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Archive-name: dogs-faq/breeds/greyhounds
Posting-frequency: 30 days URL: http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/greyhounds.html Last-modified: 31 Dec 1997 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge ======= There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs". This article is posted bimonthly in rec.pets.dogs, and is available via anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu under pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list, via the Web at http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/lists/faq-list.html, or via email by sending your message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list in the body of the message. This article is Copyright 1997 by the Author(s) listed below. It may be freely distributed on the Internet in its entirety without alteration provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other than the URL listed above without the permission of the Author(s). This article may not be sold for profit nor incorporated in other documents without he Author(s)'s permission and is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. ========== Greyhounds Authors * Originally written by Jack Dean, 18 June 1992. * Revisions and updates from Sharon Toolan, 6 January 1993. [toolan@stsci.edu] * Additional material from Stacy Pober, 30 April 1993 [spober@manvax.cc.mancol.edu] * Additional material from Robert Brady, 3 August 1994 * Additional material from Andrew Shaindlin, 5 March 1995 [andrew_shaindlin@brown.edu] * Further updates in July, August, September 1995 by CTM. The faq is currently edited and maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore who holds the Copyright (1995) on this version. (July 1995) It is with sorrow that I note the passing of Robert Brady, who devoted so much of his time and energy to Greyhound rescue. He is missed by many. _________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents * Description * Recognized * History * Characteristics and Temperament * Frequently Asked Questions * Special Medical Problems + Medical sensitivities + Bloat + Bone Cancer + Hygroma + Hypothyroidism * References + Books + Videos + Magazines + Online Resources + Breed Rescue Organizations + Breeders + Breed Clubs + Additional Resources _________________________________________________________________ Description For thousands of years Greyhounds have been bred to hunt by outrunning their prey. They were not intended to be solitary hunters, but to work with other dogs. Switching from hunting to racing has kept this aspect of their personality very much alive. The fastest breed of dog, Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour, and can average more than 30 miles per hour for distances up to one mile. Selective breeding has given the Greyhound an athlete's body with the grace of a dancer. At the same time, the need to anticipate the evasive maneuvers of their prey has endowed the Greyhound with a high degree of intelligence. The Greyhound has a long neck and head, with a barely noticeable stop, or bridge to his nose. The ears are small and usually folded flat back against the neck. The ears may stand semi- or fully erect when the Greyhound is attentive. This is called a "rose ear." The back is long and muscular with an arch over the loin. The deep chest and narrow waist give the Greyhound its distinctive silhouette. The legs are long and powerful. The feet are small and compact, with well knuckled toes. The tail is long and curved. The coat of a Greyhound is short and smooth, and is the result of crossing Greyhounds with Bulldogs in the mid-1700s. Greyhounds come in an endless variety of colors, including white, fawn (tan), cream, red (rust), black, blue (grey), many shades of brindle, and with patches of these colors on white. There is virtually no body fat. In general, Greyhounds are very clean and do not require a lot of grooming. A show Greyhound typically stands between 26 and 30 inches and the shoulder, and weighs 60 to 85 pounds. Bitches average around 10 to 15 pounds less than dogs. The average lifespan is twelve to fourteen years. Track Greyhounds are often between 25 and 29 inches and 50 to 80 pounds. The AKC standard specifies 65-70lbs for males, 60-65 for females as ideal. The Greyhound is a quiet and docile animal when not racing. While they can be somewhat aloof in the presence of strangers, more often they are generally friendly to most people. They are very affectionate toward those they know and trust. _________________________________________________________________ Recognized The Greyhound is recognized by all major kennel clubs around the world, as well as by various national racing clubs such as