ABOUT GREYHOUNDS

Greyhounds make fantastic pets, with their individual personalities there is one to suit every household. 

They are very affectionate, gentle docile dogs who love the company of their humans and other dogs. Some can happily co-exist with smaller animals. They would be happiest curled up on the couch with you and be included as part of the family. 

The approximate lifespan of a Greyhound is 12-14 years. Males are generally bigger than females. They can weigh between 23 and 38kgs and can vary in height from 60 to 75cm. They come in a variety of colours and are low maintenance as their coat is short, smooth and super velvety soft. They don’t shed a lot and lack the “doggy smell”.  They generally are very quiet dogs that don't bark a lot.  Greyhounds are a breed of sight hounds, meaning that Greyhounds actually rely more on their vision than they do their sense of smell. The breed has a slim, sleek body, deep chest and narrow waist, giving it a distinctive silhouette.  Greyhounds are generally a very healthy dog as their statue and physic is built for health & performance. They are much more resilient then a lot of other breeds of dogs. They are very hardy dogs who have no hip issues usually seen with larger breeds. 

Greyhounds are intelligent, gentle with a quiet disposition, and in spite of their great athletic ability, they are content to spend most of the day sleeping. They are built for speed rather than stamina so a short walk or a couple laps (zoomie’s) around the yard is all that is required to exercise these dogs. Because of this they can make great apartment and city dogs requiring minimal exercise.

It is recommended that Greyhounds be fed two meals a day. The total quantity for the day is between 2-3 cups of good quality dry food and 200-400 grams of fresh meat depending on the weight of your Greyhound. Raw food diets or homemade foods are good choices. These may include raw chicken wings/necks, beef or chicken mince, rice, pasta, eggs, sardines and vegetables. Hard foods such as kibble, dental sticks and brisket bones are necessary for keeping teeth clean and healthy.

Ongoing Care

• Monthly worming, heartworm, flea & tick treatments.
• Regular exercise, mental stimulation and company. 
• Brushing – weekly a quick brush to keep coat smooth and shinny.
• Bathing – monthly, do not over bath as skin can become dry. 
• Require to wear a coat in the colder months as they have little body fat.
• Regular checks of ears, teeth and nails to keep clean and trimmed.
• Yearly booster vaccination.
• Require veterinary treatment, should they get sick or injured.

Souveniring/Nesting

Collecting of shoes, pillows, stuffed animals, socks and toys and placing them on their bed.

Roaching

Lying on their back with legs in the air (like a dying cockroach).

Teeth Chattering

Or lip quivering means "in anticipation" of something good! Like when dinner is about to be served.

Leaning

On you for your attention and a pat or good scratch.

Zoomies 

Having fun running laps of the yard at very high speeds.

Talking

Some like to have a chat or a "rooing" howl.

Greyhounds are quiet, well mannered, and very easy to live with. They are friendly, affectionate, lazy, calm, clean, loving, trusting and good-natured. If you are looking for a pet that will generally maintain good health then a Greyhound is the pet for you.  Of course every Greyhound is different in temperament but generally speaking they are friendly, easy going dogs that enjoy a short daily walk and spend the rest of the day lazing around on a couch. Some prefer the company of other dogs, some prefer human company whereas others like their own space and are quite happy chilling out on their own. Just like humans, they are all different and we try our best to match a dog with a potential adoptee's lifestyle.