Frequently Asked questions (FAQ)
Nearly all the assumptions people make about greyhounds are wrong! Please read through our FAQ to learn a little about the greyhound breed.
How much exercise do greyhounds need?Although greyhounds are superb athletes and are extremely fast, they are built for sprinting not endurance. A typical greyhound race is actually quite short in time and distance, and a greyhound will generally only race one a week. Veterinarians and canine health specialists recommend a 20 - 30 minute walk each day to keep a retired greyhound in good physical and mental health.
Is it expensive to feed a greyhound?Not at all! You can feed a greyhound a premium diet from as little as a few dollars per day. The amount of food a greyhound will eat will depend on its size and its exercise regime. The bigger the greyhound or more exercise they do, the more food they will need. The smaller or less active a greyhound is, the less food they will need. An average sized greyhound will generally eat 1 cup of dry food and 250g of meat in both the morning and evening. It is very important that greyhounds are not over fed or be allowed to put on too much weight as their skeletal structure is not designed for this and can cause the greyhound pain or medical problems. Your greyhound's trainer will be able to advise you on the best diet for your greyhound. It is not expensive to feed a greyhound.
Do greyhounds make good pets?Yes! They require little exercise, don’t eat much for a dog their size, are calm & quite, don’t smell like other dogs, barely shed, don’t bark much, are very clean, and tend to sleep a lot. They are gentle souls who are equally suited for homes with yards or apartment living.
Do greyhounds make good watch dogs?No. They are typically friendly and welcoming to strangers. They also tend not to be territorial and do not bark much.
Do they adjust to life as pets?Yes. Greyhounds make excellent pets due to their quiet and gentle temperament and the lifestyle they have led as elite athletes. Greyhounds spend a great deal of time with humans during their racing careers. They are used to constant handling by veterinarians, stewards and trainers. They are used to being regularly exercised, toileted, groomed, massaged and so on. In a household environment they can sometimes be startled by mirrors, and can have initial trouble going up and down stairs but they are very intelligent creatures and adjust easily to domestic living.
Can I let my greyhound off the leash to run freely?No! Greyhounds can hit their top speed on nearly 70km/h in only a few strides. They notoriously have no road sense and if they hit an unseen object when running at speed they can sustain terrible injuries. The only safe place for a greyhound to run freely is in a well-fenced area.
Do greyhounds need to be muzzled?Muzzle laws differ from state to state. Greyhounds are actually quite gentle and non-aggressive dogs that do not need to be muzzled, however, in most Australian states greyhounds have histrocally been required to be muzzled in public. A muzzle is more like a mouth guard for a greyhound. Greyhounds have very thin skin and wear muzzles during racing to prevent them injuring one another. Greyhounds race with their mouths open (which allows more air into lungs), so accidental bumping of one dog against another can cause cuts and grazes from accidental contact with teeth. Muzzle laws date back many years and are slowly being repealed. As at December 2020, here are Australian muzzle laws for the various states and territories: ACT Greyhlounds are not required to wear muzzles in public. More info. NSW Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public if they are registered as a pet in NSW. More info. VIC Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public if they have been officially retired form racing. More info. QLD Most local councils do not require greyhounds to be muzzled in public but some still do. More info. NT Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public. This has been the case for quite some years. SA Greyhounds are required to wear a muzzle in public. More info. TAS Greyhounds are not required to wear a muzzle in public if they had been accredited by an approved suitability program. More info. WA The requirement for pet greyhounds to wear muzzles in public is being reviewed. More info. We recommend all new greyhound owners muzzle their dogs when walking for the first few weeks until you become confident and accustomed with your dog's behaviour around people and other dogs - especially small dogs. Will my adopted greyhound be toilet trained?Perhaps. Greyhounds living in kennels are treated like elite athletes and live a highly regulated daily routine that includes toileting. So, your new greyhound will be used to being taken outside to toilet. Accidents can occur in the early days of pet life but your greyhound will learn very quickly not to toilet inside if you work with them to establish a routine that works for both of you.
Are greyhounds good with children?Most are but some more so than others due to their upbringing around young children. ALL dogs should be supervised by a responsible adult during interactions with children.
Are greyhounds good with other animals?It depends on the individual dog. Some are tolerant of cats and other animals while others are not.
Do males or females make better pets?It makes no difference. Males are generally larger than females but are often more relaxed.
What is the adoption fee?Click here. What is included when I adopt a greyhound?Your greyhound will come to you vaccinated, de-sexed and microchipped. We will also provide a martingale collar and muzzle, and at request can also provide a starter pack which includes a greyhound-sized bed, lead, squeaky toy and greyhound coat. All you need to do is provide food and love.
Are greyhounds prone to medical issues like some other breeds?Due to selective breeding for racing, greyhounds are very healthy dogs and are not prone to medical issues. However, greyhounds can have sensitivities to some antibiotics and other medicines. They can also suffer from an eye disorder called “pannus” but it is very easily and cheaply managed. Due to the racing diet they often receive (high quality yet soft meats) they can sometimes have bad teeth. A pet greyhound should visit the vet once per year for standard canine innoculations.
How old are greyhounds at adoption and what is their lifespan?Most greyhounds finish racing and are rehomed as pets at around age 3 years. Some become available for adoption when younger if they were unsuccessful racers. Some are older if they have been very successful racers or have been used for breeding. Greyhounds generally live for 12 - 15 years.
How do greyhounds fare in the cold?They do OK provided they are rugged up. Greyhounds have very little body fat and are not able to regulate their body temperature as well as other breeds. Greyhounds in cold climates need coats to wear if they are going to be outside on winter days. A good rule of thumb is that if you need a jacket or coat on when going outside then so does your dog.
