Greyhound breed guide

For the ideal sofa-snuggling companion, who is both loyal and kind-hearted, look no further than the greyhound!

Read our guide to find out more about the gentle greyhound breed…

Greyhound breed history

The greyhound’s story began thousands of years ago, in Ancient Egypt…

Wall paintings of long-legged hounds were discovered on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs. It’s believed that the superior hunting skills of these dogs, also known as ‘sighthounds’, eventually appealed to hunters in Europe, too. Sighthounds weren’t bred to follow the instructions of their human handlers, instead, they were to focus on the chase and refuse to be distracted until they’d caught their prey.

As of the Middle Ages, the greyhound breed started to resemble the elegant, athletic dog we know today. However, a law passed allowing only royalty and nobility to own greyhounds due to the breed’s incredible skills, and to save them from the famine that was impacting working classes.

Owing to their strong connections with the gentry, the greyhound breed was considered a symbol of prestige until the Industrial Revolution, when working classes were able to own them, too.

Common characteristics of the greyhound breed

Please remember that the following characteristics are considered ‘average’ for greyhounds, and since each dog is a unique individual, your greyhound’s characteristics may differ. 

Average height for a greyhound

On average, greyhounds tend to reach a height of 65-76cm (at the shoulder), with females often measuring as shorter than males.

Average weight for a greyhound

In general, greyhounds usually weigh approximately 25-35kg – though females sometimes weigh less than males.

Average lifespan for a greyhound

Most greyhounds live for around 10-15 years  

Typical greyhound appearance

Greyhounds are large dogs with fairly flat, long skulls and an elegant, chiselled muzzle that ends in a petite, dark-coloured nose. Their oval-shaped eyes are usually bright and full of expression – making greyhounds experts at getting what they want from their pet parents! Additionally, a greyhound’s ears are soft and small, resembling the petals of a rose with wrinkled folds.

Their slender, athletic frame is synonymous with the greyhound breed, along with their long yet sturdy legs, capable of running at eye-watering speeds!

A greyhound’s tail is narrow, curving slightly at the end, and it’s set low to improve aerodynamics as they run.

Although their coat is short and fine, greyhounds still require brushing a couple of times a week. Greyhounds also boast a variety of gorgeous coat colours, including:

• Black.
• White.
• Brindle (distinctive darker striped pattern over a base colour).
• Black and white.
• Black brindle and white.
• Brindle and white.
• Blue (pale grey).
• Blue and white.
• Blue brindle and white.
• Fawn (light brown).
• Fawn and white.
• Red (a rich orange-brown colour).
• Red and white.
• Red brindle.
• Red brindle and white.

Did you know? Having such thin fur means greyhounds often benefit from a warm dog coat while they’re out and about during cold weather.

Typical greyhound temperament

Owing to their kind, laid-back temperament, greyhounds are adored by families and lone pet parents alike! However, due to forming such strong bonds with their human family, greyhounds often suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Greyhounds are intelligent, but they’re also known to be quite independent. Since greyhounds have a mind of their own, they don’t necessarily enjoy advanced training that takes them beyond the basics!  

Even if you work extremely hard on their recall training, some greyhounds may still feel an instinctive desire to chase fast-moving objects or animals. But, if you find the right reward, many greyhounds like short training sessions that allow them to learn skills like sitting still or loose lead walking.

Despite their gentle nature, greyhounds are instinctively drawn to chase small animals. So, greyhounds must be introduced safely to cats and should never be left alone with small pets (like rabbits, guinea pigs, or hamsters).

Many pet parents put muzzles on their greyhounds and keep them on a lead while out on walks, to prevent their dogs from chasing small animals, like cats or squirrels. It’s worth taking your greyhound to a secure dog walking field every so often, to allow them to run freely in a safe environment.

Although they’re famous for being able to run at incredible speeds, the greyhound actually needs just an hour of exercise each day. The majority of greyhounds would rather curl up on the sofa with you than use all their energy up on hiking adventures!

Greyhound health conditions

It’s not unusual for pedigree breeds to be prone to certain health concerns, and, unfortunately, greyhounds are no exception. Here are a few health conditions commonly seen in the greyhound:

• Periodontal disease (damaging the tissues surrounding their teeth).
• Gastric dilatation volvulus (or GDV – also known as ‘bloat’).
• Osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer). 

Remember: Keep an eye out for any health issues your greyhound may develop, and get your canine companion checked by a vet if you have any concerns.

Fun facts about greyhounds

Fact 1 – Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 40mph+ while sprinting!

Fact 2 – In the 18^th century, Lord Orford crossbred greyhounds with bulldogs to give them more stamina – while his endeavour was unsuccessful, it’s believed this crossbreeding led greyhounds to develop smaller ears.

Fact 3 – During the 1200s, greyhounds were considered so valuable that King John accepted them as payment for fines!

Fact 4 – Thanks to their regal history, greyhounds became the subject of many famous pieces of artwork, including Portrait of the greyhound Major created in 1815 by George Philip Reinagle.

Fact 5 – Some greyhounds sleep with their eyes open!