the National Greyhound Association (NGA) and the American Greyhound Council. _________________________________________________________________ History Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs, and appear in art and literature throughout history. In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, and tombs were often decorated with Greyhound figures. A hieroglyph of a dog very much resembling the modern breeds Greyhound, Saluki, and Sloughi can be found in the writings of ancient Egypt. Alexander the Great had a Greyhound named Peritas. The Greyhound is mentioned in the Old Testament (Proverbs 30:29-31), Homer (_Odyssey_, where the only one to recognize Odysseus upon his return was his Greyhound, Argus), Chaucer (_The Canterbury Tales_), and Shakespeare (_Henry V_ and _Merry Wives of Windsor_). Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were often portrayed with Greyhounds. As Clarke, in _The Greyhound_ states: But, ancient as the Greyhound is, it would be stretching the truth to claim that the Arabian hounds depicted on the ancestral tombs of ancient Egyptians were identical to the Greyhounds we know today. In their conformation, in their grace and pace, in the poetry of their motion, yes -- but not in the style of coat they wore! [...] In fact, there is reason to believe that the Arabian Greyhound may well have resembled a Saluki -- but for all, still a dog of the Greyhound family. There are many differing explanations for the origin of the term Greyhound. One writer suggests that the original Greyhound stock was mostly grey in color. Another says the term derives from the Old English "grei," meaning "dog," and "hundr," meaning "hunter." Another explanation is that it is derived from "gre" or "gradus," meaning "first rank among dogs." Finally, it has been suggested that the term derives from Greekhound, since the hound reached England through the Greeks. Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty. In fact, from the 11th to the 14th century, English law decreed that no "mean person" was allowed to keep a Greyhound. Penalty for breaking this law was death! _________________________________________________________________ Characteristics and Temperament Greyhounds have a very gentle and quiet disposition. They are very pack oriented dogs and will quickly adopt human masters into their "pack." To allow different Greyhounds to hunt and race together, aggressiveness towards other dogs and people has been nearly eliminated from the breed. Many do retain a strong prey drive (which is a compnent to their racing) and are sometimes unsuitable for houses with other small pets such as cats or rabbits. Their sensitivity and intelligence make them quick learners, and good candidates for obedience training. Greyhounds are often tolerant of children, especially if they have been raised with them. Being non-aggressive, a Greyhound will generally walk away from a worrisome child, rather than growl or snap. However, even the gentle Greyhound has its limits, and should not be subjected to continuous harassment. Although Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog, they achieve their incredible speed in one all out sprint, and do not have a lot of endurance. A Greyhound is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. Since they don't have a lot of endurance, a Greyhound actually requires less exercise time than most dogs. Greyhounds are the prototypical sighthound, a group of hounds that pursue their prey by sight rather than scent. As with all sighthounds, Greyhounds have a very strongly developed chase instinct. In spite of this, it is possible for Greyhounds to peacefully coexist with other pets, including cats, dogs, and even rabbits. Cohabitation will be easier if the other pets do not run away. Even after you've trained the Greyhound to not chase the family indoor cat, this does not mean that it won't chase the neighbor's cat, or even the family cat outdoors. _________________________________________________________________ Frequently Asked Questions _Do Greyhounds shed a lot?_ It seems to vary a lot from dog to dog. Some will shed an appreciable amount, others hardly at all. "Appreciable" means that when you use a curry comb, you can get loose hair off the dog. There is some thought (and anectodal evidence) that lighter colored Greyhounds shed more than dark ones do! However, bear in mind that even a so-called "heavily shedding" Greyhound would shed a lot less than say, a Dalmatian or a German Shepherd Dog. _I've heard they aren't good with children. Is this true?