Orlovia
The Greyhound has a short, smooth coat with fine, thick hair that also has a silky sheen.
Origin of the Greyhound Breed
It is assumed that the ancestors of this breed came from the Near East, since, for example, in Egyptian burial chambers of the 4th dynasty between 4000 and 3500 BC Drawings of dogs have been found that closely resemble modern-day greyhounds and Salukis. This shows that these dogs were already highly valued in those days, and in the centuries that followed they proved to be a highly sought-after barter.
It is not entirely clear who eventually brought the dogs to England, where they were bred to their current standard. Some sources believe that the animals came to Europe with the first Phoenician merchant ships, others assume that the Celts arrived in 375 BC. the Greyhounds were brought to the British Isles.
There is also no agreement on the exact meaning of the name. One explanation could be the original gray color, another would be the Latin word “gradus”, which means something like speed. But the Old English word for dog, “Grech” or “Greg” or the Celtic word “grey”, which also means dog, could also be the origin of the name.
Finally, “greyhound” could just as easily be short for “greyhound,” “gazehound,” or just plain “great hound.” Be that as it may, the greyhound has been common in Europe and the Middle East since ancient times, and was particularly prized by the nobility. Especially in England, the greyhound and its smaller brother, the Italian greyhound, have become a status symbol of the upper classes since the Middle Ages.
It became a widespread coat of arms dog and can be found, for example, on the coat of arms of King Charles V of France and King Henry VIII of England. Due to its speed, it was particularly suitable for hunting small game such as hares and rabbits.
At the end of the Middle Ages, he was then preferably used for so-called “coursing”, where two greyhounds chased a live hare in competition. When this “sport” was then banned because of its brutality, an artificial rabbit was used instead of a live one and no small sums were bet on the supposed winner in these races along a circuit.
Nature and Character of the Greyhound
Greyhounds have a loving, sensitive character. They are extremely considerate towards children in particular, which makes them excellent family dogs.
Education
They are calm, cuddly, and loyal to their people, but absolutely need close family connections. They are relatively undemanding when it comes to keeping and caring for them, but they need a lot of exercises. The innate urge to hunt makes it very difficult to let them run off a leash, so the animals should be given the opportunity to let off steam in a racing or coursing club according to their nature.
Nevertheless, they are basically rather lazy. If you raise them with love, they are very obedient and well-behaved. They are rather reserved towards strangers, very friendly and loving towards their families.
They have healthy appetites, which certainly makes them not a dog for everyone. In addition to their excellent suitability as racing dogs, they also make top-notch show dogs because of their slim, elegant build.