30 Things to Think About Before Adopting a Greyhound
Greyhounds are a legendary dog breed but not the most common household pet. That’s largely because people expect them to be difficult to look after. And they kind of are but often not for the reasons people think.
So, are Greyhounds suitable for you? What would you need to do to look for such a pet? Find out by checking the most common 30 questions to consider before getting a Greyhound below.
1. Are Greyhounds good pets?
If you want a jogging partner that’d happily spend the rest of their time chilling on the couch, waiting for pets, a Greyhound may be perfect for you.
2. Are Greyhounds smart?
Cleverness isn’t something the Greyhound was explicitly bred for but this isn’t to say that Greyhounds are dumb. Greyhounds show a clear and quiet contemplation in all things they do. They are also more than smart enough to follow all commands you’d teach any other dog.
3. Are Greyhounds hard to train?
Unlike scent hounds, sighthounds are usually fairly easy to train. Obedience training should be a quick and enjoyable process with this breed. All other types of training should be even easier after that as long as you are gentle, considerate, and focus on positive reinforcement.
4. Are Greyhounds easy to potty train?
Yes, they are. Greyhounds are very clean dogs and learn to potty train much faster than most other breeds. Crate training** is equally easy and important for this breed too**.
5. Are Greyhounds aggressive?
One of the few issues of this breed is their predisposition for aggression toward strangers, smaller dogs, and other pets. This comes from the Greyhounds breeding as both a hunting dog and a racing dog. It really isn’t something you can’t solve with good training and socialization, however.
Many other popular breeds – Mastiffs, Belgian shepherds, some Pointers, etc. - have nastier aggression tendencies but people still raise them in wonderful pets nevertheless. One last note would be to get a muzzle if you’re adopting an adult and “retired” racing Greyhound as these often aren’t socialized. The dog will be safe for you but might try to nibble on smaller dogs in the park.
6. Do Greyhounds like to cuddle?
Greyhounds are not lap dogs and like their personal space. However, once you’ve earned their trust they will happily cuddle with you and let you pet them whenever you want.
7. How do you calm a Greyhound at night?
Greyhounds can have trouble sleeping when their bed isn’t soft enough or they’re cold. Remember that these dogs have little to no body fat so both a cold night and a rough floor can be problematic. Add a sometimes skittish nature and it’s not uncommon for these dogs to wake at night. If that happens, just make sure to make them as comfy as possible, add an extra blanket, and pet them for a bit.
8. Can a Greyhound be left alone all day?
Not really, at least not for long. These dogs may not be too playful at home but they crave their family’s presence. ** Left alone, their separation anxiety will likely kick in.**
9. Are Greyhounds good with kids?
Greyhounds are tolerant and forgiving enough to live in households with kids of all ages. You will need to socialize the dog, of course, and you’ll also need to teach the child to respect the dog’s boundaries. Supervision is still strongly recommended early on when you can’t yet teach your small kid how to interact with the Greyhound.
10. Do Greyhounds get along with other dogs?
A well-socialized Greyhound will live just fine with any dog. Their docile nature means they are unlikely to step on anyone’s toes as long as no one provokes them too much,
11. Can Greyhounds live with cats?
Cats are tricky as they can trigger a Greyhound’s prey drive. However, most breeders claim that mosy Greyhounds still can tolerate cat pets as long as the two animals have been socialized well and introduced to each other properly. It’s especially helpful if you’ve raised them together too.
12. Are Greyhounds afraid of people?
Greyhounds can often be timid and even fearful of people they don’t know. This is common for households that don’t have guests often. However, with enough pleasant exposure to people from an early age, that timidness easily turns into a tolerant and calm acceptance.
13. Do Greyhounds like going for walks?
These dogs may be sprinters capable of reaching 45 mph (72 km/h) with ease but they are more than happy to just jog or walk with you too.
14. Can Greyhounds go off leash?
Only in well-fenced dog parks. Never ever let a Greyhound off-leash out in the open – it will either run off after the first cat or squirrel it sees or it will accidentally jump off in front of a car. Likely both.