_ Many breed description books will list the Greyhound as being too "highstrung" to tolerate children. This is false. Most Greyhounds have a very calm disposition, and many of them are good with children, especially if they are raised around well-mannered children. In general, any dog, of any breed, that has not been raised around children or has an unknown background, must be watched carefully. In any case, all interaction between dogs and children, no matter how trustworthy either are, should be supervised by an adult. _Don't they need a lot of exercise?_ They need less exercise than you would think. Greyhounds are primarily a sprinting breed, rather than an endurance one. They are happy with several good runs a week -- and will lie on your couch all the rest of the time! _What are the differences between track (NGA) and show (AKC) Greyhounds?_ In general, track Greyhounds are a little smaller (shorter and less heavy) than the show ones. Track Greyhounds are more heavily muscled in the rear and their necks and heads are not as slenderly exaggerated as the show Greyhounds' are. Those are the physical differences. There tend to be some behavioral differences, but these are due to the upbringing that each receive rather than actual differences. It's thought that there are some health differences. Track Greyhounds are thought to live longer (because ofsuperior cardio-vascular condition); on the other hand they are thought to be more prone to bone cancer, possibly as a result of extra stress from heavy racing. However, these are solely speculation. _Why do I see many people muzzling their Greyhounds at get-togethers?_ Their racing instinct is based on a well-developed prey drive. When you have a group of greyhounds together, especially strange ones, it is advisable to muzzle them to prevent accidental bites. Greyhounds are not dog aggressive, but when excited may nip at others. Don't let the muzzles lull you into a false sense of security. You must still monitor a group of muzzled Greyhounds since it's possible to catch ears through a muzzle and so on. Do note that muzzling is not always required; it's simply a sensible precaution if you are dealing with a large group of Greyhounds. _Can Greyhounds swim?_ Many people believe that because of their structure and low body fat that they cannot swim. This is untrue. Some Greyhounds are excellent swimmers and others are not. Supervise your Greyhound's entry into water until you are certain he can swim. _________________________________________________________________ Special Medical Problems Medical sensitivities Greyhounds' livers metabolize toxins out of their bloodstream more slowly than other dogs of comparable size, so it is possible for harmful concentrations of these toxins to develop. Also, the breed has a very low percentage of body fat in proportion to its size. There is, on the average, only 16% fat in a Greyhound's body weight versus about 35% fat in body weight for a comparably sized dog of another breed. Greyhounds are very sensitive to certain medications, including anesthesia. Before allowing your Greyhound to undergo any surgery, make sure that your vet is aware of the special anesthesia requirements for Greyhounds. In particular, barbituates are to be avoided. Do not be afraid to ask questions of your vet; not all are aware of a Greyhound's special anesthesia requirements. Rodger I. Barr, DVM, has written an article on the safe method of anesthesia for sighthounds. For further information on the use of anesthesia in Greyhounds, contact the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colorado (303/484-9154). Flea collars, and long lasting pesticides such as Hartz Blockade, can also be harmful or even fatal to Greyhound. Any product which releases flea killing chemicals into the bloodstream of the dog should be avoided, as should those applied monthly to the length of the dog's spine or a spot on the base of the dog's neck (i.e., Rabon, Bayon, ProSpot, Ex-Spot, etc.) Products containing Pyrethrins are generally safe to use on Greyhounds, and given their very short coat, flea combs are especially effective. Other safe products are Rotenone and d-Limonene. The Rotenone is often sold in the gardening sections of feed stores, but it is organic and directions for treating pets for fleas are included in the "approved uses". Several companies make d-Limonene dips, sprays and shampoos. D-Limonene is derived from citrus fruits and is a fairly safe organic pesticide. Additionally, the human shampoo Pert Plus kills fleas on the dogs, although it has little or no residual effect. Lather, wait a few minutes, and then rinse. Care also needs to be taken when deworming a Greyhound, as they are extremely sensitive to anything with an organophosphate base. Some relatively safe choices for worming Greyhounds: For hookworm or roundworm infestations: pyrantel pamoate. This is the active ingredient in these non-prescription wormers: Evict, Nemex, Nemex2; and