Mary Allen
The Spanish Greyhound is one of the ancestors of the English greyhound. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity and exercise needs, training, and care of the dog breed Spanish Greyhound in the profile.
The Spanish Greyhound was already known to the Romans in ancient times, but it can be assumed that its distribution on the Iberian Peninsula took place much earlier. He is descended from the old Asian greyhounds and has adapted to the Spanish steppe and plain conditions. It was exported in large numbers to other countries such as Ireland and England during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The Spanish Greyhound is one of the ancestors of the English Greyhound (Greyhound), which exhibited the same specific breed characteristics as the Spanish Greyhound, which previously served as the basis for later selection and adaptation. A quote from the Archpriest of Hita best describes the original purpose of the breed: “As soon as the rabbit starts running, the Spanish Greyhound bitch rushes after it”.
General Appearance
Sighthound of considerable size, of medium build, slightly convex in profile, oblong in build, with an elongated skull. Compact skeleton, long and narrow head, spacious chest, strongly tucked-up belly, and very long tail. Hindquarters are distinctly vertical and muscular. Fine, short hair or medium-length rough hair.
Behavior and temperament
The breed has a pronounced need for exercise, which it “works off” in an amazingly short time. Extensive free-running is essential for these dogs, but not easy to achieve because they have a strong hunting instinct. Then she can lie quietly under the table again for a longer period of time. The owner must therefore ask himself whether this behavior fits into his daily rhythm and the circumstances – a spacious, fenced area should be available.
Upbringing
Like all hunting dogs, the Spanish Greyhound needs careful training with patience and consistency, but also a lot of empathy, because the greyhound is very sensitive.
Maintenance
Due to the short fur, the maintenance effort is very low. A blanket may be necessary for winter.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
Because the breed was primarily bred for performance, it is still very healthy.
Did you know?
The Spanish Greyhound is a little slower than the greyhound, but has more stamina and is more agile. That is why it is often used in a special form of dog racing, coursing. It’s not just about a racetrack, but around various corners in the open field. The electric rabbit is pulled on a wire rope, which changes the direction of the supposed prey by means of deflection rollers.