I.Tall Sighthounds

The Chart Polski (Polish Sighthound) (70-80 cm at withers)
 Sturdy and powerful Sighthound with square proportions. Withers are apparent, the top line is straight above the chest, slightly curved over the loin, the croup is long, large and oblique. The deep brisket reaches the elbow, the under line rises evenly from the elbow to the tucked up belly. The brisket is somewhat large seen from the front. The head is long and strong, the muzzle sometimes longer than the skull. The ears are of moderate size, folded to the back or straight when the dog is alert.
 The expression of the Chart Polski is lively, penetrating and alert. The hair is short on the flanks, a little longer on the withers, the tail and the back of the thighs, somewhat hard to the touch, neither silky nor rough. All coat colors are accepted including the black mantel. The long tail is curved at its end and thicker than the tail of the other smooth Sighthounds.

The Greyhound (English Sighthound) (71-76 cm at withers)
 The proportions of the Greyhound are those of a lying rectangle. The withers are hardly noticeable. The top line is arched above the loin. The muscles are powerful, very well developed and rounded. The brisket is deep and reaches the elbow. The under line rises evenly from the elbow to a well tucked up belly. The ears are small and folded backwards showing the inside of the ear, so-called “rose ear”.
 The expression of the Greyhound is lively and intelligent. The hair is always smooth. Coat colors: black, white, fawn, blue (blue-gray), sand, brindle with or without white. The tail is long and slightly curved at its end.
 There are 2 types of Greyhounds, the racing Greyhound and the show Greyhound. The racing Greyhound is bred mostly for its speed, whatever its looks, the show Greyhound is mostly bred for its looks, whatever its speed. The general appearance of these two types of Greyhound can be often very different. The racing Greyhound can be sometimes a rough package of muscles, the show greyhound is more racy and elegant but sometimes too extreme (exagerated rear angulation, very long neck, brisket too deep hindering the movement of the shoulders).
 The Greyhound is the most powerful and the faster sprinter of all Sighthounds.

The Azawakh (Tuareg Sighthound) (64-74 cm at withers)
 The proportions of the Azawakh are those of a standing rectangle, higher than long. The withers are apparent, the hips are slightly higher than or level with the withers. The croup is bony. The deep brisket does not reach the elbow. The under line is first falling (keel) then rising sharply to the well tucked up belly. The lop-ears are larger and longer than those of the Sloughi, but smaller than those of the smooth Saluki. The rear angulation is even more moderate than that of the Sloughi. The muscles are lean and flat.
 The expression of the Azawakh is intense, somewhat feral. The hair is always smooth, coat colors are all variations from sand to deep mahogany, with white socks, white throat, white tip of tail, blaze, with or without brindling and black mask. The tail is long and slightly curved at its end.
 The Azawakh is a long distance runner.

The Sloughi (Arabian Sighthound) (66-72 cm at withers)
 The proportions of the Sloughi are those of a square, sometimes slightly higher than long. The withers are hardly noticeable. The top line is almost straight from the base of the neck to a slight curve above the loin. The croup is bony, the brisket is very deep but does not reach the elbow. The under line is first straight (long sternum) then rises sharply to a well tucked up belly. The angulation front and rear is moderate. The muscles are long, dense, lean and flat. The medium-sized lop-ears can fold backward when the animal is nervous or moving.
 Sloughis, particularly males, have stronger heads than Salukis and Azawakhs, they are often taller and more powerful. The so-called “desert Sloughi” is more lightly built and smaller than the so-called “mountain Sloughi”. Sloughis are leggier and have more tuck than Salukis.
 The expression of the Sloughi is gentle and melancholy, almost sad. The hair is always smooth, coat colors always solid: all variations from light sand to red, with more or less dark overlay, with or without black mask, black ears, brindling and black mantel. A white patch on the chest and a few white hairs at the tips of the toes are tolerated. The tail is long, thin and well curved at its end.
 The Sloughi is a fast long distance runner.

