01Summary
In a paragraph
If you only have 30 seconds.
The Greyhound is one of the oldest sighthounds in the world: explosive on the track, surprisingly calm at home. Anyone keeping one must take its sight-hunting instinct seriously, organise safe exercise opportunities and be aware of its sensitivity to anaesthesia. Thousands of former racing dogs are looking for a home every year, a circumstance that makes the breed relevant far beyond the world of racing.
02Introduction
What makes the Greyhound special
The Greyhound is the fastest dog in the world at up to 72 km/h, FCI Group 10, from Great Britain, calm in the house, withers height 68–76 cm.
03Profile
Key facts and suitability
- Origin
- Grossbritannien
- Original purpose
- Coursing hares, sighthound racing
- FCI
- No. 158 · Group 10 · Sektion 3: Kurzharige Windhunde
- height at the withers
- 68–76 cm
- Weight
- 27–40 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–14 Years
- Coat type
- Short-haired
- Minimum exercise
- 30 min/day
- Puppy price
- 1'200–2'000 CHF
- Waiting period
- 9 months
- Sports
- Lure Coursing · Racing
04Temperament
How the Greyhound shows up in everyday life
When you come home, a Greyhound usually greets its owner calmly, without jumping for joy or barking continuously. It gets up, stretches thoroughly and seeks physical contact. This restraint is not a lack of interest, but typical of the breed.
Internal axis, what the dog needs: The Greyhound is people-oriented with a need for social contact that requires regular closeness and reliable routines. After a settling-in period, it tolerates being left alone for up to about five hours, but not permanently. Its mental workload requirement is moderate; it does not need complex training tasks, but responds positively to calm, structured enrichment.
External axis, how the dog reacts: The Greyhound often meets strangers with reserve or a waiting attitude. It is not a dog that joyfully greets every visitor. This restraint is not a sign of fear or lack of socialisation, but a characteristic feature of the breed. With other dogs, especially sighthounds, it is generally well-tolerated.
The two axes must not be confused: A high need for social contact with the primary caregiver does not mean that the Greyhound is open towards strangers. Anyone expecting a "sociable all-round dog" will be disappointed by this breed.
Its prey drive is primarily triggered by visual stimuli. An animal running past, a bicycle, a child on a scooter – the Greyhound reacts to rapid movement with immediate attention and, off-lead, with pursuit. This drive is genetically anchored and cannot be reliably suppressed through training alone. Management, i.e. secure off-lead exercise and leash requirement in open areas, does not replace recall reliability here.
05Needs
What this breed needs daily
The Greyhound needs at least one, preferably two, opportunities daily for free sprints on a securely fenced area. A fence of at least 1.80 m height is considered the minimum standard; the Greyhound is a high-performance athlete that can overcome obstacles that appear insurmountable to other breeds.
In addition to sprint sessions, calm walks totalling 60 to 90 minutes daily are sufficient. Endurance runs or jogging over long distances do not correspond to its physiological profile and can strain joints and tendons.
Mental stimulation: The Greyhound does not need constant training stimuli. Calm nose work, short search games or structured sniffing rounds are sufficient to meet its moderate mental workload requirement. Overloading it with too many training sessions or having expectations of obedience that are too high often leads to withdrawal rather than cooperation in this breed.
Social structure: The Greyhound needs a reliable primary caregiver and clear daily routines. Frequent changes in the daily routine, noisy households or unpredictable environments stress it. A calm, structured everyday life suits it.
Equipment: A special sighthound collar, wider than a standard collar, is mandatory, as the Greyhound has a narrower head than neck and can slip out of normal collars. In winter, due to its low body fat content and thin coat, it needs a dog coat for temperatures below approx. 5 °C.
Exercise
Medium
mental work
Something
Social needs
Medium
training
Medium
06Sport & Mental and Physical Stimulation
What sports the Greyhound is suited for
Realistic in terms of physiology and genetics – not every breed suits every sport.
