During the 1920s, modern greyhound racing was introduced into the United States, England (1926), Northern Ireland (1927), Scotland (1927) and the Republic of Ireland (1927). Greyhound ancestry stretches back to ancient Egypt, where these hounds were used to find, chase, and catch wildlife in the desert. In 1912, Owen Patrick Smith developed and patented a mechanical lure in North America that would run around an oval track, and the sport of greyhound racing was born. The first recognized commercial greyhound racetrack in the United States was built in Emeryville, Calif., in 1919 by Owen Patrick Smith and the Blue Star Amusement Company. [4][5][6] The Greyhound can reach a full speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) within 30 metres (98 ft), or six strides from the boxes, traveling at almost 20 metres per second (66 ft/s) for the first 250 metres (820 ft) of a race.[7][8]. The first records of greyhound type dogs appear about 8,000 years ago. All modern pedigree Greyhounds derive from the Greyhound stock recorded and registered first in private studbooks in the 18th century, then in public studbooks in the 19th century, which ultimately were registered with coursing, racing, and kennel club authorities of the United Kingdom. [42] Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry [1], which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed and can result in an incorrect diagnosis. The bloodline of the sleek and beautiful breed of Greyhound date far back in mankind's history. [11], Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments. Archaeological evidence of greyhound-like dogs dates back 8,000 years to the Middle East, making it one of the most ancient of dog breeds. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate-based anesthesia in the same way that other breeds can because their livers have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes. Egyptian, Roman and Greek nobility treated greyhounds as honored family members. The graves remain to this day. Not surprisingly, that means … Dogged persistence: the phenomenon of canine skeletal uniformity in British prehistory. [17] As per most breeds being rehomed greyhounds that are adopted after racing tend to need time to adjust to their new lives with a human family. This book is available at your local book seller or through Amazon.com. [1] Greyhounds have very short fur, which is easy to maintain. A very common misconception regarding Greyhounds is that they are hyperactive. Greyhounds have a long history which some have claimed dates back to Ancient Egyptian times. Every greyhound arriving at KGR will have history. Greyhound Dog Breed History, Characteristics & Basic Facts. However, the Douay–Rheims Bible translation from the late 4th-century Latin Vulgate into English translates this term as "a cock. Greyhounds appear in both Greek and Roman mythology. Blythe, Linda, Gannon, James, Craig, A. Morrie, and Fegan, Desmond P. (2007). Only the cheetah is faster. In ancient Egypt, greyhounds were revered as gods, and only royalty were allowed to own them. It is a characteristic of the show bloodlines, but the gene was isolated two years ago and the test is available in many veterinary clinics in Europe. The Greyhound belongs to a family of hunting dogs called sighthounds. Every greyhound alive today can trace its lineage back to one dog, King Cob, whelped in England in 1839. Since red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, this higher level allows the hound to move larger quantities of oxygen faster from the lungs to the muscles. Most greyhounds have long tails. Earliest Records The first of our ancestors to befriend the Greyhound was the Ancient Egyptians. And whilst depictions of greyhound-like dogs do appear inside the tombs of pyramids, it’s now considered more likely they originated from Celtic Europeans, with references to ‘Vertraha’ (a Celtic Arrian word for greyhound) appearing as early as 8 A.D. – making them the oldest purebred canine . So far back, no one really knows when they first appeared. Systematic archaeozoology of the British Isles, 1974 [58] ruled out the existence of a true greyhound-type in Britain prior to the Roman occupation, confirmed in 2000. They were likely not the legendary dogs of the Pharaohs. [43], Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides. Fun fact: The Greyhound is one of the most ancient breeds. [37][38][39] Outside the racing industry and coursing community, the Kennel Clubs' registered breed still enjoys a modest following as a show dog and pet. Greyhound History. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from Greyhounds.Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller Greyhound. [25] In some jurisdictions, it is illegal for Greyhounds to be allowed off-leash[26] even in off-leash dog parks. Most greyhounds available for adoption throughout the United States and Canada were raised or raced in Florida. History of the Italian Greyhound . The average lifespan of a Greyhound is 10 to 14 years. In modern times, the professional racing industry, with its large numbers of track-bred greyhounds, as well as international adoption programs aimed at re-homing dogs has redefined the breed as a sporting dog that will supply friendly companionship in its retirement. Greyhounds are the oldest purebred dog, dating to the time of the Pharaohs. The greyhound is the only breed of dog mentioned by name in the Bible. [55][56] This suggests that Greyhounds are either progenitors to or descendants of herding types. "Greyhound Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts", "American Kennel Club – Breed Colors and Markings", "Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, Inc. - About the Athletes", "SEGA_Foster_Manual_V7_FINAL_JUne_2006.doc". History. What You Can Discover 1. The origin of the name “greyhound” is lost in antiquity, but it almost certainly does not refer to the color of the dog. [40][41], Due to the Greyhound's unique physiology and anatomy, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly when anesthesia is required. Greyhounds are the oldest purebred dog, dating to the time of the Pharaohs. Greyhounds arrived in America most likely by Spanish explorers as far back as the 1500s. [63] However, some newer biblical translations, including The New International Version, have changed this to strutting rooster, which appears to be an alternative translation of the Hebrew term mothen zarzir. [48] Some greyhounds are susceptible to corns on their paw pads, a variety of methods are used to treat them. [49], The key to the speed of a Greyhound can be found in its light but muscular build, large heart, highest percentage of fast twitch muscle of any breed,[50][51] double suspension gallop, and extreme flexibility of its spine. The earliest recordings of the Greyhound can be dated back over 4000 years to the time of the ancient Egyptians. During the Dark Ages, a time of disease and famine, greyhounds were saved from extinction by priests who bred them for noblemen. Organizations like the Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA) provide opportunities for Greyhounds to compete.[35][36]. Structured Deposition of Animal Remains in the Fertile Crescent during the Bronze Age, José Luis Ramos Soldado, Archaeopress, 2016, p12. In fact, Greek historians during the years 100 A.D. used to write about how Greyhounds were proudly owned by true sportsmen, whom would race their dogs with hares, while most other dogs were used to hunt them. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans likely had Greyhound-type dogs. The Italian Greyhound breed is believed to have originated in Mediterranean lands, known today as Greece and Turkey, more than 2,000 years ago. Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long-lived breed, and hereditary illness is rare. [32][33][34], In the United States, aside from professional racing, many Greyhounds enjoy success on the amateur race track. History: Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs, tracing back over 8,000 years to early cave drawings and ancient Egyptian artifacts. It is also referred to as an English Greyhound. The first track race in England opened in 1926. Their DNA is different from those desert breeds and unique. 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