Greyhound Racing (Photo credit: Mamboman1)How Do Greyhounds Run So Fast?
How Do Greyhounds Run So Fast?
Well here is a little anatomy and physiology of the greyhound to explain some of the characteristics they have that makes them such fast runners.
A greyhound is only about 16 percent body fat. This is half that of other breeds. They have long, thin legs and long spines that enable them to stretch out when running so as to lengthen their stride. Their muscles are so developed in the hindquarters that they are able to thrust forward with powerful strength. Greyhounds are sprinters. They run for a short amount of time, but they do so at immense speeds.
Greyhounds have a double suspension gait, which means that all of their feet come of the ground in one cycle of steps. Other dog’s feet come off the ground only once in a cycle of steps. This adds to their speed. Their legginess ratio is also a factor. This is the ratio between depth of their chest and the length of their legs.
Greyhounds have other anatomical and physiological differences, that set them apart from other dogs. Their blood pressure is higher than other breeds and their hearts are bigger, with a thicker left wall which helps with the capacity of blood that needs to be pumped during a race. A greyhound usually pumps his own body weight in blood during a race and their cardiac output increased five times.
Other breeds have around 7.2 percent of their body weight in blood. In greyhounds that number is around 11.4 percent. this additional bloods gives them the extra oxygen they need to perform during a race, since blood carries oxygen around the body.
They also have very short hair which makes them more aerodynamic. If you have never seen a greyhound run, you are missing out, they are truly breath taking. They really are born to run.
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