Greyhound

The Greyhound is a British sighthound breed developed over centuries for coursing hare and competitive track racing.

Archaeological records document slender hunting dogs across the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. British breeders formalized the coursing hound during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, establishing the Waterloo Cup in 1836 to test field speed and stamina. The development of artificial lures in the 1920s transformed track coursing into an organized sport across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale places the breed in Group 10, designated for Sighthounds.

The official breed standard establishes an ideal height at the withers of 71-76 cm (28-30 in) for males and 68-71 cm (27-28 in) for females, with adult weights typically spanning 27-40 kg (60-88 lb) in males and 25-34 kg (55-75 lb) in females. The physical build features a deep, capacious chest, an arched loin, and powerful thigh muscles adapted for double-suspension galloping. The coat is fine, short, and close to the skin. Accepted coat colors include black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle, or any of these mixed with white.

The standard describes the Greyhound as intelligent, gentle, affectionate, and even-tempered, displaying calm behavior indoors despite bursts of acceleration outdoors. Because of low body fat and a thin coat, the breed requires soft bedding to prevent pressure sores and warm coats during cold weather. Weekly brushing with a hound mitt maintains the skin. Clinical considerations include dental disease, osteosarcoma, gastric dilatation-volvulus, corns on the paw pads, and an unusual sensitivity to barbiturate anesthetics.