Greyhounds enjoy a rich heritage dating back over 4,000 years to Ancient Egypt where they were kept as companions and hunting partners. Explorers from Greece brought greyhounds back with them from Egypt and they were instantly incorporated into the Greco-Roman lifestyle. Greek and Roman gods such as Diana and Artemis had greyhounds as their companions of choice.

During the Dark Ages, a time of famine and disease, greyhounds were saved from extinction by monks who bred them for noblemen. During this period, ownership of a greyhound became the exclusive right of the nobility. Greyhounds were so highly prized that traveling noblemen would often present a greyhound as a gift to their hosts.

During the Renaissance, greyhounds were a favorite of royalty from Britain to Italy; from the courts of the Danes to the halls of the Ottoman Empire. Queen Elizabeth I was known to have over a dozen greyhounds. These graceful animals were also immortalized in Shakespeare and Chaucers written works and are the only listed canine breed recorded in the Bible.

Today, greyhounds live their lives on a track, either in a crate or in a run  a far cry from the pampered lives their ancestors had. But the centuries of breeding are still part of the greyhounds demeanor. They are elegant, gentle, loving animals who will make wonderful companions. Although they are coming from a track into your home, they are amazing dogs and will make the adjustment very quickly. The more time and patience you give to them, the faster they learn and the tighter their allegiance to you will become.

You will find that greyhounds come in all sizes and colors. Males are over 24 inches at the shoulder averaging 75 pounds. Females stand about 22 inches, averaging just under 60 pounds. This large breed dog has a long life in front of them as they average 12-14 years with love and good medical care. Any veterinarian will tell you that greyhounds are one of the best natured breeds around. They are calm, sweet, laid-back (to the point of lazy) and are both patient and intelligent. These dogs want to please you and often exhibit the mental capacity of a five-year old child. What more can you want in a companion animal? Falling in love with a greyhound takes only a few hours and that love will last a lifetime!