Spanish Greyhound

		Spanish Greyhound
		FCI standard Nº 285

Origin		Spain
Translation		Mrs. Peggy Davis
Group		Group 10 Sighthounds
Section		Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds
Working		Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Tuesday 10 August 1971
Publication of the official valid standard		Wednesday 26 May 1982
Last update		Friday 24 May 2002
En français, cette race se dit		Galgo espagnol
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Spanischer Windhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Galgo español
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Galgo español

Usage

A dog hunting the hare in fast pursuit in open fields, being directed by his sight. Formerly he has also been used and can hunt other game animals like rabbits, foxes, also boars; however the primordial utilization of the breed has been and is the hunt of the hare in open fields.

Brief historical summary

The Spanish greyhound is known since the antiquity by the Romans, even though we are led to suppose that his arrival and implantation in the Peninsula dates back long before that period. Descendant from ancient Asian greyhounds, he has adapted himself to our different terrain of steppes and plains. He was exported in large quantities to other countries like Ireland, England during the XVIth, XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. Our Spanish greyhound is one of the ancestors of the English greyhound which presents with the Spanish greyhound (galgo) the similarities true to the breed which have served as a base in its selection and subsequent acclimatization. Among the numerous citations by the classical authors, one should select that of the archpriest of Hita who says : « Hare which goes is soon caught in a chase by the greyhound... », thus proving the principal and ancestral function of the breed.

General appearance

Greyhound of good size, eumetric-subconvex, sub-long line and dolichocephalic. Compact bone structure, head long and narrow (dolichocephalic), ample thoracic capacity, belly very tucked up, very long tail. Hindquarters vertical and muscled. Hair fine and short or semi-long and hard.

Important proportions

Sub-longuish line structure; length slightly more than the height. Proportions and functional harmony is to be sought after as much in static position as in movement.

Behaviour / temperament

Serious temperament and reserved in occasion, however when out hunting, proves to be an energetic and lively hunter.

Head
Cranial region
Head		In proportion with the rest of the body, long, lean and fleshless. The ratio skull-muzzle is 5/6 : length of the skull 5, length of the muzzle 6. Cranial-facial lines are divergent. Seen from above, the ensemble skull-muzzle must be very long and even (without bulges); with a long and narrow muzzle.
Skull		Of reduced width and sub-convex profile, longer than wide. The skull has a median furrow well marked on its first two thirds; the frontal sinus and the occipital crest are simply indicated.
Stop		In gentle slope, only very slightly accentuated.

Facial region
Nose		Small, moist with black mucous membrane.
Muzzle		Long, of sub-convex profile, with a narrow, slightly arched nasal bridge towards the nose.
Lips		Very lean. The upper lip just covers the lower lip. The lower lip does not show a marked corner of the lips. Fine, tight, with dark mucous membranes.
Jaws and teeth		Teeth strong, white and sound. Scissor bite. Canines very developed. All premolars present. Palate : Of the colour of the mucous membranes with strongly marked ridges.
Eyes		Small, oblique, almond shaped; preferably dark, of hazel colour. Calm expression, soft and reserved. Eyelids : Fine skin and dark mucous membrane. Fitting very closely on the eye.
Ears		Broad at the base, triangular, fleshy in their first third part and finer and thinner towards the tip which will be rounded. Set-on high. When the dog is attentive, they are semi-pricked in their first third with the tips folded, in lateral direction. At rest, they are in « rose type »; close to the skull. When pulled forward they reach very close to the corner of the lips.

Neck

Long, oval in cross-section, flat, slim, strong and supple. Narrow in its cranial part, widening slightly towards the trunk. Upper profile slightly concave. Lower line almost straight with a slight central convexity.

Body
Body		Rectangular, strong and supple, giving a look of robustness, agility and endurance. Thoracic cage amply developed; belly well drawn up.
Topline		With a slight concavity of the back and a convexity of the loin. Without abrupt breaks and without oscillation when moving, giving the impression of great elasticity.
Withers		Slightly marked.
Back		Straight, long and well defined.
Loin		Long, strong; not very broad and with an arched upper line; with a compact and long musculature, giving an impression of elasticity and vigour. The height of the loin in its central part may exceed the height at the withers.
Croup		Long, powerful and slanting. Its slope to the horizontal exceeds 45°.
Chest		Powerful though not very broad; deep, without reaching the elbow and very long in its extension up to the floating ribs. Point of sternum marked.
Ribs		Ribs flat with wide intercostal spaces. The ribs must be really visible and marked. The thoracic perimeter is slightly superior to the height at the withers.
Side		Flanks short, lean and well developed.
Underline and belly		Belly abruptly tucked up behind the sternum; whippety.

