A Noble Breed (1) The greyhound is a very old and venerated breed of hunting dog that has been both adored and abused for centuries. Ancient Turkish temple drawings from 6000 B. C. show hunters using greyhounds to pursue deer and other fleet-footed prey. A Persian funeral vase from 4000 B. C. was decorated with the image of greyhounds, showing how highly the owner valued the breed. Since then, the greyhound's fortune has varied considerably from one era to the next.

Bred for Hunting
(2) Many people have described greyhounds as a noble breed. One might attribute the greyhound's alleged nobility to the regal tilt of the head or to his proud demeanor as he stretches his long body along the best couch in the parlor, but there is a much more straightforward explanation. Clergymen saved greyhounds from extinction during the famine and pestilence of the Middle Ages and bred the dogs for noblemen. Eventually, greyhounds became the exclusive property of nobles.
(3) Beginning in 1014, the British Forest Laws prohibited serfs and slaves from owning greyhounds. Freemen were allowed to own greyhounds, but those living near the royal forests were required to cripple their dogs intentionally either by removing three toes from a front paw or severing ligaments in the leg. The Forest Laws were enacted to prevent commoners from hunting game on royal property. The Forest Laws were eventually repealed, but the odd mixture of reverence for and harsh treatment of greyhounds continued.

Trained for Racing
(4) As the popularity of hunting with greyhounds waned, the popularity of greyhound racing grew. In both coursing and track racing, the greyhound chases a rabbit-shaped lure at top speed. In coursing, the lure is attached to a mechanical rope and pulled across fields and around twists and turns, just beyond the dogs' reach, for 500 to 1400 yards. The event is staged in heats with two to three dogs competing at a time. The dogs are judged on concentration, agility, endurance, enthusiasm, and speed. By contrast, for greyhounds racing around a track, only speed matters.
(5) Modern-day racers are bred and trained to reach maximum speed by their third stride out of the gate and to run at top speed for 30 to 45 seconds around an oval track. With their long legs, aerodynamic head, supple back, and acute vision, greyhounds can reach speeds of 37 miles per hour around a track and 45 miles per hour in a straight line.
(6) Race training begins almost as soon as the greyhound pups wean from their mothers at 8–9 weeks. At commercial breeding farms, pups often spend weeks together in large pens where they naturally expend pent-up puppy energy by racing each other up and down the length of the runs, building strength, coordination, and a love of competition. Trainers capitalize on the greyhound's natural drive and encourage the pups to chase toys and then lures.
(7) At about one year, greyhounds begin chasing a lure in a long straight line and then practicing high-speed turns. Next, the dogs move to the schooling track where they learn to follow a real track lure, break from a starting box, and run with other dogs.
(8) A greyhound runs its first professional race, or "maiden race," at 18 months. Maiden races are open to any dog that hasn't won before, and each dog gets six chances to win and advance to compete in a tougher class. A greyhound races every three to seven days, and as long as he keeps winning or placing, he keeps racing.
(9) Eventually, all dogs slow down and are retired from racing. From there, most dogs are euthanized or adopted, and a few are kept for breeding. A successful racing career usually lasts no more than five years, and a greyhound's natural life expectancy is 10–15 years. Until recently when people began to adopt retired racers as pets, most greyhounds lived unnaturally short lives.
The author's main purpose in this selection is to —

A
compare greyhounds with other pets.

B
persuade people to adopt greyhounds.

C
give information about greyhounds.

D
explain how to train greyhounds.