Greyhound Dog Appearance
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This breed of dog is a sighthound that has been bred to take part in Greyhound racing and coursing game. A male Greyhound is about 28 to 30 inches tall, and a female is relatively smaller at about 27 to 28 inches.
The Greyhounds have short fur, which is easy to maintain. A Greyhound has almost thirty color combinations of coats, ranging from white, fawn and black to red, blue, grey and brindle.
A Greyhound is lean and tall. It has a lot of speed. The head of a Greyhound is long, and its muzzle is tapered. The ears fold back toward the head. The front legs of a Greyhound are straight and its hare-like feet are well knuckled. Its back is powerful and muscular. The tail hangs low and has a slight upward curve in the end. The weight of an AKC Greyhound is 10 to 20 pounds more than the NGA Greyhound.
Greyhound Dog Grooming
The Greyhound sheds minimally. Even so, constantly brushing its coat will keep it shiny and healthy for a long time. It is recommended to brush the coat of the dog once or twice a week using a soft bristle brush. A cloth glove with flexible bristles made of rubber can also be used. By regular brushing, you can get rid of all the dead hair.
Regular teeth brushing will keep its teeth healthy. Brush its teeth at least three times a week. It would be ideal to brush its teeth daily to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Always use a specially formulated toothpaste meant only for dogs. Do not use regular toothpaste.
The nails of a Greyhound can grow a lot in a short amount of time. They need to be trimmed at least once a month. Some owners prefer clipping their dog’s nails at home, while some go to the vet or a professional groomer.
Greyhound Dog Temperament
This breed of dogs tends to be aloof to strangers but is quite friendly to its pack. It is easygoing, calm and generally lazy.
During races, Greyhounds can wear muzzles, which can make them seem aggressive, but that’s not true. The muzzle is worn to prevent injury and to keep dogs from nipping each other during or after the race is over.
Greyhounds do not require extensive exercise, although Greyhound puppies tend to be destructive when bored and not given an outlet. A Greyhound has a sharp sense of sight and can spot small animals at a distance. It loves to chase and can sometimes sprint even faster than a horse.
It makes a great companion because of its independent, quiet, clean and calm nature. Although indifferent at first, it will socialize properly once it is well-adjusted.
Greyhound Dog Training
Since this breed of dogs is docile, it needs to be treated gently. A Greyhound has no fighting instinct and freezes whenever a dog moves toward it. Hence, if you treat this dog harshly, it can cause harm to it psychologically due to its sensitive nature. A Greyhound needs affection and love to be trained quickly and efficiently.
It finds it very easy to pick up on tasks. As it has a naturally good behavior, it is quite easy to train.
However, housetraining this breed can be a time-consuming task. Some dogs can easily get used to the yard, while others take some time to adjust. It is recommended to keep patience at this crucial development stage.
Try getting your dog to socialize and overcome the initial shyness. In general, due to its lazy nature, it tends to stay away from strangers, but this habit can be shunned by taking it out more for walks and other activities.
Greyhound Dog History
No other breed of dog is associated with so much speed, grace and agility as this one. Greyhounds have been dated back to the Egyptian times. Dogs with similar looks have appeared in the depictions in pyramids, but it is speculated now that they have originated from the European Celtics and not the breed depicted in hieroglyphics.
Although Greyhounds have been used in coursing for a long time, it was only in the 20th century that Greyhound racing was invented. Racing tracks were especially designed for Greyhounds.
This breed arrived in Australia to aid in hunting, and the same happened in other countries later. The concept gained popularity in the Middle Ages. During this time, it became a huge crime to kill a Greyhound. It had gained quite the position as a hunter. Commoners could not afford to keep this breed, so it was only kings or nobles who could own them.
Other names
English Greyhound