It was first day housesitting in Western Australia when Fintan, an eleven-year-old retired racing greyhound dog, decided he was taking us on a bushwalk we had never seen before. No hesitation. No looking back. He turned left past the reserve gate, led us through a trail lined with banksia trees, and forty minutes later brought us right back to the front door. We looked at each other and laughed. This greyhound had mapped the entire neighbourhood in his head, and he was simply rotating through his collection of routes. That moment told us more about the greyhound breed than any breed guide ever could.
We have lived with many dogs across different breeds, from tiny Maltese to giant Great Danes. But the greyhound holds a special place. We have cared for two greyhounds personally, Fintan in Western Australia for five weeks, and Sushi, a larger greyhound dog, in another sit. What follows are twelve things we wish someone had told us before our first greyhound walked through the door.
1. They Are the World’s Fastest Couch Potatoes
This is the great greyhound paradox, and it catches everyone off guard. This breed is the fastest breed of dog on the planet. These racing dogs hold the world record for canine speed at roughly 72 km/h (45 mph). Their deep chest, powerful stride, and aerodynamic elongated muzzle make them a breed built for explosive sprints. If you want perspective on that speed, only the cheetah comfortably outpaces them among the fastest animals on land.
Yet here is the reality. Greyhounds are legendary couch potatoes. Sushi, our second greyhound, would find his spot on the living room couch by 9 a.m. and barely move until his afternoon walk. Greyhounds sleep between sixteen and eighteen hours a day. Fintan was the same. He would stretch out in a sunny patch of the backyard and stay there for hours, completely content in his own world. Among all the dogs we have sat, greyhounds are by far the laziest indoors. The couch potato reputation is not a myth. These greyhound type dogs sprint like athletes and rest like retirees, and they see absolutely no contradiction in that lifestyle.
2. Your Greyhound Dog Will Choose the Walk… Not You
One of the most impressive things about Fintan was his intelligence. In our experience, greyhounds tend to be smarter than most people expect. Fintan did not just walk beside us. He led. Every single day, he picked a new route. The house sat near bushland and reserves, so his options were wide. One morning, he would turn left into town. The next day, right toward a hiking path. The day after, he would loop through the back streets. He always knew when to turn around.
We have walked dozens of dogs in cities across two continents. Fintan is the only dog who fully directed us. It may sound strange, but this greyhound dog never got lost and never hesitated at a junction. He had an internal map, and he was working through it methodically. This is something the greyhound breed info guides rarely mention. These dogs are quiet thinkers. They observe, they remember, and they make decisions. Other dogs pull you toward the nearest fire hydrant. A greyhound plots a route.
3. That Sensitive Stomach Is No Joke
We learned this the hard way. During our five-week sit with Fintan, we gave him chicken breast one evening. Seemed harmless. Within an hour, this greyhound had gas that could wake the neighbours. It lasted the entire evening. The owners had warned us to be careful with his diet, but we underestimated just how sensitive greyhound stomachs can be.
Greyhounds require proper nutrition tailored to their unique physiology. Their lean frames and high red blood cells mean their metabolism processes food differently from other breeds. Racing greyhounds on the track often eat highly controlled diets, and greyhounds off the track carry those sensitivities into pet life. If you are caring for a greyhound, stick to the diet the owner or rescue organisation has established. Do not experiment. What works for other dogs may cause real distress in a greyhound animal with such a specialised digestive system.
4. Greyhounds Are Impossibly Gentle with Babies
Fintan lived with an Irish family and their baby, a toddler under one year old. When we arrived, we watched how carefully this tall, graceful dog moved around the little one. No sudden movements. No boisterous energy. He would settle on the floor near the baby with a calm awareness that felt almost deliberate. Fintan was eleven, so age certainly played a role, but his gentleness felt deeper than that.
What surprised us was learning our experience was not unusual. We have a friend who adopted a greyhound from a rescue, and he is the same way with their one-year-old daughter. Sushi, our other greyhound sit, also lived with a newborn and displayed that identical careful energy. Greyhounds tend to be naturally gentle dogs. Their temperament suits family life far better than their racing dog image suggests. The American Kennel Club describes the greyhound breed as “gentle, noble, and sweet-tempered,” and that matches exactly what we have seen.
5. Greyhound Racing Left Scars… But Adoption Is Changing the Story
We need to be honest here. In Australia, greyhound racing is deeply embedded in the culture. People bet on racing dogs the way they bet on horse races. The greyhound racing industry breeds dogs for speed, races them for a few years, and then — if they are lucky — puts them up for adoption. Both Fintan and Sushi were rescued greyhounds. Both came from the racing greyhound world.
