Slender legs reaching, stretching, consuming the ground, then almost quicker  than the eye could see, gathering and stretching again, the Greyhound  streaked past, lost in the sheer joy of physical exertion. Around and around  the yard he went until his need was satisfied, then he slowed and explored his  surroundings, ever alert for a foolhardy rabbit that may try its luck against  his speed.

A Greyhound in full stride, muscles straining against thin skin, attention  focused on a prey animal or on the internal itch to run, is a creature of rare  beauty. In sharp contrast to this insatiable drive to hunt and to run, a  Greyhound in the home is a pet of uncommon sweetness and gentility.

Among the most ancient breeds, the Greyhound can be seen in Egyptian tomb  carvings dated back to 2751 BC. These carvings depict the dogs attacking deer,  a prey it was well-adapted to hunt.

Although the Greyhound also appears in various Celtic, British, Irish, and  Scottish pictures and literature dating from the 9th Century, its slender  build, deep chest, and thin skin suggest a warm climate birth for the breed.

The Greyhound developed as a sight hunter in the arid and semi-arid lands of  North Africa and the Middle East, and the Arabs selectively bred him for  increased speed. His hunting ability locked in his appeal to the aristocracy,  for sport hunting was the province only of the upper classes.

Although the breed name "Greyhound" seems to be a reference to color, its  origin is not so simple. Some attribute the name to a derivation of Graius  or Grecian. Others trace it to the old British grech or greg, meaning dog and  hundr, meaning hunting. Still others prefer the simpler explanation -- the  original color of the dogs was grey and the name simply means grey dog.

No matter his color, the Greyhound was definitely an aristocrat in whatever  country he resided. Indeed, the English Parliament protected the status of the  breed with a law in 1016 that prohibited ownership to "meane persons" and  allowed only conditional ownership to "freemen." The value of a Greyhound  exceeded that of a serf, and the punishment for causing death of a Greyhound  was equivalent to the punishment for murder.

The Greyhound can hunt hoofed game and wild canids, but his specialty is  rabbits. The English sport of coursing -- hunting by sight instead of scent  -- has roots in ancient Greece, and is a sport valued for the contest more  than the catching of the prey. The Greek historian Arrian wrote more than  1800 years ago: "For coursers, such at least as are true sportsmen, do not  take their dogs out for the sake of catching a hare, but for the contest and  sport of coursing, and are glad if the hare meets with an escape."

The Greyhound is easily recognized. He varies in height from 26-30 inches and  in weight from 60-90 pounds. He can be any color from white to black, including  fawn, grey, red, or brown, and any pattern from solid to pinto to brindle.

He has a deep chest for great heart and lung capacity, slender legs for speed  and agility, and well-developed muscles for endurance. He has a slender head  with wide nostrils for more effective breathing while running. His ears are  small and folded over when he's racing or at rest and tend to stand upright  when he's alert. His dark eyes reveal a gentle, intelligent soul.

His feet are tough, cat-like, and well-suited to swift pursuit over rough  terrain.

The Greyhound has a soft, fine, short coat that sheds little and needs only  an occasional rubdown. However, his thin skin tears easily, so daily once-overs  are a good idea.

The Greyhound shines as a pet in a quiet household. He is sensitive, easily  distracted, and somewhat distressed by noise and bustle. He's good with  considerate children past the toddling stage, and he gets along well with other  dogs. Cats, however, can be another story; he may consider them prey and chase  them whenever the opportunity arises.

Unlike breeds that must be socialized as puppies to temper their dominant  tendencies, the Greyhound needs early socialization to give it confidence  and build self assurance. A Greyhound puppy that is not accustomed to noise  and people at an early age can be excessively fearful of loud or persistent  sounds and painfully timid with strangers.

The Greyhound's sensitive nature makes obedience training necessary and  time-consuming. Training does build confidence and help forge a bond between  dog and owner, but Greyhound owners must be extra patient and gentle to avoid  stressing the dog unduly.

Racing Greyhounds and show Greyhounds are different dogs. Show dogs are more  likely to receive the special attention their sensitive natures require and to  be bred for good temperament. Racing Greyhounds are often treated with  indifference, even with cruelty, especially if they do not live up to the  expectations of their owners.

Show dogs are bred by the heirs of the aristocracy, breeders who concentrate on  sweetness and form in their quest for Best of Breed. Racing dogs are bred by  the heirs of the common folk, breeders whose livelihood depends directly on the  speed of the dogs, and they are often brutal in their management and practices.

Tens of thousands of racing Greyhounds are bred each year, and only a small  fraction of that number are fast enough to race and a still smaller fraction  are fast enough to win consistently. Tens of thousands are culled each year;  that is, they are put to death because they don't make the grade. Whole  litters may be destroyed if they don't measure up, and dogs past their racing  or breeding prime may face the same fate. Mass graves of Greyhounds have been  discovered; the dogs' bodies are usually missing an ear so the tattoo won't  lead back to the owner.

Many sighthound owners participate in lure coursing with their dogs. This  sport simulates the dogs' original rabbit-hunting purpose but uses plastic  garbage bags dragged along a wire as the lure instead of live animals. It  satisfies the dogs' urge to run and provides a certain amount of competition  and reward. The American Kennel Club and the individual breed clubs of each  sighthound breed offer titles for coursing dogs.

A lure course is best set up on a large tract of gently rolling land. The  lure is mechanically operated; it runs along a wire a few inches above the  ground and is controlled by a hand-held remote unit. It can be stopped and  restarted if the dogs lose concentration and veer off course.

The course has a specified number of turns depending on the level at which the  dogs are working. The lure operator starts the plastic bags along the wire at  the judge's signal, and the dogs are released on command. Two or three dogs  may run together, just as they would if coursing rabbits in the field. The  finish line is a few feet from the starting line; if the dog stays on course,  he returns to his handler as the lure comes to the end of the line.

Each run is timed, and the dogs are scored on their speed, agility, and  tenacity on the course and their ability to work with other dogs.

Further information about lure coursing is available from the American  Kennel Club, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

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