Greyhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Ibizan and Pharoah Hounds, Russian Wolfhounds (Borzois), Salukis, Whippets, Afghans, to name some. All ancient breeds, bred for centuries to hunt with their eyes and speed.
Any other sighthound "owners" out there? Anyone active in lure coursing (perhaps the strangest looking AKC-sanctioned field competition [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )?
We've just adopted a "discarded" racing Greyhound to join and play with our Ibizan. Our poor resident police K-9, a GSD, sort of just tolerates their antics.
For a breed-type that can explode with incredible bursts of speed, they (at least ours) seem to make some of the gentlest couch potatoes you'd ever find.
Here's a link to my wife's very modest web site. The site's main purpose is just to post dog pictures.
Love the pictures and I have learn a new breed. The Ibizan is so beautiful. I have had Shepherds all my life and love them dearly. The best dog I ever owned was a Shepherd and he was my constant companion. He would even ride the fire truck of my volunteer unit. That was many years ago but I still remember the love and dedication he gave me.
I have two Giant Schnauzers now. Freyja is two and we have had her since she was a puppy. Seigir is five and we adopted him just a few weeks ago. He is a love as is Freyja and they have become great friends. Their breed has some Russian Wolf Hound in it along with several herding breeds.
What usually happens to the K-9 dogs when they are retired from duty? The reason I ask is that on another site a reported K-9 dog in Fla. ended up in a shelter.
I have attached a picture of Freyja and Seigir. Freyja is in the yellow collar and Seigir has the military cut. He was matted and dirty when we got him and he will look much better when his coat grows out.
I lived with a Giant many years ago. Just out of college, in a shared house with two other guys, one of whom had the Giant, and I have fond memories of that dog.
Though police K-9's are typically owned by the department, they are usually permitted to retire with their handler's family, since that has been home to them for so long anyway. I can conceive of certain circumstances where one might end up in a shelter, but there is a strong sense of support in that community. My wife found a Belgian Malinois while SAR training up in the country. She didn't think he was a K-9, but that breed makes very good ones. She took him to the local shelter, and then out of her own pocket paid to support him there until the rescue league could find a home (which they did).
<font color="blue"> Though police K-9's are typically owned by the department, they are usually permitted to retire with their handler's family, since that has been home to them for so long anyway. I can conceive of certain circumstances where one might end up in a shelter, but there is a strong sense of support in that community. </font color>
Hi Hank,
Here is the link to Major's story. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
<font color="blue"> Here is the link to Major's story. </font color>
Unfortunately, just being associated with dogs professionally (such as a K-9 officer) does not automatically make you good person. There are circumstances where officers become K-9 handlers for the wrong reasons, and this is obiviously one of them. A very sad story.
Hank, is there anyway of verifying that Major was a K-9 dog? In my involvement with rescue of dogs I have run into too many people who aren't completely truthful. K-9 handlers are getting some unfair negative press over Major on some of the individual breed rescue sites. While this story may well be true, I would like to check into it myself.
i have a japanese sight hound of sorts she is actually a spits breed but is as ancient as the get. it is called a shikoku kan. they are breed for hunting deer and boar by sight. she is as fast as the wind! unfortunately we cannot lure course since she is not an akc recognized breed! it is really stupid....they rec. a 400 year old breed (akita) but not a 3000 year old breed! silly americans
I agree!! It is interesting to me to watch dog shows in other countries, just to see all of the other breeds out there, and how they are categorized sometimes very differently than how the AKC does.
A "Chart Polski" (may not have got that exactly right) is another sighthound (Polish sighthound) that is not recognized by AKC.
sure thing! lets just see if i can get this to work.
its just a quick pic i took a min. ago of her about to chase one of wild cats we have in the field behind the house. she is a smaller dog almost the size of a whitppet. she generally weighs in at 27 pounds but is a little chunky right now....so we are going to work on this.
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