Greyhound - Top 10 Facts

The Greyhound is a sighthound bred for coursing game and greyhound racing. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurgence in popularity as a family pet.

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In this video, we are counting down the top 10 facts about the Greyhounds that you might not know.

A Quick Overview:
Group: Hound Dogs
Weight: 50 to 85 pounds
Height: 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Expectancy: 12 - 15 years

Greyhounds were originally bred as hunting dogs to chase hare, foxes, and deer. Canines in this dog breed can reach speeds of 40 to 45 miles per hour, making them the Ferraris of the dog world.

Today, Greyhounds also participate in many other dog sports, including lure coursing, conformation, obedience, and agility. Beyond their grace and speed, people love them for their sweet, mild nature. Fans of the breed often claim that these dogs have two speeds: all-out sprint and total couch potato. They are, however, quite sensitive, both to extreme weather and to loneliness. This is not a dog who can be left home alone for long hours of the day. Give them the love, care, and exercise they crave, and you’ll have an adoring, cuddle bug companion for life.

Whether or not you've seen one in the flesh, you know what a Greyhound looks like. The iconic hound with the aerodynamic build epitomizes speed with his narrow head, long legs, and muscular rear end. We've all seen images of this sprinter, if only through seeing it plastered on the side of a bus, but many of us don't truly know the breed.

One of the most ancient of breeds, Greyhounds probably originated in Egypt and have been prized throughout history. Historic figures who were captivated by this breed include Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I of England, and General Custer, who raced his dogs the day before he set off on his fateful trip to Little Big Horn. The patronage of the two queens led to Greyhound racing being dubbed the "Sport of Queens."

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👉 Videos Sources:

[dnedlew]

I have an 11 year old retired racer who we adopted when she had just turned 3 and was done racing. She is the first Greyhound we've ever owned and we will always adopt one from now on. They make excellent companions for older people because they are so easy to take care of and vice versa. Anyone who is thinking about adopting one, do so, you'll never regret it.

[pacfic]

Unlike other breeds, they have very little doggy smell. They are clean and groom themselves very much like cats do. We have 2 currently and fostered many. They’re very sweet calm dogs.

[cgpapineau]

We've had 11 rescued racers since 1999. All were adorable. They make awesome pets!

[nicolashuffman]

I've had 3 retired racers so far, and I can vouch for everything said in this video. All of mine were able to go for a year with no bath and never smelled bad in the least. It should be mentioned that they can overheat, so be careful in the summer. These are not outdoors dogs. Also, never put one on a rope in the yard. They can hit 30mph in 6 steps, and at that speed a rope and collar could seriously injure them. Sometimes they get excited and make a rooing noise, which is cute.

[Brendanable]

Once you look into a greyhound's eyes, you know love.

[kellymoon]

My girlfriend and I adopted an ex-racer greyhound and I love her so much. She sleeps on me and sometimes she will race in her sleep! She's such a sweet natured goofball!

[slikrhodez]

If you get one, be prepared to talk about them everywhere you go together! They attract attention like supermodels and rock stars! My Flying Sooner was a minor celebrity in my community!

[nicknogueira]

My mother and ex-husband where apart of an organization called Greyhound Adoptions and iv lived with about 15 as pets, fostered dozens, at one point when I was about 15 years old I had 21 Greygounds in my home. They are the sweetest dogs, very energetic when they get outside. I was a literal stampede letting them outside.
I used to blow into a duckcall and listen to about 7 to 10 greyhounds sing lol love greyhounds!

[michaelrini]

We got our big boy Commander from Greyhounds of America back in '95. We always wanted to adopt one after seeing a special on TV about what happens to them after racing! They would just put them down just because at that time there were plenty of them! We got Commander to be a pal to our Standard poodle Chio. He fell in love with Chio and were best friends for many years. I nicked name Commander the dim-witted sidekick because Chio had human smarts and he not so much. But what he lacked in brains he made up in his love for us and Chio! We loved him until the end and still miss him 16 years later!!

[meljor]

I currently have 4 greyhounds. 2 retired racers, 1 that didn't catch on to racing (still scared of everything) and a one year old puppy we got at around 3 months old which is extremely rare. Adopted and frosted about 10 greyhounds total. Great dogs. The puppy is crazy AF though.

[maryfrohnapfel]

I adopted my greyhound when she was almost 3 and I was 61 yrs old. I work full time as a nurse so I asked a few families who had children to walk her for me while I cannot. She is the best dog with a great personality. I can work any shift and she adapts to my sleep schedule as she is a couch potato!!! Adopt one and you will never look back.

[DogsWiz]

Every year, many "retired" racing Greyhounds are abandoned, euthanized, or sold to laboratories, but they can adapt wonderfully to home life and give you many years of companionship.
Would you adopt a retired racing Greyhound, if given a chance?
Let us know in the comments!

[dmovek]

Had a retired brindle, sweetest dog ever

[angusrock]

We had a greyhound that was a rescue from a jerk who was using him and 40 other greyhound to hunt coyotes! They had very little food or water and crap shelter. It took him 6 months to decompress. Vega gave us 5 1/2 years of love, laughter and loyalty. He developed cancer that spread rapidly. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body! We miss him so much

[toniannzimmerman]

i have 2 retired racers and they are great dogs. They love my grandchildren & cuddle with them all the time. They love company and running around the yard to show off or just to race each other. As much as I would love to have raise a pup I will only adopt retired racers.

[lorik]

I have had 8 greyhounds over the past 25 years. They have all been retired racers. They are easy to care for, loving, gentle and can be pretty silly at times. Call me crazy but every single one have slept in bed with me. I wouldn’t have any other dog.

[BruceG]

As a house pet, a greyhound is sometimes a tripping hazard. A lovable, affectionate, adorable tripping hazard.

[jaylu]

Fastest couch potato!! That’s my Charlie the Greyhound!! They make great pets, but are more like cats than dogs.

[edwinnemannaerts]

I adopted an abused and abandoned greyhound from Spain. Initially afraid of all kinds of everything and of men and sticks in particular, , he eventually turned into a lovely companion who now goes up to people for pats and cuddles. I've even made a lot of new acquaintances thanks to him. It pays however to beware of sleepstartle. Not provlematic, but it takes a bit of getting used to. Worth it though for having the most gentle pet imaginable.

[xgamerunknown]

These dogs look awesome. I definitely want one.