Overview
The Galgo Español is a sighthound used in Spain to course hare across open plains. Thousands are abandoned each year at the end of the hunting season, and most Galgos in the UK are rescues brought over by charities. They are taller and more lightly built than a racing Greyhound, with a longer back and a softer expression.
They are quiet, gentle and often a little anxious at first, having had hard lives. With patience they become affectionate, lazy companions who sleep most of the day and run for a few explosive minutes.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day in two walks is plenty for most. Sighthounds are sprinters, not marathon runners, and a Galgo is content with a steady walk and a short burst of speed somewhere safe.
Cold and wet bother them. A fitted coat for winter walks and a towel at the door are part of the job.
On the walk
- Recall: Treat it as absent in any open space. A Galgo that sees a rabbit at two hundred metres is gone, silently, before you have reacted.
- Other dogs: Usually gentle and calm. Small running dogs can trigger chase instinct, so keep them apart in free play.
- Pulling: Minimal unless something is spotted. A sighthound harness or a wide martingale stops the narrow head slipping out of a collar.
- Startle: Many rescues are nervous of sudden noise, men in hats or raised hands. Move calmly and give the dog space.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk in a wide, fitted martingale or a sighthound harness; standard collars come straight off.
- Carry a coat from autumn onwards; thin skin and little body fat mean they chill fast.
- Avoid secure fields with hard fences at speed; a running sighthound can hit them.
What to ask the owner
- What is known about the dog's history, and what frightens it?
- Has it ever been let off, and does the owner want it off lead anywhere?
- Are there pressure sores, old injuries or thin skin areas you should check after a walk?