Greyhounds...Theories and Facts...

[Reuben]

I don't know much about the greyhound but I knew a man that ran them on jack rabbits and knew a few that were greyhound x APBT for catch dogs...

I also read years ago that the greyhounds on the race track were getting timid and skittish so a geneticist was hired to see what it would take to fix the problem...My logic tells me it would be a leggy and fast gamey dog to fix the problem but the research the expert provided showed something totally different...he recommended english bull dog and in 4 generation the dogs would look exactly like a greyhound but with the fearless ways of the EB...turns out the expert was wrong in that the first cross produced greyhound looking dogs and the second cross they were almost at their goal...


and on this site I have read some comments and observations of what those hunters that use the greyhound say and I have used my logic in asking myself what are the reasons behind these observations???

I copied a comment that muleskinner wrote off of mrsLAhogdoggers thread and then I will comment on it...I also would like the input from those that have experience with the greyhounds/coursing hounds...

Muleskinners quote... You just have to be careful where you run them because washouts and rough terrain can cripple them pretty easy. If you have any more questions I would be happy to answer them...

he is talking about being careful in where to turn the dogs loose on a coyote...

my theories are based on what makes the fasted greyhound on the race track and that is probably why they have certain issues...for the dog to win at the track he must have a wedged head and pointed nose for less weight and for aerodynamics for less wind resistance...

thin skinned for less weight, finer boned for less weight...less weight equals faster dogs...I don't think the racing dogs are bred for those traits just that the winningest dogs are the ones that get bred to produce winning dogs and that is how they have evolved...winningest dogs are lighter and are faster because of it...and so they pass on the same traits...the difference between the winner and the first loser is probably very minute...

this is my opinion based on common sense...no facts whatsoever...

JUST TRYING TO GENERATE A LITTLE DISCUSSION FROM THOSE THAT USE AND HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE DOGS...

[MrsLouisianaHogDog]

Great thread Mr. Reuben. I look forward to following it. Only insight I can offer on the breed is fixing a bunch of broken legs from then retired racers, and fixing many many skin tears on adopted greys in pet homes. So from what I can see, their skin tears like paper, takes a while to heal, and they can also hurt themselves from running and turning or stepping wrong.
I've put my hands on a lot of these guys over the years, mainly in a medical setting. I was also an assistant  to my coworker, who actually had a kennel where she bred/raised up racers/future racers. I can give a little insight on their dispositions. The pups I met whenever I'd have to help her tattoo were always very rambunctious and outgoing. As far as the adults, they were always quiet, reserved, and in most cases exhibited what I call the "Chihuahua shake" lol. I wouldn't go as far as to say timid, just a bit nervous. I do know that I got to see behind the scenes a bit at one of the biggest tracks in Tampa and a lot of them do not get much socialization really, so I don't believe it's the dogs' faults, or that they are that way as a default. We have one here my husband just brought home last night, she's about a year old. She was nervous at first, but quickly warmed up, and took to my kids very well. Didn't take her too long at all. Far as the breeding goes, the main thing I got from my coworker, is that she did mainly breeding of top winners, to daughters of top winners, at least that's what I gathered. I've spoken to a lot of folks over seas, who use grey crosses on a daily basis, and they say that anything they run typically has grey in it to some degree. I think the grey is definitely very valuable in any program as far as adding speed. It's what you put over it or under it that you have to choose to best fit your style/terrain/game preference.

[bigo]

I've ownd a few when I was a kid to run Jackrabbits. The reason you have to be carefull where you turn them loose is, they focuss in on what they are running and thats all they see. If one hits a tree, fence or wash out at 40 mph, something has to give. I ran mine in big open grain fields and fences were my main concern. I have seen broken necks, legs, backs and or some nasty cuts.

[TheRednose]

hey Reuben I read the same thing but I read it was a pit  bull terrier they used for their prey drive. The theory was in 3-4 generations down they would have the same body type and speed but with a dog that thrived to catch and would runner harder to try to. To me that makes a lot of sense, since pit bulldogs have the highest prey drive and are already athletic. I read this on a racing greyhound board from some well known trainer who posted it I believe if I remember right.

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

I have been running some straight Stags and Stag crosses for a couple of years now, I like them a lot. I have no personal experience with the Grey Hounds.

The Stags seem to be a bit more durable because of the rough coat but skin is still pretty thin. The thin skin helps dissipate heat. The Stags will usually have better senting ability than the grey hounds. Stags will generally be rougher than the grey hounds but not as fast.

I got a speed reading on a pair of my straight Stags this week running to two different hogs. They were on open ground with good footing and on both hogs both Stags topped out at 34 mph.

A stag seams to be better about fencing and brush, mine run pretty smart but a fence in the brush can really cause a problem.

Of course they make great open ground dogs either straight or in a cross, but I have found them to rather useful in rough brushy pastures as well. They can jump up and over things that will stop a cur dog. Fast is fast and when running a track they can really turn it up in the small open areas. I have had much less trouble with running hogs when I have a Stag or two down with my Catahoulas.

I would consider a Straight Stag to be a high speed stop dog that will get a hog shut down allowing my rough cats to get there and seal the deal.

The crosses I run are great all around hard holders, fast enough to run a fast hog down in the open but not so fast to cause any problems. They are thicker skinned and bigger boned and can handle a big pig with style. I run them down or send them at first bark.

[muleskinner]

Last week a buddy I hunted with passed away. He hunted with greyhounds for over sixty years. When he died he had 23 greyhounds. We were fortunate to find homes for them. Anytime I had questions about dogs he was my go to guy. He bred saluki into his bloodlines. Not sure about spelling. Also remember when dealing with greyhounds there is cold bloods and hot bloods. I used to tell him about the threads on here when it comes to breeding and he would usually laugh or get mad. I hunt a half greyhound now but he doesn't bark so it's hard to send help to him. He's not good when it comes to warm weather due to the greyhound bred into him.

[OWL Black Mouth Curs]

i've noticed as a general rule hotbloods aren't as tough, durable, smart, good nosed, or fight as hard as stags. but, i have to say, the hardest, toughest, fastest sighthound i have owned was a hotblood off the track. very narrow built, looked like both front legs come out the same hole, "east-west" front feet (though not terrible), and an ultra narrow finely made head and muzzle. this dog was a game dog to his very core. he was a one dog show, run to catch, catch to kill. i used that dog and another hotblood on about every form of game you can use a dog on. it wasn't anything for that pair to catch three blackbuck antelope or three axis deer back to back to back. i'd dump them and they'd catch, id get there and tie it down, and they'd relay straight off the catch. had to get there real quick after them or they'd kill it, but if your country was open enough it wasn't a problem. i never could get pups off that male, but he was one of those "once in a lifetime" dogs, it just so happened he was a hotblood greyhound.