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Is a Greyhound Right for Me and My Family?
Greyhounds, in general, have very sweet dispositions. They love people and other greyhounds for companionship and really do sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, earning them the name 45 MPH couch potato. They tend to be very quiet dogs, rarely barking, and clean dogs, often grooming themselves like a cat would. Most greyhounds do well living in homes with other animals, large and small, and many get along just fine with children. For more information about greyhounds and small animals, check out our Small Animals page; and for more information about greyhounds and children, check our our Greyhounds and Children page. Remember, just as there are exceptions to every rule, not every greyhound fits the general mold. Take a look at the resources on our website, including the Ten Commandments of Greyhound Ownership and the information on this page, to help you decide if a greyhound is really the breed for you!
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Top Ten Reasons NOT to Adopt a Greyhound
1. You feel sorry for the breed
| | Like any dog of any breed, greyhounds need structure and boundaries. Setting them "free" from their former life without structure and boundaries can be a fate worse than death.
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2. The whole family isn't on board
| | Greyhounds are very sensitive to people's moods. If someone in your home is not happy with their presence, it will cause them stress and will lead to behavioral problems.
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3. Your life is changing
| | Getting a divorce, having a new baby, or moving into a new home are stressful events. Please don't bring a new dog into your home during these type of events.
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4. Your kids want a rough and tumble friend
| | Greyhounds are not a rough and tumble breed. Most will be bewildered and may bite if you try to wrestle or play in a physical manner.
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5. You want a watchdog
| | Greyhounds are more likely to invite a stranger in with a tail wag and show them to the valuables in the hopes they'll get a treat than they are to bark or growl in a possessive manner.
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6. You love your lawn
| | Going from 0 to 40 MPH in just a few strides will dig some serious divets out of your lawn. No matter what the size of your yard, your greyhound will get some "zoomies" and you will find grass difficult to maintain.
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7. Your house is a showplace
| | Just like any animal, sometimes your greyhound will get sick. This means that you will find vomit or pee or poo on your carpets at some point during their lives.
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8. You want a marathon partner
| | Greyhounds are sprinters by nature. They can be conditioned to gain some stamina, but it will take time.
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9. You have trouble setting limits for your kids
| | Like any dog, Greyhounds need time alone and don't want to be pestered all day long. If your children have trouble respecting that, please don't get a dog.
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10. You want an outdoor dog
| | Greyhounds have very thin skin and very low body fat. They are not built to survive in very cold or very hot temperatures and would much prefer to be in a climate controlled environment just as you would.
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Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Greyhound
1. They need homes
| | Just like the puppies and dogs at your local shelter, these loving dogs need a home to retire to.
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2. They like to sleep... a lot
| | Unlike a Labrador or a Border Collie, your greyhound isn't going to be in your face, ready for action all day every day. They enjoy downtime as much as you do, and will usually be done with a game of chase before you.
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3. They are people-oriented
| | Greyhounds are raised and trained around all kinds of people and have learned that people mean good things, like love, food, and exercise. Most greyhounds haven't met anyone they don't like.
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4. They are light shedders
| | With their very short hair and relatively thin coats, a good brushing outside once a week will keep the dog hair in your house at a minimum.
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5. They are a healthy breed
| | With 300+ years of careful breeding in their pedigrees, things like hip dysplasia are unheard of.
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6. They are very clean
| | Greyhounds are very cat-like in their grooming practices, cleaning their legs and feet themselves daily. A pair of greyhounds will often groom each other. They also don't have the same oils in their skin as other breeds and often don't have a "doggy" odor, even when wet.
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7. Many are very quiet
| | Most greyhounds rarely bark, but they do whine for attention occasionally. You can usually train them not to do that, either. This attribute makes them great pets for apartment dwellers.
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8. Most don't need a lot of exercise
| | Most greyhounds are content with two to three good walks a day for exercise, and a run once a week or so. This is no more exercise than most other large breeds, and much less that a Labrador or Border Collie.
