The Greyhound is a breed of dog that likely originated in Africa and the Middle East, but was almost exclusively developed in the United Kingdom.  Known worldwide on the racetracks, the Greyhound is also often kept as a family pet.


Greyhounds are sighthounds that are built for speed.  They stand between 27-30 inches and weigh between 60-70 pound.  Their coat is short and smooth with colors that include black, red, fawn, blue, and brindle. These colors appear in various combinations that often include white markings.  Although rare, pure white Greyhounds also exist.


The Greyhound’s history can be severely debated, some say it derived from the Middle East, others say Egypt, and England is created with its design.  History most likely resides with all of these assumptions and perhaps other places in between.  No doubt, at the very least, the ancestors of the Greyhound came from the Egyptian/Middle East region.  While the Greyhound we know and love today was developed and refined in Europe.

Greyhounds probably arrived in England by 900 A.D., brought by traders from the Middle East.  It was refined and used for hunting deer and wild boar, able to reach speeds up to 45 MPH, it was able to catch prey and pull them down without stopping.  The name Greyhound may have been come from the Saxton word grei, meaning fine or beautiful.  


It is impossible to mention the Greyhound without also mentioning coursing and the racetrack.  This breed excels at coursing and many owners enjoy competing in the sport, however the professional racetrack does have its darker side.  When the dogs become too old to race they are often euthanized.  Unfortunately, most finish racing within the first two to five years of their lives.  Recently, many groups have been formed to stop these deaths.  In years past around 20,000 Greyhounds were killed per year in the United States alone.  Now, through adoption programs, that number has been reduced, although exact count is disputed, it is estimated to be between an enormous 12,000 to only 2,000 Greyhounds are still killed annually.


Greyhounds truly love to run, and will never loose their prey instinct.  Any animal outdoors that happens to be smaller than them will instantly be seen as prey.  They get along well with children and other dogs, and perhaps even a calm indoor cat, but only if it has been raised with the cat in the household.  Greyhounds are very gentle and quiet dogs, making them excellent pets.  Often a Greyhound will be described as shy when they are around people they are unfamiliar with.



In General, Greyhounds are healthy animals; however, great care should be taken when anesthesia is required.  A vet that has knowledge of the breed should be used, as they have unusual blood chemistry, which can be easily misread by one not familiar with them.  Some individuals can be prone to bloating.  The average lifespan for a Greyhound is 10-12 years.

If given enough exercise Greyhounds can adjust to apartment life, although they do best with at least a small yard.  This breed is sensitive to the cold and should not sleep on hard surfaces as they can develop skin sores.  Greyhounds need to be able to run in open, safe spaces regularly and should be taken on daily long walks.

Greyhounds require very little grooming because of their short coat.