Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Greyhound is one of the oldest sighthound breeds, whose origins can be traced back more than four thousand years. Images of dogs resembling Greyhounds are found in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Ancient Greece, where they were valued for their speed, keen sight, and ability to pursue prey in open terrain. In medieval Europe, the breed gained special status as a dog of nobility, used for hunting hare, deer, and antelope. In England, the Greyhound was perfected in speed and lightness of body, becoming the benchmark of the classic sighthound. Later, the breed became widely used in racing sports, demonstrating incredible acceleration and endurance over distance. Today, the Greyhound maintains its working heritage, combining speed, nobility, and a calm temperament.
General Appearance
The Greyhound is a large, slender, harmoniously elongated sighthound with a distinctly aerodynamic silhouette. The format is elongated, the body dry, with long and elastic muscles emphasizing the speed type. The topline is characteristic: the withers smoothly transition into a short, strong back and a pronounced loin arch, providing powerful propulsion. The chest is deep and capacious, reaching the elbows, creating space for well-developed lungs. The abdomen is well tucked up, emphasizing the lightness of the body. The head is long, narrow, with soft lines, the ears small and rose-shaped. The limbs are straight, dry, with strong joints and long bones, providing free, long strides. Overall, the Greyhound gives the impression of a dog built for maximum speed, strength, and economical movement.
Important Proportions
The Greyhound has a slender, elongated format in which the body length clearly exceeds the height at the withers while maintaining complete harmony and functionality. The depth of the chest is about half the dog’s overall height, ensuring a large lung capacity for high-speed running. The loin arch is pronounced but not excessive, forming the characteristic curve needed for acceleration and stability. The skull is long and narrow, the muzzle tapering toward the nose. The neck is long and elegant, balancing the head correctly. The limbs are long, strong, with correct angulation, providing long strides and an extended suspension phase at the gallop. All proportions are oriented toward maximum speed, lightness, and aerodynamics.
Behavior and Character
Despite its athletic appearance, the Greyhound is calm, gentle, and balanced. In daily life it is quiet, delicate, and unobtrusive, preferring a peaceful home environment. At the same time, it maintains pronounced hunting instincts: keen sight, speed, and instant reaction to movement. During walks it is energetic and capable of great speed, but outside of work or running it remains relaxed and peaceful. It is loyal, moderately emotional, and sensitive to humans. Not prone to aggression, it gets along well with other dogs when properly socialized. Its character combines nobility, intelligence, and quiet strength.
Head
The head of the Greyhound is long, narrow, graceful, with smooth lines and dry outlines. The skull is flat, gradually narrowing toward the muzzle, without width or heaviness. The stop is minimal and smooth. The muzzle is long and straight, with correct nasal bridge shape. The jaws are strong but not coarse, with a complete scissor bite. Cheeks are weakly pronounced, emphasizing the smooth profile. The skin fits tightly without folds, maintaining the dry structure. The general appearance of the head should convey nobility, lightness, and refinement, matching the speed type of the sighthound. The head harmonizes with the body, highlighting the elongated silhouette and elegant style of the breed.
Facial Region
The facial region is narrow, long, and straight in line, without widening or coarseness. The muzzle tapers gradually toward the nose, maintaining perfect straightness. The lips are thin, tight-fitting, without looseness. The nose is large, well pigmented, with open nostrils ensuring free breathing under high load. The chin is defined but not protruding. The cheek area is smooth and flat, emphasizing the dryness and refinement of the muzzle. The facial region must retain the lightness and neatness typical of sighthounds and provide the breed expression — calm, intelligent, and attentive. All elements serve functionality and high aerodynamics when running.
Eyes
The eyes are oval, medium-sized, set slightly obliquely, creating an expressive, soft, and attentive expression. The color is dark or hazel, harmonizing with the coat; eyes that are too light are undesirable because they spoil the noble expression. The eyelids are dry, tight, with good pigmentation. The gaze is calm, intelligent, sometimes thoughtful, but the dog instantly reacts to movement, showing strong hunting instincts. The eyes should not be protruding or set too deep. Correct eye shape and placement emphasize the typical Greyhound appearance — a combination of delicacy, aristocracy, and inner strength.
Ears
The ears are small, thin, rose-shaped, set high, and held back in a relaxed state. When alert, they may rise at the base, but the tips remain folded. The cartilage is flexible, and the shape natural, highlighting the elegance of the head. Too large, heavy, erect, or fully drooping ears are faults. The ears must emphasize the refinement and dynamism of the breed, enhancing the impression of lightness and speed. At rest, the ears lie back, smoothing the head profile; when alert, they become more expressive but retain the characteristic silhouette.
Neck
The neck is long, elegant, dry, gradually widening toward the shoulders, providing correct balance and high maneuverability. The upper line is slightly arched, emphasizing the aristocratic appearance of the sighthound. The muscles are developed but not coarse, essential for holding the head during high-speed running. The skin is tight and smooth, without folds. The neck must be long enough to allow the extended reach of the front limbs and maintain stability during fast gallop. Incorrect proportions — short, thick, or overly thin — disrupt the type and functionality.
Body
The body of the Greyhound is elongated, dry, with pronounced elegance and functionality that ensures maximum speed. The withers are moderately pronounced, smoothly transitioning into a short, strong back. The loin forms the characteristic arch — powerful and elastic — allowing the dog to accelerate and remain stable at high speed. The croup is long, slightly sloping, wide, and muscular. The chest is deep and prominent, with well-developed ribs providing capacity for lungs and heart — essential components of a speed breed. The abdomen is strongly tucked up, emphasizing the light construction. The body must give the impression of strength, flexibility, and aerodynamics for long-distance speed work.
