Greyhound
Breed Group: Hound Group
Size Group: Large Dog Breeds
Origin: England
Height: 28”-30” (male) 27”-28” (female)
Weight: 65-70lbs (male) 60-65lbs (female)
Color: Black, Blue fawn, Blue, Blue brindle, Red, Red brindle, White, White & black, White & red, Black brindle, White & blue, White & blue brindle, White & blue fawn, White & red brindle with or without markings of ticked, parti-color, solid or black mask
Lifespan: 10-13 years
Temperament: Serene, energetic, calm
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds. They are sighthounds, meaning they hunt purely based on sight, in a hunting style called “coursing”. Once spotted the greyhound would pursue and hold the game. With their lightning fast speed, usually around 35mph, but up to 45mph in the proper condition, you might even say these pups seemed to fly. In reality you also might say they seem to fly as 75% of the time that they are running, greyhounds are actually airborne.
Today these pups are best known for their speed on the racetrack. But those who know them best admire their ethereal grace and gentle nature. Greyhounds need space to run. They can still live happily in apartments, but you must find an outlet for them to regularly stretch their legs. This breed rarely if ever shows aggression and is more likely to walk away than be provoked.
Greyhounds are an excellent choice for families even with small children, just be sure to especially monitor early interactions if your little ones are still figuring out how to behave with animals. These gentle souls are best suited to calm and loving environments
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Celebrity Owners
J.K. Rowling, Cesar Millan, Tea Leoni, Vinnie Jones, Bo Derek
Fun Facts
While greyhounds are said to run up to 45 mph, in 2013 a greyhound named Fanta clocked in at 50.5mph. Zoom zoom!
Health
Greyhounds are a very healthy breed. Some concerns to be aware of include hip dysplasia, osteosarcoma, hypothyroidism, sensitivity to anesthesia, sensitivity to insecticides, and bloat.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
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Grooming
As it goes, greyhounds are pretty low maintenance. Brush your pup once a week with a hound glove or slicker brush to remove any dead hair and to redistribute hair oils.
Your pup will need a bath once every 2-3 months. When bathing put cotton balls gently in your pup’s ears to avoid allowing any water to run in. Be aware that greyhounds can have reactions to shampoos with fragrances and other chemicals, choose a dog shampoo that has simple ingredients. Brush your pup once over before starting. Then use lukewarm to lightly warm water. Greyhounds are known to faint if the water is too warm, and will not enjoy it if it is freezing. Be sure to rinse out any lingering shampoo before you fully dry you pup with a towel. When dry, brush your pup one last time. You will not need to trim your pup’s coat.
Trim your pup’s nails regularly. If you can hear clicking as your pup walks it is definitely time for a trim. Clean your pup’s ears at least weekly (but more often if you notice they are dirty) with gentle dog ear cleaner applied to a cotton ball. Brush your dog’s teeth if not daily, several times per week.
Cost
$1,500 – $2,500
Exercise
Your pup will need about an hour in activity each day. While your pup is growing be sure not to overexercise them which can lead to skeletal issues as they grow. Once your pup is fully grown, around 2 years, you can add jogging and running alongside a bike as part of the day’s activity. Always have a secure area for your pup to run if off leash. These pups have a strong prey drive and will often take off after a small animal. Even in the best trained pup desire to chase can override a return command. Your pup just wants to be with you. Any activities with you together will make him happy.
Greyhound’s lean frame and short coat make them susceptible to cold weather. If you live in a cold climate monitor your pup, whether or not to put a sweater or coat on him will depend on how long you will be outside, your dog’s age, how cold it is, etc.
Nutrition
Your full-sized greyhound will eat around 3 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. Early on be sure to work on leash training so your dog isn’t always jerking your arm around on walks. Additionally, train your pup not to jump up while they are still little. In training, greyhounds can become bored easily. Keep your sessions short and sweet, and always filled with positive reinforcement. Greyhounds are incredibly sensitive, so never use harsh corrections while training, which can cause your dog to withdraw.
If you rescue a racing greyhound, be prepared for just as much training as with a new pup. These dogs are not conventionally trained other than potentially leash training and will need lots of patience and love.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Low grooming needs
Excellent with small children
The "Ruff"
Prone to separation anxiety
Cannot be off leash
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