The Whippet shows the characteristic long legs, deep chest, and narrow waist of a sighthound.

Sighthounds, also called gazehounds, are hounds that primarily hunt by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance, as scent hounds do. Whippet, white with brindle saddle and head Scorch, son of Torch owned by Maureen Strenfel Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... Whippet, white with brindle saddle and head Scorch, son of Torch owned by Maureen Strenfel Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... For other uses, see Whippet (disambiguation). ... Image:DianaHound. ... Like most scent hounds, the Basset Hound has long ears, large nasal passages, and a sturdy body for endurance. ...

Appearance

Borzoi

These dogs specialize in pursuing prey, keeping it in sight, and overpowering it by their great speed and agility. They must be able to quickly detect motion, so they have keen vision. Sighthounds must be able to capture fast, agile prey such as deer and hare, so they have a very flexible back and long legs for a long stride, a deep chest to support an unusually (compared to other dogs) large heart, very efficient lungs for both anaerobic and aerobic sprints, and a lean, wiry body to keep their weight at a minimum. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 773 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2876 × 2230 pixel, file size: 448 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) author: Pleple2000 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 773 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2876 × 2230 pixel, file size: 448 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) author: Pleple2000 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Borzoi is a breed of dog also called the Russian Wolfhound. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Fawn and Stag redirect here. ... Jack rabbit and Jackrabbit redirect here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aerobic exercise refers to exercise which is of moderate intensity, undertaken for a long duration. ...

The typical sighthound also has a light, lean head, which is referred to as being dolichocephalic in its proportions. This shape can create the illusion that their heads are longer than usual. Dolichocephaly is actually a characteristic of wolves and other wild carnivores, and is related to the need for stereoscopic vision in active hunting. For reasons not yet understood, most domesticated animals including dogs (other than the sighthounds) have become brachycephalic—short-headed—and have partially lost this aspect of their field of vision (see cephalic index). The cephalic index is the ratio of the maximum breadth of the head to its maximum length, sometimes multiplied by 100 for convenience. ... The cephalic index is the ratio of the maximum breadth of the head to its maximum length (i. ...

History

Saluki

Sighthounds such as the Saluki may have existed for at least 5,000 years, with the earliest known sighthounds appearing in Eurasia. The earliest description of a sighthound in European recorded history comes from Arrian's Cynegeticus, of the 2nd century AD. Although today most sighthounds are kept primarily as pets, they have been bred for thousands of years to detect movement, chase, capture, and kill prey primarily by speed. They thrive on physical activity. Some have mellow personalities, others are watchful or even hostile towards strangers, but the instinct to chase running animals remains strong. Image File history File linksMetadata Saluki_dog_breed. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Saluki_dog_breed. ... The Saluki was originally known as the Persian Greyhound. ... The Saluki was originally known as the Persian Greyhound. ... Alexander the Great Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon (c. ... It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ...

Apart from coursing, open-field coursing, and hunting, various dog sports are practiced with purebred sighthounds, and sometimes with Lurchers and Longdogs. Such sports include racing, lure coursing, and other events. Coursing is the pursuit of game by dogs—chiefly Greyhounds—running by sight, not by scent. ... Coursing is the pursuit of game by dogs—chiefly Greyhounds—running by sight, not by scent. ... “Hunter” redirects here. ... The fuck up is not a dog breed, but rather a type of dog native to the British Isles, a hearty crossbred sighthound which is generally a cross between a Greyhound and another sort of local dog. ... A Longdog that is a cross between a Saluki and a Greyhound. ... Several dogs prior to a race Dog racing is both a gambling event as well as a fund-raising event, depending on the breed and location. ... Lure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure. ...

Miscellaneous

The fastest sighthound, the Greyhound, can reach speeds of just over 40 mph (64 km/h). This article needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ...

Some breeds or varieties of hounds have historically been called "Half-Sighthounds", in particular the Mediterranean Islands hunting dogs, which have erect ears and use scent and hearing predominantly when they chase their main prey the rabbit, not the hare.

List of sighthounds

This family includes

• Afghan Hound
• American Staghound
• Azawakh
• Borzoi
• Chart Polski (Polish Greyhound)
• Chippiparai
• Galgo Español (Spanish Greyhound)
• Greyhound
• Hortaya Borzaya (Chortaj)
• Irish Wolfhound
• Italian Greyhound
• Kangaroo Dog
• Kanni
• Khalag Tazi
• Longdog
• Lurcher (Mixed breed between Collie Deerhound and Greyhound)
• Magyar Agar (Hungarian Greyhound)
• Mudhol Hound
• Rajapalayam
• Rampur Greyhound
• Saluki
• Scottish Deerhound
• Silken Windhound
• Sloughi
• Tasy
• Whippet