15. How many times should I walk my Greyhound?
Surprisingly for some, Greyhounds don’t need that much exercise. 30-60 minutes a day divided into two walks are usually enough for this breed. Remember, Greyhounds are sprinters not marathon runners.
16. How much do Greyhounds poop?
That’s a surprisingly common question for this breed. Like most other breeds, a Greyhound will need to empty their bowels 1-3 times a day. More than that can be normal too as long as their stool is solid.
17. Do Greyhounds need yards?
This might also surprise some, but Greyhounds don’t really need yards. These dogs have neither the instinct nor the need to run circles in a yard or to play short-distance fetch. Give them some time to and in the dog park instead, and Greyhounds will be more than happy to spend the rest of their time chilling at home.
18. How long do Greyhounds live for?
The average lifespan for this breed is 12 to 15 years which is pretty great for their size. Good care is required to reach and surpass 15 years, however.
19. What problems do Greyhounds have?
These sighthounds are pretty healthy when they’ve been bred by a responsible breeder. However, puppies bred in puppy mills and/or pet stores can be quite sickly. Always get your pup from a breeder who would offer a health certificate for it. Alternatively, if you adopt from a shelter, always ask for a vet check-up.
Some things to watch out for with this breed include:
20. What type of coat do Greyhounds have?
Greyhounds have short and smooth coats that are pretty easy to maintain in a good shape with weekly or bi-weekly brushing. They may be called Greyhounds but they can come in multiple colors, including white, black, grey, fawn, red, blue, brindle, and striped.
21. Do Greyhounds shed a lot?
Greyhounds do shed even though they have short coats. If you feel a bi-weekly brushing isn’t enough for your dog, daily brushing should manage to keep most of the dog hair off your furniture.
22. Are Greyhounds hypoallergenic?
Not at all. Don’t be fooled by their short and smooth coats, these dogs aren’t suitable for people with allergies.
23. How often should I bathe my greyhound?
Greyhounds’ coats are so short and easy to keep clean that they really don’t need frequent baths. Even when they haven’t been bathed for a while, they are unlikely to smell.
24. Are Greyhounds expensive to feed?
You’d think a professional sprinter needs a lot of food but you can easily feed a Greyhound with just ~$10 a week. For all their speed, these dogs just aren’t all that big or gluttonous.
25. How often should you feed a Greyhound?
Two meals a day are perfectly fine for this breed. One meal of dry food and one of meat should do your dog just fine.
26. What can you not feed a Greyhound?
Greyhounds don’t really have a breed-specific diet. All their No-No foods are similar to those of other breeds i.e. avocado, chocolate, macadamia, cherries, etc. Of course, you do want to feed your pet high-quality food only.
27. Can Greyhounds eat raw meat?
Raw meat-based diets (RMBD) are popular among Greyhound trainers. These diets are usually combined with commercial dog dry food.
28. Do Greyhounds bark a lot?
Not really. A Greyhound will usually only bark out of excitement. While the dog may occasionally bark at guests or strangers, Greyhounds really aren’t watchdogs so they don’t have that much of an instinct for it. If your Greyhound barks too much, chances are that the dog isn’t socialized or is overwhelmingly bored from a lack of interactions with you.
29. How much do Greyhounds cost?
Purebred Greyhound pups can cost between $1,500 and $2,500. This is pretty steep but it does come with the benefit of great health and lack of hereditary diseases.
30. Why you shouldn't get a Greyhound?
The main reasons to avoid this breed would be if you don’t have a fenced dog park near you or if you’d need to leave your dog home alone for extended periods of time. If neither of these is an issue, however, and if you’re looking for a gorgeous cat-like canine to snuggle with on the couch after a nice jogging session, the Greyhound is a wonderful choice.
It’s pretty apparent from all that Greyhounds aren’t for everyone. They do have pretty specific exercise and housing needs. However, if you can accommodate that, Greyhounds can be amazingly gentle, loving, and special pets. If you want one, we especially urge you to save a “retired” competition hound from a shelter or a rescue where they are often left.
