Polish Greyhound

Temperament

The Polish Greyhound is self-confident, brave and noticeably more alert than English Greyhounds or Afghan Hounds. It can be devoted and calm with its family, but it isn't clingy; it is reserved with strangers and can guard the home. It is independent and sensitive: harsh training methods backfire, while patient, reward-based work brings good results. Its chase instinct is very strong: the sight of a fleeing hare, cat or deer can make the dog stop hearing you call. It usually gets along with other dogs, especially if raised with them from puppyhood, but small pets in the home are a risk. Indoors, after enough exercise, it is quiet and likes to rest on a soft bed. It does well in sighthound sports such as lure coursing.

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 Polish Greyhound for?

The Polish Greyhound suits an experienced, active person with a house and a high-fenced yard who wants a dog for lure coursing, outings and a calm life at home after exercise. It will be appreciated by someone who likes independent dogs and is prepared to get the required county permit. Skip it if you have cats or small pets, want a dog for off-leash walks in the woods, or are looking for a submissive dog that's easy to train.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Polish Greyhound needs a daily dose of exercise, ideally at least one to two hours, including free running. It can run safely only in a fenced area, though, because the chase instinct usually wins out over recall; lure coursing tracks and sighthound runs are a great alternative. The short coat needs little work: a once-a-week rubdown with a grooming mitt is enough. Sighthounds have little body fat, so a dog coat helps in winter, and a soft bed at home protects against pressure sores. Feed two smaller meals and don't allow intense exercise right after eating. Remember that in Poland, breeding or keeping purebred sighthounds and their crosses requires a permit from the county authorities where the dog lives: sort out the paperwork before you bring your puppy home.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Polish Greyhound is considered a relatively healthy breed and usually lives 10–12 years. Because the population is small, there isn't much research on inherited diseases in the breed. A tendency toward certain heart diseases has been described, so an occasional cardiac checkup is worthwhile, as are joint problems, especially in dogs that get too little exercise or are overweight. Like all sighthounds, it has little body fat and may be sensitive to anesthetics: remind your vet about this before any procedure. Cuts and paw injuries happen during fast runs over rough ground. When choosing a puppy, ask the breeder about the health and lifespan of its ancestors.

• sensitivity to anestheticsAs in other sighthounds, low body fat calls for careful dosing of anesthesia.
• heart diseaseA tendency toward certain heart diseases has been described; regular cardiac checkups are a good idea.
• joint problemsThe risk rises with too little exercise and excess weight.

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

Breed history

The FCI standard states that the Polish Greyhound's presence in Poland is confirmed from the 13th century, and its ancestors are sought among Asian sighthounds of the Saluki type. The standard rejects the theory of the Russian author Sabaneev that the breed came from crossing the Greyhound with the Borzoi, since the Borzoi was unknown before the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. The Polish Greyhound often appears in old literature, especially hunting literature, and its depictions are strikingly consistent, which shows that despite crossbreeding the type survived until the end of the 19th century. It was the dog of the nobility's hunts for hares, foxes and wolves. Today it is one of the Polish breeds recognized by the FCI.

Fun facts

• The FCI standard allows all colors in the Polish Greyhound.
• The Polish Greyhound's presence in Poland has been documented since the 13th century.
• The FCI standard for the Russian Hunting Sighthound (Borzoi) mentions that Polish Greyhound blood was added to its breeding in the 16th–17th centuries.
• The standard allows dogs taller than the stated height, and a slightly smaller size is not a disqualifying fault.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Dogs that don’t shed (much)
• Polish dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 333 – Chart Polskifci.be
2. 2Hundeo – Chart Polski (Polish Greyhound)hundeo.com
3. 3Prawo łowieckie, art. 10 – hodowanie lub utrzymywanie chartów rasowych lub ich mieszańcówarslege.pl
4. 4FCI standard nr 193 – Russian Hunting Sighthound (Borzoi)fci.be

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