Greyhound

Temperament

The Greyhound surprises many people who expect a hyperactive athlete. The AKC describes it as a dog that will happily lounge all day but can reach astonishing speed when it spots game or a lure. At home, it's quiet, gentle and clean, and it rarely barks. It can be affectionate with its family, though not effusive, and it receives strangers politely but with some reserve. It gets along well with other dogs, especially other sighthounds. Its weak spot is its sight-driven chase instinct: a cat running across the yard, a hare or a small dog can be treated as prey, so some Greyhounds aren't suited to homes with cats, and every one needs careful introductions. It is sensitive to raised voices and learns best with calm, reward-based methods.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Greyhound for?

The Greyhound suits a calm person or family, even in an apartment, who wants a quiet, gentle dog and can give it a safe place to run. It's a good adoption candidate for first-time owners if the dog has been tested with cats. We don't recommend it for homes with small animals, for people planning off-leash walks in the woods, or for those who don't want to deal with the starosta permit.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Greyhound doesn't need hours of exercise. The Kennel Club recommends up to an hour a day, ideally relaxed walks plus a few minutes of full gallop in a fenced paddock or on a lure coursing field. The AKC stresses that it should only be let off leash in a securely fenced area, because at sighthound speed a chase often ends far from the owner or in traffic. The short, close-lying coat just needs a once-a-week wipe with a grooming mitt. Greyhounds have very little body fat and thin skin, so they get cold in winter and need a coat, plus a soft, warm bed at home, since their bones are poorly cushioned. Nails grow fast and need regular trimming, and teeth should be brushed several times a week. For walks, choose a wide sighthound collar or a harness.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Greyhound is a generally healthy breed. The AKC gives a lifespan of 10–13 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study the median was 11.5 years, below the average for all dogs. Like other deep-chested dogs, the Greyhound is at risk of bloat. The AKC also lists greyhound polyneuropathy, an inherited disease of the peripheral nerves described specifically in this breed, as well as heart and eye diseases. A retired racer may have neglected teeth and old injuries, so a full vet checkup after adoption is a good idea.

• bloat (GDV)A typical risk for deep-chested dogs and an emergency.
• greyhound polyneuropathyAn inherited disease of the peripheral nerves that, according to the AKC, occurs only in this breed.
• heart diseaseThe AKC lists it among the conditions worth screening dogs for.
• eye diseasesBreeders should have their dogs examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Greyhound is one of the oldest types of dog. The AKC notes that the earliest depictions of similar sighthounds come from the tomb of Amten in the Nile Valley, dating to Egypt's Fourth Dynasty, and that over the centuries these hounds graced courts from Macedonia to Moscow. In England, Greyhound-type dogs were bred from the early Middle Ages, mainly for hunting hares. The FCI standard names the United Kingdom as the country of origin. Greyhounds appeared at the first American dog shows and were among the 15 breeds recognized by the AKC in 1885. The FCI gave the breed final recognition in 1955.

Fun facts

• The AKC calls the Greyhound the fastest dog breed, and its natural quarry is the hare.
• One theory derives the name “greyhound” from the Latin “Graius,” meaning Greek; another from gray once being the dominant color.
• The first Westminster Kennel Club show catalog, in 1877, listed 18 Greyhounds.
• Under Poland's Hunting Act, a starosta permit is required for every purebred sighthound or sighthound mix, and hunting with sighthounds is banned.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Best dogs for apartments
• Dogs that don’t shed (much)
• Dogs for first-time owners

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 158 – Greyhoundfci.be
2. 2FCI – nomenklatura, Greyhoundfci.be
3. 3AKC – Greyhoundakc.org
4. 4The Kennel Club – Greyhoundthekennelclub.org.uk
5. 5McMillan i wsp. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reports (tab. S3)nature.com
6. 6Bezprawnik – zezwolenie na charta (Prawo łowieckie, art. 10)bezprawnik.pl

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.