Tail
The Greyhound’s tail is long, thin, saber-shaped, set low, tapering toward the tip. In repose it hangs downward; in motion it may curve slightly but does not rise high and never curls. The tail helps balance the dog at high speed, maintaining stability during sharp turns and direction changes. The skin is smooth, the coat short, and the tail complements the body line without disturbing aerodynamics. A thick, too short, or high-set tail is a fault. The correct tail shape and position support the breed’s functionality and create the characteristic sighthound silhouette.
Front Limbs
The front limbs are long, straight, dry, with a strong yet light bone structure ideal for long strides and high speed. The shoulder blades are long, sloping, tight-fitting, providing shock absorption and freedom of movement. The shoulders are well laid back, forming the correct angle for extended reach. Elbows face straight back, not turned in or out. Forearms are long, straight, muscular but not coarse. Pasterns are springy and slightly sloping. The feet are oval, with long toes and strong pads — providing grip at high speed. The front limbs must work smoothly, lightly, without excessive lift.
Hind Limbs
The hind limbs are powerful, long, with pronounced angulation, providing a strong thrust. Thighs are wide, muscular, long, enabling extended suspension phases. Lower thighs are long and strong, supporting correct proportions. The hock joints are low-set, strong, ensuring stability on turns. Metatarsi are short and vertical. Feet are oval, with long toes and strong pads, matching the front feet. In movement the hind limbs must work powerfully and parallel, ensuring acceleration and dynamism. Weak musculature or poor angulation reduces speed and breaks breed type.
Gait and Movement
Greyhound movement is light, soft, elastic, with long, free strides and a clear suspension phase. At the trot, the dog shows an even, steady rhythm with good reach. At the gallop — its main gait — the Greyhound reveals its full potential: becoming extended, streamlined, demonstrating the characteristic double suspension. The topline remains stable even at maximum speed. Limbs move parallel, without crossing or paddling. Movement must be economical, functional, highlighting the breed’s purpose — running at high speed. Any mechanical faults are serious defects.
Coat
The Greyhound’s coat is short, smooth, close-fitting, emphasizing the dry musculature and streamlined silhouette. It must be even in length, without feathering, curls, or harshness, preserving aerodynamics and ease of care. Undercoat is minimal or absent, reflecting the breed’s warm-climate origins and athletic purpose. The skin is tight, elastic, smooth, without excess. The coat should be shiny, healthy, and close-fitting across the body, highlighting lightness and speed. Any changes in coat texture, harshness, sparseness, or significant bald areas are faults.
Permissible Colors
The Greyhound is allowed in a wide range of colors reflecting the breed’s long history. Permitted colors include black, white, blue, red, fawn, brindle, and any combinations of these shades with white markings. Merle is forbidden and disqualifying. Pigmentation must be full and clear, matching the coat. Light variants are allowed, but weak pigmentation of eyelids, nose, or lips is undesirable. Color does not affect working qualities but must emphasize breed elegance. White markings are acceptable but should not be excessive.
Size
The Greyhound is a large sighthound with marked sexual dimorphism. Height at the withers for males is typically 71–76 cm, for females 68–71 cm. Male weight ranges from 29 to 35 kg, females 27–30 kg, while maintaining dry musculature and body lightness. Proportions must ensure maximum speed and endurance, balancing limb length, chest volume, and the characteristic loin arch. Excessive mass, heavy bone, or insufficient height disrupts balance and harms functionality. Size must remain harmonious and consistent with the athletic sighthound type.
Faults
Faults include deviations affecting balance, harmony, or breed functionality. These include shallow chest, weak muscles, insufficient loin arch or overly straight topline. Incorrect angulation of limbs, turned-in or turned-out front feet, cow hocks, or narrow hocks are serious faults. Soft ears, light eyes, poor pigmentation, uneven color, or poor-quality coat are also faults. Behaviorally, timidity, excessive nervousness, or lack of reaction are undesirable. All faults are evaluated by severity and impact on working ability.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include serious anatomical, behavioral, or genetic issues. Aggression or extreme fearfulness are absolute grounds for disqualification. Serious bite defects, multiple missing teeth, limb deformities impairing movement are unacceptable. Incorrect ears — fully erect or large drooping — are disqualifying as type faults. Merle coat color is prohibited. Complete depigmentation of skin or nose also disqualifies a dog. Any congenital defects, genetic disorders, orthopedic diseases, or pronounced movement abnormalities are absolute grounds for disqualification.
Important Notes
The Greyhound must be evaluated primarily as a high-speed sighthound, and any deviation from functionality is a serious fault. Preservation of the loin arch, body lightness, and long limbs — the key speed-determining elements — is essential. Excessive mass or decorative traits are unacceptable. Appearance must remain natural, without grooming that alters the silhouette. Special attention is paid to temperament: the dog must be balanced, calm, but capable of instant activation. Evaluation considers physical development, condition, and coat quality.
Conclusion
The Greyhound is a model of speed, nobility, and harmony, combining ancient hunting heritage with modern athletic qualities. Its aerodynamic silhouette, precise proportions, and powerful movement make it a unique sighthound capable of tremendous speed and stability over distance. At the same time, the dog has a gentle, delicate temperament, making it a calm and devoted companion. The Greyhound requires thoughtful care, adequate physical activity, and proper conditions to fully reveal its natural qualities.
