, the greyhounds bred for racing have several ailments, many of which don't appear until later in life.

The typical racing career of these dogs is just a few years, so they have been bred for many generations in the United States, Great Britain with only the first few years of their lives in mind. Show dogs are often healthier as a general rule, but may actually be a bit higher strung.

Hip and joint disorders: hip dysplasia is a somewhat common disorder that can strike dogs as young as 3-4 years, though is more common over 5. There is very little that cane be done for this genetic disorder other than trying to prevent it through gentle work when the dog is still a pup.

Broken bones: greyhound bones are quite delicate for such a big dog. They can harm themselves by too vigorously chasing something over rough terrain. If your dog is limping, get him or her to the vet for an immediate exam.

A common effect: Chemical sensitivity means your dog could break out in hives after bathing or after flea treatment. Consult a vet before administering sub-dermal chemical flea and tick control. If you put a flea collar on your dog, be sure to check and make sure they're not reacting badly to it. Baby and puppy shampoos can usually be used without problem, though your greyhound is unlikely to need more than the annual bath.

Though the problem is rare,most greyhounds are fed small meals several times a day to avoid bloat,the painful twisting of the stomach that can accompany especially large meals.