Sighthounds have been bred for speed, with an aerodynamic build so they can race after prey. Sighthounds are almost always tall, long, lean, running hounds. They are the product of thousands of years of selective breeding, and all sighthounds originally came from south-west Asia.
The Saluki and Sloughi have been bred in Arabia for at least 5,000 years to outrun desert gazelles. It once existed in 16 different varieties, although many of these have since disappeared.
In Afghanistan, the Afghan Hound hunted the desert fox and gazelle by day and guarded the tent at night. It exists in two varieties, the heavy coated northern variety from which the familiar show dog originates, and a light-coated southern variety, which is rarely seen in the West, but is still used as a working dog in many parts of Pakistan.
Russia has a very distinctive sighthound, the Borzoi, which once, also existed in numerous forms, which have since been lost through time. Many breeders are now trying to recreate many of the lost varieties of Borzoi.
Sighthounds were most likely introduced into Mediterranean Europe and Africa by Phoenician traders. The rare Greek and Albanian Greyhounds resemble the Saluki, and the Spanish Greyhound is closely related to the Arabic Sloughi. The Italian Greyhound was selectively bred to be smaller, most likely by Spanish breeders to act as a companion.
When introduced into Great Britain, sighthounds were selectively bred and crossed with mastiff breeds, producing the muscular, enduring and powerful Irish Wolfhound, which soon became the sighthound of the nobility. Likewise, the Scottish Deerhound, became the sighthound of the Scottish Highland Chieftains. The English Greyhound may have been introduced into Great Britain by the Celts to course hares and foxes. More recently, the whippet was bred as the working man's sighthound, as was the lurcher.
Many sighthounds are now kept solely for companionship, but at one time they were all bred to hunt primarily by sight - to detect movement, then to chase, capture, and kill prey. Sighthounds thrive on physical activity, and need regular access to open space. Most have benign temperaments, are quiet, usually reliable with children, and although some breeds are good watch dogs in their natural forms, many are not particularly territorial.
Sighthounds need specific sighthound collars that are tailor-made so as to protect their necks. There are various types of collar, ranging from the martingale to wide leather collars.
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