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Greyhounds are known around the world for being the fastest dogs in the world! They were originally bred to chase foxes, hares, and deer! No wonder the dogs had to be fast! These beautiful dogs originally came from the Middle East and North Africa and were mentioned in ancient Greek writings and prized by ancient Egyptians!
From ancient times to now, these dogs have also become beloved family companions. Greyhounds are extremely popular for many reasons!
Did you know there are other dog breeds that are similar to Greyhounds? We’ve put together a list of dogs that share many of the same characteristics with these beautiful, fast dogs. Let’s take a look!
1. Spanish Greyhound
Our first amazing dog breed similar to Greyhounds is the Spanish Greyhound (also referred to as Galgos). Like the Greyhound, these dogs are sighthounds that were bred to hunt rabbits and hare. However, today, most of these dogs are loved, family companions.
These graceful dogs look very much like a Greyhound. They stand between 24 and 27.5 inches tall and weigh between 50 to 65 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 10 to 13 years.
Galgos are extremely friendly and can live almost anywhere, including an apartment. However, they do require plenty of exercise. These dogs love to run, making them excellent running or jogging partners. These dogs can outrun Greyhounds. Greyhounds run a short distance; however, Spanish Greyhounds can run much longer, even over rugged terrain. However, after a good run, the dog is happy to be a couch potato.
Spanish Greyhounds’ coats are easy to care for. They have a shorthaired coat that needs to be brushed about once a week! Their coats come in various colors, including brindle, fawn, red, or black.
2. Sloughi
The Sloughi dog breed also strongly resembles the Greyhound. These dogs are lean, with long legs, and are sighthounds like the Greyhound. The dogs are very affectionate with their families but are wary of strangers. They also get along well with older children who have been taught how to interact with dogs properly. Sloughis are beautiful, but they can also have a stubborn streak.
The Sloughi stand between 24 to 29 inches and weigh between 50 to 63 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years.
Like Greyhounds, these dogs can have a lot of energy. For that reason, they require lots of daily exercise. However, when they’re done running or exercising, these dogs are happy to become couch potatoes!
These dogs are moderate shedders and need to be brushed about once a week! And for those who don’t like to deal with drool, you’ll be happy to that Sloughi don’t drool very much at all.
When it comes to training, these dogs are easy to train; however, they can be stubborn. So, these are not the best dogs for inexperienced pet parents. And they do love to run when they have the chance!
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Ask a Vet Live Now3. Borzoi
Borzoi (also called a longhaired Greyhound) originally come from Russia. They were bred to be hunting dogs and are hounds like Greyhounds. They hunted rabbits, foxes, and wolves. However, these days Borzoi are happy to be family companions.
Once known as Russian Wolfhounds, these dogs were first bred in 1650. They were the dogs of the nobility, who were fond of hunting. Some nobles’ hunts could have hundreds of Borzoi to flush out game. When hunting wolves, these dogs were trained to capture, pin, and hold the wolf until the hunters came. You know these dogs had to be brave and courageous to tackle wolves!
Borzoi are still very noble-looking in appearance and hold themselves proudly. These fast runners are graceful and known for being extremely sweet. Much like Greyhounds, these dogs are also meant to run shorter distances. When they head back into the house, they’re happy to relax in their favorite spot!
These are large dogs, standing between 26 to 32 inches tall and weighing between 55 to 105 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 10 to 12 years.
While sweet, these dogs are very devoted to their family. They don’t do well left alone for long periods. They want human companionship.
When it comes to coat care, the Borzoi have a beautiful double coat, meant to keep them warm in the harsh Russian winters.
Borzoi do well with families who have older children. Because of their size, they could accidentally hurt a younger child while playing. It’s also important to understand these dogs have a strong prey drive. They may not get along well with cats and other small animals.
No matter how you look at it, Borzoi are beautiful dogs who look very much like their Greyhound cousins!
4. Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is similar to the Greyhound in build and size. These dogs are famous for their luxurious, long hair and exotic faces. These dogs originally came from Afghanistan. The dogs’ history can be traced all the way back to the pre-Christian era, thousands of years ago. They’re one of the most ancient dog breeds around.
These dogs were originally bred to hunt large animals in the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan. The dogs were prized for their ability to run fast over long distances. Afghan Hounds were also known for being courageous and brave, holding prey at bay until the hunters came. These dogs sometimes hunted leopards! So you know they’re brave.
Today, the Afghan Hound is a sighthound that is a cherished family companion. These dogs have a very independent nature and are usually one-person dogs. In other words, they choose one person who is their favorite. They don’t show much affection, but there’s no doubt who their favorite person is!
These dogs can also have a sense of humor and act a bit like clowns. They’ve been known to steal a family member’s possessions and can even open drawers to take things.