in the prescription wormer Strongid-T. For tapeworm: Droncit tablets. Droncit injections are also effective, but some dogs find them very painful. For whipworms, hookworms and tapeworms: Panacur. However, keep in mind that adverse reactions can happen with any individual animal to any particular medication. Bloat As with other deep chested breeds, Greyhounds are prone to bloat, or torsion. Bloat is a life threating disease where the stomach flips over. Immediate medical attention is required to avoid death. Preventive measures include avoiding exercise just before and for an hour or two after eating; avoiding ingestion of large amounts of water immediately after eating dry kibble. Symptoms include distended abdomen, repeated unproductive vomiting, pacing and restlessness. It can kill quickly, an immediate trip to the vet is in order. You may wish to discuss bloat with your vet, to set up in advance what to do should it happen to your dog. Your vet may also suggest other things you can do while driving to the vet's for emergency care to improve your dog's chances for survival. Considerations for the ex-racer Because racing Greyhounds are kenneled with a large number of other dogs in a highly transient population, you will probably have to make sure your dog is checked for worms and tick-borne diseases such as Ehrlichia and Babesia. A greyhound in racing condition will probably lose muscle and put on some extra fat once retired. While they should not become overweight, few dogs remain at racing weight, often gaining about 5 pounds in their retirement. This is to be expected. Bone Cancer It's not actually known whether Greyhounds are actually more predisposed toward bone cancer than other breeds, but there are enough anecdotal stories to warrant keeping an eye on your Greyhound for this, especially a former racer. The first symptoms involve lameness in the leg. Hygroma This is common in large dogs especially over bony prominences like elbows. It is usually seen in dogs housed on hard flooring. A hygroma is a fluid-filled bursa which forms to protect the skin from pressure necrosis from the bone underneath. They can get inflamed or even ulcerate. They tend to look more alarming than they are; your vet can advise you of the best course to take. Hypothyroidism Many Greyhounds appear to have low-normal levels of thyroid. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include: hair loss (on rear and neck, usually bilateral and typically through thinning), darkening or thekening of the skin, and lethargy. Sometimes irritableness and/or wheezing are indicators. Untreated, hypothyroidism can have serious long term effects. _________________________________________________________________ References Books Barnes, J., ed. _Complete Book of Greyhounds_. Howell Book House, 1994. Includes a good general overview of GH nutrition. Blythe, L., Gannon, J., Craig, A.M. _Care of the Racing Greyhound_. American Greyhound Council, 1994. This is probably the most comprehensive, concise reference on GH nutrition. Branigan, Cynthia A. _Adopting the Racing Greyhound_. Howell Book House, 1992. Invaluable for those who have adopted former racers, or who are contemplating doing so. Burnham, Patricia Gail. _Playtraining Your Dog_. St. Martins Press This is not about Greyhounds _per se_. It is an obedience training book written by a Greyhound breeder and all but two pages of the many lovely illustrations are photographs of Greyhounds. It covers basic obedience (AKC) through the Utility Dog exercises. Clarke, H. Edwards. _The Greyhound_. Popular Dogs Publishing Co., Ltd. Revised by Charles Blanning. This has a little bit of everything - history of the breed, coursing, racing, showing and kennel management. Though it is not written with pet owners in mind, it has lots of interesting information. Clarke, H. Edwards. _The Modern Greyhound_. London, Hutchinson's Library of Sport and Pastimes. Mostly coursing and racing stuff. An oldie but a goodie. Almost every book by Clarke is an interesting read. Genders, Roy. _The Encyclopaedia of Greyhound Racing: A Complete History of the Sport_. London, Pelham Books, 1981. Kohnke J. _Veterinary Advice for Greyhound Owners_. Ringpress, 1993. This is in a Q&A format, mostly for working dogs. Mueller, Georgiana. _How to Raise and Train a Greyhound_. TFH Publishing. This is one of those slender paperbacks of which two-thirds is generic dog care information. However, the one-third which is written by Ms. Mueller is good information and the photos are quite nice. Videos The Gannon video from the NGA called : "Soundness Examination of the Racing Greyhound" An AKC video - "Greyhound" Magazines _Celebrating Greyhounds: The Magazine_ Published quarterly by The Greyhound Project, Inc., Joan