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41-492: Xigou is an ancient native dog breed in China. Xigou is currently known to be 2,500 years old. Xigou has always been popular with nobles and citizens of Chinese dynasties.There are traces of Xigou in many Chinese tombs and cultural relics. While some cynologists speculate just might be the principal ancestor of all sighthounds known today, others indicate some intermixing with modern stock, pointing to greyhounds shipped to China by

82-754: A "Velcro dog"). Small animals including cats may be the subject of prey-driven behaviour by Greyhounds. The original primary use of Greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe, was in the coursing of deer for meat and sport; later, specifically in Britain, they specialized in competition hare coursing . Some Greyhounds are still used for coursing, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular. Many leading 300- to 550-yard sprinters have bloodlines traceable back through Irish sires, within

123-506: A family pet. Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-coated, "S-shaped" type of sighthound with a long tail and tough feet. Greyhounds are a separate breed from other related sighthounds, such as the Italian greyhound . The Greyhound's combination of long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine, and slim build allows it to reach average race speeds exceeding 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph). A racing greyhound can reach

164-683: A few generations of racers that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup. Until the early 20th century, Greyhounds were principally bred and trained for hunting and coursing . 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). Australia also has a significant racing culture. In

205-684: A formalised competition, specifically on hare in Britain, practised under rules, the Laws of the Leash'. As a zoological term, it refers to predation by running down prey over long distances, as opposed to stalking, in which a stealthy approach is followed by a short burst of sprinting. Humans also employ coursing as a means of hunting, but the term is normally reserved for predation by non-human predators. Animals coursed in hunting and sport include hares , foxes , deer of all sorts, antelope , gazelle , jackals , wolves . Jackrabbits and coyotes are

246-656: A full speed of at least 21.3 m/s (77 km/h) 47 mph. However, the most common speeds at which they usually win races are 58–61 Km/h (16–17 m/s ). Its maximal speed is attained whether both running in a straight or bending track. Males are usually 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in) tall at the withers , and weigh on average 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb). Females tend to be smaller, with shoulder heights ranging from 66 to 71 centimetres (26 to 28 in) and weights from 25 to 34 kilograms (55 to 75 lb), although weights can be above and below these average weights. Greyhounds have very short fur, which

287-459: A general lack of body fat, also makes Greyhounds more susceptible to extreme temperatures (both hot and cold); because of this, they must be housed inside. Some Greyhounds are susceptible to corns on their paw pads; a variety of methods are used to treat them. Thyroxine levels in the Greyhound are below the normal reference range for dogs; thyroxine response to thyroid-stimulating hormone

328-689: A hunting dog and watchdog. Experts believe the Menggu Xigou originated from one of the oldest dog breeds, the Saluki . Once a top hunting dog in Northeastern Mongolia, this breed is relatively rare today. Xiaotian Quan ( Chinese : 哮天犬 ) is a Chinese mythological beast and companion of the Chinese god Erlang Shen ( Chinese : 二郎神 ). According to the descriptions of many mythological texts, drawings and sculptures, Xiaotian Quan

369-506: Is a disorder of the fibrinolysis system without derangement of the primary or secondary coagulation systems , and is also not related to platelet count. In this syndrome there is initial adequate hemostasis following trauma or routine surgical procedures, however 36–48 hours later the site undergoes inappropriate hyperfibrinolysis . This results in delayed bleeding which can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Standard pre-operative blood work does not identify those at risk It

410-484: Is a slender, short-haired white dog. For this reason, some scholars believe that Xiaotian Quan is a white short-haired Xigou. Greyhound The English Greyhound , or simply the Greyhound , is a breed of dog , a sighthound which has been bred for coursing , greyhound racing and hunting. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurgence in popularity as

