18 May Pros and Cons of Living with a Sighthound

We just adore the grace and beauty of the majestic sighthound! And oh my gosh, don’t ya just love their tendency to lean all their weight into you until they get a hug? So charmingly spoiled and sweet.

These darlings are very calm, clean and have a way of just entertaining themselves. And like potato chips, it’s easy to want more than just one, which is perfectly fine since most experts recommend your sighthound have at least one other canine friend.

So if you’ve been thinking of adopting a sighthound and wondering if they make good family pets, you’re in the right place! Because why there’s every reason sighthounds make loyal, gentle and marvelous companions, this guide will cover everything you need to know about this beautiful breed, so you can decide for yourself!

Why The Name Sighthound

The sighthound (or gazehound) is literally a breed apart within the dog world.

For this specialized group of canines, visual acuity is the leading hallmark of their abilities – although speed probably comes in at a close second. This is because these dogs have been carefully bred to assist humans with hunting by their sight and speed. In contrast to scent hounds who were bred to hunt by scent and endurance.

It’d be pretty tricky trying to sneak up on a sighthound. They can have up to a 270-degree field of vision, which is quite impressive (our range is only 180 degrees). Their eye placement and vision not only allow them see objects behind them but also over a half-mile out in front!

Sighthound dogs all have a tall, lean and leggy appearance, allowing them to give chase in short bursts at high speed. (Did you know the Whippet is the fastest sighthound and has been clocked running up to 35 mph on short chases. ZoomZoom!)

Because of this, often sighthounds such as the Greyhound, Borzoi and Saluki, have been used in dog racing for many years. These athletes also enjoy many other dog sports including agility, obedience, and lure coursing.

Let’s cover some key sighthound pros and cons and other important things you need to know before adopting.

Sighthound Pros

Here are four characteristics of sighthounds that make them the champions of our hearts and homes:

43mph couch potatoes.

Sighthounds are gentle, mellow and easygoing companions. On any given day, your pup may have sudden playful bursts of energy, however, sighthounds generally don’t need large amounts of exercise. They’re perfectly content to join you on a daily stroll or two and then be the calmest and most relaxed breed of dogs in your house.

Incredible vision.

Of course one of their most remarkable features are the sighthounds’ eyes, which give them special vision across wide open land. Sighthounds also have something called stereoscopic vision, which means they are well-suited to seeing moving objects. So consider her keen eyesight and need to chase when training your pup. And the more creative you are, the more successful you’ll be together! Don’t be afraid to be silly and find ways to draw on your dog’s natural interests and abilities. When your sighthound is off at a distance and you’d like to have her close by, you might find it helpful to move your body when calling. Make you the center of attention… so much so that you’re more fun than anything else going on around her.

Simple maintenance.

You’ll find that sighthounds are minimal shedders, generally quite healthy and easy to groom. All traits that make this breed a wonderfully low-maintenance, easy and care-free member of the family. Unlike a spouse who procaffeinates (avoids doing anything before they’ve had their first cup of coffee)!

Loving family pets.

You’ll find this breed to be very affectionate and well-behaved around children. They are generally trusting of strangers, however, some may tend to be quite shy. Unless there are other pups in the household who woof, yap and howl, many sighthounds rarely bark. So if you’re looking for a polite and quiet companion, this could be the breed for you…but if you’re wanting a family watchdog, you might want to look elsewhere.

Sighthound Cons

Just like any hound, sighthounds make amazing lifelong family members, however there are a few other things to keep in mind before you bring your cuddle-bug companion home.

Sensitive sweethearts.

These graceful fur babies have sensitive skin, little body fat and long skinny bones, which means they need to be protected from extreme environments and temperature. So keep those warm coats and sunscreen handy! Without much to protect them from wide changes in temperature, they should ideally only be indoor dogs. And it’ll be your job to ensure they have the proper gear to keep them safe when outdoors.

High prey drive.

The sighthound has a very high level of motivation to chase small moving things that run from them, which is fine when your dog is tracking prey but not so great when your sighthound spies a fuzzy critter bounding across the street into the neighbors yard. (Squirrel!!) Quality time spent training your hound can be very beneficial to keeping that drive in check. Yet, even a well-trained and obedient hound would probably be safer on a tightly held leash when enjoying the open outdoors.

