Greyhound: description and content of the breed

The most unsurpassed hunters and stunning runners are Greyhound breed dogs. They belong to the greyhound family and are valued for their high performance. Representatives of this breed in the same way as other types of pets require careful care, therefore, before starting them in the house, the owner should master the minimum skills of a dog owner.

Until the beginning of the 21st century, many historians considered the Greyhound as the birthplace of Ancient Egypt, since it was there that their first images appeared on the rocks. Other experts have opinions on the occurrence of the breed. So, the scientists who carried out the genetic analysis, on the contrary, argue that the Greyhound has nothing in common with the Egyptian dogs and is derived from Sheepdogs. This forced the "luminaries of science" to put forward a new hypothesis about the appearance of the breed, according to which the English hound owes its origin to the ancient Celts.

Greyhounds gained prominence in Britain and Europe towards the end of the 10th century. At that time they were actively bred for group hunting, since the dogs differed in their abilities to get anything from bird eggs to roe deer. Since in the 11th century only European nobility were allowed to hunt, the aristocrats exclusively bred dogs.

Closer to the 18th century, the Greyhounds lost their wide distribution, their numbers decreased significantly, but the disappearance of the breed was not allowed by the famous Lord breeder Olford. In 1776, he opened and officially registered a hunting club, in which many greyhounds, including greyhounds, passed “severe” field trials. Olford personally started updating this breed and added the blood of the English Bulldog to its genotype.

Debut at international dog shows took place at the end of the 19th century. They were singled out on the dog races due to the high speed of movement and agility. At that time, the Greyhounds were conditionally subdivided into hunting, racing and exhibition. On the territory of Russia, the first such handsome men appeared only at the end of the 19th century, while their value was insignificant.

After the collapse of the USSR, thoroughbred pets from Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary and the USA were brought to Russia.

Greyhound is an aristocratic and truly graceful dog, which is characterized by high dexterity, endurance and the ability to quickly run a short distance. Representatives of this breed discreet and calm nature.

Certain external differences are characteristic of the Greyhound.

• Growth. Its maximum rate for females is in the range from 68.5 to 71 cm, in males it reaches 77 cm.
• Weight. Body weight of pets depends largely on hereditary factors and conditions of detention. An adult can weigh from 16 to 25 kg.
• Head and physique. The skull of dogs is flat, long, with powerful jaws. Animals of this breed have a classic physique and have a deep chest, well-developed muscles and shoulders. Greyhounds have strong loins and a wide back. The most powerful part of the body in dogs is the legs, which are distinguished by outstanding jogging power and allow the animal to move quickly.
• Tail. Tapering at the tip, long and low set.

Most often in nature there are individuals in which the coat is painted in white, black, brindle and red shades. In addition, it is allowed to place all of the above colors on a pure white background.

Despite their aristocracy in the blood, the greyhounds are rather calm and restrained. With such a temperament, they never bark without reason. In addition, dogs include to the most docile animals.

Dogs of this breed respectfully treat all family members, the only thing - They may not like children, because they do not tolerate excessive obsession and excessive attention, so these dogs are not recommended to be purchased as toys for toddlers. Greyhound will not show aggression towards children, but will look for a reason to avoid meeting them, hiding in a secluded place.

Since the representatives of this breed are true aristocrats, they have the ability to instantly recognize the intonation in the master's voice, capturing his mood. If the owner of the dog is upset, the pet will not impose its presence on it.

As for the negative aspects in the character of the dog, the most important of them is the presence of strong hunting instincts. Any moving animal on the street can turn into a “target” for hunting. Avid hunters can even pursue transportation. For many, such actions may seem silly and ridiculous, but this has nothing to do with the intelligence of the animal, but is only a sign of natural craving for fishing.

Despite this shortcoming, dogs are absolutely non-capricious and do not require constant attention from the owner to their person. If you leave your pet alone in the house, he will not howl and gnaw at everything with grief. Pet will calmly wait for the arrival of the owner.

So that the pet always remains calm, he cannot be "teased" and "turned on" by small animals. This will be a provocation for him, and during active games with pets the dog can strangle them. Greyhounds are especially “dangerous” for cats and rabbits.

Before you buy a Greyhound puppy, you must weigh all the pros and cons of this breed and be prepared for certain difficulties. If something does not suit the pet over time, then it will no longer be possible to simply “throw it away” on the street. Choosing a puppy should be treated with special responsibility and ask the breeder in details about the origin of the baby.

If the owner wants to save money and just goes to the market to get a puppy, then he should be prepared for the fact that in the future the uncleaned kid may have many shortcomings, ranging from hereditary diseases and ending with an unforeseen character.

Besides, it is necessary to determine in advance the sex of the future pet. If you plan to buy a bitch, then you need to pay attention to the pedigree characteristics of her father, and when buying a dog, on the contrary, you should carefully examine the mom's pedigree.

When choosing a puppy that will be designed for racing, it is important to take into account the working qualities of the dog. Since they do not show up at a small age, experts recommend paying attention to other general indicators.

