Greyhounds are an ancient breed whose history goes back more than 8,000 years. They are the only dog breed mentioned in the Bible!
They originally came from North Africa and the Middle East, where they were bred to hunt foxes, deer, and hares. They are the fastest dog breed in the world, with a top speed of 45 miles per hour, which also makes them one of the top 10 fastest land animals.
| Weight (pounds) Male: 65-70 Female: 60-65 | Height (inches) Male: 28-30 Female: 27-28 | Lifespan (years) 10-13 | Dog Breed Group Hound breed |
Characteristics Ratings
We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.
Highest Rated
- Good Family Dog
- Kid Friendly
- Good With Other Dogs
- Low Shedding
- Low Drooling
- Friendly to Strangers
- Handles Change Easily
- High Energy Level
- Tolerates Hot Climate
- Good General Health
- High Intelligence
Neutral Rated
- Likes to Play
- Protective Nature
- Easy to Train
- Low Amount of Barking
- Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
Lowest Rated
- Good for Novice Owners
- Tolerates Being Left Alone
- Tolerates Cold Climate
General Overview
Greyhounds are known for their calm, gentle, and friendly personalities. They make excellent family dogs and are fairly good around children.
Their non-aggressive nature means they are tolerant of young children and will usually walk away from rough play and tail-pulling, rather than growling or snapping.
Greyhounds get along well with other dogs, mainly because aggressiveness has been almost completely removed as a result of breeding.
While they form deep bonds with their families, they are not good watchdogs or guard dogs because of their timid and shy nature. They tend to be wary of strangers but quickly become friends if they are treated nicely.
On the other hand, they do have a strong prey drive. As a result, they won’t do well in households with small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.
As to physical characteristics, they have short, smooth coats that are low maintenance and only need weekly brushing to remove loose hair. They do shed, but it’s minimal. They also very seldom drool.
One unique characteristic is they have difficulty sitting down due to their tight muscles. They prefer to either stand or lay on something comfortable. So don’t be too surprised if you never actually see your Greyhound sit!
As you can guess, these are remarkably athletic dogs that need regular exercise to avoid becoming restless and bored. They’ll need as least one hour per day of exercise. They excel in virtually all canine sports and these are good ways to burn off their excess energy.
A large fenced-in yard is ideal to allow them to stretch their legs and run, but the yard must be securely fenced. Otherwise, their inborn prey drive will cause them to take off after any small animal they see.
And at 45 miles per hour, you have no chance of catching them.
And it may seem contrary, but Greyhounds are big couch potatoes when indoors after their exercise. They are quiet and calm and have low energy while indoors.
Greyhounds score high on the intelligence scale. With their calm demeanor and eagerness to please their owners, they are fairly easy to train.
As will all dogs, they need consistent socialization and training early on to become the best pet possible.
One point in regards to training: they will likely have trouble learning the sit command. This is because their unique build makes sitting difficult. Plus, they were bred for running and chasing game, so they have little inclination to sit.
With their thin coats, Greyhounds can get the shivers in cold weather, so they don’t do well in colder climates. They tolerate hot climates very well.
Greyhounds are a very healthy breed overall but still can have some health issues common to larger breeds. Examples are hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and bone cancer.
They are also prone to skin problems, bloat, and certain heart conditions. Also, they should have their eyes checked regularly, as Greyhounds are also prone to cataracts and retinal atrophy. But these are all exceptions and the vast majority of Greyhounds enjoy excellent lifelong health.