The Afghan Hound is a very old sighthound dog breed. ... Country of origin United States Classification and breed standards Not recognised by any major registries The American Staghound is a type of sighthound that is used in hunting to track a variety of game. ... The Azawakh is a sight hound dog breed from Africa. ... The Borzoi is a breed of dog also called the Russian Wolfhound. ... ... Its a dog from the south of India. ... The Galgo Español (Spanish Galgo) or Spanish Greyhound is an ancient breed of dog, specifically a member of the sighthound family. ... This article needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... The Hortaya Borzaya or simply Hortaya (Хортая Борзая, translation: shorthaired sight hound) is an old Asian sight hound breed originating in the former USSR. It is a dog of large size, of lean but at the same time robust built, of considerably elongated proportions. ... The Irish Wolfhound is a breed of dog (a sighthound) bred to hunt. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Kangaroo Dog is a small breed of dog, approximately 25 inches tall. ... The Kanni, which means maiden, is an ancient indigenous South Indian dog breed found in the state of Tamil Nadu. ... A Longdog that is a cross between a Saluki and a Greyhound. ... The fuck up is not a dog breed, but rather a type of dog native to the British Isles, a hearty crossbred sighthound which is generally a cross between a Greyhound and another sort of local dog. ... Magyar Agar is also called Hungarian Greyhound. ... Country of origin India (Deccan Plateau) Classification Kennel Club of India, Indian National Kennel Club Breed standards (external links) Contributed by Neil Trilokekar The Caravan is an ancient breed, native to the Deccan Plateau of western India. ... The Rajapalayam is an Indian breed of dog. ... The Rampur Hound is a rare and smooth-haired Sighthound from North India. ... The Saluki was originally known as the Persian Greyhound. ... Deerhound Categories: Dog stubs | Dog breeds ... A Silken Windhound, pictured next to the larger-sized Borzoi. ... The Sloughi is a breed of dog, specifically a member of the sighthound family. ... For other uses, see Whippet (disambiguation). ...

Debate around breed inclusion

There has been considerable debate^[1] in many quarters about what breeds are considered to be sighthounds. This is partially due to the fact that most Anglophone kennel clubs do not have a "Sighthound" group per se, where they are included in the larger "Hound" group. Nonetheless, the Old World (FCI) understanding of the sighthound is quite clear and well documented: sighthounds are gräoid shaped dogs, which owe their specific build to their recorded function of speed hunting.

While this debate may appear to simply be a matter of semantics, it is of deeper importance when categorizing breeds through a thorough understanding of their true history and function. The original and documented use of a breed is paramount in deciding its category as a hound, sighthound, working dog, toy breed, etc. It is also of practical concern where the sport of lure coursing is concerned, which is typically only open to breeds which may considered to be sighthounds by the host breed clubs (in North America, particularly the USA) or the organizations that govern the sport (elsewhere).

For instance, both the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Sighthound Field Association consider the Basenji to be eligible for the purpose of lure coursing even though the Fédération Cynologique Internationale does not. The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The American Sighthound Field Association or ASFA is an organization committed to sanctioning and providing a framework for the sport of lure coursing in the United States. ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ...

See also

• Hunting dog

A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting, or whose breed was originally developed to do so. ...

Further reading

• Almirall, Leon V. Canines and Coyotes. Caldwell, Id.: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1941.

• Belkin, Dan. "The Functional Saluki: Lessons from the Coursing Field". Field Advisory News, November/December 1993.

• Brown, Curtis. Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis. Wheat Ridge, Colo.: Hoflin Publishing, 1986.

• Burnham, Pat Gail. "Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and the Question of What is a Sighthound?". Field Advisory News, March/April 1992.

• Como, Denise. Sighthounds Afield: The Complete Guide to Sighthound Breeds & Amateur Performance Events (With a Comprehensive Chapter on Adopted Ex-Racing Greyhounds). Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, 2004. ISBN 1418438227.

• Copold, Steve. The Complete Book of Coursing: Hounds, Hares & Other Creatures, rev. & expanded 2nd ed. Wheat Ridge, Colo.: Hoflin Publishing, 1996.

• Copold, Steve. Hounds, Hares & Other Creatures: The Complete Book of Coursing (1st ed.). Arvada, Colo.: D. R. Hoflin, 1977 (1996).

• Cunliffe, Juliette. Popular Sight Hounds. London: Popular Dogs Publishing Co. Ltd., 1992. ISBN 0091750253.

• Grant-Rennick, Richard (ed.). Coursing: The Pursuit of Game with Gazehounds. Saul, Gloucestershire: The Standfast Sporting Library, 1977. ISBN 0950214892.

• Hawkins, Richard. "What Is A Sighthound". Dogs In Canada, April 2006.

• Miller, Constance O. Gazehounds: The Search For Truth. Wheat Ridge, Colo.: Hoflin Publishing, 1988.

• Phillips, A.A., and M.M. Willcock, (eds.). Xenophon & Arrian On Hunting with Hounds. Oxford: Aris & Phillips, 1999. ISBN 0856687065.

• Russell, Joanna. All about Gazehounds. London: Pelham, 1976. ISBN 0720709261.

• Salmon, M. H. ("Dutch"). Gazehounds & Coursing. St. Cloud, Minn.: North Star Press, 1977. ISBN 0878390243.

• Salmon, M. H. ("Dutch"). Gazehounds & Coursing: The History, Art, and Sport of Hunting with Sighthounds, Rev. and expanded 2nd ed. Silver City, N.M.: High-Lonesome Books, 1999. ISBN 0944383491.