451-569: Is also lowered. This can impact testing for thyroid disease but it is not a concern for health. "The true origin of the greyhound is unsure, but drawings of findings from the Çatalhöyük site in Turkey (6000 BC), the finding of a greyhound- like dog in a funeral vase in the town of Fusa in Iran (4200 BC) or in rock art in Tassili (dated at 5000 – 2000 BC) indicate that the greyhound is indeed one of

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492-538: Is an ancient and rare breed that originated in China. These majestic dogs are skilled hunters, dependable guard dogs, and devoted companions. Some experts believe the Shaanxi Xigou is the original sighthound breed. The Shaanxi Xigou is characterized by a long, narrow sheep-like head, but not all descendants will necessarily inherit this head type. The Shandong Xigou is a rare breed with a keen sense of smell and innate hunting instinct. Shandong Xigou once served as

533-698: Is distinct from common bleeding disorders in other breeds such as von Willebrand's disease , which is uncommon in Greyhounds. Although high-quality research data are lacking, it is thought that this condition can be prevented and treated by administering antifibrinolytic medication such as tranexamic acid via the oral or parenteral route. Intensive care and blood product administration may also be required in severe cases. Greyhounds do not have undercoats and thus are less likely to trigger dog allergies in humans (they are sometimes incorrectly referred to as " hypoallergenic "). The lack of an undercoat, coupled with

574-455: Is easy to maintain. There are approximately 30 recognized color forms, of which variations of white, brindle, fawn (pale tan to dark deer-red), black, red, and blue (gray) can appear uniquely or in combination. Greyhounds are dolichocephalic , with a skull which is relatively long in comparison to its breadth, and an elongated muzzle. Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments. They do well in families with children, as long as

615-658: Is lanky, 60 to 78 centimetres (24 to 31 in) tall and weighs between 20 and 30 kilograms (44 and 66 lb). Xigou has a long and narrow head, a flat forehead, small spacing between ears, drooping ears, a slender neck, a slender waist, a curved back, and a long tail. It is divided into short-haired and feathered species, etc. Coat colors include yellow, black, brown, white, and fawn red. The existing Xigou varieties mainly include Shaanxi Xigou ( Chinese : 陝西細狗 ), Shandong Xigou ( Chinese : 山東細狗 ), Hebei Xigou ( Chinese : 河北細狗 ) and Menggu Xigou ( Chinese : 蒙古細狗 ), etc. The Shaanxi Xigou , also known as Shanxi Hound ,

656-673: Is still used for dogs in general in Scandinavian languages today. Its origin does not appear to have any common root with the modern word "grey" for color, and indeed the Greyhound is seen with a wide variety of coat colors. The lighter colors, patch-like markings and white appeared in the breed that was once ordinarily grey in color. The Greyhound is the only dog mentioned by name in the Bible ( Hebrew : זַרְזִיר מׇתְנַיִם , zarir mosna'im ) in Proverbs 30:29–31 . Many versions, including

697-586: Is very loyal to the owner, has a strong memory, a keen sense of smell, a high desire to hunt, and has good endurance. It is suitable for hunting in the plains and can also be used as a guard dog. Hebei Xigou is a Xigou variety improved and extended from Shandong Xigou, some scholars believe that the Hebei Xigou appeared around the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period . During the Qing Dynasty ,

738-618: The Czech lands. The earliest archaeological discovery found conclusively to be a greyhound specifically was at the Chotěbuz fort in the Czech Republic . This comprised sighthound type "gracile" bones dating from the 8th to 9th century AD. These bones matched those of a 70 cm (28 in) high "greyhound", and were also genetically compared with the modern Greyhound and other sighthounds, and found to be almost completely identical with

779-595: The East India Company . Once used to chase and capture prey on the open, flat land of the Huangtu Plateau, the breed is now in trouble, its numbers plummeting as a result of the government curbing the rights of its citizens to hunt. The China Kennel Union (CKU) classifies the breed as 'rare', and is trying to resurrect it. To that end, the CKU initiated an effort to collect DNA from the dogs in 2017. Xigou