Personally, we struggle with the ethics of greyhound racing. Breeding dogs purely for human entertainment and then hoping someone will adopt them feels selfish. The industry has faced serious criticism in Australia and the UK, and organisations like the RSPCA have called for stronger protections. The good news is that adoption rates for retired racing greyhounds have risen dramatically in the twentieth century and into the twenty-first.
6. This Breed Walked with Pharaohs
The greyhound is one of the oldest breeds of dog in recorded history. Evidence of greyhound type dogs appears on Egyptian tombs dating back over 4,000 years. A funeral vase from ancient Egypt depicts dogs virtually identical to the modern greyhound. The breed’s origins likely trace to the Middle East, possibly present day Turkey or the broader region, before spreading across the Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages in Europe, and eventually to the English-speaking world.
The name greyhound has debated origins. Some scholars link it to the Old English “grighund,” with “grig” meaning dog, essentially meaning dog-dog, a redundancy. Others connect it to “Graius,” meaning Greek, as Greek and Roman texts frequently reference these sight hounds. The greyhound is the sole breed of dog mentioned by name in the Bible.
During the Middle Ages, greyhound ownership was restricted to nobility. By the sixteenth century, coursing competitions, where greyhounds chased live hares, had become fashionable among English aristocracy. The National Coursing Club, founded in 1858, formalised the sport’s rules. Even Queen Victoria and General George Custer were known greyhound enthusiasts. By the twentieth century, track racing had replaced coursing as the dominant greyhound sport, and the breed reached peak popularity as both racing dogs and companion animals.
7. 72 km/h — and a Body Engineered for Speed
The greyhound holds the world record as the fastest dog breed, clocking speeds up to 72 km/h. That makes them the undisputed speed champion of the canine world. But what makes their speed possible is even more interesting than the number itself.
Greyhounds have a deep chest that houses oversized lungs and heart. Their red blood cells carry more oxygen than those of other breeds, fuelling explosive acceleration. They carry minimal fat, typically 13–16%, compared to 35% or more in many other dogs. Their long legs provide enormous stride length. Their flexible spine acts as a spring, compressing and extending with each bound. Every part of this greyhound animal has been shaped, first by centuries of selective breeding for coursing, then by modern greyhound racing, for raw speed. Other sighthounds like Salukis and Afghan Hounds are fast, but no other breed matches the greyhound’s top-end velocity.
8. They Get Cold Faster Than You Think
Greyhounds have thin skin and a single-layer coat type with almost no undercoat. Combined with their lean physique, this means they feel the cold far more than other dogs their size. In Western Australia, Fintan was fine year-round thanks to the mild climate. But if you live somewhere with genuine winters, your greyhound will need a coat.
This is not a fashion statement. Greyhounds need protection from cold temperatures in ways that other large breeds simply do not. Their coat type offers almost no insulation. Many greyhound owners invest in fleece-lined jackets for winter walks and even indoor jumpers for draughty houses. Greyhounds rest more comfortably with blankets and raised beds that keep them off cold floors. If you are adopting a greyhound in a cooler climate, budget for proper cold-weather gear.
9. Do Not Expect a Velcro Dog
Some breeds follow you into every room. The greyhound is not one of them. Greyhounds tend to be independent. Not aloof, independent. Fintan liked his own space. He would sleep in the sun away from us for hours. When he did come over for a pat, it felt special precisely because he chose the moment. He was affectionate on his terms, and that restraint made each interaction more meaningful.
Sushi was slightly more cuddly, but still fundamentally a greyhound. He had his spot. He stayed in it. And he would greet us warmly and then return to his own world. Living with a greyhound is different from living with other dogs who demand constant attention. Greyhounds are ideal companions for people who appreciate a quiet, dignified presence rather than non-stop neediness. They are not cold. They simply do not require you to be within arm’s reach at every moment. For anyone who works from home, a greyhound is the perfect office mate — nearby but unbothered, calm but present.
10. The Cat Question… Prey Drive Is Real
One of the most common questions about greyhounds is whether they can live with cats. The answer is: it depends. The greyhound hunting dog heritage runs deep. For centuries, they chased hares in coursing competitions and hunted game across Europe and the Middle East. That instinct does not vanish because a greyhound retires from the track.
Some greyhounds fresh off the track have strong chase instinct and cannot safely share a home with cats or small animals. Others are perfectly fine. Rescue organisations typically “cat test” their greyhounds before adoption, and we strongly recommend working with a group that does this if you have other pets. Many greyhounds live happily alongside feline housemates, but the introduction must be managed carefully. Never assume. A greyhound who is gentle with children may still instinctively chase a running animal. This is not aggression.
