Items26The creator’s order
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GreyhoundThe sighthound most people meet first, and the clearest example of the type: a dog that can reach around 45 mph in a sprint, then spend most of the day asleep on its back. Many adopted greyhounds are former racers who settle into flat life easily and need less exercise than their build…0i - 2
WhippetA greyhound in a size that suits a smaller house or apartment. Whippets were once called the poor man's racehorse, and they still sprint flat out at the park, but indoors they are quiet, affectionate and rarely bark.
Their recall is usually better than a greyhound's, which is why some owners do…0i - 3
Italian GreyhoundThe smallest sighthound, usually well under 20 pounds, with the same lean build and the same instinct to chase. That makes it a lap dog with surprising speed, and one that needs watching around open gates.
Slender legs are the real caution. Young Italian Greyhounds are known for breaking a leg…0i - 4
SalukiBuilt for distance rather than a short burst, the Saluki was bred to run down gazelle and hare across desert. It has more stamina than a greyhound and a stronger independent streak, which shows up as polite indifference to commands it finds pointless.
Off-lead reliability is poor even by…0i - 5
Afghan HoundThat flowing coat hides a working mountain sighthound, bred to course game over rough ground in Afghanistan. The coat is the first thing to budget for: hours of brushing each week, or regular professional grooming, to stop it matting.
Afghans have a reputation as the most independent of the group,…0i - 6
BorzoiRussian nobility used Borzoi to course wolves, and the breed still carries that size and power, with males often topping 100 pounds. Indoors it is one of the calmest large dogs you can own: quiet, catlike and content to drape itself across a sofa.
Prey drive is strong and a running Borzoi covers…0i - 7
Irish WolfhoundThe tallest breed recognised by the American Kennel Club, and one of the gentlest. Wolfhounds are easy-going, patient with children and less intense about chasing than the smaller sighthounds, though they will still run after something that bolts.
The hard truth is their lifespan, often only six…0i - 8
Scottish DeerhoundThink of it as a shaggier, rangier greyhound scaled up to hunt red deer in the Scottish Highlands. Deerhounds are famously mild at home and rarely bark, which makes them poor guard dogs and lovely housemates.
They need a proper gallop, ideally in a large enclosed field, because at full stretch…0i - 9
Pharaoh HoundMalta's national dog bridges the two styles: in its home country it hunts rabbit using sight, scent and hearing together, often across rocky ground. That mix makes it busier and more alert than the classic sighthounds, with more need for play and company.
It is famous for blushing, its nose and…0i - 10
Ibizan HoundA cousin of the Pharaoh Hound from the Balearic Islands, built to flush and catch rabbits using sight, scent and those big upright ears. The detail every prospective owner needs is the jumping: Ibizans can spring remarkably high from a standing start, so fence height matters as much as fence…0i
