Greyhound

Greyhounds probably date back to ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. These hounds of the pharaohs were designed to detect, chase, capture, and dispatch the fleet-footed smaller wildlife of Egypt’s deserts. Although the Greyhound has been used for hunting various species over the centuries, their natural quarry is the hare.

During the Middle-Ages, these regal dogs were displaced from the great halls of the ruling class as people were impacted by famine and disease, but when conditions improved they once again found themselves as pampered companions of the wealthy. Their hunting ability meant that it became an offence to kill a Greyhound and only nobles were permitted to own and breed them at that time.

During the Age of Enlightenment, Greyhounds still featured prominently in the homes of the wealthy as a status symbol.  Many portraits of the time featured the majestic Greyhound alongside their owners. Famous artists of the time who included Greyhounds in their portraits included Dupain and Millais.

Greyhound dog racing commenced as an unorganised form of rivalry between owners, over time developing into a form of professional racing that became as popular as horse racing. Oval track Greyhound racing began in America in 1912 when Owen Patrick Smith developed the mechanical hare for the dogs to chase around a track. Australia introduced greyhound racing in 1927.

Nowdays, the Greyhound racing industry is in decline internationally, while in the USA, it is now illegal in 39 states. Australia is currently one of only eight countries in the world with a commercial greyhound racing industry, and it is by far the biggest.

However, with increased attention on Greyhound racing industry practices, more and more Greyhounds are being retired into the role of companion, and it is now fairly common to see re-homed Greyhounds being walked in the streets and at local dog parks thoughout Australia.

Greyhounds do not require a huge amount of exercise and they usually walk well on the leash. More like sprinters than marathon runners, most of them only require a 15 to 20 minute walk each day, while some  will require more or less than this dependent on their energy levels and age. They can be a bundle of energy and chase after a ball at top speed, but only for a relatively short time before flopping down for a rest.

For their own safety, Greyhounds should never be allowed to run off leash unless in a fully fenced and safe area. Their combination of great speed and complete lack of traffic sense means they will almost certainly cause an accident if allowed to venture near the road. Also, with their high prey drive, once they glimpse potential prey there’s no stopping them.

Note that some Australian states require Greyhounds to be muzzled when outside of the house, so check with your local council if this applies in your area. Those who adopt racing Greyhounds can have the dog ‘green collar’ accredited, which means the Greyhound has been tested and can be taken for a walk outside the house without a muzzle as long as it wears the accredited green collar and lead.

Being an intelligent breed, the Greyhound will learn new commands or exercises quickly, but can easily become distracted or bored. For this placid and sensitive breed, gentle training methods and positive reinforcement are recommended. Obedience training and socialisaton are important for any dog being adopted into a new home, and good recall training is especially inportant for the rescued Greyhound.

Greyhounds do shed, however their thin coats shed considerably less than most other breeds. They also have less of that “doggy smell”. Weekly brushing is recommended – they love a rub with a grooming mitt – to help distribute natural oils through the coat and stimulate blood flow to the skin.

Greyhounds have a very fine, soft single coat and very little body fat. Because of this, they tend to feel extremes in temperature (both heat and cold) more than most dogs. Your Greyhound will need a warm indoor space to sleep in overnight (on cold winter nights your Greyhound will probably try to share your electric blanket or snuggle underneath your doona!)

During cooler weather, you will need to provide a coat or pyjamas for your greyhound overnight, and in colder regions, during the day too.