The Fast Facts

What is a "sighthound"?

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The Greyhound is a strong, muscular dog, built for sprinting over short distances. In fact, with the exception of the cheetah, the Greyhound is the fastest creature on earth. The breed belongs to the sighthound (or gazehound) group which includes Afghans, Borzoi, Salukis, Deerhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Whippets etc. These are breeds which hunt their quarry primarily by sight rather than scent. Although the Greyhound has been used for hunting various species over the centuries, their natural quarry is the hare.