Many galgo-curious and galgo adopters are familiar with their cousin, the racing greyhound. Although both are greyhounds (galgo is Spanish for greyhound), the Spanish one is actually a different and ancient breed. To complicate matters, the galgo espanol is sometimes intentionally crossed with the racing greyhound to incorporate speed.
The galgo and racing greyhound are different…yet similar. The former is smaller, the male about the size of an average female grey. The galgo is not as muscled as the racers and doesn’t boast those buns of steel as they have been bred for stamina over speed. The eyes are soulful, the noses often “Roman” and they have a hard coat, unlike the greyhound’s velvety coat, and can even be wirehaired, with beards and eyebrows! Bone cancer is an extreme rarity in the galgo breed.
Used and abused for hunting hares competitively in the countryside, they are raised in large numbers. Their world might be a shed in which they are chained or even a pit in the ground covered with wood planks. When their “usefulness” ends in February, the official end of the hunting season in Spain, they are abandoned or killed except for a couple kept for breeding. Numbers are elusive but it has been estimated that 30,000 to 100,000+ are discarded each year by the galgueros. Hunting dogs in Spain are not protected by law like other dogs.
The galgos are typically raised in large groups, often huddling together for warmth. This pragmatic “togetherness” means that galgos generally don’t have space guarding issues and are happy to curl up with others. These sighthounds are super agile and with their endurance and athleticism make fine hiking companions. But no hikes in the rain please – they generally hate getting wet! They are intelligent, trainable and quick studies, especially when treats are involved. Expect your galgo to make her-/himself cozy on the couch. There are differing opinions on crating galgos, some folks for and some strongly against. If the galgo is house safe and other-pet safe when you’re not home, there’s no need to crate.
Galgos can leap fences in a single bound so we recommend a six foot wood privacy fence and when they first arrive and have not yet bonded to you, it’s wise to attach a long lead to the harness…just to make sure. A tracker on the collar is recommended. Galgos, at least in the beginning, should be walked on a three-point harness that prevents escape and keep a good hold on that leash. No underage dog walkers, please!
Galgos generally have a robust prey drive but some live happily with cats. However, as with ex-racers, a cat zooming in the yard can trigger that prey drive even if the galgo sleeps curled next to his cat buddy indoors.
Galgos haven’t lived in a home and we can assume some have been mistreated, neglected and under-socialized. Since these dogs have always lived with others and are new to home life, they do best with another dog or two in the household. Allow your newly arrived galgo to have a safe place from which to observe their new world and decompress. Don’t worry about walkies on Day 1…or even Day 10. Take it slow and be patient. Living in our world is like landing on another planet to them. With time, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without a galgo (or two or more).
NOTE: these are generalities and within each breed is a spectrum of individual personalities. GRIN is happy to help with questions, concerns and adjustments to home life.
Written by Judy Greenfield.