The Sighthound: A Guide to Understanding

Sighthounds are a unique and fascinating breed of dogs that have been around for thousands of years. They originated in the Middle East and were bred to hunt small game.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of sighthounds is their slender build and long legs, which enable them to reach high speeds and cover great distances in pursuit of prey. Their legs can be so long that they can cover 25 feet in just a few strides.

Sighthounds are known for their incredible speed, with some breeds able to reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. This is due in part to their powerful muscles and lightweight bones.

Their eyes are also a key feature, with many breeds having large, expressive eyes that are perfectly suited for spotting small game in the wild.

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The Greyhound breed is a well-known example of a sighthound, renowned for its popularity as a racing dog. They're famous for their speed and are used for racing and lure coursing.

The AKC recognizes over 28 types of Sighthound, with the Greyhound being one of the most well-known. Other notable sighthounds include the Whippet, Borzoi, Afghan Hound, and Saluki.

Some of the breeds that fall under the category of sighthounds include the following:

Sighthounds are a fascinating group of breeds, and their unique characteristics make them stand out from other dog breeds. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes over 28 types of Sighthound, and we'll take a look at some of the most well-known breeds.

The Greyhound is perhaps the most famous Sighthound, renowned for its speed and popularity as a racing dog. They're known for their incredible athletic prowess, but what's less well-known is that they're also timid and docile.

One of the defining features of Sighthounds is their exceptional vision, which allows them to spot and pursue prey with ease. This unique hunting method has earned them the nickname "gazehounds." Their sleek and aerodynamic bodies enable them to achieve remarkable speeds, making them a joy to watch in action.

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So, what are some of the other Sighthound breeds you might come across? Here's a list of some of the most well-known breeds:

These breeds are just a few examples of the many Sighthound breeds out there. Each one has its own unique characteristics and traits, but they all share the same exceptional vision and athleticism that makes Sighthounds so special.

Whippets were crossed with Greyhounds to create the Whippit, a smaller and more energetic version of the Whippet.

The Borzoi, also known as the Russian Wolfhound, was developed from the crossing of the Russian Wolfhound with other breeds.

The Saluki, an ancient breed, was crossed with the Afghan Hound to create the Silken Windhound.

The Borzoi's size and athletic ability make it a popular choice for crossbreeding with other sighthounds.

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Sighthounds have a unique appearance that sets them apart from other breeds. Their heads are typically light and lean, with a dolichocephalic shape that creates the illusion of a longer head.

This shape gives them a wider field of vision, but it also means they have smaller overlap between their eyes, which might affect their depth perception. Most dogs, including sighthounds, have less visual acuity than their wolf ancestors.

Their bodies are extremely aerodynamic, with slender bones and a noticeable "tuck-up" or waist. This is a result of their need for speed, and it's not a sign of being underweight.

Irish Wolfhounds are huge dogs, with a Kennel Club breed standard of at least 31 inches tall at the withers for males and 28 inches for females.

Their shaggy coats make them look even bigger, and their amiable nature is a testament to their gentle side.

The breed standard for males is a minimum of 31 inches at the withers, while females stand at least 28 inches tall.

These massive dogs were bred by the Gaels for hunting boar and wolves, earning them a reputation for ferocity when aroused.

Their size and strength made them a valuable asset in the hunt, and they continued to be used for controlling wolves in Ireland well into the 17th century.

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Whippets are a bit smaller than true Greyhounds, standing around 20in at the withers.

They have a unique appearance with big black eyes and a long snout, often mistaken for Greyhounds.

Whippets are known for their speed, capable of reaching up to 45mph, making them one of the fastest European land mammals.

They can run up to 35 miles per hour, which is woofin' fast!

Their speed and agility make them a popular breed for racing and coursing, where the object is not to kill the quarry, but to challenge the hare.

The typical sighthound type has a light, lean head, which is dolichocephalic in proportion.

This shape can create the illusion that their heads are longer than usual. I've noticed this when looking at pictures of sighthounds online.

Wolves and other wild dogs are dolichocephalic or mesaticephalic, but some domestic dogs have become brachycephalic (short-headed) due to artificial selection by humans over the course of 12,000 years.

Dolichocephalic dogs have a wider field of vision but smaller overlap between the eyes and therefore possibly poorer depth perception in some of their field of view than brachycephalic dogs.

Most dogs, including sighthounds, have less visual acuity than their antecedent, the wolf.

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Sighthounds are born with relatively slender bones and a very noticeable "tuck-up", or waist, which helps them achieve incredible speeds.

Their unique metabolisms make many intolerant to certain types or doses of anesthesia, so it's essential to handle them with care.

A defined bony structure is a characteristic of Sighthounds, with features like prominent hipbones, bony croup, and up to three vertebrae showing.

Their bodies are designed for speed, not for storing fat, and an overweight Sighthound can put undue stress on their joints and soft tissue.

In fact, a Sighthound's body and legs should show a "defined bony structure", making it clear that they're not underweight, but rather built for speed.

Sighthounds are bred to be lean and rangy, so it's no surprise that they're not meant to be overweight.

Their slender silhouettes are a result of centuries of breeding for speed and agility, making them well-suited for racing and other high-energy activities.

Sighthounds have a rich history that spans thousands of years. The earliest presumed sighthound remains date back around 4,000 years, with a male sighthound found in the excavations of Tell Brak.

