Because of thousands of years of selective breeding, Greyhounds are actually very healthy dogs. Many of the hereditary ailments common in other breeds are mostly bred out of Greyhounds. Two ailments are more common to Greyhounds than other dogs, gastric bloat and osteosarcoma. On the whole however, Greyhounds are typically a very healthy breed and have less health problems than the average dog. This myth may arise from the occasional media stories about mistreated hounds on tracks and the fact that sometimes hounds come to us with broken bones or other injuries from their racing days, which we treat before the hound is adopted out.

Greyhounds are among the calmest, most docile breeds. Once again, this is a benefit of their selective breeding. If you have a greyhound in your home, the most common place you will find them is curled up on their bed or another comfortable spot to lay down. This is where the title “the 45 MPH Couch Potato” comes from.

Greyhounds are required to wear muzzles when racing for two reasons. First, to help identify the winner in photo finishes, and second, because occasionally the greyhounds can get possessive of the lure used in the race. Similar precautions are used in other dog competitions such as lure coursing for the safety of the athletes, not because they are vicious animals.

Greyhounds are muscular athletes. They appear fragile because they have such low percentages of body fat compared to other dogs.

Most Greyhounds can sit, and usually learn how to do so quickly. Some cannot sit for long periods because of their muscular hind legs, but all greyhounds can learn some type of resting stay position (sit/stay or down/stay).

When on the track, Greyhounds eat a special, highly nutritious diet (just like human athletes). Retired Greyhounds have no special dietary requirements. They eat four to six cups of high quality dog food per day, about the same as other dogs the same size.

Remember the “45 MPH Couch Potato?” Greyhounds are very calm dogs and do not have any unusual space requirements.

On the contrary, Greyhounds are used to resting for long periods and then expending their energy in short bursts. They are natural sprinters, and tire after a reasonable amount of exercise or play. After a good time running or playing in a fenced area or a nice walk, your hound will usually be ready to rest for a while.