Greyhound
Dog, Appearance, Racing, History, & Facts
Greyhound, also spelled Grayhound, also called Greyhound dog, the fastest of dog breeds and one of the most ancient, long symbolic of the aristocracy. Its likeness appears on an Egyptian tomb dating from about 3000 bce. Streamlined, slender, and strong, the Greyhound can attain a speed of about 45 miles (72 km) per hour. It has a narrow head, a long neck, a deep chest, long muscular hindquarters, and a long slim tail. Its coat is short and smooth and of various colours. The Greyhound stands 27 to 30 inches (69 to 76 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 60 to 70 pounds (27 to 32 kg). It hunts by sight and is used mainly to pursue hares, but it can also hunt deer, foxes, and small game. Greyhounds are also raced for sport, chasing a mechanical rabbit. Since the late 20th century, however, Greyhound racing has been banned in various areas, notably a number of U.S. states, amid allegations that the dogs were mistreated.
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a breed of toy dog apparently derived from the Greyhound. It has existed in its present form for more than 2,000 years and has been a favourite of the aristocracy. As a miniature version of the Greyhound, it stands 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 7 to 14 pounds (3 to 6 kg). It has large eyes and a thin glossy coat that may be red-brown, fawn- or cream-coloured, white, blue-gray, or gray. The Italian Greyhound is usually an active gentle dog.
| Greyhound breed facts | |
|---|---|
| other names | none |
| area of origin | ancient Egypt |
| breed group | hound |
| height at withers | 27–30 inches (69–76 cm) |
| weight | 60–70 pounds (27–32 kg) |
| life span | 10–13 years |
| Did you know? | Greyhounds were immortalized in Classical literature and in Greek and Roman mythology. They are even mentioned in Proverbs in several translations of the Bible. According to some accounts, Greyhounds were the favourite breed of Alexander the Great, and they are mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales as well as in Shakespeare’s Henry V. In fact, Greyhounds—and possibly Mastiffs—were the first known European dogs to arrive in the Americas: they accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second expedition, which set sail from Spain in September 1493. |
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