The fastest dog breed in the world and one of the oldest recognisable types, the Greyhound is a sighthound built entirely for the short, explosive chase — and a famously placid housemate between sprints.
Smooth-coated sighthounds appear in Egyptian, Greek and Roman art, though modern genetic work indicates the Greyhound's closest relationships are with European herding breeds rather than with ancient Middle Eastern hounds.2 The type is documented in Britain from at least the Anglo-Saxon period and was closely regulated: the Forest Laws of Canute reserved Greyhound ownership to the nobility.
Coursing — pursuing hares by sight — was formalised in Britain in the sixteenth century under rules attributed to the Duke of Norfolk, and the National Coursing Club opened its stud book in 1882.2 Mechanical-lure track racing began in the United States in 1919 and spread widely; its subsequent decline has produced large-scale adoption programmes rehoming retired racers.1
The "grey" in Greyhound is not a colour reference — the breed occurs in nearly every colour. The most accepted derivation is from the Old English grighund, in which grig may mean bitch or simply dog, with hund meaning hound. Other proposals connect it to Old Norse grey, meaning dog.2
| Life expectancy | 10–13 years |
|---|---|
| Height — male | 28–30 in (71–76 cm) |
| Height — female | 27–28 in (69–71 cm) |
| Weight — male | 65–70 lb (29–32 kg) |
| Weight — female | 60–65 lb (27–29 kg) |
| Coat type & colors | Short, smooth, fine; any colour or combination |
| Shedding | Low to moderate |
| Exercise needs | Moderate — short bursts of sprinting, not endurance |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| AKC group | Hound Group (AKC) |
| Prestige Breed size class | Large Breed · Over 60 lbs |
The AKC describes the Greyhound as gentle, independent and noble.1 Contrary to expectation, the breed is low-energy indoors: Greyhounds sleep a great deal and are frequently described as "45-mile-per-hour couch potatoes."
They are quiet, sensitive and non-confrontational, and rarely bark. Prey drive is the defining behavioural consideration — a Greyhound that sights a running animal will pursue it at speed and is deaf to recall while doing so. Retired racers often need to learn household basics such as stairs and glass doors.
A Greyhound reaches roughly 40–45 miles per hour and spends about three-quarters of its running time entirely airborne, using a double-suspension gallop in which the body is unsupported twice in each stride.2
Prey drive plus speed means an off-leash Greyhound in open ground can be half a mile away before it hears you. Use secure enclosures.
Very low body fat and thin skin mean Greyhounds develop pressure sores on hard floors. Thick padded beds are a health item.
Greyhounds have atypical baseline bloodwork — higher haematocrit, lower thyroid values — and known sensitivity to some anaesthetics.3
With minimal fat and a thin coat, Greyhounds genuinely need a coat in winter.
This guide is educational and is not veterinary advice. Breed standards, measurements and health information are drawn from the sources listed above; consult your veterinarian for guidance specific to your dog.
Prestige Breed makes a large breed multivitamin designed for breeds like the Greyhound — see the Greyhound Multivitamin.