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Capable of sprinting at speeds of up to 45 mph, the Greyhound has entered the hearts of anyone lucky enough to welcome a member of the breed into their home. In fact, gray terriers are so beloved that this breed has a holiday dedicated to its pet, National Greyhound Day takes place on June 2 every year.
Fast facts about dogs of prey
To celebrate these nimble canines, we’ve got some quick facts:
A rescue Greyhound named Feather was two years old in 2017 when it actually entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the tallest jump by a dog – a giant 75.5 inch!
Greyhound is the fastest dog breed in the world! In fact, the breed is said to be one of the fastest animals in the world. (The leopard tops the list.)
While the Greyhound may hold the number one spot in the hearts of their pet parents, the breed comes in at number 132 on the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular dog breeds.
The Greyhound hood ornament added a touch of luxury to Lincoln vehicles from 1927 through the 1930s, and this dog-shaped hood ornament also graced Ford’s Model 48 and DeLuxe Fordor until 1936.
Visitors to Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland may recognize a statue that resembles the famous Greyhound Mick the Miller. A champion racing dog in the 1920s and 30s, Mick would continue to grace the big screen with a role in the 1934 film. Wild boy. Dog devotees can visit his birthplace, the Millbrook House, and those who come to England can pay their respects at the Natural History Museum in Tring, where his remains are on display.
The Crufts International Dog Show awarded its first Best in Show title in 1928 to a Greyhound named Primley Scepter. The breed returned to the top spot in 1934 with the Southball Moonstone and in 1956 with the Treetops Golden Falcon.
In 2016, a Greyhound named Grandcru Giconda represented the breed to the top of the podium at the National Dog Show.
The first recorded history of the Greyhound is found in the artwork decorating Amten’s tomb in Egypt.
Did you know that Greyhounds spend 3/4 of their time in the air while running?
Long live Greyhound! The average lifespan of the breed is 10-14 years.
A three-time Waterloo Cup winner (in 1868, 1869 and 1871), Master McGrath is Ireland’s most famous dog, and a sculpture of a Greyhound stands guard over a busy street in Lurgan. , County Armagh.
Did you know that the Greyhound is the only breed mentioned by name in the King James Version of the Bible?
There’s more than one Greyhound!
Did you know that there are eight dog breed Classified as Greyhounds? They are:
- Afghan Greyhound
- Arabic Greyhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Persian Greyhound
- Russian Greyhound
- Scottish Greyhound
- Spanish Greyhound
- Whippet
And there’s more to a Greyhound vacation!
Along with National Greyhound Day on June 2, there is also Country of application of one month Greyhound in April and World Greyhound Day on February 1, also known as World Galgo Day. The pet awareness day was chosen to draw attention to Galgo, the Spanish terrier that was killed by thousands at the end of the Spanish hunting season.
Greyhounds in the White House
Members of this beautiful breed have been close friends with several US Presidents, starting with the first to hold the title, George Washington! The father of our country was the adoptive parent of a Greyhound he named Cornwallis.
An Italian Greyhound named Le Beau was the first of the breed to live in the White House, when the 10th President John Tyler was inaugurated.
The next Greyhound to receive the quest to become the first Fido is Rutherford B. Hayes‘Greyhound, Grim.
The last Greyhound on the list is Woodrow WilsonChum wags the tail of Mountain Boy, the friend of the 28th President with feet in his childhood.
Why was the name Greyhound chosen for this breed?
According to The American Kennel Club. Some suggest that the word is derived from an old English word for “dog”, possibly grech or greg, while others suggest that the name was influenced by the Latin word for Grecian. , Graius.
However, the Greyhound may simply have been inspired by the breed’s most popular coat color.
Greyhounds as team mascot
Perhaps inspired by the breed’s speed, universities in several states have chosen the Greyhound as their school mascot, among them:
- Indiana– C. Greyson Veritas, better known as Grady, was a 2-year-old retired racer when he was adopted by Indianapolis University with help from the Indianapolis chapter of Greyhound Pets of America.