11. Those Stretches Will Make You Jealous
This one is pure joy. Greyhounds stretch like no other breed we have encountered. Fintan would do these enormous, full-body stretches several times a day, front legs out, back arched, tail up, with a groan of satisfaction that sounded almost human. It was theatrical. It was glorious.
This connects back to their anatomy. That flexible spine and powerful frame need regular extension. Greyhounds seem to require these stretches the way a yoga practitioner needs their morning flow. We started calling Fintan’s routine “the morning performance” because he would do his biggest stretch sequence right after waking up, sometimes holding a downward-dog pose for five or six seconds. If you need a reason to smile at 7 a.m., live with a greyhound. Their stretching routine alone is worth the experience.
Greyhounds also need proper exercise time daily. Even older greyhounds like Fintan, at eleven, were up for substantial walks. We took him on two walks a day, totalling between one and two hours. He loved it. Healthy dogs stay active throughout their lives when given the opportunity, and greyhounds are no exception. Balance their walk time with mental stimulation, new routes, sniff time, and environmental variety. Fintan’s self-directed walks were his own form of mental stimulation, and it kept him sharp well into old age.
12. Health Risks Every Greyhound Owner Should Know
Every breed carries genetic predispositions, and the greyhound is no exception. The most serious health concern in greyhounds is osteosarcoma, bone cancer. Greyhounds have a higher incidence of bone cancer than most other breeds, particularly in their legs. Early detection matters. If your greyhound develops persistent lameness, get it checked immediately.
Greyhound neuropathy is another breed-specific condition. This neurological disorder affects muscle coordination and can appear in greyhound puppies as young as three months. It is relatively rare but worth knowing about, especially if you are sourcing a greyhound from a breeder rather than a rescue. Dental disease is also common. Many retired racers arrive with poor dental health due to the diets used in the dog racing industry.
The life expectancy of a healthy greyhound is typically 10–14 years. Fintan was eleven and still active, bright, and strong. Greyhounds require regular veterinary checkups, balanced nutrition, and attention to their unique physiology — that low body fat and thin skin mean anaesthetic protocols differ from other breeds, so always ensure your vet has experience with the greyhound breed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Greyhounds
Yes, greyhounds can be excellent apartment dogs. Despite being a large dog, greyhounds are famously calm indoors. They are couch potatoes who sleep most of the day and do not need a backyard or dog park to be content.
Yes. The greyhound is the fastest breed in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 72 km/h (45 mph). They are the fastest breed of dog ever recorded. Their unique anatomy — deep chest, long legs, flexible spine, high oxygen capacity, and lean physique — makes them nature’s sprinting machine.
Historically, yes. The greyhound is an ancient breed of hunting dog, bred for thousands of years to chase hares and game by sight rather than scent. They belong to the sight hound group and were prized as hunting dogs from the pharaohs through the Roman Empire and Middle Ages.
Living With a Greyhound Changes How You See Dogs
After five weeks with Fintan and our time with Sushi, we came away with a deep respect for the greyhound breed. These dogs are not what most people expect. They are quiet where other dogs are loud. They are independent where other dogs are clingy. And they sprint at 72 km/h and then nap for six hours straight. The greyhound is a breed of contradictions, and every contradiction makes them more fascinating. If you are considering a pet greyhound, especially a retired greyhound from the racing world, do it.
Reach out to your local greyhound adoption programme or greyhound club. These dogs give so much while asking for so little — a warm bed, a daily walk, a patient introduction to home life. What breed would you like us to cover next? Drop your suggestion in the comments, and check out our guides to Schnauzers and Maltese dogs if you want more breed insights from our housesitting adventures.
References & Sources
American Kennel Club. (2026.). Greyhound breed information. AKC.
Branscombe, L. (2020). Retired racing greyhounds for dummies. Howell Book House / Wiley.
Couto, C. G. (2014). Greyhound hematology: What is different and why. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 43(1), 1–6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Parker, H. G., et al. (2017). Genomic analyses reveal the influence of geographic origin, migration, and hybridization on modern dog breed development. Cell Reports, 19(4), 697–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.079
Veterinary Information Network (VIN) & VCA Animal Hospitals. (2025). Greyhound breed health. VCA Hospitals.
Rosenberger, J. A., Pablo, N. V., & Crawford, P. C. (2007). Prevalence of and intrinsic risk factors for appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs: 179 cases (1996-2005). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 231(7), 1076–1080. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.231.7.1076
