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Greyhound
Breed Information |
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The
greyhound breed dates back to 6,000 B.C. when greyhound type drawings
that depicted a hunter with two greyhounds chasing as stag were found
in what is now known as Turkey. In 4,000 B.C. people started migrating
and they were accompanied by their dogs during their travels.
The greyhound really came into their own with the assistance of the
Egyptians. There were their companions, their hunting partners and some
were even worshiped as Gods.
The Egyptians valued their greyhounds to the point that the birth of
one was almost as important as a birth of a son.
While the Israelites did not worship greyhounds and dogs in general
were not that popular with their culture, they did make an exception
for the greyhound. It is the only breed to be mentioned in the Bible.
Proverbs 30:29-31.
During the Middle Ages, greyhounds became revered by nobility and were
owned by the rich and famous. During this era various artist did not
miss the opportunity to paint the elegant lines of the greyhound's
sleek body.
The sport of coursing was developed in ancient Greece and this elevated
the popularity of the greyhound as popular breed to have. This sport
carried on into the mid 1700's and was then developed into an organized
gaming activity that spread across the Continent.
Again the migration of immigrants to America spawned the popularity of
the sport to the open spaces of the prairie and the hunting of small
game. This evolution in the 1900's brought forth the development of the
artificial lure which allowed the public the opportunity to see the
greyhound run. In more recent times, the sport of racing reached an all
time high of attendance and generated over $3 billion in revenues
during the 1990's.
This is just a small sampling of the history of the greyhound and you
will be able to write your own story as you will have many enjoyable
experiences with your greyhound.
Greyhounds make great family companions. The greyhound's personality is
reflective of gentleness, easy going attitude and true devotion to its
owner. They are truly grateful for being given the opportunity to be a
pet and they reward their owners with never-ending affection. Raised
with their litter mates where they have to compete for attention, they
thrive on being the center of your attention.
Greyhounds tend to be more gentle and calmer than other breeds and
prefer to avoid confrontation and conflict. When confronted with
uncomfortable situations, they tend to walk away from the source.
Greyhounds have very little odor and don't shed very much as they don't
have a lot of hair to loose. Their bodies are truly marvelous as they
are the world's fastest breed of dog and watching them run is
breathtaking. Years of breeding have produced graceful yet athletic
bodies.
If you are not totally in love with the greyhound breed yet, then you
might want to read one of our suggested greyhound resource books for
more information. |
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