Sighthounds, Also Called Gazehounds, Are Breeds Of Hunting Dogs That Primarily Hunt By Sight And Speed, Rather Than By Scent And E Stock Photo

Sighthounds such as the saluki/sloughi type both named after the Seleucid Empire have existed for at least 5,000 years, with the earliest presumed sighthound remains appearing in the excavations of Sumer dated approximately 7000–6000 BC.[5] The earliest description of a sighthound in European recorded history comes from Arrian`s Cynegeticus, of the 2nd century AD. Although today most sighthounds are kept primarily as pets, they have been bred for thousands of years to detect movement, chase, capture, and kill prey primarily by speed. They thrive on physical activity. Some have mellow personalities, others are watchful or even hostile towards strangers, but the instinct to chase running animals remains strong.nnApart from coursing and hunting, various dog sports are practiced with purebred sighthounds, and sometimes with Lurchers and Longdogs. Such sports include racing, lure coursing, and other events.