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The Galgo Español (Spanish Galgo) or Spanish Greyhound is an ancient breed of dog, specifically a member of the sighthound family. The Galgo was named for the Gauls, a tribe of Celts, who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula 400–600 B.C.E. The Galgo breed was probably a result of the dogs brought by the Celts on their migration through the peninsula mixed with dogs brought by traders who did business with the Celts.
In the intervening centuries, it is likely that other sighthound breeds were interbred to produce the Galgo that we know today. Despite being called a "Spanish Greyhound", the Galgo is not truly a Greyhound. The lineages of the two breeds are different. However, in the last century or so, some breeders have cross-bred Galgos and Greyhounds in order to produce faster Galgos.
Galgos have a very similar nature to Greyhounds. They are calm, gentle and laid back; happy to sleep their day away on their backs on a sofa. Unlike most Greyhounds, more than 90% of Galgos can be considered cat-friendly and are therefore an ideal choice for the hound lover who also owns cats. Almost all Galgos are also friendly towards other dogs and small dogs. Galgos are also very good with children, being calm in the house there is less risk of a child being knocked over or jumped on than a more excitable breed. They are very gentle and tolerate the often over-enthusiastic attentions of children with no risk of retaliation from the dog.
The Galgo has an ancient history. He is named for the Gauls, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula six centuries BC. Celts always appreciated good dogs, and they acquired gaze-hounds from the Phoenician merchants who plied the Spanish shores. Caesar conquered the area just before the Christian era, and Roman writers of the first and second centuries AD describe the sleek Galgo. Spain was overtaken by the Moors in the eighth century, and additional sighthounds could have been introduced from Africa at that time.
After the Middle Ages, the Galgo maintained type for centuries, especially in Andalusia and Castile. Farmers used him for guard work or for hunting rabbits. Spanish nobility also favored these fleet hounds for formal coursing of live game. Those used for coursing remained the purest in type.
In the 20th century, the Spanish began using the Galgo on the racetrack. Although these coursing canines could "turn on a dime" and maneuver well following live hare through rough country, they were not as fast on the straightaway as their English racing cousins. Imported Greyhounds were crossed with the Galgo to obtain more speed, and large numbers of the ancient Spanish breed were altered by this dilution. Fortunately, fanciers maintained the cause of the old Galgo type.
Today the professional racing dog in Spain is called Galgo Ingles-Espanol (English-Spanish Galgo) and is not the same breed recognized by the FCI and breed purists in Spain. Spanish and European breed clubs formed for the Galgo Es-panol are fostering the breed as a quiet aristocratic companion and a fine coursing dog. Specialty shows are offered for the breed. The Galgo is smaller than the English Greyhound, with a bit more stop and ears that hang straight down. He is a sturdier fellow, built for the demands of coursing and practical hunting.
Galgos are routinely used in Spain to hunt rabbits and hares. Following the end the hunting season most of these animals are abandoned or killed, often being hung from trees. It is common practice for the galgos that hunted successfully to be hung from higher branches so that they die relatively quickly. Dogs that performed badly are hung from the lower branches so that their feet just touch the ground resulting in a long drawn out death.
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