Despite knowing nothing about the breed at hand, some self-anointed “experts” become so upset by the natural litheness of Sighthounds that they can become downright threatening – and in turn, some Sighthound owners even carry letters from their veterinarians attesting to their dog’s health. But those whose frame of reference is made up mostly of breeds like the sturdy Labrador Retriever often think these skinny-by-nature breeds are underweight (or, worse, starved), when nothing could be further from the truth. None of this comes as news to experienced Sighthound owners. In addition, Sighthounds are born with comparatively low stores of body fat and unique metabolisms that make many intolerant to certain types or doses of anesthesia. As a result of this need for speed, Sighthounds have evolved extremely aerodynamic bodies, with relatively slender bone and a very noticeable “tuck-up,” or waist. From the sleek Saluki of the Arabian peninsula to the plume-tailed Borzoi of the Russian steppes, these breeds have been called “windhounds” for good reason: They needed to be fast enough to overtake very fleet-footed game, such as hare, deer, and even wolf. Understanding the Size of SighthoundsĬonsider, for example, the Sighthounds.
After all, the difference between a Bulldog and an Italian Greyhound is on par with that of a sumo wrestler and a ballerina: Each has a different purpose, with the corresponding body style to perform it.īut for the uninitiated, the wide-ranging physical differences among some breeds can cause super-sized misunderstandings. And that makes comparisons between them problematic. Indeed, the world’s breeds display a tremendous variety of not just colors and coats but also sizes and shapes. If modern dogs were required to have resumés, most would list their job description as “companion.” But even if a dog’s main activity is warming the couch, his body – not to mention his brain – still reflects the original purposes for which he was bred, from the badger-battling Dachshund to the sled-pulling Alaskan Malamute. But nothing could be further from the truth. For the uninitiated, these lithe-bodied runners can seem underweight.