Structurally and physiologically suitable: Suitable for mantrailing, dummy work and tracking.
07Quick Check
08Suitability
Who this breed is suitable for – and who it isn't
✓Matches
The Greyhound suits owners who are looking for a calm, people-oriented dog and are prepared to manage its sight-hunting drive consistently. Specifically, this means: access to a securely fenced area (min. 1.80 m fence height) for daily sprint sessions, combined with calm walks of 60 to 90 minutes.
Households with a calm to moderate everyday life, in which the dog finds fixed routines, are well suited. Families with children from approx. 8 years old, who can ensure respectful handling of a sensitive dog, are also suitable. Keeping it in an apartment is possible if sprint opportunities are organised externally.
Experienced first-time owners who have intensively familiarised themselves with sighthound behaviour beforehand can handle a Greyhound well, provided they accept that recall reliability for visual stimuli is replaced by management, not by training alone.
Anyone taking on a former racing dog should have patience for a settling-in period of several weeks. These dogs often do not know stairs, glass panes or normal household routine; introducing them to this world requires time and consistency, but usually pays off.
×Doesn't match
The Greyhound does not suit owners who expect unrestricted recall reliability off-lead. Anyone assuming that a well-trained dog will also reliably stay by their side in open areas underestimates the genetically anchored sight-hunting drive of this breed. This misconception can have life-threatening consequences.
The breed is not suitable for households without access to a secure off-lead exercise area. A city park without fencing does not replace a sprint opportunity, and a Greyhound on a lead cannot fully meet its need for movement.
Anyone looking for a sociable, stranger-friendly dog that joyfully greets every visitor will be disappointed by the Greyhound's reserved nature towards strangers. Confusing a high need for social contact with the primary caregiver with general openness is a common reason for buying the wrong dog.
Households with very small dogs, cats or other small animals should carefully check individual compatibility before taking a dog on; there is no blanket suitability. Those who have little time for a structured settling-in phase should be particularly cautious, especially with former racing dogs.
10Line reality
Show line, working line, breeder market
The Greyhound exists today in two clearly distinguishable populations that differ significantly in breeding goals, body structure and behaviour.
The racing line, also called Racing Greyhound, is bred exclusively for speed and endurance in short sprints. These dogs are slimmer, more muscular and even more pronounced in their reaction to movement stimuli than show dogs. The vast majority of Greyhounds rehomed in the DACH region come from Irish or British race tracks and belong to this population. Their socialisation took place in the racing operation, with other dogs, with people in working roles, but rarely with normal family life.
The show line, bred according to FCI standard, focuses on exterior, proportions and character traits as per the standard. These dogs are significantly rarer in the DACH region and are offered by a few specialised breeding facilities. Their temperament is considered somewhat more balanced, their prey drive similarly pronounced.
A field trial line in the classical sense does not exist for the Greyhound, as the FCI standard does not provide for a working test. Coursing events (sight hunting on artificial hares) are, however, offered as an alternative sport in some European countries and primarily appeal to owners of dogs from racing lines.
Anyone who takes a Greyhound from rehoming is highly likely to be taking on a dog from the racing line, with all the associated behavioural peculiarities and settling-in requirements.
11Health · Reality
What you need to plan for medically with your Greyhound
The Greyhound is considered relatively robust in comparison with other breeds. The average life expectancy is 10 to 14 years, although racing dogs may age slightly earlier in some cases due to the intense physical strain they experience as young dogs.
Sensitivity to anaesthesia: This is the best-known and most medically significant characteristic of the breed. Greyhounds have a low body fat percentage (approx. 1–3 % compared with 15–20 % in other breeds of similar size) and an altered hepatic metabolism, which slows down the breakdown of barbiturates and some other anaesthetic agents. Barbiturates such as thiopental are contraindicated in Greyhounds. The treating vet must be explicitly informed before every surgical procedure. Isoflurane-based anaesthesia is considered safer (source: Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, current guidelines).