Quick like a bunny.

Well, actually…they’re much quicker! The challenge to their fast pace is that once off a leash or outside your fenced yard, you may discover that your speedy sighthound is very difficult to catch. Prevention is much easier than having to chase down or search for your pup. Be sure gates are locked, so they can’t be left open accidentally, your dog has an ID tag on her collar (and/or is microchipped), and keep an eye out for anyone opening up the front house door.

Chock-full of smarts.

Sighthound dogs are intelligent and loving, but just like all hounds… they can sometimes be a bit stubborn and independent. So before your hound gets bored and finds his own creative form of entertainment, it’s best to provide him with regular exercise and consistent training that uses positive guidance, support, and clear communication. All of which these sensitive hounds respond to extremely well. Harsh words or negative reinforcement training methods are not effective with this breed. Training is all about having a good relationship. The more time you spend working with your pup, the stronger your lifelong bond will be…and you’ll quickly see your efforts rewarded.

Now that we have a good idea of general characteristics, let’s take a quick look back at their history…

Sighthound History

Sighthound dogs are said to predate the scent hound, which together are two of the most ancient canine lineages on the planet. Thousands of years ago, we humans quickly learned the advantages of having strong, fast and agile hounds as hunting companions. It’s no wonder hounds became the first domesticated breeds to work in partnership with people.

The modern sighthound is the closest dog breed to those ancient primitive pups, who were favorites of the great Egyptian Pharaohs, starred in Greek mythology, and were adored by the Romans who perfected the sport of coursing.

Our longstanding fondness and admiration for the sighthound is true, you’ll find all kinds of “Greyhound-like” dogs that have appeared in art and literature over the centuries. These pups also developed distinctive characteristics to support their primary purpose of sighting and giving high speed chase to prey. They have lightweight bodies with increased muscle mass, larger hearts with elevated blood mass and more arterial support to the heart.

Today’s sighthound dogs can vary quite a bit in size – from the tallest dog in the world, the Irish Wolfhound to the smallest sighthound, the Italian Greyhound. And of course their coat types vary as well. Many sighthound dogs have the short, close coat that characterizes Greyhounds, while other sighthounds such as the Afghan Hound, Borzoi and the Deerhound have longer, thicker coats that require more maintenance.

Greyhounds

The Greyhound is perhaps the best known sighthound of them all…most likely due to their role as racing dogs and/or due to the many animal charities and rescues devoted to finding retired racers loving homes.

If you’re looking to adopt a retiree (how thoughtful), just remember these pups will need help adjusting to their new surroundings. Before bringing them home, childproof your house, lock up any garbage, and clear the countertops of food to avoid counter-surfing. Greyhounds respond better to change if you allow them to remain in your company, reward them for good behaviors, and have a soft comfortable spot (think lots of pillows!) they can call their own. Remember, without much body fat on their hindquarters, Greyhounds tend to lie down more than they sit.

Not ready to adopt a retired racer? Become a foster! It’s a great way to try before you buy. 🙂

Sighthound Summary

The sighthound has been living side by side with people since the earliest days of the human/canine partnership. These dogs are so easy to live with. It’s no wonder they have been our helpmates and best friends for centuries…and our love affair with these beautiful placid pups continues to just grow and grow.

Note, the pros and cons listed here are generalizations for the overall breed. Characteristics and temperament really depend on the individual dog you select. Remember, hounds can easily be your dream dog, despite any challenges they might pose. And who knows…those slight flaws and foibles may actually be the things that endear you the most.

If you’re convinced a hound is right for you (like we are!), the American Kennel Club has a wonderful online tool that allows you to learn more about a each hound and compare traits of your favorites in the bunch.

Last thing…

Be sure to grab your FREE copy of Before Getting Your Puppy by the world renowned veterinarian, dog trainer and animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar…go do it. Right now! This book will help you prepare for the big day and give you the confidence you need when bringing a new hound home. It’s full of valuable insights and information using Dr. Dunbar’s easy, effective and enjoyable dog training techniques. Oh and it’s perfect for adult dogs, too!

Do you have other pros and cons about living with a scent hound? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know!