One of my favorite groups of dogs is the Sighthounds. You may have seen them on Animal Planet, in lure coursing events chasing an artificial lure, or at a dog racetrack. Having seen many retired racetrack hounds at my clinic, my affection for their good nature and athleticism has grown. These elegant, long-legged dogs originated from Egypt over 5,000 years ago, where they were bred for hunting and catching fleet-footed wildlife of the vast deserts such as gazelles, jackals, hares and foxes. In ancient Egypt, sport with hounds was for royalty, and they bred a dog not only with speed and agility, but as royalty not a mere dog, but a beautiful, haughty hound of the noble. According to Herodotus, a Greek traveler and storyteller form 425 BC, these dogs were so venerated by noble Egyptians families, that when their hound died, the entire household would "shave their whole body and also their head as sign of mourning." Edward Ash, an early 20th century authority on dogs, wrote: "The earliest records of [Egyptian] dogs show greyhound-type animals, either greyhounds as they are today or of Saluki character, which of course is very similar. The group is very well defined. They are all long-backed, somewhat high on the leg, with remarkable muscular development, and have a typical, somewhat narrow head."
Hounds are divided into primarily scenthounds and sighthounds. They are both dogs in pursuit of prey, but scenthounds use their nose to find unseen prey over long distances, while sighthounds rely on keen eyesight and speed to catch their quarry. Research indicates that dogs with elongated skulls have exceptional peripheral vision, and are better suited to scan a vast, flat area, such as a desert, for their prey.
From Egypt, the dogs were traded by Phoenician sea merchants and spread around the continent. They quickly adapted to colder and more rugged climates. Where large game was hunted, the sighthounds were bred to immense sizes and ran in packs.
The AKC recognizes twelve breeds as sighthounds:
Afghan Hounds - from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan; is beautifully coated, but built for the punishing mountain terrain.
Borzoi - from Russia; formerly a Russian wolfhound and an aristocrat favorite for wolf hunting. It is one of the best straightaway runners with its amazing speed.
Basenji - from Central Africa, is the shorter, tight-coated "barkless" dog, bred as a fearless hunter.
Greyhound - from Egypt, is a streamlined dog, intense as it works and mellow off the track or course.
Ibizian Hound - from Egypt, is a sleek, short-haired champion leaper that can spring to great heights from a standstill. It looks identical to a treasure from Tutankhamun's tomb, the statue of the god Anubis, or the "Watchdog of the Dead."
Irish Wolfhound - from Ireland, is the largest of the sighthounds, which hunted its prey out of existence and nearly became extinct.
Italian Greyhound - from Italy, was bred to be the smallest of sighthounds during the Italian renaissance. It is in the toy group, weighing about eight pounds, and is affectionate and playful.
Pharaoh Hound - from Egypt, is one of the oldest domesticated breeds, most resembling the hunting dogs in ancient Egyptian art.
Rhodesian Ridgeback - from South Africa, is a fearless muscular dog bred by European settlers to South Africa to hunt lions, herd livestock and protect families.
Saluki - from the Middle East, has been found mummified with pharaoh masters. In the Muslim culture where dogs are generally considered 'unclean,' the Salukis were an exception and considered a "gift from Allah."
Scottish Deerhound - from Scotland, a giant wiry-coated dog that was bred to hunt large antlered prey in harsh climates.
Whippet - from England, is known as the "poor man's greyhound," and was popular as a rabbit hunter and racer with the English workingman in early 19th century. An intense runner, it has been timed at 11.5 seconds on a 200-yard straight course.
Veterinarians have learned that sighthounds are often more sensitive to anesthetics. The reason for this increased anesthetic sensitivity is the low amount of body fat that sighthounds possess, and decreased liver metabolism of some anesthetics. So when a sighthound needs surgical intervention, we tend to pay particular attention to this group of wonderful dogs.
Sharon E. Anderson, DVM
Sharon E. Anderson, DVM, answers medically-related questions, but will not attempt to diagnose or recommend specific treatments. Her advice is not meant to replace professional care. If your pet is ill, contact your veterinarian immediately.