Heart disease: Greyhounds show physiological heart enlargement more frequently than other breeds; this is linked to their endurance performance and is not necessarily pathological. A basic cardiological examination when acquiring the dog is nevertheless recommended.
Osteosarcoma: Large sighthound breeds have an increased risk of bone tumours. Studies show that Greyhounds are affected by osteosarcomas more frequently than the breed average (source: Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, 2018).
Risk of injury in racing dogs: Former racing dogs often have scars, tendon changes or old fracture sites. A veterinary initial examination including X-rays is strongly recommended when taking on a racing dog.
Sensitivity to cold: The thin coat and low fat content make the Greyhound susceptible to hypothermia. A well-fitting dog coat is not optional equipment at temperatures below 5 °C.
12Structured data
Health by the numbers
Prone to diseases
Osteosarcoma (in Galgo lines), heart problems, skin sensitivity (no undercoat)
Recommended health tests
Heart examination
13Myths ↔ Reality
What is often said incorrectly about this breed
Five myths, five realities, five sources.
„The Greyhound needs hours of exercise, after all it is a racing athlete.
The Greyhound is a sprinter, not an endurance athlete. Its energy profile is designed for short, explosive exertion. In everyday life, one to two secured opportunities for sprints per day plus calm walks totalling 60 to 90 minutes are sufficient. In the house, it often proves exceptionally calm and sleeps many hours a day.
„Greyhounds are aggressive towards small dogs and cats.
The Greyhound has a genetically anchored visual prey drive that is triggered by fast movement stimuli. This is not an aggression problem, but an instinct pattern. Whether a Greyhound lives with cats or small dogs depends heavily on individual socialisation and the temperament of the individual animal. Many former racing dogs live perfectly well with cats; there is no general incompatibility.
„Greyhounds are not suitable for flat living.
Flat living is quite possible with this breed, provided there are sufficient secured exercise opportunities. The Greyhound spends a large part of the day resting and does not need constant enrichment. What matters is not the living space, but access to fenced areas for sprints.
„Former racing dogs are traumatised and difficult to integrate.
Many former racing Greyhounds from Irish and British tracks are well socialised and adapt to family life. They know routines, human contact and dog contact from the racing operation. The settling-in period requires patience and clear structures, but is manageable with most dogs. Specialised rehoming organisations prepare the dogs specifically for family keeping.
„Greyhounds are anaesthesia-safe like all dogs.
The Greyhound reacts sensitively to certain anaesthetic agents, particularly barbiturates such as thiopental. The reason lies in its low body fat percentage and a deviating liver metabolism that slows down the breakdown of certain active ingredients. Before every procedure, the treating vet must be informed about the breed affiliation so that an adapted anaesthesia plan can be made.
14animal welfare
The animal welfare perspective
Breeder market, designer versions, animal shelter reality — what no one writes in the puppy ad.
The Greyhound is situated in an animal-welfare-relevant context that extends far beyond breeding; commercial racing structurally produces a surplus of dogs.
Backyard breeder market and racing dog surplus: Thousands of Greyhounds are bred for racing every year in Ireland and the UK. Dogs that do not meet performance expectations or end their racing careers are often given up. Estimates by Irish animal welfare organisations suggest several thousand dogs per year need rehoming after their racing career. Some of these dogs reach the DACH region via specialised organisations.
Breeding and husbandry-related problems: Selection for maximum sprint speed has turned the Greyhound into a physiological specialist, with all the consequences for anaesthesia risks, sensitivity to cold and susceptibility to injury. Anyone acquiring a Greyhound from show breeding should ensure that the breeder documents health checks (heart, musculoskeletal system) and communicates transparently.
Designer versions: Crosses with the Greyhound — such as the Lurcher (Greyhound × herding or terrier dog) — are common in the UK and occasionally reach the DACH region. These dogs are not a recognised breed and are subject to no breeding standard. Their behavioural profiles vary considerably.
