Frequently asked Questions

How long do Greyhounds live?

Greyhounds have a long life expectancy for a large breed. They normally live 12 to 14 years. 

How big is a Greyhound?

Males weigh between 65 to 85 pounds and stand 26 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder. Females weigh 50 to 65 pounds and stand 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. A Greyhound is a large dog, but their movements are graceful. This breed is not "in-your-face" and "in-your-way" every minute of the day, they happy to just be in the same room with their person. Because of  this they tend to fit into the household routine quickly. 

Are Greyhounds hyperactive, high-strung dogs?

Although Greyhounds display a very competitive attitude when racing, once off the track they are extremely docile, gentle,  and friendly animals who love human attention. In fact, Greyhounds love to relax and take it easy so much that they are often  called, "45 MPH couch potatoes". 

Do Greyhounds get along with other pets?

Greyhounds have been bred for thousands of years to be sociable, non-aggressive and work with other Greyhounds when hunting. Racers are raised and live in the company of other Greyhounds their entire careers. Therefore they usually accept the company of other dog breeds. Most Greyhounds can learn to live with cats as well. But, they are hunters by nature and some  dogs are unable to distinguish between cats/toy breeds of dogs and the small, furry animals they were bred to hunt.  It is important to remember that for thousands of years greyhounds have been bred as hunting dogs with a keen ability to spot prey and it's movement, using their keen sense of sight , and to pursue and capture that game at incredibly fast speeds.  Nonetheless, Greyhounds will come to accept almost any animal once they learn the other pet is a member of the family "pack". There are exceptions, of course, that is why we need to know what other animals are part of your family before an  adoption is made. 

 Are they housebroken?

In the racing kennels, Greyhounds sleep and eat in large crates, and are trained not to soil their crates. Therefore  housebreaking is simply a matter of training the Greyhound that your home is a large crate. If you follow a regular routine of  outside visits, housebreaking is usually easily accomplished. 

Are Greyhounds good with children?

Better than most pure breeds. Greyhounds are generally gentle and patient dogs, but they do not want to be harassed or harmed (by accident or on purpose) by a child, or anyone. They tend to walk/run away rather than snap, but like all dog  breeds Greyhounds do have limits, which can vary from dog to dog. Young children under 6 years of age must always be  monitored when with a Greyhound (or any dog), and must be taught to respect the dog and not tease or harm. Young children should never grab or fall on a greyhound, or pet a sleeping Greyhound, or bother one while he is eating or chewing a bone/raw hide. No Greyhound, or dog of any breed, should be left unsupervised with babies or young children. Some Greyhounds are better with small children than others. It is important we know the makeup of your family so we can try to 

 match the dog's personality to your family situation.

How much exercise do they require?

As a breed they are friendly, comical and generally laid back. They do have their 2-3 minute spurts of energy, when they will let you know its time to play usually doing the "play bow" with bottom up and tail wagging, and front down! Older dogs tend to be more relaxed than younger ones, but all enjoy taking a walk with their person and a quick sprint once in a while in a completely fenced-in area (ball fields work great if you don't have a fenced yard!). A Greyhound can make an excellent jogging companion, but must be slowly introduced to long distances. They are used to sprinting on a track with very fine "sugar sand",  so it is important to give them time to toughen up their pads and let their muscles adjust to going longer distances at slower speeds. They truly enjoy their retirement, and love to find the softest place in your home to enjoy a nice long nap. 

Greyhounds are known as "45 MPH couch potatoes" so don't be surprised to find out that your Greyhound can sleep 16 - 18 hours a day!

Can Greyhounds live outside?

No, Greyhounds are strictly inside, house dogs! While Greyhounds love romping and frolicking outside, they have very little body fat and thin skin, and are very susceptible to extremes of cold and hot temperatures. At the track, Greyhounds live inside in heated and air-conditioned kennels. So between play or "potty" visits outside, Greyhounds need to be primarily inside house pets.

Will a Greyhound walk nicely on a leash?

Most Greyhounds have been broken to the lead. Greyhounds prefer to walk on a slack lead, and for dogs of their size, are unusually easy to handle. They respond very well to gentle touch and firm voice commands. 

Do Greyhounds shed?

They have very short coats and slight undercoats. Regular brushing, especially in the spring and fall, is all that is necessary to keep shedding to a minimum. Most Greyhounds really enjoy being groomed with a very soft bristle brush. 

Can Greyhounds be let off their leash while outside?

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      No, Greyhounds must always be kept on a leash when outside of a completely fenced area! Greyhounds belong to the Sight

      Hound group and can see clearly for very long distances (more than half a mile!) and their attention can be easily captured by

      any small animal or motion. They are not "street wise", and do not consider the traffic. Greyhounds cannot find their way

      home after a romp on the loose and they can run 45 mph (faster than a horse at full speed!) so catching one on the loose can

      be next to impossible. So why take the risk? If you do, it could cost your Greyhound his/her life.

Do Greyhounds have any special medical requirements?

As a breed greyhounds are one of the healthiest, having no inbred genetic physical problems, like most other large pure breeds do. Greyhounds are however, very sensitive to certain chemicals and drugs. Their liver metabolizes drugs more slowly, and it is also thought that their very low ratio of body fat (10-15%) is another cause of this sensitivity. In general, the levels of some drugs in a dog's system falls (gets metabolized) by going into its fat. The less fat a dog has, the longer it will take for the drug blood level to fall. These sensitivities include prescriptions medications as well as others such as flea meds,  supplements, and household chemicals.  Make sure that you use a greyhound savy vet so these medication and chemical sensitivities do not become a problem.