The Greyhound is a tall slender dog. Their eyes are dark in colour. The chest is wide and deep and the short, fine coat comes in all colours, including; blue, red, black and white brindle, light red fawn, black and white, red and white, dark red and blue.

Origin of the Greyhound

This very ancient breed is the fastest dog in the world and can reach speeds of over 40 miles per hour. Greyhounds are thought to have originally descended from the Arabian Sloughi and brought to England by traders before 900 AD. Today, there are two types of Greyhounds being bred-racing lines; bred for speed and show lines, which conform to the written standard. The Greyhounds talents include; watchdog, hunting, racing, sighting, agility and line coursing.

Sizes of typical male and female Greyhound

Typically males weigh between 29 and 36kg, while females are slightly lighter, weighing between 27 and 31kg. Male Greyhounds measure between 71 and 76 cm, while female’s measure between 68 and 71 cm. Some lines are larger and have reached the 90 to 100 pound range (40-45kg).

Greyhound Temperament

The Greyhound is a brave and devoted breed. The breed is intelligent, loving, laid-back and charming. Both show lines and racing lines are gentle and even-tempered. Greyhounds in general have a wonderful temperament, being friendly and non-aggressive. There temperament is affected by a number of factors, including; training, hereditary and socialisation.

Greyhound Coats

Greyhounds have a smooth, short-haired coat, which is easy to care for. Greyhounds are average shedders. Ensure you brush them daily by using a firm bristle brush to keep shedding at a manageable level. Use a dry dog shampoo only when necessary to keep his coat clean and smelling great. Use a moist cotton ball to clean ears free of debris. Greyhounds tend to have poor dental health, so ensure you regularly brush their teeth to make sure that there isn’t any build-up of tartar. As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infections such as redness, tenderness or inflammation on the skin, in the mouth, nose and eyes, and on the feet.

Exercise your Greyhound

Greyhounds that are kept as pets should have frequent opportunities to run free on open ground in a safe area. They should also have long daily brisk walks. Greyhounds love a fixed routine. Greyhounds need at least an hour of exercise per day. Ensure you monitor your Greyhound for signs of overheating or fatigue. Heat exhaustion is common in dogs. Greyhounds are reasonably low energy dogs; however they still need a daily walk. If they do not have regular exercise then they become bored, which may lead to destructive behaviour.

What health problems can Greyhounds suffer from?

Greyhounds are prone to bloating. It is healthier to feed your Greyhound 2 or 3 small meals a day rather than one large one. Greyhounds are sensitive to drugs, including insecticides. They are also prone to hypothyroidism.

The life expectancy of a Greyhound

The expected life expectancy of a Greyhound is 12 to 14 years.

The cost of a Greyhound

The cost of a racing Greyhound can vary enormously, an unraced puppy at 16 weeks old will fetch £350-£1,500 depending on its breeding. The price will increase as they get older. Naturally, the better the Greyhound, the higher the price you can expect to pay.

Greyhound Puppies

Greyhound puppies are best suited to living in the countryside because they require a substantial amount of exercise.

Dog groups related to Greyhounds

Sight hound Greyhound

Similar dog breeds to the Greyhound

Italian Greyhound, English Foxhound, Foxhounds, Saluki, Whippet, Afghan hound and Borzoi (Russian wolfhound).