• The kid should be strong, not have signs of rickets. You can not choose too thin and too plump puppies, it is best to give preference to individuals of average build. It is not recommended to buy too small puppies, as a light dog will grow from them, which will no longer be adapted for hunting.
• Since pets at the age of 1.5-2 months are active and violent, you need to stop the choice of mischievous kids: they will definitely become excellent runners and hunters. In addition, you should carefully look at how the puppy reacts to the environment and its changes. Buying an inquisitive and active child, there is more chance to grow a good working dog in the future.
• An important role in the selection is played by the general forms of the puppy: they must be clear and slightly exaggerated. In healthy individuals, as a rule, deep chest with ribs pointing backwards. Hock joints have well developed corners from an early age dog. It is also important to look at the baby's tail: it should be low set, heavy and long (it can hang almost to the ground). Well, if the baby has a long and slightly tilted croup. If he is sloping or has defects, then it is better to refuse to buy a puppy.
• It is not recommended to choose individuals with too big head, round skull, short muzzle and fleshy ears. As for the color of the eyes, the darker it is, the better. Often in Greyhound babies, the eyes have a blue and even dark blue hue, but over time they darken (sometimes there are exceptions). At the same time, dark eyes never brighten.
• Examining the baby, you should pay attention to the nose: in healthy crumbs, it is black and wet. Puppies are often born with spotty noses, but this pigmentation lasts only up to 1.5 months. If, over time, pink spots remain on the nose, this indicates a metabolic disorder or the presence of such a disease as worm infestation.
• The bite of the baby should be with a small docus (up to 2 mm) and have the correct shape.
• In two-month-old dogs, the paws are usually large in size, with thick pads with tightly clenched fingers placed on them. If the paws are weak, it is unlikely that they will improve over time, therefore it is advisable not to buy such babies.
• When purchasing a male puppy at the age of 1 month, it is necessary to additionally examine the testes: by 1.5-2 months, they, as a rule, descend into the scrotum. In the presence of pathology, this issue must be discussed with the breeder.

Greyhound babies are usually sold after 45 days of birth. Until this time, they are activating and branding. If the seller is trying to "shove" a monthly baby, you need to think about whether you will need a puppy with a lot of problems. According to experts, babies who sell at the age of 8-10 weeks, after a quick separation from the mother, they endure a serious psychological trauma and adapt for a long time to a new place of residence.

They should consist of vaccination passport and puppy cards, which includes information about the date of birth of the baby, the nicknames of his parents, the name and surname of the breeder and the address. In addition to this, it is also inscribed with deviations from the norm and standards of the breed.

After the puppy successfully passes the exhibition and receives a description of a qualified expert, This card should be replaced with a pedigree that allows you to participate not only in official events, but also in breeding.

Despite the fact that the Greyhounds are not capricious in the care and maintenance of dogs, this does not mean that they do not need mandatory hygienic procedures. So, a pet needs to brush short hair several times a week with a special rubberized brush or glove. This will allow in a timely manner to clean the skin of dead particles and hairs.

It is necessary to bathe individuals of this breed in process of pollution, but not more often 2 times a year. The only thing - after each walk the owner will have to wash the dog's paws.

In addition, attention should be paid to the length of the claws, it is recommended to cut them several times a month using a special claw cutter. To teach your pet to such mandatory procedures as brushing ears, eyes, teeth and claw trimming, preferably from an early age, then in the future you can avoid panic.

Greyhounds can be kept both in apartments and country houses, but in the first version of the content the owner is obliged to provide the pet with long daily walks in such calm places as groves and parks.

Well, if the owner of the four-legged friend has the opportunity to travel often to nature since there the dog will be able to completely hool and throw out the accumulated energy in full. If you like to run or ride a bike, then take your pet with you. After walks, the animal must rest comfortably, for this it needs to equip a comfortable corner in the house.

One of the main points in the content of the greyhounds is considered to be the correct menu design, during which it is important to remember that these dogs-aristocrats are too picky about their food.

Since representatives of this breed are not inclined to overeating, they can be fed 1-2 times a day (in the morning and in the evening). Portions should be small and only from fresh produce. Despite the fact that dogs are recommended to be fed dry food, from time to time the dog's diet should be diluted with natural products that contain a lot of protein (cottage cheese, kefir, boiled meat and fish, soft-boiled eggs).

Additionally, pet should be provided vitamin complex, including buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, and finely chopped vegetables in the diet. For the good behavior of the pet can be encouraged with special treats (raisins, prunes and dried apricots).

As for the nutrition of puppies, it is significantly different from what is intended for adults. In the first two months of a puppy’s life, six meals a day are recommended, starting from 3 to 4 months - five times a day, after 10 months you can feed 1–2 times.

Before you start training English greyhounds, their owners should establish close contact with the dog. Greyhounds differ calm character, but, despite this, in every way trying to take a leadership position not only among animals, but also among people. Since puppies of this breed are distinguished by increased sociability and activity, they should not be allowed to go over the edges of what is permitted.

If the owner acquired the Greyhound in order to make him a reliable friend and a good companion (if he does not take part in catching wild animals), his can be trained in a general course that includes core teams. After such training, the dog will become more obedient and, at the first request, will obey its owner.

You can train animals yourself, and you can also entrust this matter to an experienced specialist. The most important thing is to get a trust from the dog. As for the performance, because of the rebellious nature and innate high intelligence, it is difficult to psychologically break a dog.

In addition to the main activities, the pet needs to be additionally taught the rules of behavior in the house. The pet must clearly know the place allocated to it and not allow itself to play or sleep in the forbidden zones.

In the next video you will learn about the order of the Greyhounds, education and treatment, as well as learn about the history of this remarkable breed.