What to Know About Greyhounds

Medically Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM on May 28, 2022
Written by Alyssa Anderson
7 min read

Greyhounds are the fastest dogs in the world. They’re also members of the hound group. 

These sweet-tempered animals were bred to be hunters thousands of years ago. These days, they prefer being cozied up indoors with their families. They’re noble creatures that can be a great addition to a variety of homes. 

How big do Greyhounds get? Greyhounds are tall, lean dogs. The typical Greyhound size is slightly larger for males than for females.

Males have an average height of 28 to 30 inches at the shoulder. Females have an average height of 27 to 28 inches. Healthy males weigh an average of 65 to 70 pounds. Healthy females weigh an average of 60 to 65 pounds. 

Make sure to talk to your veterinarian if you’re concerned that your dog is too far under- or overweight. 

Body shape. Greyhounds are lean beauties. Their bodies are shaped like an inverted S. This is caused by their deep chests, which gently curve up into their tightly tucked waists. 

Their skulls are narrow and look very aerodynamic, and they end in long, powerful muzzles. They have small, folded ears atop their heads. Their eyes are dark and bright. 

Other Greyhound characteristics include their perfectly straight forelegs and muscular hindquarters. These end in hard, close feet with shock-absorbing pads. 

Their tails are long and tapered. They’re carried with a slight upward curve. 

Lifespan. The Greyhound lifespan is typical for their size. They live an average of 10 to 13 years. This means that you need to plan for at least a decade with your pet if you adopt them when they’re young. 

Coats. Greyhounds have smooth, short coats. They’re firm to the touch. 

The coats can be extremely colorful. The AKC recognizes over 30 colors for the breed, including:

  • Black
  • Black and white
  • Blue
  • Brindle
  • Fawn and white
  • Red
  • Red and white
  • Black brindle
  • White, blue, and fawn

They can also have a variety of markings, like ticked coats and black masks. 

Personality. The Greyhound personality is that of a noble, independent animal. They’re mild creatures that enjoy spending time with their families. 

Although they were bred to be hunters, these dogs can be quite gentle. The Greyhound temperament should never be too shy or overly aggressive.

The AKC rates them 4 out of 5 for their affection for their loved ones. They're rated a 3 out of 5 for their playfulness. 

Grooming. Greyhounds are easy pets to groom. You should give them regular baths. They need one whenever they become too dirty or smelly for your liking. 

You should check their ears regularly for debris and signs of infection. 

Trim their nails whenever they get too long. Long nails can be painful and lead to difficulty walking. 

Brush your dog's teeth on a daily basis with a dog-safe toothpaste to complete their grooming routine. 

Feeding.  Make sure that your pet has access to clean water at all times. 

Your Greyhound needs high-quality dog food. Try to find a brand that your pet enjoys. Make sure that the nutritional requirements are specific to their stage of life, including puppy- and senior-specific foods. 

This breed requires more calories and protein than other dogs, so check the ingredients before settling on a brand. You can ask your veterinarian for brand-specific recommendations.

Always consult your veterinarian before choosing to make an at-home blend for your dog. Making your own dog food is complicated. You need to make sure that you’re meeting all of your dog’s nutritional needs, or you risk endangering your pet’s health. 

Also make sure that you know what human foods are safe for your dog to eat before feeding them anything from your kitchen.

Exercise and mental stimulation. Greyhounds are an energetic breed that enjoys an occasional all-out sprint. They like lazing about the house but need exercise every day. 

They enjoy playing fetch with their owners and frolicking in fenced-in yards. You can take them on walks, but never let them off the leash. They have strong prey instincts and will happily chase after every squirrel. If they take off, it’ll likely take you a while to catch them again. 

Greyhounds only need a moderate amount of mental stimulation. Interact with them in a variety of ways to keep them entertained. 

Veterinary visits, medications, and immunizations. All dogs need a core set of vaccinations. Talk to your vet to determine the complete set that’s right for your dog and the best schedule to get them. 

Core vaccinations include:

These can begin as early as six weeks of age. Make sure to discuss non-core options with your veterinarian too. 

