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The history of the Greyhound is rather
fascinating.
The greyhound has been the pride and respect of many great civilizations and is
the only dog to be mentioned in The Bible.
Greyhounds are the oldest pure bred dog, dating back to the Pharaohs in ancient
Egypt. Paintings inside the tombs of the Great Pyramids depict the greyhound.
Most valued by the Egyptian Pharaohs, adored for its speed, stamina, grace and
loyalty, the greyhound rode upon his master’s camel, shared his master’s tent
and wore the same amulets to ward off evil spirits. The only event more
important than the birth of a greyhound in the master’s house was the birth of a
son.
From Egypt, the greyhound migrated with the great camel trains and traders to
other lands, to Russia, Greece and Rome - where they reached the far outposts of
the vast Roman Empire, including Britain.
In Britain owning a greyhound was perceived as the domain of the noble. During
the 11th Century, King Canute passed the Forest Laws that forbade peasants and
freeman to own a greyhound.
A law passed during the reign of King Canute stated "No mean person can keep any
greyhounds". It also stated that the destruction of a greyhound should carry the
same capital punishment as the murder of a man.
Elizabeth 1 was a keen enthusiast of the chase and ordered the Duke of Norfolk
to formalize the laws of the leash and so, for the first time, the sport of
coursing had a code of rules.
The modern day greyhound still retains all the traits that made it so treasured
throughout the centuries. It has traveled a long way but the greyhound is still
a loyal and gentle companion with an instinct to chase as strong as it was in
the days of the Pharaohs.
The sport of chasing on a race track is a very recent development: It did not
begin until O.P. Smith invented the mechanical lure in 1912 and so, eight years
later racing was introduced at Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greyhounds currently race in many
different countries around the world.
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