They also have a dominant extinct to chase due to their hunting dog background. These Sighthound qualities allow nimble and quick movements and short bursts of speed when hunting down prey. The Sighthounds have lean and lightweight bodies and lanky and long legs. Whilst each Sighthound breed has his own distinctive appearance, every one of them also shares a few common traits. Since the dogs work together with humans but at a distance, they are strong independent thinker that need little to no guidance. The Sighthounds spread through Europe over the years and became excellent hunting and coursing companions. This was soon followed by the establishment of associations and building tracks for canine racers. However, it was not until the Elizabethan era that the rules for coursing were organised. The dogs participated in coursing games, which started under the reign of Henry VIII. The Sighthounds became a favourite of the British nobility in the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, the Sighthounds continued to live on. These dogs were either tortured and killed by gladiators in the arena. The Sighthounds were also used in gruesome entertainment. However, these dogs did not fair well as they were used as mass ritual sacrifices. The high-speed Sighthounds became a part of Roman society too. Pollux is shown to be welcoming a Sighthound to his embrace. It was made by Exekias, and he portrayed Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus, returning to their mother after some adventure. An Attic Amphora dating back around 540 to 530 BC also depicts a Sighthound. This tragic tale was depicted in the Selinus Metope in the Temple of Hera at Poseidonia.Īnother Greek art in the def form of an amphora, a Greek vase, showed Ajax and Achilles together with a Sighthound. He was the man turned into a stag by Athena after he watched her bathe. Some believe that they were the dogs that hunted and slain Aktaion. The Sighthounds became a part of the country’s timeless myths in Greece. These lithe canines accompanied their owners in hunting down lions and chasing away hyenas. The Sighthound breeds were also used as hunting dogs and guard dogs by Egyptians against vicious predators. One of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s treasure, a golden flabellum, portrayed a scene of a Sighthound aiding his master in hunting an ostrich. The Sighthound dogs were greatly valued by the nobility in Egypt, especially the Pharaoh. These were the distinctive appearance of Sighthounds. Various ancient art and literature depicted canines with thin sharp heads, long narrow bodies, and tall thin legs. The very first remains of what is believed to be a Sighthound dog existed around 7,000 BC. The earliest written description of the Sighthounds dates back around the 2nd century AD.
They were primarily bred to chase and hunt prey using their amazing sight and speed. The Sighthounds are swift hunting dogs that lived in wide-open deserts. The origins of Sighthound are thought to have begun in the Middle East and Africa. Saluki and Sloughi types of Sighthound breeds have existed for around 5,000 years. The Sighthounds are some of the most ancient breeds around the world. Origins of the Sighthound dog breed Early Beginnings The unique hunting abilities of Sighthounds earned them the nickname Windhounds and Gazehounds. Some Sighthounds can reach speed of over 40 mph, whilst others have a 270-degree field of vision. They aid hunters by coursing the prey or chase them out of dense woodlands to an open area where they can be caught in a trap or slain. The Sighthound breeds can spot prey from far away and pursue it over large distances.
Meanwhile, the Sighthound’s counterpart, the Scent Hound, specialises in tracking and hunting through his sense of smell. For this reason, they are popularly known as ‘Ferraris of the dog world.’
Dogs that fall under the Sighthounds category were bred to hunt by sight and speed. Sighthounds belong to the Hound Group, a classification of dog breeds created to track and capture prey.