A little late, but about sight hound muscling:
IMO, it's okay for a sight hound to be on the thin (NOT emaciated) side IF the dog is getting adequate food, is well muscled, has a healthy coat, and got that way through exercise vs. being starved down.
If the muscles or coat are lacking, then you don't have a fit dog. You have a dog that is coping with not enough food and it needs more.
Their hip bones sit higher than their spines. You really shouldn't conceal the hip bones completely unless your dog is super muscular and can build up muscle over them. This is where hands on is important, because if you feel the space between the hips, you shouldn't be able to easily feel vertebrae. That should be muscle.
From what I understand about their muscles (someone correct me if I'm wrong) they've got a different ratio of fast twitch/slow twitch muscle fibers than other breed groups.
Also, I've noticed whippets and greys bulk up a lot more than zois, sloughi, and salukis. I don't know if that's because the first two were bred more for sprinting and the last three more for long distance hauls. I do know borzois are supposed to have "slab" muscling, where the muscles are flattish. Supposedly that helps with oxygen delivery and endurance. Kaia and Strider don't really bulk up, but are extremely toned (Kaia has a six pack and I didn't know that was possible in dogs, lol).
It's really hard to find pics of racing greys showing their racing weight, because most wear capes during runs.
I can't really give an opinion on Bukra from photos, especially since his condition varies a bit from photo to photo and salukis appear the have the same sort of slab muscling you see on borzois. It would really take someone with experience to put their hands on him and see how he is right now, and that's why I feel his breeder should know so he can check on him if he wants.
IMO, it's okay for a sight hound to be on the thin (NOT emaciated) side IF the dog is getting adequate food, is well muscled, has a healthy coat, and got that way through exercise vs. being starved down.
If the muscles or coat are lacking, then you don't have a fit dog. You have a dog that is coping with not enough food and it needs more.
Their hip bones sit higher than their spines. You really shouldn't conceal the hip bones completely unless your dog is super muscular and can build up muscle over them. This is where hands on is important, because if you feel the space between the hips, you shouldn't be able to easily feel vertebrae. That should be muscle.
From what I understand about their muscles (someone correct me if I'm wrong) they've got a different ratio of fast twitch/slow twitch muscle fibers than other breed groups.
Also, I've noticed whippets and greys bulk up a lot more than zois, sloughi, and salukis. I don't know if that's because the first two were bred more for sprinting and the last three more for long distance hauls. I do know borzois are supposed to have "slab" muscling, where the muscles are flattish. Supposedly that helps with oxygen delivery and endurance. Kaia and Strider don't really bulk up, but are extremely toned (Kaia has a six pack and I didn't know that was possible in dogs, lol).
It's really hard to find pics of racing greys showing their racing weight, because most wear capes during runs.
I can't really give an opinion on Bukra from photos, especially since his condition varies a bit from photo to photo and salukis appear the have the same sort of slab muscling you see on borzois. It would really take someone with experience to put their hands on him and see how he is right now, and that's why I feel his breeder should know so he can check on him if he wants.