THE GREYHOUND CLUB, BREED STANDARD

General Appearance

Strongly built, upstanding, of generous proportions, muscular power and symmetrical formation, with long head and neck, clean well laid shoulders, deep chest, capacious body, slightly arched loin, powerful quarters, sound legs and feet, and a suppleness of limb, which emphasize in a marked degree its distinctive type and quality.

Characteristics

Possessing remarkable stamina and endurance.

Temperament

Intelligent, gentle, affectionate and even-tempered.

Head and Skull

Long, moderate width, flat skull, slight stop. Jaws powerful and well chiseled.

Eyes

Bright, intelligent, oval and obliquely set. Preferably dark. Ears, Small, rose-shape, of fine texture.  (picture of Ch Mistweave Making Waves breed record holder)

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and setsquare to the jaws.

Neck 

Long and muscular, elegantly arched, well let into shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders oblique, well set back, muscular without being loaded, narrow and cleanly defined at top. Forelegs long and straight, bone of good substance and quality. Elbows free and well set under shoulders. Pasterns of moderate length slightly sprung. Elbows, pasterns and toes inclining neither in nor out.

Body

Chest deep and capacious, providing adequate heart room. Ribs deep, well sprung and carried well back. Flanks well cut up. Back rather long, broad and square. Loins powerful, slightly arched.

Hindquarters

Thighs and second thighs wide and muscular, showing great propelling power. Stifles well bent. Hocks well let down, inclining neither in nor out. Body and hindquarters, features of ample proportions and well coupled, enabling adequate ground to be covered when standing.

Feet

Moderate length, with compact, well knuckled toes and strong pads.

Tail

Long, set on rather low, strong at root, tapering to point, carried low, slightly curved.

Gait/Movement

Straight, low reaching, free stride enabling the ground to be covered at great speed. Hind legs coming well under body giving great propulsion.

Coat

Fine and close.

Color

Black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle or any of these colors broken with white.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 71-76 cms (28-30 ins); bitches: 69-71 cms (27-28 ins).

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.