Rehoming as an equally valid option: A former racing Greyhound is the most sensible choice for many owners. These dogs are adults, their character can be assessed, and specialised rehoming organisations such as GMGS (Greyhound Magyar Agar Galgo Club Schweiz) prepare the dogs specifically for family life. The settling-in phase requires patience, but it is not an obstacle; rather, it is a known process that can be well supported. Those looking for a puppy should prefer reputable breeding facilities with verifiable health checks and avoid offers without access to parent animals or litter conditions.
15Costs · Transparency
What this breed realistically costs
A Greyhound puppy from reputable show breeding costs between 1,200 and 2,000 EUR in the DACH region. Offers significantly below this usually originate from uncontrolled breeding conditions. Taking on a former racing dog via a specialised placement organisation typically costs between 200 and 500 EUR as a care fee, including a basic health check, vaccination record, and often already performed neutering.
Ongoing annual costs: Food for a Greyhound (approx. 27–32 kg body weight) amounts to 600 to 900 EUR annually with high-quality dry food. Care is low-maintenance; the short coat requires no professional grooming treatment. A sighthound collar (mandatory equipment) costs 30 to 80 EUR as a one-off expense, and a well-fitting dog coat for winter costs 50 to 150 EUR.
Veterinary costs: Annual basic care (vaccinations, parasite prevention, check-up) amounts to 200 to 400 EUR. For former racing dogs, an initial examination including X-rays is recommended; cost: 150 to 350 EUR as a one-off expense. Surgical procedures require adapted anaesthesia planning, which increases the vet's workload and can raise costs slightly above the breed comparison value.
A dog liability insurance costs between 80 and 200 CHF/EUR annually depending on the provider and canton/federal state. A health insurance for the Greyhound is advisable due to the increased risk of osteosarcoma and anaesthesia specifics; annual premiums start at approx. 400 EUR.
16Puppy search
What you need to consider when choosing a breeder
- Those looking for a Greyhound puppy from reputable breeding will find only a few active breeding facilities in the DACH region; the breed is rarely bred here.
- This makes careful checking all the more important.
- Characteristics of a reputable breeding facility: The parent animals can be viewed on site, health checks (heart, musculoskeletal system) are documented, and the breeder asks questions about the living situation.
- Puppies are handed over no earlier than eight weeks of age.
- A purchase contract with a return guarantee is standard with reputable providers.
- Warning signs: Offers without access to the mother, puppies under eight weeks, missing vaccination and deworming documentation, as well as sales via third-party platforms without contact with the breeder are clear indications of dubious origins.
- Rehoming as an equally valid alternative: The vast majority of Greyhounds living in the DACH region come from racing dog rehoming.
- Specialised organisations such as GMGS (Greyhound Magyar Agar Galgo Club Schweiz) rehome former racing dogs with a known background.
- These dogs are adults, their character can be assessed, and the settling-in phase is supported by the rehoming organisation.
- For many owners, this route is the more transparent and animal-welfare-friendly decision.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Greyhound
Is Greyhound suitable for beginners?
Greyhound is considered suitable for first-time dog owners.
Is Greyhound a family dog?
Greyhound is considered suitable for families with good socialisation and species-appropriate care.
How much exercise does Greyhound need?
At least around 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Does Greyhound suit an apartment?
With enough exercise and enrichment, Greyhound can also be kept in an apartment.
What is the size and weight of Greyhound?
Fully grown, Greyhound reaches about 68–76 cm at the withers and weighs around 27–40 kg.
What is the life expectancy of Greyhound?
The life expectancy of Greyhound is approximately 10–14 years.
Which diseases are common in Greyhound?
Osteosarcoma (in Galgo lines), heart problems, skin sensitivity (no undercoat)
17Breed clubs
Official breed clubs in DACH
19Related
Similar breeds – and their differences
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Does this breed suit you?
Fastest dog in the world (72 km/h), but surprisingly calm at home. Many Greyhounds are looking for a home after their racing career.