820-666: The Jewish Publication Society and King James Version , name the Greyhound as one of the "three that are stately of stride". However, some newer biblical translations, including the New International Version , have changed this to 'strutting rooster', which appears to be an alternative translation. According to Pokorny , the English term 'Greyhound' does not mean "grey dog/hound", but simply "fair dog". Subsequent words have been derived from

861-556: The Proto-Indo-European root *g'her- "shine, twinkle": English 'grey', Old High German gris "grey, old", Old Icelandic griss "piglet, pig", Old Icelandic gryja "to dawn", gryjandi "morning twilight", Old Irish grian "sun", Old Church Slavonic zorja "morning twilight, brightness". The common sense of these words is "to shine; bright". In 1928, the first winner of Best in Show at Crufts

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902-524: The Hebei Xigou was selected as the royal hunting dog and was favored by the Kangxi Emperor . The Mongol Xigou , also known as Qidan Hound ( Chinese : 契丹獵犬 ). is a distinctly different looking hound; much stockier and with a thicker coat. The Menggu Xigou is an ancient hunting breed known for its tenacity, keen sense of smell, and running ability. Mongolian Xigou was loved by some northern aristocrats in Chinese history who used Menggu Xigou as

943-616: The United Kingdom. Historically, these sighthounds were used primarily for hunting in the open where their pursuit speed and keen eyesight were essential. The name "Greyhound" is generally believed to come from the Old English ' grighund ' . Hund is the antecedent of the modern "hound", but the meaning of grig is undetermined, other than in reference to dogs in Old English and Old Norse . The word "hund"

984-703: The United States, aside from professional racing, many Greyhounds enjoy success on the amateur race track. Organizations like the Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA) provide opportunities for Greyhounds to compete. Historically, the Greyhound has, since its first appearance as a hunting type and breed, enjoyed a specific degree of fame and definition in Western literature, heraldry and art as

1025-466: The United States. Outside the racing industry and coursing community, the Kennel Clubs' registered breed still enjoys a modest following as a show dog and pet. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11.5 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . A 2005 Swedish study of insurance data found 60% of Greyhounds died by the age of 10, higher than

1066-506: The breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly when anesthesia is required. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate -based anesthesia in the same way that other breeds can because their livers have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes . Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry, which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed and can result in an incorrect diagnosis. Greyhounds are very sensitive to insecticides . Many vets do not recommend

1107-463: The children are taught to treat the dog properly with politeness and appropriate respect. Greyhounds have a sensitive nature, and gentle commands work best as training methods. Occasionally, a Greyhound may bark; however, they are generally not barkers, which is beneficial in suburban environments, and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own families. A 2008 University of Pennsylvania study found that Greyhounds are one of

1148-638: The early period of Roman occupation, the Vindolanda tablets (No. 594), demonstrate that the occupying troops from Continental Europe either had with them in the North of England, or certainly knew of, the vertragus and its hunting use. During the Middle Ages , greyhounds could only be owned by rulers and nobles, having long been associated with heraldic symbols of the ruling class in England, France, and

1189-407: The ground in two phases, contracted and extended, during each full stride. The musculature of both hindlimbs constitutes more than 18 % of their body mass. The proportion of both forelimbs muscle mass is very similar. The proportion of back musculature is 12 % of their body mass. Due to the Greyhound's unique physiology and anatomy, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to

1230-500: The hound to move larger quantities of oxygen faster from the lungs to the muscles. Conversely, Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds. Delayed haemorrhage following trauma or routine surgery is more common in Greyhounds, with one study reporting significant haemorrhage in 26% of Greyhounds following routine gonadectomy , compared to 0-2% in other dog breeds. This is often termed greyhound fibrinolytic syndrome or breed-associated hyperfibrinolysis, where in there

