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. They were their companions, their hunting
partners, and some were even worshipped 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 artists 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 a popular breed
to have. This sport carried on into the mid 1700s 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 1900s 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 1990s.
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. The first and second
suggested readings are "Adopting the Racing Greyhound" and "Retired Racing
Greyhounds for Dummies". Finally we suggest reading this book if you have
children, "Childproofing Your Dog".