Is the Greyhound a good family dog?
Greyhound
Greyhounds are large, lean sighthounds known for their remarkable sprinting speed and gentle nature. Many are relaxed indoors and enjoy resting near their families, but they still need daily walks, enrichment and companionship.
| Recommended for | Singles, couples and families |
| Breed Classification | Hounds: sighthound type |
| Other names | English Greyhound |
| Lifespan | Approximately 10–13 years |
| Size | Large |
| Temperament | Gentle, affectionate, sensitive and often calm indoors |
| Intelligence | High: responds well to patient, reward-based training |
| Tendency to bark | Low |
| Maintenance Level | Low coat maintenance; regular dental care and ongoing health monitoring |
| Health Risk | Greyhounds can be prone to dental disease, osteosarcoma, gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat), painful paw conditions and musculoskeletal problems, particularly as they age. |
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Explore the Top 5 health issues claimed for Greyhounds, including highest claims paid and how much pet insurance could help you save on eligible vet bills.
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Greyhound personality and temperament
Greyhounds are often affectionate, gentle companions that enjoy a comfortable resting place and regular contact with their families. Many are calm indoors, although activity levels, confidence and tolerance of time alone vary.
Newly adopted Greyhounds may need gradual introductions to unfamiliar household experiences. Establish predictable routines, introduce time alone carefully and allow the dog to adjust at its own pace. Ask the adoption organisation for guidance if your dog appears worried or struggles to settle.
Greyhounds with kids and other pets
Greyhounds can make affectionate family companions, but interactions with young children should always be supervised. Teach children to respect the dog’s resting space and avoid approaching or touching a sleeping dog.
Compatibility with cats and other dogs varies considerably. Discuss your household’s animals with the adoption organisation and arrange carefully managed introductions. Some Greyhounds can live with cats, while others require permanent separation. Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals need secure protection from chasing.
Greyhound training and exercise
Many healthy adult Greyhounds benefit from around 30–60 minutes of daily walking and activity, divided into manageable sessions. Include opportunities to sniff, explore and enjoy suitable enrichment, adjusting the routine to the individual dog’s age, health and fitness.
Use patient, reward-based training to teach everyday skills and build confidence. Keep your Greyhound on a lead outside suitable secure areas, as chasing instincts can override recall. Running opportunities should be carefully managed, with safe footing and consideration of other animals.
Greyhound lead and muzzle requirements vary by location and circumstances. Check the current rules with your state or territory authority and local council, including any requirements for designated off-lead areas.
| Energy level | Low to moderate: often calm indoors, with short bursts of energetic activity |
| Exercise requirements | Moderate: around 30–60 minutes of daily walks and activity, adjusted for age, health and fitness. |
Common health issues for Greyhounds
What do Greyhound owners claim for the most?
Greyhounds can develop several breed-related health conditions, although individual dogs may remain healthy throughout their lives. Potential concerns include:
- Dental disease: Greyhounds can be prone to gum disease and other dental problems, which may cause pain, infection and tooth loss. Regular tooth brushing, veterinary dental checks and professional treatment when needed are important.
- Osteosarcoma: This aggressive bone cancer can cause persistent lameness, pain or swelling. Veterinary investigation is needed to establish the cause, and treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy or care focused on comfort and quality of life.
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV): Also known as bloat, this life-threatening condition occurs when the stomach becomes distended and may twist. Repeated unsuccessful retching, abdominal swelling, restlessness or collapse require immediate emergency veterinary care.
- Paw conditions, including corns: Corns are hard lesions in the paw pads that can cause pain and difficulty walking. Persistent limping, paw licking or reluctance to walk should be assessed by a vet, as injuries and other foot conditions can cause similar signs.
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal problems: Greyhounds may develop painful joint conditions as they age, while former racing dogs may have previous injuries requiring ongoing care. Signs include stiffness, reduced activity and difficulty getting up. Treatment is tailored to the individual dog.
- Pannus: This immune-mediated condition affects the cornea, the clear surface of the eye, and can impair vision if untreated. Affected dogs generally require ongoing eye medication and regular veterinary monitoring.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
How to choose the right insurance for your Greyhound
When comparing cover for your Greyhound, look for:
Cover for common Greyhound conditions:
Check that the policy covers conditions Greyhounds can be prone to, including common health issues.
Cover for hereditary conditions:
No exclusions for hereditary or congenital conditions⑅.
Flexible cover options:
Options to adjust your annual benefit limit, reimbursement rate and excess.
Bow Wow Meow's Nose-to-Tail Cover offers flexible options for your Greyhound, with cover for accidental injuries, illnesses and hereditary conditions⑅. Get a quick quote for cover that suits your Greyhound and your budget.
Greyhound feeding and nutrition
Feed your Greyhound a complete and balanced diet appropriate for their life stage, health and activity level. Measure meals, account for treats and adjust portions to maintain an appropriate body condition. Greyhounds are naturally lean, so ask your vet to assess weight rather than comparing them with stockier breeds.
When adopting, initially continue the familiar diet and introduce changes gradually. Discuss significant food additions or home-prepared diets with your vet to ensure the overall diet remains balanced.
Greyhound care and grooming
Greyhounds have short, fine coats that are relatively easy to maintain. They do shed, and weekly brushing with a soft brush or grooming mitt helps remove loose hair and keep the coat in good condition. Bathe them when needed using a dog-friendly shampoo, and include regular nail, ear and paw checks in their care routine.
