Dog class -Hound
Average height - 26 to 30 inches
Average weight - 65 to 100 pounds
Size - Large
Average life span - 12 to 14 years

The Greyhound is built for speed and quickness. This breed is a sight hound, it uses its eyes and speed to catch up to its prey. The body of the Greyhound is designed to be as fast as possible, sleek and slender. Their coat is smooth and short and comes in many colors.

A very ancient breed developed in Egypt for keen sight and speed. Its job was to spot prey and run it down by using a quick burst of speed, which was often done with the help of other hounds. Much of this breeds history is lost or unknown, but the Greyhound has often been associated with royalty at different periods of history.

Greyhounds love to run, preferably if they are chasing something. The sport of lure coursing is something every serious greyhound should check out, as this is very similar to what the breed was originally bred to do. Some owners also participate in conformation showing.

This breed will also benefit from obedience training, as will most owners.

Although somewhat aloof, they are usually friendly towards strangers and affectionate with their owners. They are a clean, quite, and gentle breed when indoors. A Greyhound has short hair that sheds a lot less than most breeds. They are a pack animal, and therefore are seldom aggressive with unfamiliar dogs or people. They can be good with kids when they have been raised around children, remember, all interactions should be supervised. The Greyhound is not built for endurance, this makes it possible to give it only short and intense exercise sessions.

Greyhounds are very sensitive to some medications, so this should be discussed with a veterinarian who is familiar with the breed. Also, a condition known as torsion or bloat should be discussed. This condition is deadly but can often be prevented. Bone cancer, hygroma, and hypothyroidism are also conditions that should be discussed with an experienced Greyhound breeder, veterinarian, or fancier.

Adopting ex-racing Greyhounds is a common way to acquire a member of this breed, having these dogs checked for worms and tick-borne diseases is a good idea.

Many Greyhounds have a strong prey drive and will attempt to chase down small animals such as the neighbours cat or a farmers chickens. For this reason, a Greyhound might not do well in a household that contains small and fast moving animals. Also for this reason, this breed should not be trusted off lease except in an enclosed and safe area, a loose Greyhound and traffic are a deadly combination. Early socialization and obedience training can make this dog much more tolerable of strange noises or other stimuli. Obedience training may take a bit more time than with some other breeds, but a dedicated and patient trainer who uses non-punitive methods will get good results. Some Greyhounds may not do well in a very busy family with lots of loud noises and constant coming and goings. Due to the Greyhounds coat, he should be protected from extreme heat and cold.

As is it's reputation, this is the fastest dog in the world!

Further Greyhound Dog Resources