Dillon, PO Box 173, Holbrook, MA 02343 Topics include information on behavior, health and veterinary issues, legal issues, care and feeding, safety, first aid, activities for you and your greyhound, crafts, events, book and product information and reviews, ads for greyhound paraphernalia, humor and stories of interest to greyhound lovers. _Greyhound Gazette_ Published by the CSRA Greyhound Adoption, 415 Brookside Drive, Augusta, GA 30904-4597. _Greyhound Network News_ Published by Joan Eidinger, PO Box 44272, Phoenix, AZ 85064-4272. A quarterly newsletter of general information with state by state and international news items. _Greyhounds Today_ Jeanette Steiner, Editor/Publisher, 936 Cornwall Ave., Waterloo, IA 50702. Published bimonthly by and for people who love Greyhounds. _National Greyhound Review_ National Greyhound Association, PO Box 543, Abilene, KS 67410. Official publication of the NGA. _Sighthound Review_ P.O. Box 30430, Santa Barbara, CA 93130; 805-966-7270 This lovely slick magazine deals not only with Greyhounds but with all the Sighthound breeds. Mostly show-oriented. Online Resources There is a mailing list for those interested in Greyhounds. Send email to listserv@apple.ease.lsoft.com with no/any subject line and subscribe greyhound-L yourfirstname yourlastname. Do not add your email address. A digest version is avilable, please read the information you get upon subscribing. If you have access to the Web, there are several URL's of interest: * This FAQ: http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/greyhounds.html * Extensive Greyhound Information: http://delta1.org/~greyhound/ * _A Breed Apart_, a Web based newsletter http://www.abap.org/ * Lurecoursing http://www.clark.net/pub/bdalzell/lureinfo.html Breed Rescue Organizations There are hundreds of adoption agencies across the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Some are large, have 800 numbers and have agreements with airlines. Some are small having maybe only two or three people involved with the group. All depend on volunteers to make the program work. Even if you cannot be actively and directly involved in Greyhound adoption and rescue, you and your Greyhound can be an ambassador for the rescue and adoption programs. Walking your dog in public can be one of the simplest and most direct outreach programs to inform the American public of the Greyhounds that need homes and letting the public meet, often for the first time, a live Greyhound. Many Americans have never met a Greyhound and are unaware of what wonderful and loving pets they make. Knowing facts about Greyhounds, their history and racing will make you a better ambassador for Greyhounds and the rescue and adoption movement. Many adoption agencies can always use a monetary donation. Some of the more well known ones follow; a more complete list can be obtained via email request to Lynda Adame (adame@venice.dh.trw.com). _Greyhound Pets of America_ 1-800-FON-1GPA _Greyhound Friends_ 167 Saddle Hill Road Hopkinton, MA 01748 (508) 435-5969 _Greyhound Club of America Greyhound Rescue_ Cheryl Reynolds 4280 Carpenteria Ave. Carpenteria, CA 93013 (805) 684-4914 _National Greyhound Adoption Network_ WESTERN COORDINATOR Susan Netboy Friends for Life and Northern California Sighthound Rescue Five Ranch Road Woodside, CA 94062 (415)851-7812 MIDWESTERN COORDINATORS Ellen Stokal REGAP of Waterloo and Greyhound Rescue and Adoption P.O. Box 7044 Villa Park, IL 60181 (708) 495-0074 Jacquie Schnepf REGAP of Waterloo All Pets Animal Clinic 3257 West 4th Street Waterloo IA 50701 (319) 235-0842 NORTH AND SOUTHEASTERN COORDINATOR Cynthia Branigan Make Peace With Animals P.O. Box 488 New Hope, PA 18938 Phone: 215-862-0605 Fax: 215-862-2733 In the UK: _National Rescue for Homeless Greyhounds_ 7a Beaverbrook Avenue Culcheth Warrington WA3 5HT UK Tel: (01925) 765337 Breeders Contact the Greyhound Club of America for the addresses of local clubs in your area to find breeders. Keep in mind very few such litters are bred per year. Breed Clubs _National Greyhound Association_ (racing organization and registry) PO Box 543 Abilene, KS 67410 913-263-4660 _Greyhound Club of America_ (for AKC-registered Greyhounds) Club Secretary Patti Clark 227 Hattertown Road Newtown, CT 06470 Newsletter Editor Dani Creech 949 Springfield Road Columbiana, Oh 44408 $25/year, free to GCA members. Additional Resources Lynda Adame ( adame@venice.dh.trw.com) keeps an extensive list of resources and information for the person interested in Greyhounds and in Greyhound rescue. _________________________________________________________________ Greyhounds FAQ Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com Hosted by K9 WEB User Contributions:
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