Greyhounds are designed for speed from their tapered noses, to their thin build, to their long legs and low body fat.

A greyhound at a proper weight should have a defined waist, defined tuck-up, and the ribs should be easily palpable. A few vertebrae and one or two ribs, and sometimes even hip points, may be visible depending on the build of the dog.

It is important that greyhounds are maintained at a proper weight. While they are a relatively healthy breed, obesity increases the risk for arthritis and spinal problems.

Females typically weigh between 50 to 65 pounds and stand 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder.

Males typically weigh between 65 to 90 pounds and stand 26 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder.

The short answer: NO! NEVER! SERIOUSLY. NOPE!

Greyhounds are sighthounds which means their instinct is to chase things that move. In fact, they have been bred and trained for thousands of years to do just that.

An off-leash greyhound may not (and probably will not) listen to their owner’s commands if they see something they want to chase.

They can reach top speed and cover a lot of ground in as little as three strides, making them near impossible to catch should they take off after something. And, they won’t stop until they’ve caught the prey or lost sight of it. Being a sighthound, they’ll have no idea how to find their way back to you if they can’t see you… and they don’t know how to retrace their own steps by scent.  Even worse, that path in pursuit of prey may lead them across roads, into traffic, or other dangers.

Trust has been called “a deadly disease” and with good reason. So please, trust us when we say that greyhounds should always be on a leash when not in a securely fenced area.

NCGC does NOT allow the use of invisible (electric) fences for greyhounds because of their instinct to chase and the rate of speed at which they can run. Most greyhounds will run right through an invisible fence without a second thought. And, invisible fences do not prevent other animals from entering your yard.

NCGC does NOT allow the use of Flexi leads (AKA retractable leashes) for greyhounds. This breed can reach a high rate of speed in just a few strides, and would hit the end of a Flexi lead very quickly. This can cause serious, if not fatal, injury to the dog’s neck and spine.
It is for this same reason that tie-outs attached to stationary objects are not permitted for use with greyhounds.

The martingale dog collar was designed for sighthounds because their necks are larger than their heads and they can often slip out of buckle collars.

This type of dog collar is fitted with a D-ring and the leash attaches to this ring. When the dog pulls on the leash, the collar constricts. Since the collar is adjustable, it won’t tighten beyond your dog’s neck width if properly fitted. This way, you can provide comfort without harming your pup.

Greyhounds are no more aggressive than any other breed. They wear muzzles while racing because they can be competitive while running.

Greyhounds have very thin skin that is prone to tearing when injured, and at such high speeds a tiny nip or misplaced tooth can cause a serious wound.

NCGC recommends the use of a muzzle for play groups, tight quarters (i.e. vehicles), and when multiple greyhounds are loose in a fenced-in area together.

NCGC also recommends that muzzles be used for cat and small dog testing, because of the vast size difference between the animals.

NCGC provides a plastic kennel muzzle to every adopter when they bring their new greyhound home.

Most greyhounds who come in from the track or farm have what is called “kennel coat,” which is a thick coat of hair that tends to be a bit longer and shaggier than that of a greyhound who’s been in a home for a few months.

This “kennel coat” will shed out within a few months of their arrival and leave behind a glossy smooth coat of hair that is much sleeker and not as “fuzzy” as their kennel coat.

Once the kennel coat is gone, most greyhounds shed very little, and grooming with a hound mitt several times a month should all but eliminate shedding.

A shedding blade or soft grooming mitt can be used to groom out the dead hair and reduce shedding.

If your greyhound sees an animal and starts to blow puffs of air from the sides of their cheeks, smacks their lips, pricks up their ears, flicks their tongue from side to side or freezes in place and intently stares at the animal, then they are ready to chase.

These high-prey signs mean they are not safe around small animals. Some greyhounds react only to small animals when they are outdoors, but not indoors. Some greyhounds only react to all-white animals. Be aware of these signs.

If your neighbor, friends, and relatives have small pets, please take extra precautions. Use a muzzle and leash for the safety of both animals and humans. Make people aware that your dog is not good around small animals.

Greyhounds have been carefully bred for thousands of years; as a breed, they are one of the healthiest – having no inbred genetic physical problems.

Greyhounds are, however, very sensitive to certain chemicals and drugs.  Their liver metabolizes more slowly, and it is also thought that their very low ratio of body fat (10-15%) is another cause of this sensitivity.

For a detailed list of safe and unsafe chemicals, drugs, and anesthesia procedures for the greyhound, please read Adopting the Racing Greyhound (3rd edition) by Cynthia A. Branigan.

NCGC strongly recommends that you use a veterinarian familiar with the greyhound breed. If you need a recommendation for a vet who is experienced with greyhounds, we can help you find one.