meet the...Greyhound
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 8: Sighthound Breeds
Sub-group 8-A: Smooth Coated Sighthounds
Origin Country Great Britain
Weight Males: 65-75 pounds. Females: 60-70 pounds.
Height Males: 27-30 inches. Females: 26-28 inches.
Other Name(s) English GreyHound
Breed Type Pure
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Origins
It is widely believed that the origin of the Greyhound can be traced back to the Middle East. It was there, in Egypt, that depictions of greyhound-like dogs adorn the tombs of dignitaries, escorting them to their afterlife. These depictions date back as far as 4000 BCE. The ancestors of today’s sighthounds were called “gazehounds.” This includes the ancestors of today’s Greyhound and Saluki. These dogs’ utility, speed, stamina, and beauty were of high importance thousands of years ago to the Egyptians and centuries ago when the dogs began being traded to foreign dignitaries.
Their naturally elegant bodies and keen ability to capture hares made them a favorite among sporting noblemen and women. This was especially true in Great Britain, where the dogs were considered a status symbol and further refined into the Greyhound breed that we have today. So favored by the wealthy were these dogs that in 1016, it was deemed illegal for any peasant to own an animal so magnificent. The name “grey” hound does not indicate the dog’s color, but it is believed to be a corruption of “gazehound;” or the Latin “gradus,” meaning “swift,” or perhaps from the Old English word for dog, “Grech.”
The Greyhound’s unique body is built for exceptional speed. In fact, the Greyhound is both the fastest dog breed and the second fastest land mammal—second only to the cheetah. Unfortunately for these dogs, their speed is also their curse, and the dogs are primarily produced for Greyhound racing these days. This immensely popular sport, in which groups of Greyhounds race against one another, has been around for centuries. Only dogs in their prime will race, so they are typically destroyed once they age out of the racing program. However, some rescue groups have been removing dogs from the tracks, rehabilitating them to become suitable for companionship, and adopting them out to loving homes.Breed Characteristics
Head: Dolichocephalic skull type, moderately long, and in proportion to the rest of the body. Although long in appearance, the topskull is also sufficiently broad between the ears, giving the head some substance and preventing a narrow, snipy appearance. The topskull is flat on top when viewed from the front or in profile. The head tapers somewhat from the broad back skull toward the nose. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almost round in shape, dark gray, amber, hazel, or medium to dark brown in color. Their eyes are just slightly obliquely set. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Somewhat small to medium in size, set at eye level or higher on the skull, rose, “fly-away,” or semi-prick. The ears are never long, overly large, hound-like, or fully erect.
Muzzle: The muzzle is long, full, deep, and broad. It tapers only slightly toward the nose when viewed in profile or from above. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. A butterfly nose is permissible in parti-colors. The nostrils are well-opened. The nose may project slightly forward beyond the lower jaw or rest flush with the lower jaw.
Neck: Moderately long to allow for proud head carriage and good movement. It is powerfully muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and sufficiently broad to fill the space between the forelegs and prevent a hollowed effect, but never wider than deep. The brisket is long and extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Deep in the brisket, flexible, athletic, muscular, and capable of great speed, power, and stamina. The body is somewhat racy but strong. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set low on the croup as a natural extension of the gently arched topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level when moving or hunting, usually below the level of the topline or in a lowered neutral position when relaxed, but never tucked against the abdomen. Due to the length of the tail and angulation of the hind legs, the tail may appear tucked when held neutrally, but this is a natural neutral position for the Greyhound. The tail is never carried well above the level of the topline. The tail is long in length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Movement: Elastic, free, effortless, efficient, and with good energy, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge at the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: Well-adjusted and well-socialized Greyhounds are gentle, easygoing, even-tempered, and adaptable. Their low-key nature makes them excellent companions for almost family settings or housing types, including apartments. They are capable of great intensity when running, retaining a high degree of prey drive, and they will naturally be inclined to chase anything that moves away from them. Many of the Greyhounds available for adoption come from racing kennels and tracks. Unfortunately, these dogs can have little in the way of socialization and training. Many were not around other dogs during those important windows of socialization. These dogs can make fine pets, but they may require a little extra patience while getting used to becoming part of a family. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 8: Sighthound Breeds
Proportions: Square to off-square with the length of the body, measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being equal to or just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body-height-to-length ratio is between 1:1 and 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together, indicative of speed, elegance, and athleticism. They exhibit moderate bone and substance throughout and should never exhibit overly fine or coarse bone and substance. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Dolichocephalic skull type, moderately long, and in proportion to the rest of the body. Although long in appearance, the topskull is also sufficiently broad between the ears, giving the head some substance and preventing a narrow, snipy appearance. The topskull is flat on top when viewed from the front or in profile. The head tapers somewhat from the broad back skull toward the nose. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Expression: Noble, alert, bright, keen, gentle, and intelligent.
