Greyhound Picture Gallery

Greyhound Breeders

Greyhound Clubs/Associations

The Full Greyhound Description

Greyhounds are as fast as they are smart, as wise as they are loving. Outdoors, it is a thrill to watch this dog run at full stretch. Indoors, he becomes a quiet and dignified family member, expecting hugs and petting from his family.

Did you know?

The Greyhound is the fastest breed of dog.
One of the most celebrated of many Greyhound owners in history was General George A. Custer. Custer was especially fond of coursing breeds - Greyhounds and "staghounds" - and traveled with a hound pack that numbered about forty. One book reports that Custer's dogs were about to run a matched race the day before he left on his fatal expedition to Big Horn River in 1876.
The first knowledge of the Greyhound comes from the Tomb of Amten, in the Valley of the Nile, regarded by Egyptologists as belonging to the fourth dynasty, which in modern chronology would be between 2900 and 2751 B.C.

So you want to own a Greyhound?

Without proper attention and exercise, Greyhounds will find other outlets for their energy, which may include chewing.
It is essential that Greyhound owners provide their dogs with soft places to rest and sleep as Greyhounds can develop pressure sores.
Greyhounds are very affectionate, but will not overly dote on you. The Greyhound's gentle nature makes him a good children's dog.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Strongly built, upstanding, of generous proportions, muscular power and symmetrical formation, with long head and neck, clean well laid shoulders, deep chest, capacious body, arched loin, powerful quarters, sound legs and feet, and a suppleness of limb, which emphasise in a marked degree its distinctive type and quality.

Characteristics

Possessing remarkable stamina and endurance.

Temperament

Intelligent, gentle, affectionate and even-tempered.

Head and Skull

Long, moderate width, flat skull, slight stop. Jaws powerful and well chiselled.

Eyes

Bright, intelligent, oval and obliquely set. Preferably dark.

Ears

Small, rose-shape, of fine texture.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long and muscular, elegantly arched, well let into shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders oblique, well set back, muscular without being loaded, narrow and cleanly defined at top. Forelegs, long and straight, bone of good substance and quality. Elbows free and well set under shoulders. Pasterns of moderate length, slightly sprung. Elbows, pasterns and toes inclining neither in nor out.

Body

Chest deep and capacious, providing adequate heart room. Ribs deep, well sprung and carried well back. Flanks well cut up. Back rather long, broad and
square. Loins powerful, slightly arched.

Hindquarters

Thighs and second thighs wide and muscular, showing great propelling power. Stifles well bent. Hocks well let down, inclining neither in nor out. Body and hindquarters, features of ample proportions and well coupled, enabling adequate ground to be covered when standing.

Feet

Moderate length, with compact, well knuckled toes and strong pads.

Tail

Long, set on rather low, strong at root, tapering to point, carried low, slightly curved.

Gait/Movement

Straight, low reaching, free stride enabling the ground to be covered at great speed. Hindlegs coming well under body giving great propulsion.

Coat

Fine and close.

Colour

Black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle or any of these colours broken with white.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 71-76 cms (28-30 ins); bitches: 69-71 cms (27-28 ins).