Greyhounds

These Greyhounds are Blue, Fancy and Holly, right to left, Fancy and Blue are sisters and Holly is their mother. In my experience the Greyhound is a breed of dog that truly loves to socialize, they have a big love of company/guests, whether they be four legged or two.

Short History on the Greyhound

Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs and there is a fair amount of controversy in regards to their history.  Greyhounds can be traced back as far as Ancient Egypt, it is noted that it is said there was a difference in the dog of then and the one of today, but regardless it was still a dog of the Greyhound Family. 

A interesting quote I did find reads thus: 'Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty. In fact, from the 11th to the 14th century, English law decreed that no "mean person" was allowed to keep a Greyhound. Penalty for breaking this law was death!'

Greyhounds are a quiet dog, very seldom bark, perhaps in play when they are young. The Greyhounds we've had and have I must say are quite spoiled, they have several dog beds, jackets, blankets and toys to play with. The one we have right now likes to choose her own diet, she does not like dog food, she always wants human food or we have to put some kind of sauce on her kibble so she will eat it.

Tiga which is the black greyhound is more of a jealous brat, she does not want any other dog to have more attention than her. Tiga is a bit of an instigator, she used to bug Fancy by pulling at her tail or pretty near sitting on top of her until Fancy had enough and gave her the never mind. If other dogs bark at Tiga she will bark back, whereas Fancy could not be bothered to waste the energy in giving other dogs a second thought. Two completely different personalities, a uniqueness that we adored in both of them, together they were a good pair, Fancy was the master of the roost and Tiga was the up-riser.

Even when she was over 14 Fancy could still get around. Could not go for long walks or anything like that but she still managed, though she did tire rather quickly. Walking on linoleum was never an issue for her, nor is it for our other Greyhound Tiga.

As to Fancy we did take her a couple of times for Lure Coursing but she did not find it all that appealing... She would start the race and then figure out a way to cheat, cut straight across the field not following the lure or the other dogs... or sometimes she would just stop and come back to Heinz.

As you can see by the photo Tiga is prone to the sparse hair on the hind quarters, when she is outside more it tans a bit so it is not as noticeable.

Tiga will chase anything that moves, heaven help the squirrels in the back yard or a cat or anything else that is small and furry, she has a very strong hunting instinct this one. Thankfully she has never caught anything and we're trying to keep it that way. Tiga is quite demanding and her personality strays a bit from the typical greyhound. She is protective and not so friendly with strangers unless we are around. If other dogs bark at her she will bark back, quite aggressive for a female and very tall for a female as well. As to the word Aggressive, this is not to say that Tiga will take your leg off but she will not back down when challenged by another as long as she has our pant legs to hide behind. If others of her kind show aggression towards her she will not remain silent and voice her concerns right back.

We really do feed her, Tiga the ever so skinny greyhound:

We have had children come up and ask 'Does she eat much?' and the answer is yes, she eats a lot but she just does not gain weight. She gets her regular vet checks and deworming, she is in excellent health but as you can see she is lacking in pounds. It's easy for her to lose weight but as to gaining, that's another story.

They will help dispel some of the Myths associated with Greyhounds if you are unsure of this breed of dog. You will find info about Racing, Rules and Regulations, Welfare, Ownership, Training and Education and a general Knowledge Base.

If your are not yet an owner of a Greyhound and are seriously considering acquiring one please do your homework. My experience with them is that they are very loving and they love company, they are social in nature and like to be out and about. Keep in mind they like to chase anything small and furry, a cat or such other pet may or may not work out.

The Greyhound may be the most ancient purebred dog. They originated in Egypt but were established throughout Europe and the Orient well before the Christian era. Often presented as gifts by the nobility, Greyhounds were originally only bred by the ruling classes.

Here is a site where you can find some great info on your pet Greyhound.

Where to find a Greyhound to Rescue:

S.A.G.A. - what they consist of:

S.A.G.A is an all-volunteer registered Canadian Charity that is dedicated to rehabilitation and adoption of retired Greyhounds. Every Greyhound adopted through S.A.G.A has been bred and born as a National Greyhound Association greyhound: all have dual tattoos in their ears which can trace, and prove, their ancestry. These Greyhounds have all been retired from their racing career, so S.A.G.A works specifically with Kennel Owners, various Greyhound Tracks and American Adoption Groups throughout the United States to attain Greyhounds in need of adoptive homes. Since 2003, we have placed greyhounds from Kansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, Texas and Connecticut.

The Alberta Kennel Club, an all-breed dog club, was founded in 1904 by a group of Sporting Dog enthusiasts. The purpose of the AKC is to promote the betterment and welfare of purebred dogs by encouraging responsible breeding and ownership as well as sportsmanlike conduct.

They can be found at Alberta Kennel Club

• They have great tips on things to think about before you buy or adopt your new friend.
• Understanding a Dog Show, how and where to enter your pal.
• Links to external helpful sites on all types of Dogs and Breeds.

Greyhound Colors

As you can see by now Greyhounds do come in many different colours. There are approximately thirty recognized color forms, of which variations of white, brindle, fawn, black, red and blue (gray) can appear uniquely or in combination.

Fancy was a brown brindle and Miss Tiga is your basic black.

The Calgary Greyhound Walking Club was officially formed in May 2004 after a small group of friends and Greyhound owners met for a walk in a local park. It was such an enjoyable event for both the dogs and their people that we decided to get together on a regularly scheduled basis.

Having a Greyhound in the family I know how social they are and how they just love company.They love their walks and they get used to a routine and they start singing the blues when you are not on time getting home from work, taking them for a walk, fetching their ball from under the couch and on and on it goes. All dogs love and want your attention, make that your undivided attention.