Stop: The stop is shallow yet perceptible.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is between 1:1 and 5:4, with the topskull being equal to or slightly shorter than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is approximately parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is long, full, deep, and broad. It tapers only slightly toward the nose when viewed in profile or from above. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. A butterfly nose is permissible in parti-colors. The nostrils are well-opened. The nose may project slightly forward beyond the lower jaw or rest flush with the lower jaw.
Cheeks: The cheeks are smoothly muscled to denote the strength of the bite. The cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level or scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almost round in shape, dark gray, amber, hazel, or medium to dark brown in color. Their eyes are just slightly obliquely set. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Somewhat small to medium in size, set at eye level or higher on the skull, rose, “fly-away,” or semi-prick. The ears are never long, overly large, hound-like, or fully erect.
Body and Tail
General Description: Deep in the brisket, flexible, athletic, muscular, and capable of great speed, power, and stamina. The body is somewhat racy but strong. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderately long to allow for proud head carriage and good movement. It is powerfully muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and sufficiently broad to fill the space between the forelegs and prevent a hollowed effect, but never wider than deep. The brisket is long and extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: The back is straight and level from the somewhat prominent withers to the loin. The back is long, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is fairly long, taut, yet flexible, and gently arched toward the croup, yet supportive. The loin should never rise above the level of the withers or back. The topline is never completely flat, swayed, or roached. It should never fall steeply in an extreme fashion.
Croup: Broad, powerful, and gently sloped as a continuation of the arch of the loin. Never steep or flat.
Underline: Moderate to considerable tuck-up is present, running harmoniously with the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set low on the croup as a natural extension of the gently arched topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level when moving or hunting, usually below the level of the topline or in a lowered neutral position when relaxed, but never tucked against the abdomen. Due to the length of the tail and angulation of the hind legs, the tail may appear tucked when held neutrally, but this is a natural neutral position for the Greyhound. The tail is never carried well above the level of the topline. The tail is long in length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are long and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body and fall below the withers. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are long, equal in length, powerfully muscled, sturdy, and of moderate bone.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Tightly fitted yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is uniformly short, smooth, and close to the body throughout. The texture is firm-to-harsh and glossy, with no undercoat. No fringe or feather is permissible.
Coat Color or Pattern: All coat colors and patterns are equally permissible, including black, white, red, blue, tan, fawn (with melanistic mask), fallow, brindle, or any of these colors, all with or without white markings, or predominantly white with any of the listed colors or markings.
Movement
Elastic, free, effortless, efficient, and with good energy, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge at the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
Well-adjusted and well-socialized Greyhounds are gentle, easygoing, even-tempered, and adaptable. Their low-key nature makes them excellent companions for almost family settings or housing types, including apartments. They are capable of great intensity when running, retaining a high degree of prey drive, and they will naturally be inclined to chase anything that moves away from them. Many of the Greyhounds available for adoption come from racing kennels and tracks. Unfortunately, these dogs can have little in the way of socialization and training. Many were not around other dogs during those important windows of socialization. These dogs can make fine pets, but they may require a little extra patience while getting used to becoming part of a family. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
