The Greyhound, also called the racing Greyhound or sighthound, is an ancient hunting dog and still enjoys a very high reputation among hunting breeds. Although it looks thin, it is not a small dog at all. An adult can stand over 70 centimeters at the shoulder, and it is extremely fast, highly explosive, and capable of strong attack. For these reasons, Greyhounds are listed as restricted dogs in many cities.
Why Are Greyhounds Restricted?
The Greyhound is a hunting dog and has often been used to chase and capture animals, so it is easy to imagine that its prey drive and attack ability are quite strong. Compared with most ordinary pet dogs, the Greyhound is much more intense in this regard, and because of the possibility that it could injure people, it is sometimes restricted. Compared with many other pet dogs, the Greyhound also has extremely high energy. Its daily exercise needs may be several times greater than those of an average dog. For most people, meeting that demand is exhausting in both time and energy, so relatively few people are willing to keep one. The Greyhound is also a tall, large dog, and many people living in cities simply cannot provide the space it really needs to move and stretch comfortably, which makes ownership inconvenient.
Advantages of the Greyhound
The Greyhound's strengths are also quite obvious. It has a sensitive nervous system and very rich emotions. With good training, it can become very well mannered and can be especially protective of children, which is why it can also become an excellent family dog. In addition, the Greyhound is a very good working dog. Since ancient times it has been an outstanding hunting breed, and its light body, strong jumping power, quick reactions, and very high running speed are all major advantages. According to the article's view, these qualities have even led to wider use in police and military work.
Disadvantages of the Greyhound
The Greyhound's strengths also become its weaknesses. Because it is energetic and built for running, it needs a great deal of living space. Because hunting-dog genes run through its blood, it tends to become excited by moving objects and can lose control in that excitement, creating the risk of injuring people. In addition, Greyhounds have relatively high nutritional requirements. Ordinary dog food may not easily meet the needs of such a muscular dog, so the cost of raising one is also fairly high. Overall, the conditions required to keep a Greyhound well are relatively strict.