Greyhounds are the oldest breed of dog and one of the most beloved. Evidence of these beautiful creatures is seen in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs dating back to over 3000 years ago. They were loved by nobility and commoners alike. There is no comparison to the greyhounds speed. They can reach speeds of up to 45 mph and are over 10 times faster than a thoroughbred racehorse. The greyhounds instinct is to chase. When doing so, they rely on their sight unlike most hounds that rely on smell. Because of this, they are considered "sight hounds". A greyhound can see up to a half mile away.
Originally man relied on the greyhound to hunt for food and kill rodents that threatened crops. However, greyhounds also provided entertainment through the sport of coursing in which a game animal was chased in open fields. Eventually coursing became a competitive sport in which two hounds ran against each other to catch the game. Of course, the competitive nature of the sport led to wagering. Eventually mechanical lures and oval tracks were created which led to modern day greyhound racing. Racing continues in the US today as well as England, Ireland and Australia.
Greyhounds usually "retire" from their racing careers around 4 years of age. Often times though they are retired earlier due to injury or poor performance. My poor Zoe didn't win any races so she was adopted out at 2 years of age. Our goal of course is to get all greyhounds adopted once they retire. Greyhounds are gentle loving animals that are usually good with children. They make wonderful companions and usually settle into their new adoptive homes quite nicely.
Greyhounds are large dogs weighing in at anywhere from 55 to 100 lbs but you wouldn't know it. Greyhounds are very graceful and actually don't require an excessive amount of space. However, it is best to have a fenced in back yard. Greyhounds should never be let off of their leash or tied out on a chain. Remember, their instinct is to chase so they can easily run off and become lost or injured. If tied out on a chain there is a serious threat as they may see something they want to chase and go after it forgetting they are on a chain. Greyhounds can reach top speed in only a few strides so they risk breaking their necks if they are tied out.