Origin
The Greyhound is an elegant, graceful dog that over time has found their way into the hearts and homes of many people both here in the UK and elsewhere in the world. These athletic looking dogs love to let off steam whenever they can, but they also know how to chill out and relax which is just one of the reasons why they have become a popular choice as either a family pet or companion dog. They are, in a nutshell, the most popular of all hound breeds with the added bonus of Greyhounds being low maintenance when it comes to keeping their coats looking good and for such large dogs, they are not big eaters either.
According to a few experts, the Greyhound may originate from the Middle East. There is some evidence of this in drawings that depict similar looking dogs on the walls of ancient tombs found in Egypt which date back to 4000 BC. It is thought these dogs were a favourite with Pharaohs, well to do Egyptians, Asian nobility and African leaders.
These hounds were bred to hunt larger game which included antelopes, deer and wolves. Over the years, they found their way to Europe and when they first arrived in England, they were to become a definite status symbol. In 1016, only nobles and the elite were allowed to own greyhounds thanks to the Canute Law. They became heraldic dogs found on the coat of arms of the royals, namely Henry VIII and Charles V of France.
Greyhounds were first used for hare coursing, but later thanks to their tremendous turn of speed, these hounds were used for racing, proving themselves to be the fastest dog on the planet. Only the cheetah boasts being faster than a Greyhound in full flight.
Today, Greyhounds are still one of the most popular choices as family pets and companion dogs because of their kind, gentle natures and the fact they seem to have a natural affinity with children.
