Greyhound

• Group 10: Greyhounds
• Section 3: Short-haired Sighthounds

• Without working trial

Great Britain

Large English Greyhound

Male: 71-76 cm Female: 68-71 cm

Not specified

FCI, KC

The Greyhound is one of the FCI (No. 158, Gr. 10, sec 3) recognized breed in the UK, which is expected to greyhounds.

Origin

Probably brought the Celts, the ancestors of the Greyhounds in their immigration to the British Isles in the fourth century BC with. During the 16th, 17th and 18th century, the Spanish Greyhound ( Galgo Español) also was exported in large numbers to Ireland and England. Through appropriate and targeted further breeding originated from the English Greyhound. About the UK, he came to the U.S..

The origin of the name can not be determined with certainty, there are different derivations: " gazehound " ( view dog), also "great hound ," the word " Grey" could be from Old English, Celtic origin ( " Grech " or " greg " ) derived will and means " dog " and the Latin " Aachen City " (fast) for best performance. The English " Hound", is available for all self -hunting hounds.

Racial characteristics

The Greyhound is a typical representative of the occidental Greyhounds, with good conformation, deep chest and long runs. The Durchschnittswiderristhöhe a bitch is 70 cm, a male 74 cm. The weight varies 23-33 kg. The cultured for racing Racing Greyhounds are usually somewhat smaller.

Greyhounds are always smooth -haired with fine dense coat. They are available in the colors black, white, brindle, fawn and blue, even in the basic white color, spotted with any of these colors.

As typical for the breed disposition can mention the Grey lock that can often occur with strong, excessive stress in combination with too little water and higher temperature. In this case, it is very common to observe a very stiff gait ( cramped to paralysis muscles) and often dark urine. The disease is similar to the storage myopathy in horses and is based on a non-traumatic resolution of muscle fibers. In this case, must act immediately a veterinarian.

Use

Previously, the Greyhound was small game, rarely used in the big game hunting. In some countries this use for small game hunting is still common: These include the western United States, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Russia and Pakistan, where greyhounds use in rabbits rush find. In the UK, where greyhounds have been tested to 2005 events such as the Waterloo Cup on speed and conditioning, this form of hunting is prohibited from the Hunting Act 2004.

In today's bred for speed shape to Greyhounds run mainly on the track at dog racing, where they can reach speeds of up to 80 km / hr. The breed is often used in addition to coursing.

As family dogs Greyhounds are snug in the house and quiet housemates that are relatively undemanding in care and maintenance. Outside, their hunting behavior, however, be so pronounced that a freewheel is hardly possible. As compensation here offer track racing or coursing.