Greyhound
| Size at withers | 68–76 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 26–40 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–13 years |
| Size class | Large (25–40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–110 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Very short, fine coat; almost no body fat |
| Temperament | Gentle, quiet, low-activity indoors, high prey drive outdoors; the '40 mph couch potato' |
| Common health issues | Osteosarcoma (elevated); bloat; anaesthesia sensitivity; corns on paw pads |
| Exercise needs | Moderate — daily sprint sufficient; not a long-distance runner |
| Climate & housing suitability | Good — heat-adapted; needs shade and hydration in hot weather. |
| Owner notes | Racing retirees make excellent pets. Anaesthesia protocol modification is required — inform any vet in advance. |
Origin and purpose
Hound (AKC). Origin: Ancient breed; Middle East / Egypt origins.
Racing retirees make excellent pets. Anaesthesia protocol modification is required — inform any vet in advance.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Gentle, quiet, low-activity indoors, high prey drive outdoors; the '40 mph couch potato'
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Strong prey drive: this dog may chase cats, poultry, and small animals, and may pursue free-roaming dogs or livestock. That is instinct, not disobedience, and it is largely not trainable out. Manage it with a secure garden, a lead near roads and livestock, and a realistic view of what recall can achieve against a moving target.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat')
Osteosarcoma
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') | No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds | At neutering, if the vet agrees it is indicated |
| Osteosarcoma | No screening test. Radiographs on any persistent limb lameness in a large breed | Do not dismiss lameness in a giant-breed dog |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
- Osteosarcoma — No screening test. Radiographs on any persistent limb lameness in a large breed
Feeding
Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate — daily sprint sufficient; not a long-distance runner
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Coat and grooming
Very short, fine coat; almost no body fat. Weekly rub-down. Needs a coat in cold weather and shade in heat — it has no insulation either way.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Good — heat-adapted; needs shade and hydration in hot weather.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 10–13 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
