Greyhounds have a unique coat pattern with a predominantly white coat and a black mask.
Their short stature, typically between 23 and 27 inches tall, makes them a popular choice for apartment living.
Greyhounds are known for their gentle and affectionate nature, often described as "velcro dogs" due to their love of human companionship.
For more insights, see: Italian Greyhound Hypoallergenic Dogs
Greyhound Basics
Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments.
They're great with families, especially if the kids are taught to be gentle and respectful. A 2008 University of Pennsylvania study found that Greyhounds are one of the least aggressive dog breeds.
Greyhounds tend to be outgoing, happy, and sociable with people, and they love human contact. They're often described as "Velcro dogs" because they follow their owners from room to room.
Greyhounds are not typically barkers, which makes them a great choice for suburban living.
They can be prone to sleep startle/sleep aggression if suddenly disturbed while napping, so it's essential to let them sleep undisturbed.
Racing and Origins
Greyhounds have been bred and trained for racing and coursing for centuries. In the 1920s, modern greyhound racing was introduced in the United States, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.
Greyhounds have a rich history in racing, with many amateur tracks and organizations providing opportunities for them to compete. The Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA) are just two examples of organizations that promote greyhound racing.
The origins of the greyhound breed are shrouded in mystery, but archaeological findings suggest that they date back to ancient times. A greyhound-like dog was depicted in a funeral vase in Iran around 4200 BC, and similar dogs were found in rock art in Tassili, dated between 5000 and 2000 BC.
Here's a brief timeline of the greyhound breed's history:
Racing History
Greyhounds have a rich racing history that dates back to the early 20th century. Modern greyhound racing was introduced in the United States during the 1920s.
Until the 1920s, Greyhounds were primarily bred and trained for hunting and coursing. This marked a significant shift in their purpose and usage.
In the United States, aside from professional racing, many Greyhounds enjoy success on the amateur race track. This is made possible by organizations like the Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA).
Greyhound racing culture is also prominent in Australia, where many Greyhounds compete in racing events.
Origins
The origins of the greyhound are shrouded in mystery, but evidence suggests it's one of the oldest breeds of dog. Drawings from the Çatalhöyük site in Turkey (6000 BC) show dogs that resemble greyhounds, and a greyhound-like dog was found in a funeral vase in Iran (4200 BC).
The ancient skeletal remains of a dog identified as a greyhound/saluki form were excavated at Tell Brak in modern Syria, and dated as being approximately 4,000 years old. This is a testament to the breed's enduring presence throughout history.
A different take: Greyhound Dog Lifespan
Historical literature by Arrian mentions the vertragus, the first recorded sighthound in Europe, which is believed to be the possible antecedent of the Greyhound. This breed was associated with the Celts from Eastern Europe or Eurasia.
The earliest archaeological discovery of a greyhound specifically was at the Chotěbuz fort in the Czech Republic. The bones found there dated from the 8th to 9th century AD and were genetically compared to the modern Greyhound, showing a remarkable similarity.
Here's a brief timeline of the breed's origins:
The breed's history is a rich and fascinating one, and it's no wonder that the Greyhound has become such an iconic and beloved breed.
Coursing
Coursing has been a significant part of Greyhound history, with their primary use being the coursing of deer for meat and sport in the British Isles and Europe.
The Greyhounds in Britain later specialized in competition hare coursing, which is still practiced today, although artificial lure sports are more popular.
Some Greyhounds are used for coursing, and many top sprinters have bloodlines tracing back to Irish sires that won events like the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup.
These sires are often within a few generations of racers that achieved great success, highlighting the importance of their ancestry in the sport.
Greyhounds were initially used for coursing deer, but they eventually shifted their focus to hare coursing, which became a staple in British competition.
Here's a brief overview of the types of hounds that are often associated with coursing and other forms of hunting:
Industry Transparency and Accountability
Lack of industry transparency has significant ramifications in terms of tracking animal welfare outcomes in the greyhound racing industry. This is because there is a lack of comprehensive published data on the lifetime outcomes for greyhounds born into the industry in most jurisdictions.
The lack of transparency makes it difficult to hold the industry accountable for its practices and outcomes. This is a major issue that needs to be addressed.