Afghan Hounds require lots of grooming. They should be brushed every day and may need to visit the groomer once a month or so. Another fact to know about these dogs is that they have a strong prey drive. They don’t get along with cats and other small animals.
5. Saluki
Salukis are another ancient dog breed that strongly resembles Greyhounds! These dogs were also once known as Persian Greyhounds or called “the gazelle hound.” This gives you an idea that they’re pretty fast runners!
Scientists believe these dogs are a very ancient breed that goes back to 2100 BCE, which is about 4000 years ago. The dogs were depicted by the ancient Egyptians. However, even older rock carvings from the Sumerian empire show dogs that look like Salukis. These carvings date back to between 7000 and 6000 BCE.
Having a regal bearing, Salukis were once used by Pharaohs to hunt gazelles and hares. They sometimes even worked together with falcons to hunt prey.
Salukis are large dogs that stand between 23 to 28 inches tall and weigh between 35 to 70 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
These dogs are known for being more than just hunters. They’re very affectionate but not very demonstrative. They are extremely loyal and choose who their friends are. The dogs are also high-spirited and independent (this goes back to their hunting days). So, they do have a tendency to chase small animals, such as cats, squirrels, and more. These dogs can run up between 30 to 35 miles an hour! So, never let a Saluki off his leash.
Salukis are calm, quiet dogs and can be a little on the shy side. However, they do make excellent companions for families who have older kids.
6. Whippet
Many people confuse Whippets with Greyhounds because they do look alike! However, these are smaller dogs. Whippets were also bred to hunt rabbits and other small game. However, these days Whippets are loving family companions. They love to participate in all types of dog sports such as agility, flyball, lure coursing, and more.
Whippets are a relatively new dog breed that’s been around for only about two hundred years. They were first bred in Northern England in about the 1700s. The breeders crossed Greyhounds with terriers that had long legs. The result was the small, fast Whippet!
These dogs are sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s Greyhound.” The dogs are elegant and powerful, yet smaller than Greyhounds. Whippets stand between 18 to 22 inches tall and weigh between 18 to 48 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 12 to 15 years.
Whippets are easy to care for, too! They have a short, dense coat that comes in a wide range of colors. They just need to be brushed about once a week and have a bath about once a month (or if they become dirty and stinky!).
The dogs are extremely affectionate and gentle. They usually get along with other dogs and people. However, the dogs do need to be trained and socialized from a young age. Whippets don’t do well with cats or other small animals. The dogs have a very strong prey drive. For this and other reasons, Whippets can never be let off the leash to run free.
Whippets make great family dogs and do well with kids. And they love nothing more than to snuggle and spend time with you!
7. Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound is another dog breed that looks like a Greyhound! These dogs originally came from Scotland, where they were bred to hunt wolves and the stags of the Highlands. It’s thought the breed was first developed in the 1500s. What’s more, the dogs were only owned by the nobility and later became known as the Royal Dog of Scotland. They’re also known to be courageous and gentle dogs.
Scottish Deerhounds are very athletic and have well-developed muscles. Even so, they have a loving nature and have been called the perfect dog. They love just about everyone, including strangers. The dogs don’t make good watchdogs! They also love kids, and they get along with other dogs. The dogs are large and stand between 28 to 32 inches tall, and weigh between 75 to 110 lbs. They have a life expectance between 8 to 11 years.
These dogs are known for their wiry coats and Greyhound build. Even so, they love to be couch potatoes and can be lazy. When it comes to training, they can be a little challenging and aloof. The dog may look at you as if you’re the one who needs training, not him!
8. Ibizan Hound
Finally, we end our list of dogs that resemble Greyhounds with the Ibizan Hound! These dogs are another ancient dog breed. One of the treasures found in King Tut’s tomb was the life-size statue of an Ibizan Hound (it may have been a jackal, but it strongly resembled these dogs). Other artifacts have been found that date the dogs to about 5000 years ago.
Ibizan Hounds today come from the Spanish island of Ibiza. These beautiful red and white dogs look a lot like Greyhounds. The dogs are very playful and can even be somewhat silly! They’re not extremely affectionate; however, they do love to snuggle with their people.
The dogs are known for running at fast speeds and for having stamina and determination. They are athletic dogs that participate in coursing, agility, and other dogs sports.
Ibizan Hounds are medium-sized sighthounds that stand between 22 to 27 inches tall and weigh between 45 to 50 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 10 to 14 years.
Thankfully these dogs don’t need a lot of exercise. An Ibizan Hound will be happy with one or two 20- to 30-minute walks a day. And they do love to play!
Summing It Up
There you have it! This is our list of dogs that resemble Greyhounds! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these amazing Greyhound-like dogs!
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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