Breed Information
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".