If racing dogs are bred to be so lean, their metabolisms selected that way, since it must make them run faster, maybe some modification should be done in breeding, so there's a happy medium. That just looks unnatural to me. He looks like some of those dogs on Animal Cops
its not nessicarily "racing dogs" but sighthounds in general, yes they were bred to run, but their fast metabolisms have more to do with the work the breed was origionally meant to do and less to do with the track dogs in general.
i do understand its hard to imagine a dog is HEALTHY so lean (such as the azwahs) but for the breed, thats how they are best suited for their job and environment.
to try and change these breeds to slow down their metabolism, and make them "stockier" would be a great disjustice to these breeds...
many of these dogs still do what they were bred for...at least in a sense, while the track is less than idea, and lurecoursing isnt exactly natrual its still closer to their natural behaviour than most folks pets, and most people that own sighthounds (even retired racers) often still attempt to get involved with lure coursing.
changing them to be leaner would be the same as what the ring has done to the shepard (that roached back is useless in a working dog) or the bulldog, the overly broad stance and extreemly shortend muzzle make it impossible for the breed to do anything remotly like its origional use.
if we compare breeing a grey to a dobie...
breeding a grey with a slower metabolism and adding more "meat" to its bones would be like breeding a dobie to be built like a rottie...not suitable for the breed even in its basic form.
i hope that makes sense...and im absolutly not trying to "pick on you" dobe, more using as an example.
your feelings about greys (and other sights) being too thin (even at healthy weight) is a commonly shared one by those unfamiliar with these breeds. and while absolutly normal (especially in this world where overwieght (ev en by a few lbs) is more common than dogs of ideal weight, shows like animal cops ect...
its unfortunatly becomming more and more common.
i actually got a call from AC because someone filed a complaint that ruby is emeaciated...
for her height and breed shes ideal at 9.5-10lbs, while some cresties are built like tanks, they should be built lightly, build for speed,
luckily after my vet talked to ac they accepted that the dogs were infact a good weight and NOT being starved.
this doesnt suprise me though as most people are NOT familiar with these breeds, and the few things they do hear are often propeganda about nasty racetracks, abusive overs ect from rescue groups who, while meaning well, dont nessicarily speek the complete truth, are not nessicarily the "experts" in the breed as a while, and will automacitally "feed up" dogs that come in (our vet hates our local branch of greyhound rescue because they have been told frequently that adding as much weight to the dogs as they do is very healthy for these dogs)
the other big problem is the AKC confirmation...for the show ring they bulk them up more than they should, so folks are used to seeing these ring bred greys, and of course everyone "knows" if you want a "quality" dog then the should be involved in showing thorugh the AKC, and of course AKC confirmation is how the dog should look absolutly no question.
and while this is true for many companion breeds, for working breeds this just doesnt work...
dobe, honestly if you get a chance, i think youd LOVE to get to know some greys, ive found alot of folks who love dobies love greyhounds too!
and i wish working sighthound breeders got more press with their dogs, show the world not only what a "real" sighthound looks like, but what these dogs can do!