Overview

The Greyhound is known as the fastest dog in the world, and has been known to reach speeds of over 40 miles an hour. This breed is commonly used as a sporting race dog, but was used for hunting wild boar and deer when they were first brought over to England from the Arabian Sloughi by traders before 900 AD. This breed will not get along with smaller animals that are not canine related, such as cats and rabbits.

Activity

The Greyhound does not do well in apartments as they love to run. They will require daily walks and runs, so having a larger fenced yard will work the best for them. You will soon find that a Greyhound loves to chase things, so make sure they are on a lead or leash while taking them on walks in parks or the country side. This breed requires a minimum of two hours a day of exercise time.

Care

The Greyhound does not require much grooming due to their coats being slick and very short. Because their coats are so short, you will only need to rub them down once in a while to remove any dead hair, and they shouldn't be bathed very often to keep the natural oils in their hair. If bathed frequently, they will lose their natural weather resistance that this breed is known for.

Character

The Greyhound is extremely sensitive and gentle, making it a wonderful companion for families with children. They are very talented and do well with hunting, racing, agility, sighting, as well as being a good watchdog. They do well with a home environment, but can manage to live well in a kennel setting, although they crave human attention and want nothing more than to be part of the family.

Coat

The Greyhound coat should be glossy but not feel silky or short to the touch. Instead, it should feel harsh and firm with a touch of coarseness mixed in. Their coat should remain smooth and bathing regularly is not a good idea. Too many baths will strip their coat of essential oils that give the Greyhound a weather resistance.

Temperament

The greyhound loves to be around family and makes a great house pet, as long as there are no smaller animals around as its hunting instincts will kick in eventually. They do very well with other dogs but get along best with others of their own kind. They do get along with children but shouldn't be left alone around smaller children due to them being so sensitive and active.

Training

Greyhounds will require an experienced handler as they are extremely intelligent and just as sensitive. They will need a wide variety of techniques and challenges to keep them happy and fit, but should only be trained with kindness and consistency. Harsh words will get you nowhere with such a sensitive breed and may turn them into depressed and sulking pups rather than the breed everyone knows and loves.