The earliest complete European description of a sighthound comes from Arrian's Cynegeticus, which describes the Celtic vertragus from Roman Spain of the 2nd century C.E. This ancient breed was likely used for its speed and agility to chase and capture prey.

Sighthounds have been bred for thousands of years to detect movement of prey, then chase, capture, and kill it primarily by speed. Some breeds have mellow personalities, while others are watchful or even hostile towards strangers.

The Scottish Deerhound is a breed that's steeped in history and tradition. They were originally known as Highland greyhounds or Scotch staghounds.

These sighthounds were bred to chase red deer, but they weren't as fast as greyhounds. They had the stamina to follow a running deer over rocky ground, with the strength to hold a 300lb stag.

They were often coursed in couples, with a 'high dog' trained to run wide round the corrie tops to stop a stag crossing the skyline and turn it, while the 'low dog' ran straight in after the beast.

By 1810, sheep replaced deer on many Highland estates, and the breed fell on hard times. Only a handful of deerhounds were bred true by enthusiasts like the McNeills of Colonsay and the Dukes of Gordon.

The breed's popularity was revived by the romantic Scottish novels of Sir Walter Scott, who owned a deerhound called Maida. He described her as "a most perfect picture of heaven".

The Scottish Deerhound Club was founded in 1886, and the breed was registered with the Kennel Club in 1901. The minimum desirable height for dogs is 30in, and for bitches it's 28in.

Today, the Scottish Deerhound is a beloved family pet and exhibition dog.

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The Borzoi breed has a long and storied history, dating back to the 17th century when it was developed from a mixture of breeds.

The Russian wolfhound was a favorite of the Imperial Family, with many members keeping enormous kennels. Grand Duke Nicholas, for example, had two packs of 120 foxhound-type scenthounds, 150 Borzois, and 15 English greyhounds at his Perchino estate.

The breed was developed to produce a tall, graceful sighthound that could chase wolves, and only the fastest, bravest, and most intelligent Borzois were kept for breeding.

Queen Victoria was the first person to own a Borzoi in Britain, receiving one as a gift from Czar Nicholas I in 1847.

The great kennels of the Imperial Family were lost in the Russian Revolution, but the best bloodlines were safe in the West.

The Saluki breed, on the other hand, has an incredibly ancient pedigree dating back to the Pharaohs.

They were highly prized by the sheikhs of the nomadic tribes of the Middle East for hunting hare, fox, and gazelle.

Salukis were rare in Britain until the end of the 19th century, when the Hon Florence Amherst started her kennel at Foulden Hall, near Thetford, Norfolk.

The Azawakh breed, originating from West Africa, has legs for days and is built for speed, with a height greater than its length.

They are very strong-willed and often need to be reminded that you are the pack leader.

Sighthounds such as the Saluki/Sloughi type may have existed for at least 5,000 years, with the earliest presumed sighthound remains found in the excavations of Tell Brak dated approximately 4,000 years before present.

The earliest complete European description of a sighthound and its work comes from Arrian's Cynegeticus, describing the Celtic vertragus from Roman Spain of the 2nd century C.E.

The Afghan Hound is a breed that originated in Afghanistan, just as its name suggests. They have a long history of being used for hunting and helping nomadic tribes herd their flocks.

Historically, Afghan Hounds were used for hunting and herding, which is likely why they have such a strong work ethic. They're also known for their gentle nature.

These laid-back doggos require extensive brush sessions due to their long flowing locks. Afghan Hounds are popular show dogs, but they're not all about looks - they need regular grooming to stay healthy.

Give them some affection and playtime, and these gentle giants won't mind at all!

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Some breeds are being recognized as sighthounds despite not having an original function as sighthounds. This has sparked controversy among dog enthusiasts.

The Andalusian Hound, for example, is one of the breeds being included in this category.

The Basenji is another breed that doesn't fit the traditional definition of a sighthound. It's known for its unique yodeling howl.

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a small Italian breed that's being recognized as a sighthound, despite its original purpose being to hunt small game.

Here's a list of some of the breeds being recognized as sighthounds without an original function:

The Ibizan Hound, also known as the Podenco Ibicenco, is another example of a breed being included in this category.

Kennel Club Classification can be a bit confusing, but let's break it down. The American Kennel Club and The Kennel Club (UK) group pedigree sighthound breeds with scent hounds in a Hound Group.

Most kennel clubs have their own way of categorizing breeds, and it's not always the same. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale, on the other hand, groups sighthounds in a dedicated Sighthound Group.

If you're interested in the different types of hounds, here's a quick rundown:

Some examples of breeds that fall under these categories include Anglo-French hounds, Bassets, Coonhounds, Feists, and Lurchers.

Sighthounds have a rich history that spans thousands of years, with evidence linking them to ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Middle Eastern, African, and Southwest Asian ones.

They've been around for a long time, and their unique characteristics have evolved to suit their specific hunting roles.

Sighthounds are a distinct type of dog, often classified separately from scenthounds in kennel clubs. The American Kennel Club and The Kennel Club (UK) group them together with scenthounds in a Hound Group, while the Fédération Cynologique Internationale has a dedicated Sighthound Group.

Here's a breakdown of the kennel club classification:

Their unique characteristics set them apart from scenthounds, who rely on their sense of smell to track prey. Sighthounds, on the other hand, use their speed and agility to chase down visually spotted prey.