- Maryland– Loyola University of Maryland
- Massachusetts– Assumption College
- New Mexico– Eastern New Mexico University
- Pennsylvania– Moravian College
- South Dakota– Yankton College
The stars helped the hounds in need
- Jean-Claude Van Damme: Muscles from Brussels once promoted their option to adopt a Greyhound while raising money for animal rights group Animals Australia.
- Twiggy: The fashion icon is a role model for the Retired Greyhound Trust, a registered charity with branches in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Over the years, a number of stars have protested against known Greyhound racing, including Ed Asner (Lou Grant), Pierce Brosnan, Ellen DeGeneres, Peter Egan (Downton Abbey), Annette Crosbie (Girls Calendar, One foot in the grave), Ricky Gervais, Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter), Andrea Corr by pop group The Corrs and Pauline McLynn (Shameless). If you want to join the effort to end dog racing, visit GREY2K USA worldwide. Founded in 2001, the not-for-profit organization is the largest Greyhound protection organization in the world.
- Did you know that Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor Ever held an eBay auction benefiting the California Greyhound Adoption Promotion and Greyhound Rescue?
Greyhound is the emblem of Greyhound Lines Bus Company
From the late 1950s to the 1970s, the bus company Greyhound Lines was represented by an actual Greyhound! The first to take on the role of the mascot was Steverino, a name that reflects the fact that the Greyhound commercial she appeared in aired on The Steve Allen Show.
Later known as Lady Greyhound, the famous four-legged athlete even had her own fan club. Before her retirement, First Lady Greyhound attended charity events around the country, served as a symbol for World Animal Day 1961, and helped raise awareness of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. family.
Two Greyhound puppies took her place in 1964, after the First Lady Greyhound led charity events until 1970. Although Lady Greyhound is no more, fidos fans still can spot one of the famous Fidos from the 1966 Disney movie Ugly Dachshund!
Temple of a special Greyhound
Revered as a saint by some French Catholics for several centuries, in the 1200s a faithful hound named Greyhound Guinefort– found with a bloody mouth in the nursery next to an empty crib – was killed by his distraught owner.
As the dog lay dying, the truth came to light that the dog had killed a snake that would have taken the baby’s life.
Heartbroken by their hasty actions, the family buried the brave Greyhound in a well, which they turned into a temple.
Although it has never been officially recognized by the Catholic church, in the late 1930s parents in the Lyon region worried about having a sick child go to the shrine to pray to the patron saint of four children. foot.
Famous Pet Parents of Greyhounds
Bo Derek – The actress, whose love of dogs led her to launch her own pet care line, was once a proud pet parent to a Greyhound named Ivory.
Hunter Hayes – The country’s multi-platinum seller adopted Cole, a retired racing dog, with help from the Nashville chapter of Greyhound Pets of America.
JK Rowling – 2007 Harry Potter the author adopted Sapphire, a Greyhound from Greyhound Rescue Fife in Scotland.
Prince Albert Named after the Greek goddess of dawn, Eos accompanied Queen Victoria’s then-husband from her homeland in Germany to her new life in England. Becoming a much-loved member of the royal family, the image of Eos was captured on canvas by the famous British painter Sir Edwin Landseer:
Charlie Watts – In 2020, The Rolling Stone drummer and his wife Shirley adopted a gray hound that was rescued from the racing industry by the Forever Hounds Trust. (Shirley is a Patron and Supporter of Animal Charity.)
Jane Wiedlin – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has been the pet parent of several rescue dogs, including the Peanut and Geordi Laforge (named after LeVar Burton’s character in the series). Star Trek: The Next Generation). The rhythm guitar player for The Go-Gos is a loyal animal advocate who has helped numerous rescue organizations over the years!
Adopt a Greyhound
If you’d like to welcome a Greyhound into your heart and home, there are rescue organizations around the country that specialize in finding permanent homes for members of the breed.
To find a Greyhound adoption agent in your area, visit Project Greyhoundoffers a directory of Greyhound rescues from the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Potential pet parents can also search for adoptable Greyhounds online at:
Pin it to remember National Greyhound Day!
