Sight Hounds

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

Sight hounds were bred to detect prey from far distances. They are agile and have incredible speed but lack stamina to hunt for long periods of time. They have a larger range of peripheral vision compared to other dogs. Some of them were bred to keep wolf populations down. In other areas they were used largely as indoor companions.

Some of the breeds that fit into this category are:

Basenji
Greyhound
Afghan Hound
Italian Greyhound
Irish Wolfhound
Whippet
Saluki
Ibizan Hound

Bred to detect prey often gives these dogs a high prey drive which can lead to poor recall (unless practiced). They have a need to run at high speeds but for short spurts of time.

Unlike many of the other working breeds they were not bred for human cooperation, so training can sometimes be difficult-motivating factors are key! Bred to trust their own instincts makes them independent, not clingy and they typically do not like their personal space invaded. They may also be wary of strangers and protective of territory and family.

While they are great indoor companions; quiet, calm, graceful and affectionate; they will not seek your attention constantly.

When the right motivating factors are applied they can be agreeable but it can be very difficult for them to focus on their handler outdoors. They have an extremely high prey drive so management is definitely necessary for these breeds.

This is not a full list of characteristics and may not apply to every dog. If you are interested in diving a little deeper, I encourage you to read the book, “Meet Your Dog” by Kim Brophey.