by Huma Rashid

Created on: August 01, 2007   Last Updated: September 25, 2010

The greyhound is a sleek, elite breed of dog generally bred for hunting game, racing, and companionship. Among land animals, it is second in speed only to the cheetah, and has long legs and an aerodynamic build that allow it to attain speeds of 45 miles per hour in 1.5 seconds. It is a beautiful, regal, and valuable dog that makes an excellent professional animal, in terms of racing and hunting, and a loyal friend and companion. One of the most well-known greyhounds in America, and perhaps the world, is the beloved pet of the family of Homer Simpson. The creator of FOX's animated series, Matt Groening, did an excellent job characterizing the animal because like most greyhounds, Santa's Little Helper is lean, affectionate and gentle (he lets baby Maggie use his tail as a pacifier on the rare occasions when she is without hers), tolerant of other animals (like the prissy, entitled cat, Snowball II), and not overly active.

History:

The greyhound's origin can be traced to Egypt to roughly 4000 B.C. according to drawings of a Saluke, or Persian Greyhound, found in an Egyptian tomb. In all actuality, the greyhound is actually a very close relative of the Saluki. Historically, greyhounds were mainly used as hunting animals because their keen eyesight enabled them to spot prey quickly, and they were introduced to England in the fifth or sixth century. During the early 1920s, the time of great wealth, fashion, and excess, modern greyhound racing became a popular sport in the United States, and then in England in 1926.

Physical Appearance:

Male greyhounds are 28 to 30 inches tall at the withers on average, and weigh between 70 and 100 lbs. Females are smaller, usually 27 or 28 inches high at the shoulder, and weigh between 60 and 75 lbs. These dogs have short hair, which is very easy to maintain because it requires little brushing or fuss, and there are approximately thirty varieties of recognized color form. Of these colors, variations of white, black, fawn, red, brindle, and blue (that is, gray) can appear either uniquely or in combination. The common belief that greyhounds are named as such because they are only blue (gray) in color is a complete misconception.

Temperament, Behavior, and Health:

Although greyhounds are extremely fast dogs, and the second fastest land animals on the planet, they are not high-energy dogs. They are sprinters, not marathon-runners, and even though they love to run they do not require frequent exercise. They are best able to run very fast

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