The Saluki (Persian Sighthound) (58,5-71 cm at withers)
 The proportions of the Saluki are square to slightly rectangular. The withers are apparent. The croup is often rounded, the brisket usually reaches the elbow. The under line rises evenly from the elbow to the tucked up belly. The angulation is often more extreme, particularly in the rear. The lop-ears are large and long, tips reaching below the lower jaw.
 The expression of the Saluki is lively and alert.
 There are two types of coats in this breed, the smooth coat and the feathered coat with long silky hair on the ears, tail and back of legs. The second is the most common. All coat colors are accepted except brindle. The tail is long and curved at its end.
 The Saluki is a fast long distance runner.

The MagyarAgar (Hungarian Sighthound) (65-70 cm at withers)
 Without being heavy, the Magyar Agar is smaller and more compact than the Greyhound, somewhat longer than high. The top-line is almost straight from the base of the neck, withers and hips barely apparent. The head is larger, the cheeks are stronger, and the ears are larger than those of the Greyhound. The ears are half folded to the side. The feet are large and strong, the muscles are well developed. The brisket is deep and reaches the elbow.
 The expression of the Magyar Agar is open and brave. The hair is always smooth, not as fine as in the Greyhound, and thicker in winter (substantial undercoat). All colors are accepted. The tail is long and slightly curved at its end.
 The Magyar Agar is a very resistant and tough long-distance runner, who was crossed with Greyhounds to increase its speed on the racing tracks.

The Galgo espanol (Spanish Sighthound) (65 cm at withers)
 The Galgo is similar to the Greyhound, the differences between the two breeds are more in details. The Galgo is smaller and less powerful than the Greyhound; its muscles are less rounded, leaner and flatter. The top line is straighter above the loin, the hips are higher, the angulation is more moderate and the feet are larger. The head is longer, the ears are folded (rose-ear) as in the Greyhound but larger. The brisket barely reaches the elbow and is quite large seen from the front.
 The expression of the Galgo is lively.
 There are two types of coats in this breed, the smooth coat and the wire coat, the second being rare. Colors: cinnamon, chestnut, fawn, black, brindle with white and any combination of these colors. The tail is long and slightly curved at its end.
 The Galgo espanol is a long distance runner, whose speed was increased by crossing it with the Greyhound.

II. Medium sized and small Sighthounds

The Whippet
(the size at the withers of the Whippet is strictly controlled, for the dogs: 47-51 cm, for the bitches: 44-47 cm)
 The proportions of the Whippet are those of a medium sized Sighthound combining power and elegance, and which resembles those of a small Greyhound. The withers are hardly noticeable. The top line is first straight then clearly arched above the loin. The croup is large and powerful. The deep brisket reaches the elbow. The hind legs are very well muscled. The ears are folded (“rose ear”).
 The eyes are shiny and lively. The hair of the Whippet is fine and always smooth: all coat colors are accepted. The tail is long, thin and slightly curved at its end. 
 Like the Greyhound, the Whippet is a sprinter characterized by its incredible acceleration.

The Italian Greyhound (small Italian Sighthound) (32-38 cm)
 The Italian Greyhound is a miniature Sighthound, whose proportions are square, sometimes slightly higher than long, like in the Sloughi. The bone structure is refined and the elegance extreme. The muscles are well defined but lean and long. Like in the Whippet, the withers are barely apparent, the top line is first straight at the base of the neck, then clearly arched above the loin. The brisket is deep and reaches the elbow. The under line rises evenly from the elbow to the well tucked up belly. The ear is a “rose ear” as in the Whippet and the Greyhound.
 The large eyes of the Italian Greyhound have a gentle and lively expression. The hair is always fine and smooth, solid black, isabelle or slate, and all their variations, with more or less dark overlay. A white patch on the chest and a few white hairs at the tip of the toes are tolerated. The tail is long and curved at its end.
 Although this is not the main focus of its breeding, the Italian Greyhound can be a fast and resilient runner.

The sizes at the withers are indicated for the dogs, bitches being smaller.
The other Sighthounds of the FCI Group 10, have half-long coats, such as the Irish Sighthound (Irish Wolfshound) and the Scottish Sighthound (Scottish Deerhound), curly hair like the Russian Sighthound (Borzoi), or long hair like the Afghan Sighthound (Afghan or Tazi)
Note of the author: this study is based on the standards of the Federation Cynologique Internationale. These standards are not necessarily the same as those used in the USA, England and Canada.