Sighthound
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Sighthounds, also called gazehounds, are hounds that primarily hunt by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance, as scent hounds do.
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[edit] Appearance
These dogs specialize in pursuing prey, keeping it in sight, and overpowering it by their great speed and agility. They must be able to quickly detect motion, so they have keen vision. Sighthounds must be able to capture fast, agile prey such as deer and hare, so they have a very flexible back and long legs for a long stride, a deep chest to support an unusually (compared to other dogs) large heart, very efficient lungs for both anaerobic and aerobic sprints, and a lean, wiry body to keep their weight at a minimum.
The typical sighthound also has a light, lean head, which is referred to as being dolichocephalic in its proportions. This shape can create the illusion that their heads are longer than usual. Dolichocephaly is actually a characteristic of wolves and other wild carnivores, and is related to the need for stereoscopic vision in active hunting. For reasons not yet understood, most domesticated animals including dogs (other than the sighthounds) have become brachycephalic - short-headed - and have partially lost this aspect of their field of vision (see cephalic index).
[edit] History
Sighthounds such as the Saluki may have existed for at least 5,000 years, with the earliest known sighthounds appearing in Eurasia. The earliest description of a sighthound in European recorded history comes from Arrian's Cynegeticus, of the 2nd century AD. Although today most sighthounds are kept primarily as pets, they have been bred for thousands of years to detect movement, chase, capture, and kill prey primarily by speed. They thrive on physical activity. Some have mellow personalities, others are watchful or even hostile towards strangers, but the instinct to chase running animals remains strong.
Apart from coursing, open-field coursing, and hunting, various dog sports are practiced with purebred sighthounds, and sometimes with Lurchers and Longdogs. Such sports include racing, lure coursing, and other events.
[edit] Miscellaneous
The fastest sighthound, the Greyhound, can reach speeds of just over 40 mph (64 km/h).
Some breeds or varieties of hounds have historically been called "Half-Sighthounds", in particular the Mediterranean Islands hunting dogs, which have erect ears and use scent and hearing predominantly when they chase their main prey the rabbit, not the hare.
[edit] List of sighthounds
This family includes
- Afghan Hound
- American Staghound
- Azawakh
- Borzoi
- Chart Polski (Polish Greyhound)
- Chippiparai
- Galgo Español (Spanish Greyhound)
- Greyhound
- Hortaya Borzaya (Chortaj)
- Irish Wolfhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Kangaroo Dog
- Kanni
- Khalag Tazi
- Longdog
- Lurcher
- Magyar Agar (Hungarian Greyhound)
- Mudhol Hound
- Rajapalayam
- Rampur Greyhound
- Saluki
- Scottish Deerhound
- Silken Windhound
- Sloughi
- Tasy
- Whippet
[edit] See also
[edit] Recommended Reading
Leon V. Almirall Canines and Coyotes 1941
Dan Belkin "The Functional Saluki: Lessons from the Coursing Field" Field Advisory News November/December 1993
Curtis Brown Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis 1986
Pat Gail Burnham "Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and the question of What is a Sighthound?" Field Advisory News March/April 1992
Denise Como Sighthounds Afield 2004
Steve Copold Hounds Hares & Other Creatures: The Complete Book of Coursing 1977/1996
Juliette Cunliffe Popular Sight Hounds 1992
Richard Hawkins "What Is A Sighthound" Dogs In Canada April 2006
Constance O. Miller Gazehounds: The Search For Truth 1988
A.A. Phillips & M.M. Willcock Xenophon & Arrian On Hunting with hounds 1999
R. Grant-Rennick Coursing The Pursuit of Game with Gazehounds 1977
Joanna Russell All about Gazehounds 1976
"Dutch" Salmon Gazehounds & Coursing 1977/1999
