Greyhound: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The greyhound is a large-size hound dog breed from Egypt known for its muscular long legs, narrow, streamlined body, and short, smooth coat. The dog's narrow head, long neck, and deep chest are also recognizable aspects of this breed. These physical characteristics make the greyhound the fastest breed in the world, with the ability to race at speeds upwards of 45 miles per hour.

Characteristics of the Greyhound

Greyhounds can make excellent companions for all kinds of people and even though these dogs are large, many do well with children. They are extremely affectionate with their families and may prefer not to be left alone. The dogs are rarely aggressive and respond well to strangers. Greyhounds are sensitive, requiring patience and understanding. It's best for these dogs to live in a peaceful household and be spoken to with kindness.

History of the Greyhound

Archaeological evidence of greyhound-like dogs dates back 8,000 years to the Middle East, making it one of the most ancient dog breeds. Much preferred by the ancient Egyptians, greyhounds were likely also owned by Romans and Greeks. By the ninth century, the breed could be found throughout Europe, and Spanish explorers brought them to the Americas in the 1500s.

Greyhounds were classically used for their hunting prowess and coursing. In addition, the greyhound is the first breed of dog mentioned in English literature over the centuries and was specifically mentioned in many of William Shakespeare's plays. Greyhounds also held a place in the hearts of English nobility, including King James 1 and Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, who owned a famous greyhound named Eos that happily appeared in many court portraits. The modern greyhound derives from dogs bred in England during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The greyhound was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. Shortly after, modern greyhound racing started in the 1920s in both the United States and England. The breed is typically not used for hunting in more modern times, and live game coursing and racing greyhounds is now illegal in many places. Even England's once-revered Waterloo Cup coursing meet is no longer in existence thanks to the Hunting Act of 2004 deeming it an act of cruelty.

The breed has experienced a surge in popularity in the U.S. since racing the dogs has stopped in many states and rescue organizations have begun to place retired racing greyhounds for adoption.

Greyhound Care

Greyhounds need a bit different care than other types of large dogs. You'll have to honor the greyhound's need for short stints of exercise rather than long hauls. Maintaining its coat is never a problem since it's short and smooth. Training will be your biggest challenge since this breed has a highly sensitive nature and will need help adapting to its new environment.

Exercise

Contrary to popular belief, greyhounds are not usually hyperactive or overly energetic. Though excellent athletes, they can also be couch potatoes most of the day, and do very well living in apartments. They love to run, but a moderate amount of daily exercise, about an hour a day, including a 30-minute walk, should be enough to keep a greyhound motivated and fit.

Don't allow a greyhound off-leash, however, as they are prey-driven and will bolt away after small animals. It's best to have a fenced-in area where they can run around. When exercising your greyhound, remember that while they can tolerate hot weather, they will get chilled in cold weather because they lack body fat. You may need to provide a sweater for your pup in the winter while going on a walk.

Grooming

The greyhound's short, smooth coat needs little grooming. The breed sheds at a low to moderate rate, so an occasional once-over with a soft brush or grooming mitt should be sufficient. The typical greyhound only needs occasional bathing. Trim their nails regularly, keeping them short to prevent slipping on slick floors. Look in its ears at least weekly for wax buildup and irritation. It is also good to pay attention to dental hygiene and brush your dog's teeth two to three times per week.

Training

Both proper training and socialization are very important for greyhounds. Fortunately, most can learn and adjust well. Cats and other small animals may provoke their predatory instinct until they learn the animal is a family member.

It helps to know when caring for a greyhound, that a rescued racing dog has had a very different life from the average companion dog. When a dog is not racing, it spends a lot of time in kennels and has usually never seen the inside of a typical home. The dog may be leash-trained but has typically not been exposed to things like stairs and glass doors, so it will need a bit of extra training.

Common Health Problems

Responsible breeders strive to maintain the highest breed standards as established by kennel clubs like the AKC. Dogs bred by these standards are less likely to inherit health conditions. However, some hereditary health problems can occur in the breed. The following are some conditions to be aware of:

• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: This condition causes the tendency to produce gas and bloat, which can lead to stomach torsion and a medical emergency.
• Hip Dysplasia: This inheritable condition leads to lameness and arthritis.
• Osteosarcoma: One of the first signs of this aggressive bone cancer is lameness. It can be treated with amputation and chemotherapy.
• Hypothyroidism: This thyroid condition can be treated with medication.
• Sensitivity to Anesthesia: Greyhounds need less anesthesia than other dogs of the same size and the regular dose can be deadly. They metabolize barbiturates slowly.
• Sensitivity to Insecticides: Greyhounds are sensitive to pyrethrin-based flea collars and sprays, requiring alternative products.

Diet and Nutrition

Male greyhounds need 2.5 to 4 cups of dry food per day, and females need 1.5 to 3 cups. Divide this into two meals—because they are prone to bloat, they are at risk of stomach torsion if they gulp their food or eat too much at once. It is common for them to gain 5 pounds after they retire from racing, but you should monitor your pet's weight to ensure it doesn't gain more than that. If your dog is putting on too much weight, discuss the proper diet with your veterinarian and get recommendations for feeding schedules, amounts, types of dog food, and exercise.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Greyhound

Though greyhounds can sometimes be obtained from a breeder as puppies, the majority of available dogs are retired racers. Adopting a retired racer is a wonderful thing to do. If you would like to share your life with this unique dog breed, take the time to do your research first. Talk to your veterinarian, other greyhound owners, greyhound rescue groups, and reputable breeders to learn more. If you do go through a breeder, expect to pay between $1,500 to $2,500 for a purebred puppy.

The most likely place to adopt a greyhound is from a breed-specific rescue group. Luckily, there are many resources where you can find a retired greyhound, such as:

• Greyhound Welfare, Inc.
• Adopt-a-Greyhound
• Greyhound Pets of America
• National Greyhound Adoption Program

The National Greyhound Association also offers a list of endorsed regional greyhound rescue groups on its website.

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More Dog Breeds and Further Research

Greyhounds are terrific dogs. If you’re interested in these dogs, take a look at some similar breeds to compare the pros and cons.

• Whippet
• Scottish deerhound
• Redbone coonhound

There’s a whole world of potential dog breeds out there—with a little research, you can find the right one to bring home.