Greyhound

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A sleek, contoured dog built for speed with a very deep chest and an extraordinarily flexible, curved spine. The head is long with almost no stop and the muzzle tapers. The skull is wide between the ears. The small rose ears are folded back.

The eyes are dark and the neck is long and graceful. The front legs are absolutely straight. The hindquarters are very powerful and muscular with an arched loin. The long tail is carried low and has a slight upward curve at the end. The short, smooth coat comes in all dog colors.

Temperament: Affectionate, Intelligent, Quiet, Gentle, Even Tempered, Athletic

Speed: 70 km/h (Maximum, Race speed)

Health Problems: Prone to bloat. It is better to feed them 2 or 3 small meals rather than one large one. They are sensitive to drugs, including insecticides. It is said that they are also prone to hypothyroidism, however it is also believed that a Greyhounds' thyroid levels are naturally lower than most dogs and many people put them on unnecessary treatment for hypothyroidism - at much harm to the dog - upon recommendation from an uneducated vet. There is only one way to truly confirm if a greyhound actually has hypothyroidism, and that is to have a complete thyroid panel done (Michigan State University thyroid panel). There is an excellent book by Cynthia Branigan, "Adopting the Racing Greyhound", which has a whole chapter on it.