Lévrier greyhound

It is a very ancient dog, known since Antiquity. Its main quality is its racing speed. Thus, the Greeks already organized running competitions. It probably descends from the Arabian Greyhound imported to Europe by Phoenician navigators, and since Antiquity, it has been used for hunting hares, deer, fallow deer, and wild boars. The Greyhound was very popular in Medieval Europe, particularly among sovereigns. It appeared on the coat of arms of King of France Charles V and those of Henry VIII of England. Around 1750, the English codified the rules of coursing. In 1927, courses with artificial hares began, very spectacular and still prized today.

The Greyhound has a very good character. It is intelligent, gentle, and calm, very affectionate toward its owners and rather indifferent to strangers. If the Greyhound is a solid dog, it is also a sensitive and observant dog that adapts very quickly to its masters and its environment.

It is a large sighthound (approximately 70 to 80 cm for males and 60 to 70 cm for females) and vigorous. All coat colors exist, from black to entirely white, passing through blues, slate, tawny, brindle. Sensitive in nature, it is gentle and patient with children. Very loyal to its master, it is exclusive in its friendships; its loyalty is moreover symbolized on cathedral effigies, where it is found sculpted in marble, at the feet of its master. Its gallop called "double suspension" gives the Greyhound great velocity. Its harmonious construction is emphasized by significant and very powerful musculature. The head and neck are long, the shoulders oblique and well-marked, the chest deep, the back wide and flat, the loin slightly arched. It moves with a suppleness that accentuates its type and characteristic finesse. The Greyhound possesses remarkable vigor and endurance. It can reach its top speed of 70 km/h in 3 seconds. It is the fastest sighthound.