Hobbies And Interests
Greyhounds
Greyhounds are a sight hound breed that is popular at dog tracks. They can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour. Greyhounds are particularly slender and agile. They weigh a minimum of 50 lbs. and a maximum of 85 lbs. and have a maximum height of 30 inches. There has been much controversy over the use of greyhounds for racing. Once a racing greyhound has an injury or is too old to race, their owners often give them to rescue shelters or euthanize them. Because of this, many rescue organizations are specifically for racing greyhounds, such as Racing Home.
Saluki
Salukis, or gazelle hounds, are similar in speed to greyhounds, but their build is more conducive to long distance running. They are slender and can be as tall as 28 inches from floor to shoulder. This breed is so old that there are mummified specimens from ancient Egyptian times. In fact, Saluki is the royal dog of Egypt.
Borzoi
Borzoi, like salukis, are close in speed to greyhounds, but are bred for long distance hunting. They weigh up to 105 lbs. and are 26 inches tall from floor to shoulder or more. Borzoi are long, muscular and slender dogs, like other sight hounds. They are also known as Russian wolfhounds because they are a mix of Russian hound and Arabian wolfhound.
Whippets
Whippets are the fastest domestic animals in their weight class. They can run up to 35 miles per hour, putting them only slightly behind the greyhound. Like the greyhound, whippets also have a history in racing and are sometimes known as "the poor man's racehorse." Like other sight hounds, whippets are athletic and energetic when at work or play, but calm when in their homes.
Afghan Hounds
Afghan hounds are Middle Eastern hunting dogs with long, soft hair. They are tall, reaching heights of up to 27 inches at the shoulder, but they only weigh between 50 and 60 lbs. This breed is more popular as show competition dogs than as hunting or racing dogs.