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9. You know your dog's history
| | Just like any adult dog, a Greyhound will come to you with some "baggage." The difference is a retired racing greyhound's experiences growing up and racing are pretty well documented so you know what that baggage is, and there are 1000s of people who can help you deal with it.
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10. They aren't puppies
| | As an adult dog, most are able to go a full work day without having to pee and most are easily house trained within a few days. They are also over the chewing and rough-housing associated with puppies.
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Consider the Costs
There are costs associated with owning any dog. Most of these are yearly costs you incur for their required health care, but there are also unexpected costs associated with injuries or sickness. With their thin skin, greyhounds are prone to cuts that need stitches for events that would result in minor scratches for other breeds. Below we've compiled some cost estimates that include just the normal costs associated with owning a dog. Add in a few hundred more a year for greyhound injuries.
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Annual Costs
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Start-up Costs
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Dog Food | $500 | |
Adoption Fee | $500 |
| Vet Annual and Shots | $300 | |
Grooming Supplies | $50 |
| Heartworm Preventative | $150 | |
Crate | $125 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $150 | |
Bedding | $150 |
| Treats and Toys | $100 | |
First Aid Kit | $40 |
| Petsitting | $100 | |
Vet Dental | $400 |
| TOTAL Annual: | $1300 | |
TOTAL Start-up: | $1265 |
Estimated First Year Cost: $2565
Some Great Books!
These are some wonderful books about greyhounds and how to transition them to a home. You may be able to find them ar your local library, or you can click below to order them from Amazon.com. As one of our partners, Amazon.com will send a portion of the proceeds of the book back to greyhound rescue!
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| One of the best manuals: Lee Livingood's Retired Racing Greyhound for Dummies
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Cynthia Branigan's Living with a Greyhound
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Frequently Asked Questions about Greyhounds
1. Why are greyhounds so skinny? Don't people feed them enough?
| | Some people think they are too skinny but that's not because they don't eat, or you don't feed them, it's because this is their natural shape. A healthy greyhound should still have it's three, center vertebrae and last few ribs visible beneath the skin. Too much weight will stress a greyhound's joints and lead to a higher risk of injury.
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2. Are greyhounds high maintenance dogs?
| | They have no "doggy odor" because they have no oil in their coats and with such short hair a regular bath and brushing will virtually eliminate shedding. They also need their toenails clipped and their teeth brushed weekly. Ears should be cleaned every 2 weeks to once a month, depending on the greyhound.
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3. Can Greyhounds live outside in the back yard?
| | No, greyhounds have almost no fat and very short hair so they MUST be indoor pets and may need to wear a coat and boots in cold or wet weather.
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4. Do I have to have a fenced yard to adopt a greyhound?
| | Not necessarily. As long as you take your greyhound for 2-3 good walks a day and a run once every week or so, they should not need a fenced in yard. Though, a fenced yard is benefical for 2 am bathroom emergency or rainy weather!
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5. Can I let my greyhound off their leash?
| | Absolutely Not! They are born to run and love to run so caution must be used and a large fenced area to run in is necessary. It is amazing how fast a greyhound can run off. Being sitehounds, they cannot smell their way home.
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6. How are greyhounds with young children?
| | They generally love children but will not tolerate abuse. Usually they will walk away from it but like ANY dog they may snap if they are being tormented. We highly recommend you read our Greyhounds and Children page for more information. |
7. Are Greyhounds mischievous pets?
| | Since greyhounds have never had anything of their own in the racing kennels, they are sneaky collectors and might be found with clothes, kid's toys, the remote control, or food off the counter. Your house must be DOG proof until your greyhound learns these things are "off limits!"
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8. I have always heard greyhounds are hyper active and nervous, should I expect this when I adopt a greyhound?
| | Greyhounds come in a wide variety of personalities, but they are usually very confused when they make the transition from track to home. This confusion is often mistaken for shyness or nervousness. It usually takes a greyhound a few weeks to a month to settle into a home environment, but it will take about a year before their true personality blossoms.
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