The Kangaroo Dog, also known as the Australian Greyhound, is a breed of dog of the sighthound type. The dog hunts focusing exclusively on its sight. The breed was created by crossing the Greyhound with the Scottish Deerhounds. The breed is mainly used for hunting and is quite rare even in Australia.
The Kangaroo Dog is a slender dog with a powerful appearance. Its head is delicate and elongated. Its skull is flat and the stop is soft. The forehead is high and the eyebrows are prominent. The muzzle is beautifully elongated and narrow. The nose and the lips are pure black. The eyes are small, dark, and almond-shaped; alert and often filled with eagerness to fulfil its duty. The floppy ears are set high on the head. The neck is thick and muscular. The back is finely curved and the chest is deep to provide large quantities of oxygen. The waist is small and delicate and offers it a great endurance when running. The feet are incredible long and strong. The tail is long, narrow and carried low. The long tail brings more equilibrium when changing directions. Its gait is alert and elegant. It is capable of impressive speed and strength. The coat can be wiry or smooth. The fur is short and moderately dense. The smooth-coated one is suitable for the warmer parts of Australia. The colour of the coat can vary from white to black, with or without patches. There are only slight differences between the genders, but in general the females are more supple and delicate than the males.
As a hunter, this hound is speedy and alert. Although it is powerful and muscular, it does not hunt large prey, but hare, boars and foxes. Its stature is created to endure long distances and rough terrains. Nowadays, it is used in racing because of its strength and resistance. As a pet, it does great only if you take care properly of it. That means you must offer it large spaces, because it needs to run and chase. Early training is important, because it can get hard to handle. You must let it do its job, otherwise it gets confused and anxious. It does well with children, but it is not suitable for the little ones. Even if it is not aggressive, it is very energetic and needs to be busy most of the time. It does not adapt to a city life, especially in an apartment. Because of the breeds naturally high energy levels, this type of dog needs room to run and play, a large yard at the very least. This dog needs constant, rigorous exercises, daily walks and jogs. It is perfect for athletes, hunters and dynamic physically active families.
The grooming is minimal, you need to brush it from time to time to remove the dead hair and wash it occasionally. Keep its ears clean. It can live up to 13 years.
The Kangaroo Dog is an energetic dog that really needs an athlete or a dynamic person who can let it frisk and run freely.
