Sighthounds

This week’s post is all about sighthounds. Like our previous posts on herding breeds, gundogs and terriers, we’ll look at what sighthounds were bred for, their typical behaviour and whether they make good pets. We’ll also discuss the potential downsides of living with a sighthound. 

Sighthounds

Sighthounds were bred to hunt by sight and speed, unlike other breeds that primarily utilise their sense of smell. Given their history, they can run incredibly fast. Greyhounds can reach up to 45 mph in just 6 strides! This therefore makes them incredibly successful at hunting a range of prey animals, from rabbits to deer and wolves. Some of the world’s oldest breeds are sighthounds, including the Xigou, an ancient native breed from China, and the Saluki, from the Arabian Peninsula. All sighthounds have a deep chest and long legs with a long looking face, creating an elegant silhouette. More common sighthound breeds include the Whippet, Italian Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the Scottish Deerhound. 

Sighthounds – typical behaviours 

It may not surprise you to read that the most obvious trait that links all sighthounds is their incredible speed and drive to chase. But this speed isn’t just for hunting, it’s also great for playing with their doggy pals. A well socialised hound is often very playful, slowing down to be able to play fairly with slower breeds. Given their inbuilt love of chasing, they usually love playing with toys. They’re typically foodies too and will often surprise people by their greed! This makes them easy to train and great company all round. 

Do Sighthounds make good pets?

In general, yes! Sighthounds can make fantastic pets as they are pretty low maintenance dogs all round. They don’t need huge amounts of exercise and love stretching out on the sofa and getting a fuss from their humans. They often dislike rain and mud so won’t get you out for a walk in all weathers. Bare a few exceptions, they all have very short, easy to maintain coats so don’t require extensive or expensive grooming regimes. I have a real soft spot for a sighthound, they’re low key but full of character! They are massively underrated for first time dog owners too. If you live in a cooler climate like the UK, your sighthound will likely need jumpers and coats for the winter. What’s not to love?! 

There are often several hounds available in rescue centres and several rescue organisations dedicated to greyhounds. This is due to the greyhound racing industry and how many of these dogs don’t have the speed or temperament to competitively race. Many of these dogs make fantastic pets and family dogs. I have worked with many wonderful dogs from Kent Greyhound Rescue for example. 

The down sides

Living with sighthounds certainly has its challenges, chief among them being their strong prey drive and potential for predatory drift. These beautiful creatures have an innate instinct to chase anything that moves quickly, whether it’s a squirrel darting across the yard or a small animal in the distance. This could well include small dogs and cats. This can pose a significant risk, especially if they manage to slip away and take off after prey. If they decide to bolt, good luck catching up—sighthounds are built for speed, and once they’re in full stride, they’re gone. Moreover, their speed can be dangerous; a collision with a running greyhound can result in serious injury, making public liability insurance a wise investment. Additionally, recall training is essential to help mitigate these risks and keep both your sighthound and others safe. 

What next?

• Looking for help with your dog? Contact us to arrange in person or online training.
• Read more blog posts here.
• Perfect Recall: Teaching your dog to come back when called every time. Our guide is free to download when you join our email list- sign up here.