Breed library

Greyhound

Also known as Grey Hound.

Greyhound photograph.
GraceTheGreyhound.jpg - Neurodoc. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GraceTheGreyhound.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Greyhound is a sighthound developed for hunting by sight and speed, later used in coursing and racing. Its deep chest, long legs and flexible outline are characteristic of a specialist running dog.

  • Breed classification: sighthoundBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: United KingdomBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The Greyhound was developed as a sighthound, hunting game by sight and speed.
  • Its deep chest, long legs and flexible spine support its sprinting gait.
  • The article records roughly 30 recognized coat-color forms.
  • Greyhounds have very short fur and a long, narrow head.
  • During the fastest running gait, all four feet leave the ground in both the contracted and extended phases of a stride.

Size and appearance

Greyhounds have very short fur and an elongated muzzle. The source records roughly 30 recognized color forms, including combinations involving white, brindle, fawn, black, red and blue-gray.

  • Body mass reference: 25 - 34 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 25 - 34 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 29 kgBreed reference body mass. female, adult, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 27 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, adult, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: 27 - 40 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 27 - 40 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 32 kgBreed reference body mass. male, adult, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 29 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. adult, minimum, male.
  • Height reference: 68 - 71 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 68 - 71 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 71 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum, adult.
  • Height reference: 68 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum, adult.
  • Height reference: 71 - 76 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 71 - 76 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 76 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum, adult.
  • Height reference: 71 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum, adult.
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: very_tall
  • Height category: tall
  • Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

The article describes Greyhounds as people-oriented companion dogs, while noting that small animals can trigger prey-driven behavior. Some dogs startle when disturbed during sleep. These are useful questions for an individual adoption assessment, not promises about every Greyhound.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.74 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 1.96 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.55 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.79 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 1.11 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 1.79 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.51 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.99 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.17 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.77 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.11 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.68 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.74 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.09 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Greyhound.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

The very short coat is described as straightforward to maintain. Coat length alone does not establish shedding level or suitability for a person with dog allergies.

  • Coat length: short
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study cited in the article reported life expectancy of 11.5 years for Greyhounds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The breed has a long association with hunting and coursing. Evidence for the exact ancestry of the modern Greyhound is more complicated than popular claims about ancient Egyptian dogs; the article distinguishes modern archaeological and genetic evidence from older origin stories.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Greyhound - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Greyhound, revision 1373495624. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greyhound&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:GraceTheGreyhound.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. GraceTheGreyhound.jpg - Neurodoc. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GraceTheGreyhound.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.