Mahratta Greyhound

		Mahratta Greyhound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			India
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The Mahratta Greyhound or Maratha Greyhound is a breed of dog native to India.

This rare breed, unknown outside its native province of Maharashtra, is described as resembling the smooth-coated Saluki, as it gives the impression of enduring speed combined with active strength. Standing just 53 cm at the shoulder, the Mahratta is slightly smaller than the Saluki. The Mahratta is a compact, well-muscled greyhound with a deep chest and reinforced back. The common color pattern is dark blue and beige. The coat is short and offers good protection against the various Indian elements.

Uncertainty prevails as to the Mahratta's lineage. Whether Mahratta is a descendant of the Saluki or a localization of other native Indian sighthounds remains the key question. Mahratta's small size, compared with Rampur and other Indian dogs, makes Saluki heredity or a pure, ancient origin the most likely hypothesis for development. With exceptional speed and concentrated strength, Mahratta Greyhounds are successfully used to hunt small and medium-sized game in the province for which they were named. The Mahratta Greyhound is not recognized by any major kennel club.

Mahratta Greyhounds have instinctive courage and hunting ability. He uses these to his advantage in combination with his excellent eyesight, fleet feet and muscular ability. The Mahratta is used almost exclusively for hunting, as the Indian way of life makes owning a dog solely as a pet a frivolous undertaking. Although, given the chance, these nervous working dogs could make faithful companions.