I am fully qualified dog trainer, with degrees in psychology and psychotherapy.
03/05/2025
Sighthounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, and so on) have an exceptionally wide field of vision because their eyes are set on the sides of the skull. They can pick up what is happening all around them, up to ear level, yet they have very little binocular vision: they focus brilliantly at a distance but struggle to see objects that are close, especially those right in front of their nose.
For this reason a sighthound may appear distracted or “aloof” when, in fact, it simply cannot see well at close range. If another dog approaches too quickly or excitedly, the sighthound may be startled and react—not out of aggression, but because it cannot immediately work out what is coming towards it.
This phenomenon falls within cynognostics, the branch of canine science that studies a dog’s morphology and how its physical build affects the way its body works.
Veterinary surgeons use cynognostics to spot conditions linked to conformation.
Show judges rely on it to assess how closely a dog matches its breed standard.
Canine trainers should turn to it to read a dog’s signals correctly and adapt their work to its physical characteristics.
As a professional, I consider it my duty to share this knowledge with owners: understanding how a dog is built helps them interpret its behaviour, prevent situations that cause discomfort, manage any discomfort that does arise, and avoid mistaking physiological limitations for behavioural problems.
