Breed Information A short history The greyhound is one of the oldest pure dog breeds in the world.  Based on the breed's physical characteristics and on artifacts recovered from ancient sites, it is thought that the breed originated in North Africa and the Middle East thousands of years ago.  Greyhounds have been highly valued as hunters and companions for many hundreds of years.  In fact, during the Middle Ages, only nobility were allowed to own greyhounds and if a non-noble person was found to own a greyhound, the punishment was severe.  By the end of the 16th century, times had changed and people of all social and economic classes were able to own greyhounds.  During the 19th century, greyhound racing increased in popularity in England and it spread to the United States by the 20th century.  By the late 1970s and early 1980s, greyhound adoption groups began placing retiring racing greyhounds into their "forever homes" as they left the track.  Physical characteristics Racing greyhounds typically weigh between 50 and 80 pounds and stand between 25 and 29 inches tall.  They have a short smooth coat which can come in a variety of colors including fawn, white, black, red, and brindle.  Their coats can be grey, known as "blue", though it is one of the rarer colors of greyhound. The racing greyhound is built for speed.  Its ears often lay flat against its long lean head.  It has a deep chest with a large heart and lungs.  It has a high concentration of red blood cells, allowing extra oxygen to be carried through its body while running.  Its high muscle-to-fat ratio help the greyhound to run at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Finally, due to breeding practices in the racing community, retired racing greyhounds are not susceptible to many diseases which affect other pure breeds.  Hip dysplasia, for instance, is virtually unheard of in greyhounds.  In short, racing greyhounds are bred for health and athleticism and are very healthy dogs! Personality characteristics Retired racing greyhounds are calm, gentle dogs.  Many people are surprised to hear that retired racing greyhounds do not require great amounts of exercise each day.  Most owners find that providing their greyhounds with daily walks and/or a fenced area to run in on a regular basis keeps their dogs well-exercised and free from boredom.  In the house, most retired racing greyhounds are content to spend the majority of their time lounging and napping on soft beds or pillows.  In fact, they are often called "45 mile per hour couch potatoes" because of their love of napping! Retired racing greyhounds are sensitive in nature.  A firm "No" is normally sufficient to correct any misbehavior on their part.  Most importantly, the retired racing greyhound wants to feel as if it is a part of the family.  For this reason, owners often find that their greys are happiest when spending time with them--whether it is taking a walk together or just sleeping in the same room as the owners.