Their lean build and fine coat make comfortable, padded bedding and protection from temperature extremes important. Provide a warm indoor resting area, and use an appropriately fitted coat in cold weather if needed. During hot weather, ensure access to shade, fresh water and a cool place to rest.
Dental care is particularly important for Greyhounds. Brush their teeth daily with dog toothpaste and arrange regular veterinary dental checks, with professional treatment when recommended. Seek veterinary advice if you notice bad breath, difficulty eating, painful paws or persistent limping.
Size, appearance and coat of Greyhounds
The Greyhound is a large, lean, graceful dog built for sprinting over short distances. With an incredible speed of up to 60 km per hour, they are the fastest of all dog breeds and the second fastest animal on land after the cheetah.
Greyhounds have a very fine, soft, single coat that comes in a vast array of coat colours, including black, white, red, blue, fawn, brindle, or any of these colours broken with white or parti-coloured. Ironically, despite their name, grey (or blue as it is known) is not a very common colour in the breed.
| Weight range | Males approx. 30-35 kg; females 24-30 kg |
| Height range | Males 71–76 cm; females 69–71 cm |
| Colours | Black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle, or these colours with white |
| Coat length | Short, fine and close |
Breed history of Greyhounds
Sighthound-type dogs appear in ancient art, reflecting a long history of hunting by sight rather than scent. Although these early dogs resembled Greyhounds, the modern breed developed in Britain, where its speed, agility and hunting ability made it highly valued, particularly among the nobility.
Greyhounds were traditionally used to pursue game such as hares across open ground. Their streamlined bodies, powerful hindquarters and keen eyesight suited this work, and they later became associated with organised coursing and track racing.
Today, Greyhounds also live as companion dogs, including former racing dogs adopted through rehoming organisations. Their often gentle, affectionate nature and calm indoor behaviour can make them rewarding companions, with individual dogs needing appropriate support as they adjust to household life.
Explore related breeds
Greyhound facts!
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Guinness World Records lists Greyhound Star Title as reaching 67.32 km/h at Wyong, NSW, in March 1994.
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At full speed, Greyhounds use a double-suspension gallop, with all four feet leaving the ground when their legs are gathered beneath them and again when stretched out.
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Greyhounds are among the breeds more likely to have DEA 1-negative blood, a blood type particularly valuable to veterinary blood banks. Suitable dogs can become blood donors after individual screening.
- The greyhound ‘Santa’s Little Helper’ is one of the best loved characters from The Simpsons.
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Greyhounds can be black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow or brindle, with or without white markings. In breed terminology, the grey-looking colour is called blue.
- Greyhounds have a head that is smaller than their neck, so they need to wear a special collar that prevents the head from slipping out.
Summary
Greyhounds are gentle, affectionate sighthounds that are often calm indoors and enjoy relaxing near their families. They still need daily walks, enrichment and companionship, and newly adopted dogs may require patient support while adjusting to household life.
Their short coats are easy to maintain, but dental care, comfortable bedding and protection from temperature extremes are important. Owners should also be prepared to manage chasing instincts, assess compatibility with smaller pets and provide secure exercise areas.
FAQs about the Greyhound
Many Greyhounds make gentle, affectionate family companions, although suitability depends on the individual dog and household. Supervise interactions with young children and teach children to respect the dog’s resting space. Newly adopted Greyhounds may need patient support as they adjust to family life.
Many healthy adult Greyhounds benefit from around 30–60 minutes of daily walking and activity, divided into shorter sessions. Include opportunities to sniff, explore and enjoy enrichment, and adjust the routine to your dog’s age, health and fitness. They do not need prolonged running simply because they are fast sprinters.
Greyhounds can learn well with patient, reward-based training and short, engaging sessions. Former racing dogs may need help learning household routines and becoming comfortable with unfamiliar experiences. Practise recall, but remember that chasing instincts can override training.
They are generally relatively quiet dogs, although any individual may bark when alerting, excited or anxious.
Greyhounds shed despite having short, fine coats. Weekly brushing with a soft brush or grooming mitt helps remove loose hair, with additional brushing when needed. Their coats generally require little specialised grooming.
Some Greyhounds adapt well to apartments when their exercise, enrichment and companionship needs are met. Consider access to outdoor areas, the dog’s ability to manage stairs and how comfortably they cope with time alone. Choose a dog whose individual needs suit your home and routine.
Greyhounds can live successfully with children and other dogs, but compatibility varies. Some can also live with cats after careful assessment and managed introductions, while others need permanent separation. Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals require secure protection, and children should leave sleeping dogs undisturbed.
Greyhounds can develop dental disease, osteosarcoma, gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat), painful paw conditions and joint or other musculoskeletal problems. Regular veterinary checks and dental care are important. Persistent lameness needs assessment, while unsuccessful retching, abdominal swelling or collapse requires emergency care.
A Greyhound’s chasing instincts can override recall, even after training. Only consider off-lead exercise in a suitable secure area where it is legally permitted and safe for your dog and other animals. Check local lead and muzzle requirements before using public exercise areas.
Tolerance of time alone varies between dogs. Introduce absences gradually and arrange support if your Greyhound becomes distressed or cannot comfortably manage your routine. A calm manner indoors does not guarantee that a dog will cope with a full working day alone.
MORE INFORMATION
Greyhounds as Pets: http://www.greyhoundsaspets.com.au/
Greyhound Rescue: http://greyhoundrescue.com.au/
Greyhound Adoption Program NSW: http://www.gapnsw.org.au/home/
Greyhound Adoption Program Qld: http://www.gapqld.com.au/
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