Breed Info
The Greyhound
While there are numerous images of greyhound-like dogs in ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern art, the breed that we know today is of Celtic origin. Greyhounds were originally bred to course high-speed game, and they are still used for that purpose today. In addition to their history as coursing dogs, Greyhounds have been used extensively as racing dogs all over the world.
Despite their ability to reach great speed, Greyhounds are sprinters not marathon runners. As such, they spend a good portion of their time sleeping or lounging around the house. They are generally very quiet dogs and do not usually display the kind of exhuberance typical of other more active breeds. Nevertheless, they are extremely loyal and loving pets that are just as happy watching TV with you on the couch as they are going for a hike.
Greyhounds range in size from as small as 55 lbs to as large as 80 lbs. They have a very short coat that requires very little grooming, but they are very sensitive to temperature extremes. If you are considering adding a Greyhound to your family, there are always a number of retired racing Greyhounds that are looking for new homes. For more information on Greyhound adoption you can visit our links page.
AKC Breed Standard
UKC Breed Standard
The Rat Terrier
Rat Terriers are an all American breed that were originally developed from a mixture of breeds including the Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Bull Terrier, Whippet, Beagle and Italian Greyhound among others. They were bred primarily to be all-purpose farm dogs that could hunt, gaurd and exterminate vermin. In this way, they are not a traditional terrier but are actually a type of feist (true terriers were bred specifically to go to ground). While they do need a fair amount of exercise, they do enjoy plenty of down time, which makes them very similar to sighthounds.
Rat Terriers are very diverse in their size and appearance. There are three size categories of Rat Terriers: Decker, Standard and Miniature. The larger "Decker" Rat Terriers can reach sizes in excess of 18 inches at the shoulder and as much as 30 lbs. The standards are over 13 inches but do not exceed 18 inches, and the miniatures are anything under 13 inches at the shoulder. In addition to size differences, Rat Terriers come in two different body styles: type A and type B. Type A dogs are the type formally recognized as Rat Terriers, having a body ratio of 10:9. Type B dogs have much shorter legs in comparison to the length of their bodies. The Type B variety has since been given separate breed status and is now known as the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier. Although the two types have since been formally divided into two breeds both types do sometimes appear within the same litter.
The Magyar Agar (aka Hungarian Greyhound)
The Magyar Agar, or "MA" for short, is a sighthound breed originating from Hungary. Originally bred to pursue game over long distances, the Magyar Agar is a very rugged and hardy breed indeed. Although similar in appearance to the Greyhound, Magyar Agars are distinctly different in their overall conformation, possessing heavier bones and more robust features.
Unlike Greyhounds, Magyar Agars require a lot more exercise and tend to be a bit more biddable. They make very good guard dogs and can produce quite a menacing bark if they feel that there is a threat nearby. They generally get along well with other dogs, although early socialization is a must. They make very good family dogs and tend to do very well around children.
The Magyar Agar is still a very rare breed, even in its country of origin, so they are not easy to come by. If you are interested in adding an Magyar Agar to your family please visit our Litters page and feel free to contact us anytime.
FCI Breed Standard
UKC Breed Standard