Dosages for flea and tick medications are based on your dog's weight. Use them as needed. Oral and skin-based applications are available from your veterinarian or other distributors.

Many of these medications can be effective against a variety of pests and parasites, so talk to your veterinarian to figure out the best one for you. These days, heartworm medication is also recommended year-round in all parts of the U.S.

In general, Greyhounds are a very healthy dog breed. They’re one of the healthiest purebred lines. But some health problems are always possible with your pet.

Some conditions that can occur in dogs, including greyhounds, include: 

  • Gastric torsion orbloat. This is when there’s twisting in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract — specifically in the stomach. Your dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or liquid and then twists, creating a sudden life-threatening situation. Signs include an enlarged abdomen, retching, and drooling. The condition is typically treated with emergency surgery. 
  •  Osteosarcoma. This breed has the highest rate of bone cancer out of all dog breeds studied. It usually starts in one of their legs and is always, eventually, fatal. Amputating the affected limb can greatly prolong your dog’s life. Dogs can usually adapt quite well to having a leg amputated. 
  • Eye conditions. These include conditions that lead to blindness, like pannus and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Pannus is like a dangerous sunburn on your dog’s eyes. Sunglasses can decrease exposure. With PRA, you may start to notice your dog struggling to see at first, particularly at dusk and dawn. At present, there isn’t a treatment for this condition. Your vet should perform annual eye exams to look for any signs of deterioration. 
  • Idiopathic epilepsy. This is a condition where your dog can have unexplained seizures. Try to keep your dog from injuring themselves if they start to have a seizure and get them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
  • Greyhound neuropathy. This is a rare inherited condition. It leads to muscle weakness, a reluctance to exercise, and a strange bunny hop in your dog’s gait. It presents within the first eight to 12 weeks of your dog’s life. The condition is progressive, and puppies usually need to be put down at a young age.
  • Allergies. Like people, dogs can be allergic to things like pollen and dust. These irritants cause their skin to itch. Signs include licking their paws, rubbing their faces, and frequent ear infections. Your veterinarian can treat this condition with medications and ointments. 
  • Pattern baldness. If this is true pattern baldness, it’s a heritable condition called follicular dysplasia. The hair loss tends to start on the dog’s neck and the backs of their legs. Currently, there’s no treatment.

These dogs can also have more problems with anesthesia than other breeds. Make sure your veterinarian is familiar with this breed before your dog undergoes any kind of procedure that requires anesthesia.

Greyhounds are one of the fastest mammals on the planet. They’ve been recorded running at 44 miles per hour. Cheetahs are one of the few animals that are faster. 

Since Greyhounds don’t have insulating undercoats, they can be susceptible to extreme temperatures. Keep an eye on them when there are dramatic changes in the weather. 

They’re only moderately good with young children but are better with other dogs. They take time to warm up to strangers. Early, patient training can fix some of these issues. They need variety and a gentle approach, or they’ll become bored or defiant. 

These dogs are independent animals that can make their own decisions. You want to learn to work with them to get the most out of your relationship. 

Greyhounds shed infrequently and rarely drool. They only bark a moderate amount of the time. 

Greyhound history spans thousands of years, but there’s some controversy about their exact origins. One theory is that they originated about 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. There are depictions of dogs that look like Greyhounds in the Tomb of Amten in the Valley of the Nile. 

But recent DNA analysis suggests that Greyhounds are more closely related to herding dogs than they are to Salukis and other ancient breeds that originated near Egypt. Instead, the dogs could have been bred by the ancient Celts in mainland Europe. 

According to this theory, Greyhounds, or very similar-looking dogs, arrived in the United Kingdom in the 5th or 6th century BCE and spread out from there. 

The dogs were bred to hunt down fast prey like hares. They hunt by sight. Later breeding efforts have also developed them into swift racing dogs that are fierce competitors in sprinting contests.   

Greyhounds were listed in the first Westminster Kennel Club catalog in 1877. They were added to the American Kennel Club in 1885.