1271-696: The least aggressive dog breeds towards strangers, owners, and other dogs. However, Greyhounds can be prone to sleep startle/sleep aggression if suddenly disturbed while napping. Owners can encounter this problem, as many greyhounds sleep with their eyes at least partially open, appearing awake. A survey of those adopting rescue Greyhounds found that Greyhound adoptions have higher short term adoption success than shelters. The survey also found reported hyperactivity levels to be below that of shelter dogs. Greyhounds tend to be outgoing, happy and sociable with people and seem to relish human contact, even following owners from room to room at home (known colloquially as being

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1312-538: The modern Greyhound breed, with the exception of only four deletions and one substitution in the DNA sequences, which were interpreted as differences probably arising from 11 centuries of breeding of this type of dog. 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

1353-636: The most common animals coursed in the United States . Competitive coursing in Ireland , the UK (until prohibition in 2004), Portugal and Spain has two dogs running against each other. In the United States, generally speaking, three dogs are run together. The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act and the Hunting Act 2004 (in England and Wales ) made it illegal to hunt any type of mammal with dogs with

1394-400: The most elegant or noble companion and hunter of the canine world. 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. This has been prevalent in recent years due to track closures in

1435-467: The oldest breeds of dog.". The ancient skeletal remains of a dog identified as being of the greyhound/ saluki form were excavated at Tell Brak in modern Syria, and dated as being approximately 4,000 years old. Dogs that look similar to Salukis and Greyhounds were increasingly depicted on Egyptian tombs from the Middle Kingdom (2134 BC–1785 BC) onward. Historical literature by Arrian on

1476-428: The overall rate of 35% of dogs dying by the age of 10. The speed of a Greyhound is due to its light but muscular build, large heart , highest percentage of oxidative–glycolytic fast twitch muscle fibers (Type IIa) of any breed, double suspension gallop , and extreme flexibility of its spine . "Double suspension rotary gallop" describes the fastest running gait of the Greyhound in which all four feet are free from

1517-455: The royal hunting dog of the Tang dynasty and has been a royal hunting dog for centuries. In fact, in addition to working with hunters, this breed excels at protecting livestock on farms. Hebei Xigou , also known as Kangxi Imperial Dog ( Chinese : 康熙御犬 ), is a rare breed in China. Hebei Xigou is similar in appearance to Greyhound . Hebei Xigou is mainly used for hunting hares. Hebei Xigou

1558-406: The use of flea collars or flea spray on Greyhounds if the product is pyrethrin -based. Products like Advantage , Frontline , Lufenuron , and Amitraz are safe for use on Greyhounds, however, and are very effective in controlling fleas and ticks . Greyhounds have higher levels of red blood cells than other breeds. Since red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, this higher level allows

1599-650: The vertragus (from the Latin vertragus , a word of Celtic origin), the first recorded sighthound in Europe and possible antecedent of the Greyhound, suggested that its origin lies with the Celts from Eastern Europe or Eurasia. Systematic archaeozoology of Britain conducted in 1974 ruled out the existence of a true greyhound-type in Britain prior to the Roman occupation, which was further confirmed in 2000. Written evidence from

1640-493: Was a common hunting technique, practised by the nobility, the landed and wealthy, as well as by commoners with sighthounds and lurchers . In its oldest recorded form in the Western world , as described by Arrian —it was a sport practised by all levels of society, and it remained the case until Carolingian period forest law appropriated hunting grounds, or commons, for the king, the nobility, and other landowners. It then became

1681-520: Was breeder/owner Mr. H. Whitley's Greyhound Primley Sceptre . Greyhounds have won the award three times in total, the most recent being in 1956. Historically, English Greyhounds were grouped: two for coursing, as a "Brace", three for hunting, as a "Leash", otherwise known as a "couple and a half". Coursing Coursing by humans is the pursuit of game or other animals by dogs —chiefly greyhounds and other sighthounds —catching their prey by speed, running by sight, but not by scent. Coursing

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