Tail

Strong at its root and low set, lengthens between the legs remaining in contact with them. Tapering progressively ending in a very fine point. It is supple and very long; reaching well beyond the hock. At rest, falls in a sickle with a pronounced hook at the end and inclined laterally. Brought back between the legs with a terminal hook almost touching the ground in front of the hindlegs, it realises one of the most typical aspects of the breed.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Perfectly vertical limbs, fine, straight and parallel. Metacarpus short and fine. Harefeet.
Shoulders		Lean, short and oblique. The shoulder blade must be noticeably shorter than the upper arm.
Upper arm		Long, longer than the shoulder blade, very muscular, with elbows free although quite close to the body.
Forearm		Very long, straight and parallel; well defined bones with well marked tendons. Carpal pads very developed.
Carpal joint		Angulations : Angle scapular-humeral : 110°. angle humeral-radial : 130°.
Pastern		Slightly oblique, fine and short.
Forefeet		Harefeet. Toes tight and arched. Phalanges strong and long. Pads hard and well developed. Interdigital membrane moderately developed, nails well developed.

Hindquarters
Generality		Powerful, well defined bone structure, muscled with long and well developed muscles. Perfectly straight and vertical with correct angles. Hocks well marked, short and vertical; harefeet with toes arched. The hindquarters give the impression of power and agility in the impulsion.
Upper thigh		Very strong, long, muscled and toned. The upper thigh as much as possible nearing the vertical. Seen from behind, they will show, at first glance, a very marked musculature. Broad, flattened and powerful, its length is of 3/4 that of the lower thigh.
Lower thigh		Very long with well defined and fine bones. Muscled in its upper part; less so in its lower region; with veins and tendons clearly visible.
Femoral joint		Angulations : Angle coxal-femoral : 110°. Angle femoral-tibial : 130°. Angle of hock : in excess of 140°.
Metatarsus		Fine, short and vertical.
Hock		Well marked with the Achilles tendon clearly visible, which should be well developed.
Hind feet		Harefeet the same as the front feet.

Gait and movement

By nature, the typical gait is the gallop. The trot must be extended, low over the ground, elastic and powerful. No tendency to crabbing nor ambling.

Skin

Closely fitting onto the body on all its parts, solid and supple, pink in colour. The mucous membranes must be dark.

Coat
Hair		Dense, very fine, short, smooth; spread all over the body down to the interdigital spaces. Slightly longer at the back of the thighs. The variety of semi-long hard-haired shows a greater hardness and length of hair which can be variable; although always evenly spread onto the whole body, it tends to form a beard and moustaches at the muzzle, eyebrows and top knot on the head.
Colour		All colours are admitted. The following colours are considered as the most typical, in order of preference : • Fawn and more or less dark brindles, well pigmented. • Black. • Flecked with black, dark and light. • Burned chestnut. • Cinnamon. • Yellow. • Red. • White. • With white markings and pied.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males from 62 to 70 cm. Females from 60 to 68 cm. A margin of 2 cm more is admitted in subjects of perfect proportions.

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 and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Head a little broad with only little chiselling.

Straight profile of muzzle.

Pointed muzzle.

Parietal bones pronounced.

Absence of any premolar.

Pincer bite.

Tail a bit short, going not much beyond the hock.

Scars, wounds and scratches in hunting season.

Serious faults

Voluminous head.

Skull of excessive width together with pointed muzzle.

Stop very marked.

Cranial-facial axes parallel.

Lips and dewlap marked.

Moderately overshot mouth.

Absence of canines, not due to accidents.

Eyes light, round, protruding or prominent.

Ectropion, entropion.

Ears short, pricked or small.

Short and round neck.

Dorsal-lumbar line like a saddle back.

Height at the loin less than the height at the withers.

Short croup, round or only slightly oblique.

Insufficient thoracic perimeter.

Barrel-shaped ribs.

Short flanks.

Musculature very protruding, round and not enough elongated.

Limbs not straight and perpendicular, splayed toes, cow-hocked.

Weak pads.

Tail and ears amputated.

Outlines of coarse appearance, heavy or without suppleness.

Unbalanced character (temperament).

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy.

Lack of type.

Split nose.

Distinctly overshot mouth or undershot mouth.

Topline very broad, flat and straight.

Chest let down well below the elbow.

Any other typical characteristic which would recall or indicate a cross-breed.

Albinism.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

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Spanish Greyhound