Plate 041 · British Isles
Greyhound
灵缇犬
“The fastest dog breed, yet happy to lounge at home.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Great Britain (from ancient sighthound types)
- Country of origin
- Greyhound-like dogs appear in ancient art in Anatolia, Iran and the Sahara, but the breed's true origin is uncertain; the FCI gives Great Britain as its country of origin.
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Very ancient sighthound lineage; standardised in Britain, with studbooks from the 18th century
- Today
- Companion · Racing · Lure coursing
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Historical context · Today
Context · 17th centuryA Dutch gentleman with a slender sighthound, by Thomas de Keyser (17th century). Its German title calls the dog a 'Windhund' — a word for sighthounds in general — so it is a greyhound-type hound, not a documented Greyhound.
This image depicts a related historical dog type, not necessarily the modern breed.
Thomas de Keyser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowHistory
01 · Origin
Great Britain (from ancient sighthound types)
A sighthound refined in Britain from swift coursing dogs known in Europe for many centuries.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunted hare and other game by sight and speed in open country; later used in organised hare coursing.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Racing Greyhounds were developed from coursing hounds, and from the 1920s track racing replaced hunting as the breed's main use. Today many retired racers are adopted as pets.
04 · Today
Companion · Racing · Lure coursing
A calm, gentle companion that is happy to lounge indoors, and a racing and lure-coursing dog.
Personality
- Gentle
- Independent
- Calm indoors
- Sensitive
- Noble
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
- Coat
- Short, smooth, fine coat
Field note
Racing Greyhounds reach at least 69 km/h (43 mph), and the AKC calls the Greyhound the fastest dog breed.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI, The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
Racing and adoption programmes for retired racers shape its modern image; the kennel-club show breed has a modest following. AKC registrations: ranked 151 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Greyhound — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/greyhound/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-06 · Used for registry status, AKC group and breed standard reference only.
- Greyhound (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhound
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-06 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
Thomas de Keyser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Greyhound-like dogs appear in ancient art in Anatolia, Iran and the Sahara, but the breed's true origin is uncertain; the FCI gives Great Britain as its country of origin.
