Greyhound Breed Ancient And Noble
‘I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game’s afoot.”
- William Shakespeare, “Henry V”
For centuries the sleek dog called greyhound has captivated people from many cultures. From biblical times to today’s modern racing tracks, this ancient breed has always been described with adjectives like courageous, sensitive, loyal, swift and aristocratic.
With anywhere from 100 to 500 greyhounds needing homes when the Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Park closes this month, it’s a good time to take a look at this breed.
According to leading dog experts and historians, the earliest purebred dogs were the greyhound type. These long-legged dogs with deep chests and narrow heads were developed to hunt by sight (thus the terms gazehound and sighthound) instead of by nose, as most hunting breeds do.
Other sighthounds include Italian greyhounds, pharaoh hounds, the borzoi, Ibizan hounds, Afghan hounds, Irish wolfhounds, the basenji, whippets, Rhodesian ridgebacks, the saluki and Scottish deerhounds.
Drawings on ancient temples and tombs in what are now Turkey and Egypt depict greyhounds as important companions and hunters.
Over the centuries, the breed also became prevalent in ancient Greece, ancient Rome and throughout England and Ireland. As explorers from these countries encountered Eastern cultures, they were impressed with the greyhounds they saw and returned home with the dogs.
For perspective on how taken these ancient people were, consider that the Greyhound is the only breed of dog mentioned in the Bible; it is the first breed mentioned in literature; and it is the first breed mentioned in the English language.
Before becoming racing dogs, greyhounds were highly admired hunters. With muscular jaws, long necks, long teeth and the ability to reach speeds of 41 mph, the greyhound was adept at hunting deer and wild boar.
Eventually, these traits gave rise to the sport of coursing. Begun in Greece and continued in Great Britain, coursing events involved two greyhounds being released into a large field to chase a live hare that had been given a 100-yard advantage. The winning dog was not necessarily the one that caught the hare. Rather, each dog was judged on its entire performance, including traits like agility and concentration.
The sport of racing greyhounds began in America with the invention of the artificial lure in the early 1900s and expanded to the high-tech tracks located across the country today.
Racing greyhounds are usually retired between the ages of 2 and 5 years. Given their lifespan of 12 to 14 years, they have many years of companionship to offer someone who adopts them. They make a great addition to a family committed to provide them daily exercise and lots of attention.
To learn details about caring for a retired racing greyhound - how to house them in cold climates like the Inland Northwest, what they should be fed and their special medical needs - check out the book “Adopting the Racing Greyhound” by Cynthia A. Branigan (1992, Macmillan Publishing Co.). Branigan is an expert on the subject and her book is chock-full of critical information.
For information about adopting a retired racing greyhound from the Coeur d’Alene track, call 927-8002 in Spokane or (208) 765-3115 in Coeur d’Alene.
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