Greyhound
Temperament:
The Greyhound, with its possible running speed of eighty kilometers per hour, is considered the fastest dog in the world and is one of the fastest land animals ever. Originally bred for hunting, he stands, like hardly any other breed as a synonym for the greyhound. At the same time, the Greyhound is also a loyal family dog that likes to lie on the sofa with his "pack" and tolerate lots of cuddles. However, this does not mean that he can be kept out of breed. Get ready for walks with impressive sprints.
Characteristics
The "Hound" in the name, he carries not without reason. All hunting dogs that act alone are called "Hound". Originally, the Greyhound was bred to hunt small game. This basic instinct is so strongly anchored in his genes that it is almost impossible to train him out of it. Instead, the energy should be used and sports should be done with him. On the bike run gladly, but caution on open field. If he sees a hare, the two-wheeler could become very, very fast. Racing clubs are also a good way to satisfy his instinct. In coursing, the Greyhound is allowed to exercise his agility and speed. While in pure sighthound racing, a lure is dragged in front of him in regular paths, lure dragging in coursing is more like the typical prey behavior of the hare. As wild as he is in the open field, he is cozy at home. Many claim never to have heard him bark.
His favorite place is with his mistress or master on the sofa. And if this is not allowed, then on his favorite place but please very close. A hard hand is out of place. Another feature of this fascinating quadruped is the absence of the typical dog smell, which is due to the absence of subcutaneous fat.
But what qualities should you have when choosing a Greyhound? You should be consistent and loving. Did we mention athletic? Its adaptability is another trait along with its intelligence. Nevertheless, the Greyhound should not be kept in a small apartment in the city. He is relatively large and a too narrow space, would not be a good environment.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
Can open and ready? Of course, this is not an option in dog keeping. The Greyhound is not a gourmet. But a balanced diet is, as for any four-legged friend, very important. Quality goes before quantity. Twice a day, the British Lord likes to be asked to the bowl. Canned or dry food can be enriched with many things to meet his nutritional needs. Curd cheese, cottage cheese, flakes or even crushed fruits are suitable. The amount is defined by the constitution, age and activity level. The breeder will certainly give you a food list, because he knows his puppies best. Please do not use food with a strong taste or containing sugar. There the dog is not unlike humans. Small treats or rewards can be offered every now and then, but everything should have its measure. Rewards should not get out of hand for the third meal.
Basically, the Greyhound should be provided with an elevated feeding place. He has very long legs and gets without elevation, after some time problems with the stomach, which would slide forward.
Greyhound care
Ideally, you have a large property where the Greyhound can really let off steam. A fence is very important here, because as soon as he smells a prey animal, he immediately goes hunting. And then nothing stops him. Except for the fence. This means that he better stay on the leash during long walks. Greyhounds, contrary to all assumptions, are very good on leash. By the way, the Brit is not a marathon runner. He loves the short sprints. Accordingly, he should be given the opportunity to do so. Understandably only on fenced terrain.
Many dog lovers are not aware of what a hardy dog the Greyhound is. Because of its stature, it is said to be somewhat susceptible to disease. This is not true. At the same time, he is also very easy to care for. He hardly sheds, barks little if at all, and he hardly smells at all. What he does not like are the two extremes of cold and heat. The former is a problem because he doesn't carry an ounce of fat on him and therefore freezes quickly. The heat also gets to him badly. So under no circumstances allow him to go on one of his hatches, with lots of sprints, in high temperatures. Walks should take place in the warm months of the year, in the evening and in the morning. It is also important to keep him hydrated. For the winter, warming vests are a good choice. In addition, his coat should be brushed regularly or rubbed with a nap glove to maintain his coat. Keeping him in a kennel would be cruelty to animals because of his sensitivity to temperature.
Suitable accessories
A soft, large dog bed should be a given. Since the Greyhound is a specialist at turning out of the collar, initially a dog harness would often be first choice. Greyhounds are not aggressive. For safety, a muzzle makes sense in the beginning. To keep him protected from the cold in the winter, a coat or vest should be provided for him. Rain is also a problem, as his coat does not produce grease. Rain hypothermizes him, and since he lacks the undercoat, he quickly starts to freeze. The nap brush or a glove is necessary for coat grooming. Toys he needs, like any other dog, although every now and then in the evening you get the feeling he would love to have his own remote control to switch to Lassie or Bugs Bunny. The Greyhounds do not bear the joking nickname Couchpotato without reason.
Origin & History
Greyhound is great dog breed with a changeable and sad history. Undisputed should be the fact that the Greyhound is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. The ancient Egyptians bred him and documented this on their wall paintings. The solidification of the breed standard began in England, about six hundred years after it was brought to the island by the Celts in the fourth century.
Like the Irish Wolfhound, the Greyhound was reserved for the nobility and they invested a lot of time and passion in their hunting dogs. The killing of the greyhounds was even forbidden under threat of the death penalty. The original hunters were increasingly used for racing and from the sixteenth century were bred specifically for this purpose.
A systematic breeding, for almost a thousand years, has consolidated the traits of the Greyhound. But where there is much light, there is also shadow, because the animals were mostly killed when they could no longer participate in races due to their age. Even today this is legal in Ireland and the animals suffer there under the unbelievable conditions. They are used as fish bait or sold to Asia to slowly perish in dog races. There is the possibility to adopt greyhounds from Ireland. So if you don't necessarily want to buy from a breeder, you can also get one from the British island.
