Greyhound Dog Breed
Posted by Jeanne on November 13, 2008
Greyhounds are possessed of extreme speed. Their principal use is in coursing hare, for which they have been bred for years. They are very plucky as a rule and have been used occasionally in this country in hunting wolves. In recent times the breed has been one of the chief ones trained to chase the mechanical rabbit on oval tracks, and greyhound racing is a recognized sport.
- Head – Long and narrow, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible stop, little or no development of nasal sinuses, good length of muzzle, which should be powerful without coarseness.
- Teeth – Very strong and even in front.
- Ears – Small and fine in texture, thrown back and folded, except when excited, when they are semi-pricked.
- Eyes – Dark, bright, intelligent, indicating spirit.
- Neck – Long, muscular, without throatiness, slightly arched, and widening gradually into the shoulder.
- Shoulders – Placed as obliquely as possible, muscular without being loaded.
- Forelegs – Perfectly straight, set well into the shoulder, neither turned in nor out, pasterns strong.
- Chest - Deep, and as wide as consistent with speed, fairly well-sprung ribs.
- Back – Muscular and broad, well arched.
- Loins – Good depth of muscle, well cut up in the flanks.
- Hindquarters – Long, very muscular and powerful, wide and well let down, well-bent stifles. Hocks well bent and rather close to ground, wide but straight fore and aft.
- Feet – Hard and close, rather more hare than cat feet, well knuckled up with good strong claws.
- Tail – Long, fine and tapering with a slight upward curve.
- Coat – Short, smooth and firm in texture.
- Color – Immaterial.
- Weight – Dogs, 65 to 70 pounds; bitches, 60 to 65 pounds.