Spanish Greyhound / Galgo Español

F.C.I. Standard n. 285

Date of publication of the original valid: 26-May-1982.

Origen. Spain.

Utilization. Dog for hare hunting, in fast pursuit and being directed by his sight. He has also been used and can hunt other game animals like rabbits, foxes, also boars; however the primordial utilization of the breed is in hunting (coursing) the hare.

Classification FCI Group X: sighthounds. Section 3: short haired sighthounds. Without working trial.

Brief historical summary. The greyhound is known since the antiquity by the Romans, even though we are led to suppose that his arrival and implantation in the Península 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 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 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.
  1. 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.

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

  3. Important proportions.
    Sub-longish 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.

  4. Head.
    - Description of the ensemble: in proportion with the rest of the body, long, lean and fleshless. The ratio skull-muzzle is: length of the skull 5, length of the muzzle 5/6.
    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.

    Cranial region
    - Skull: Of reduced width and sub-convex profile. The width of the skull shall not exceed half of its length. 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.
    - Teeth: Strong, white and sound. Scissors bite. Canines very developed. All premolars present.
    - 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.
    - Palate: Of the colour of the mucous membranes with strongly marked ridges.

  5. 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.

  6. Body.
    - View of the ensemble: slightly rectangular, strong and supple. Thoracic cage amply developed; belly well drawn up; giving a look of robustness, agility and resistance.
    - Withers: simply indicated.
    - Back: straight, long and well defined.
    - Loin: 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.
    - Rump: long, powerful and slanting. Its slope to the horizontal exceeds 45º.
    - Dorsal-lumbar line: 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.
    - Chest: powerful though not very broad; deep, without reaching the elbow and very deep in its extension up to the floating ribs. Point of sternum marked.
    - Ribs: the ribs with wide intercostal spaces and flat. The ribs must be really visible and marked. The thoracic perimeter shall be slightly superior to the height at the withers.
    - Belly-Flanks: belly abruptly tucked up behind the sternum; whippety. Folds of flanks short and lean and flanks well developed.

  7. 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 hook at the end more marked 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.

  8. Forequarters.
    - View of the ensemble: 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; well defined bones with well marked tendons, straight and parallel. Carpal pads very developed.
    - Metacarpus (pastern): slightly oblique, fine and short.
    - Feet: harefeet. Toes tight and high. Phalanges and pads hard and well developed. Interdigital membrane moderately developed, nails well developed.
    - Angulations: angle scapular-humeral: 110 degrees. Angle humeral-radial: 130 degrees.

  9. Hindquarters.
    - View of the ensemble: 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 raised high. They give the impression of power and agility in the impulsion.
    - Thighs: 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 ¾ that of the leg.
    - Lower thighs: very long with the Achilles tendon clearly visible, which should be well developed.
    - Rear pastern: fine, short and vertical.
    - Feet: harefeet the same as the front feet.
    - Angulations: angle coxal-femoral 110º. Angle femoral-tibial: 130º. Angle of hock: in excess of 140º.

  10. Movement/gait.
    By nature, the typical gait is the gallop. The trot must be extended, low over the ground, elastic and powerful. No tendency of lateralisation or ambling.

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

  12. 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 forelock 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. White with white and pied markings or bi-colour and pied.

  13. Size:
    Height at the whiters: males from 62 to 70 cm.
    Females from 60 to 68 cm.
    A margin of 2 cm is admitted in subjects of perfect proportions.

  14. 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.

    Minor faults:
    Straight profile of muzzle. Pointed muzzle.
    Absence of any premolar.
    Pincer bite.
    Parietal bonex pronounced.
    Head a little broad with only some chiselling.
    Tail a bit short, not going beyond the hock.
    Scars, wounds and scratches in hunting season.

    Important faults:
    Skull of excessive width together with pointed muzzle.
    Moderate endognathism (overshot).
    Absence of canines, not due to accidents.
    Voluminous head.
    Short and round neck.
    Cranial-facial axes parallel.
    Eyes light, round, protruding or prominent.
    Ectropion and entropion.
    Stop very marked.
    Ears short, pricked or small.
    Lips and dewlap marked.
    Barrel-shaped ribs.
    Dorsal-lumbar line like a saddle back.
    Height at the loin less than the height at the withers.
    Short flanks.
    Short rump, round or only slightly oblique.
    Musculature very protruding, round and not elongated.
    Limbs incorrect, splayed toes, cow-hocked.
    Weak pads.
    Tail and ears amputated.
    Outlines of coarse appearance, heavy or without suppleness.
    Unbalanced character (temperament).

    Eliminatory faults:
    Insufficiency of type (lacking in type).
    Split nose.
    Undershot or overshot mouth.
    Albinism.
    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.

    N.B.: male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

(Photos from La Guía del Perro, 1993).

Angel J. Camacho - IFCA WebMaster