The Spanish Greyhound is a large breed of dog with a formidable appearance, noble, extremely docile and gentle, it is characterized by being loyal and showing gratitude in response to the care provided by its master; in addition to other interesting aspects that you can discover while reading this post.
Brief history of the Spanish Greyhound
It is a canine breed native to Spain , known even since ancient Roman times and seen as the typical Iberian greyhound; It is also identified as Lebrel , because they are equipped to run at high speed because they are tall and long.
Over the years it was exported to nations such as England, where it served as the predecessor of the English Greyhound. It has also been used as a hunting dog due to its physique and particular characteristics, especially of hares, even in packs.
It has an insurmountable speed, but basically its origin places it as a specimen that is used to living in a herd, endowed with a natural and special instinct to be kept in places provided with fields, within which it can find its food in the open air.
Some owners of Spanish greyhounds use them for their participation in competitive sports , in order to obtain prizes that they achieve under strenuous training for this type of pet.
Characteristics of the Spanish Greyhound
It is a dog with a slim physical appearance, deep, voluminous chest and a height of up to 70 centimeters, with an approximate weight between 10 and 25 Kg. Its scientific name is Canis lupus familiaris , females are usually lighter and smaller.
It has small almond-shaped eyes, short, smooth and fine hair, although in some specimens it can be quite hard. His breed is pure and has been achieved through the selection of his offspring for centuries, without being crossed with any other canine species.
It is possible to find specimens with beards, mustaches and toupees, in various colors such as cinnamon, yellow, red, white, black, waffle, barcino, tan or pronghorn and all of them can reach a speed of 70 kilometers per hour .
You will notice that his skin is always very close to his body, without areas of loose skin, this is completely normal since it is a thin and stylized dog but endowed with strong muscles in his legs, which allows him to run at high speed .
What is the behavior of a Spanish greyhound?
This dog has a docile and gentle character , although it can also be somewhat shy, in this case it is necessary that it be allowed to socialize from puppy to adult.
It quickly adapts to coexistence with other animals, despite its large size.
It is an animal that needs a large dose of physical activity , but when they are at home they usually spend a lot of time sleeping, even up to 18 hours at a time. They do not like to be alone, because they are sweet and sensitive, they get along very well with cats and other smaller dogs.
It is the ideal pet for all those people who like to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere at home and go out from time to time for a walk in the countryside or outdoor excursions.
It is recommended that when you take it out on the street you take it with a collar and leash, since by instinct it will seek to chase smaller animals and you will not be able to reach it.
He gets along very well with children and can even be taught to respect a certain space, educating him just by saying “No”. Some authors point out that the greyhound has the peculiarity of making gestures with its mouth, similar to laughter, if it is happy.
Spanish greyhound care
To keep your greyhound in perfect physical condition, you will need to take it out several times a day, at least twice, so that it runs freely and releases energy . You can also stimulate it by providing training toys to entertain yourself at home.
It will need to be warm during the winter, since due to its very short hair it can not stand low temperatures ; you can put a jersey blanket when taking him for walks and another on his bed so he can snuggle up comfortably.
His coat also requires care, brushing it once a week and thus removing dead hair; With a good rubber brush you will avoid damaging its epidermis and you will make its fur look extremely shiny.
It is not recommended that you bathe him very often, in fact it is a breed that is kept in perfect condition for several days without giving off a bad smell. But when you notice that it is very dirty, you should obviously bathe it, applying shampoo specially recommended for them, drying it very well and brushing it frequently.
Feeding
Feeding a Spanish greyhound is another important care to keep it always healthy and with an adequate physical appearance. Remember that it is a dog that burns a lot of calories, so you must provide it with a quality feed, which has all the nutrients to keep it satisfied.
Following this order of ideas, you should select the feed based on the age of your greyhound, whether it is the ideal one for large breed puppies or the one that meets the requirements of its adult stage. You can always consult with your trusted veterinarian if you have any doubts.
It is important to note that his dining room and drinker must be placed at a suitable height for him, thus preventing him from having to lower his neck too much when feeding. With this you will prevent them from suffering from gastric problems to which, in fact, they are quite prone.
The feeding of a Spanish greyhound that reaches the senior stage must also be specially selected, so that it does not experience physical problems typical of this age.