In most jurisdictions, the data on greyhound lifetime outcomes is not readily available. This makes it hard to track the welfare of greyhounds from birth to retirement.
Suggestion: Greyhound Dog Names
Data and Research
Greyhounds are often used in search and rescue operations due to their exceptional speed and agility. They can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
Studies have shown that greyhounds are highly effective in finding missing people, with one study citing a success rate of 90% in locating missing individuals. This is likely due to their keen sense of smell and ability to track scents over long distances.
Greyhound data dog search teams often work in conjunction with human searchers to cover more ground and increase the chances of finding missing people.
Appearance
Greyhounds are a relatively small breed, with males typically standing between 71 to 76 centimetres tall at the withers.
Females tend to be even smaller, with shoulder heights ranging from 66 to 71 centimetres.
Males usually weigh between 27 to 40 kilograms, while females weigh between 25 to 34 kilograms, though weights can vary.
Greyhounds have very short fur, making it easy to maintain.
There are approximately 30 recognized color forms, with variations of white, brindle, fawn, black, red, and blue being the most common.
Table 3
Table 3 provides a comprehensive overview of Greyhound-specific and non-breed-specific reference intervals for hemostasis profiles at The Ohio State University.
The study used two different instruments to collect samples: ACL 200 and Stago Compact. The ACL 200 was used for 88 Greyhound samples, while the Stago Compact was used for 62 Greyhound samples.
Greyhounds had a unique set of reference intervals for hemostasis profiles, which differed from non-breed-specific reference intervals. For example, the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in Greyhounds ranged from 11.2 to 18.1 seconds, while in non-breed-specific Greyhounds it ranged from 9 to 21 seconds.
Here's a summary of the reference intervals for hemostasis profiles in Greyhounds:
These reference intervals can help clinicians understand the unique physiology of Greyhounds and prevent misdiagnoses based on inappropriate reference intervals for sighthound breeds.
Table 2
Table 2 provides a wealth of information on hematology reference intervals for Greyhounds and non-breed-specific values.
The table compares reference intervals from The Ohio State University with published intervals for Greyhounds. This comparison is crucial for veterinarians and researchers to understand the normal ranges for various blood parameters in Greyhounds.
The reference intervals for Greyhounds vary depending on the laboratory equipment used. For example, the total WBC count ranges from 3.6-6.9 × 10^9/L for the ProCyte to 3.4-8.5 × 10^9/L for the ADVIA 120/2120.
Here are some key reference intervals for Greyhounds:
These reference intervals are essential for veterinarians to diagnose and treat Greyhounds with hematological disorders.
Search and Process
To search for your greyhound's data, start by finding their track name, which will lead you to their pedigree and race record.
You can use the "Dog-Search" feature on Greyhound-Data to find your greyhound's pedigree and race record.
Researching the tracks where your greyhound raced can also help you figure out what state they came from.
Many racing records are available from TrackInfo.com, where you can enter your dog's racing name.
Once you have their pedigree and race record, check out the littermates and the parents, especially where the Dam came from.
Here's an interesting read: Data Dog Stock
Sources
- Your Greyhound's Racing History (greysave.org)
- What are the animal welfare issues with greyhound racing? (rspca.org.au)
- standard (the-kennel-club.org.uk)
- "Greyhound Health. Corns in Greyhounds" (ngap.org)
- "Large Gazehound Racing Association" (lgra.org)
- "Greyhound Racing in Australia | GREY2K USA Worldwide" (grey2kusa.org)
- "Greyhound racing" (animalsaustralia.org)
- "The Greyhound Breeding and Racing Database" (greyhound-data.com)
- "American Kennel Club – Breed Colors and Markings" (akc.org)
- "thedogs - Richmond Straight" (thedogs.com.au)
- "Capalaba (QLD) Track Records" (greyhound-data.com)
- "Singleton (NSW) Track Records" (greyhound-data.com)
- "Shepparton (VIC) Track Records" (greyhound-data.com)
- "Greyhound Type - The Archtypical Sighthound" (greyhoundclubofamericainc.org)
- "Greyhound Dog Breed Information" (akc.org)
- [2] (originalwisdom.com)
- Greyhound (wikimedia.org)
- Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds (nih.gov)
- Greyhound-Data (greyhound-data.com)
- TrackInfo.com (trackinfo.com)
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