Sight Hounds

Irish WolfhoundIrish Wolfhound

Sight hounds, such as the Borzoi and the Greyhound, are built for speed and hunt by sight. Historically they used to kill their prey. Sight hounds are among the earliest known dog breeds known to man and the type from which many of our modern breeds descend.

Engravings made over three thousand years before the birth of Christ depict recognizable sight hounds of the type we see in today's modern Saluki.  Today, the various breeds of sight hounds are among the most stunningly beautiful and elegant of all our dog breeds.

One stunning breed is the Afghan Hound which is a dignified and aloof hound standing up to 29 inches high. He has an unusual tail which has a ring at the end which is just sparsely feathered. His coat varies in length in that on top of his long head where there is a distinct silky topknot, to a saddle of shorter hair along his back, and long and fine in texture elsewhere except on his pasterns.  Between the glamourous coat and the springy gait of the Afghan Hound with its style of high order, this is one of the most spectacular breeds in the show-ring today.

Other Sight Hounds include the Azawahk from Morocco, the Borzoi from Russia, the Deerhound from Scotland, the Irish Wolfhound from Ireland, the Pharoah Hound from Egypt, the Saluki from the Middle East, the Sloughi or Arabian Greyhound from Morocco and the Whippet from England.

Greyhound Profile

Greyhound

The Greyhound, one of the oldest pure breeds, was mentioned in the Bible (Prov 30:31) almost a Century before Christ[2]. So his breed type has remained recognizable for three millenia. Since early Egyptian times, in Northern Africa he played an important role in running hare and gazelle down for food, and coursing for the thrill of the chase. Also referred ... »» Read more...

DeerHound Head

Deerhound and Irish Wolfhound

So many stories of fact and fable surround the history of these two related Gazehounds or Sight Hounds, the accuracy of their exact background has become lost in the mists of time. For these breeds are as old as the first civilizations of Scotland and Ireland respectively. The British Isles would not have become established in the first instance had ... »» Read more...


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