Ancient breed was built for speed

Greyhounds are the second-fastest accelerating animal on the planet. They can reach 72km/h in six strides. The cheetah is the fastest.

Their roots can be traced back thousands of years, and their images were discovered in a tomb built in Egypt in 4000BC. They are also the only dog mentioned by name in the Bible, which refers to them as stately: 'A greyhound, and the goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.'

Despite their speed, they do not need extensive exercise and can stay fit through a brisk walk for half an hour a day. They enjoy sleeping a lot and often do so with all four legs in the air.

The breed, which began racing in the US and Britain in the 1920s, can attain such speeds because of their powerful legs and aerodynamic build.

Owners said they had a gentle nature and got on well with humans. However, the downside was that they did not bark very often and were likely to be just as friendly to strangers.