Mary Allen
Dog for Racing & Less for Children – the Greyhound
This well-known sighthound has its origins in England. They are hunting dogs bred to chase game.
How Big & How Heavy Will It Be?
The greyhound can reach a height of between 70 and 76 cm with a weight of 30 to 35 kg.
What Does the Greyhound Look Like?
The figure is slim and yet powerful. The shape of the body is rectangular. The raised abdomen is characteristic.
Coat & Color
The Greyhound’s coat is fine, short, dense, and shiny. There are different colors and color combinations.
Nature, Temperament
By nature, however, the Greyhound is rather reserved, sensitive, calm, and alert.
Sighthounds and especially Greyhounds, therefore, need a lot of love and attention.
The relationship with children can sometimes be a bit problematic since he insists on his rest periods. This dog basically wants to run around outside and then rest and sleep inside afterward.
Upbringing
Greyhounds tick a bit differently than other dogs. Some even claim that they are difficult or impossible to train. It is said that a greyhound must be respected and loved so that it will then voluntarily do what is expected of it. Nevertheless, one should also try it with education.
Yelling and being harsh won’t get you anywhere with this breed. Rather, it requires a certain sensitivity. With a lot of patience, time, and, above all, gentle consistency, a greyhound can be trained quite well.
Posture & Outlet
Ideal husbandry is guaranteed in a house with a large garden.
However, if the dog is kept in an apartment, then it regularly needs a lot of exercise and exercise. Of course, he also needs a lot of exercises if he lives in a house with a garden.
If one is not interested in greyhound racing, other dog sports can be considered such as agility, tracking, flyball, and obedience.
However, many Greyhounds become less interested in racing as they get older. They then often mutate into couch potatoes and like to sleep through most of the day. Greyhounds just know these extremes: either run, run, run or be sociable, sleep and cuddle.
These dogs usually walk very well on a leash without pulling too much and are therefore quite suitable for older people.
Conclusion: It is important to find out how old the dog is and how much exercise it really needs before you buy it.
Breed Diseases
Unfortunately, what is known as a greyhound lock (paralytic myoglobinuria) is typical of this dog breed. This can happen when an untrained dog suddenly starts sprinting, for example on the track or in the woods, when it sees a wild animal.
Life Expectancy
On average, these sighthounds reach an age of 10 to 12 years.