How do greyhounds fare in hot weather?Greyhounds can suffer heat exhaustion if they are not closely monitored on very hot days. It is best to keep your greyhound inside on very hot days, and if outside ensure they have plenty of shade and cool fresh water. A good rule of thumb is that if it is too hot ourside for you, then it is too hot for your greyhound.
Where should I go to get advice about greyhound care?You should consult a qualified veterinarian or your greyhound’s trainer.
Is there a specific type of collar or leash I should use?Yes. You should use a martingale collar which is specially designed for dogs with a dolichocephalic (long and narrow) head shape. Choke collars should never be used as they can cause injury. Retractable leashes are also dangerous because greyhounds can accelerate very quickly - it does not take much to imagine what will happen when a 30kg greyhound running at 70km/h reaches the end of a thin retractable leash! Does Greyhound Connections engage with the greyhound racing industry?Yes. To be able to successfully re-home greyhounds, we maintain close liaison and good relationships with greyhound breeders, trainers and owners who are usually active participants in greyhound racing. Some of our volunteers maintain membership at various racing clubs so that we are able to hear first of anything that may affect greyhounds or their ability to become pets. However we have a policy of not engaging in debate regarding the ethics of greyhound racing.
Is it expensive to feed a greyhound?Not at all! You can feed a greyhound a premium diet from as little as a few dollars per day. The amount of food a greyhound will eat will depend on its size and its exercise regime. The bigger the greyhound or more exercise they do, the more food they will need. The smaller or less active a greyhound is, the less food they will need. An average sized greyhound will generally eat 1 cup of dry food and 250g of meat in both the morning and evening. It is very important that greyhounds are not over fed or be allowed to put on too much weight as their skeletal structure is not designed for this and can cause the greyhound pain or medical problems. Your greyhound's trainer will be able to advise you on the best diet for your greyhound. It is not expensive to feed a greyhound.
Do greyhounds make good pets?Yes! They require little exercise, don’t eat much for a dog their size, are calm & quite, don’t smell like other dogs, barely shed, don’t bark much, are very clean, and tend to sleep a lot. They are gentle souls who are equally suited for homes with yards or apartment living.
Do greyhounds make good watch dogs?No. They are typically friendly and welcoming to strangers. They also tend not to be territorial and do not bark much.
Do they adjust to life as pets?Yes. Greyhounds make excellent pets due to their quiet and gentle temperament and the lifestyle they have led as elite athletes. Greyhounds spend a great deal of time with humans during their racing careers. They are used to constant handling by veterinarians, stewards and trainers. They are used to being regularly exercised, toileted, groomed, massaged and so on. In a household environment they can sometimes be startled by mirrors, and can have initial trouble going up and down stairs but they are very intelligent creatures and adjust easily to domestic living.
Can I let my greyhound off the leash to run freely?No! Greyhounds can hit their top speed on nearly 70km/h in only a few strides. They notoriously have no road sense and if they hit an unseen object when running at speed they can sustain terrible injuries. The only safe place for a greyhound to run freely is in a well-fenced area.
Do greyhounds need to be muzzled?Muzzle laws differ from state to state. Greyhounds are actually quite gentle and non-aggressive dogs that do not need to be muzzled, however, in most Australian states greyhounds have histrocally been required to be muzzled in public. A muzzle is more like a mouth guard for a greyhound. Greyhounds have very thin skin and wear muzzles during racing to prevent them injuring one another. Greyhounds race with their mouths open (which allows more air into lungs), so accidental bumping of one dog against another can cause cuts and grazes from accidental contact with teeth. Muzzle laws date back many years and are slowly being repealed. As at December 2020, here are Australian muzzle laws for the various states and territories: ACT Greyhlounds are not required to wear muzzles in public. More info. NSW Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public if they are registered as a pet in NSW. More info. VIC Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public if they have been officially retired form racing. More info. QLD Most local councils do not require greyhounds to be muzzled in public but some still do. More info. NT Greyhounds are not required to wear muzzles in public. This has been the case for quite some years. SA Greyhounds are required to wear a muzzle in public. More info. TAS Greyhounds are not required to wear a muzzle in public if they had been accredited by an approved suitability program. More info. WA The requirement for pet greyhounds to wear muzzles in public is being reviewed. More info. We recommend all new greyhound owners muzzle their dogs when walking for the first few weeks until you become confident and accustomed with your dog's behaviour around people and other dogs - especially small dogs. Will my adopted greyhound be toilet trained?Perhaps. Greyhounds living in kennels are treated like elite athletes and live a highly regulated daily routine that includes toileting. So, your new greyhound will be used to being taken outside to toilet. Accidents can occur in the early days of pet life but your greyhound will learn very quickly not to toilet inside if you work with them to establish a routine that works for both of you.
Are greyhounds good with children?Most are but some more so than others due to their upbringing around young children. ALL dogs should be supervised by a responsible adult during interactions with children.
Are greyhounds good with other animals?It depends on the individual dog. Some are tolerant of cats and other animals while others are not.
Do males or females make better pets?It makes no difference. Males are generally larger than females but are often more relaxed.
What is the adoption fee?Click here. What is included when I adopt a greyhound?Your greyhound will come to you vaccinated, de-sexed and microchipped. We will also provide a martingale collar and muzzle, and at request can also provide a starter pack which includes a greyhound-sized bed, lead, squeaky toy and greyhound coat. All you need to do is provide food and love.
Are greyhounds prone to medical issues like some other breeds?Due to selective breeding for racing, greyhounds are very healthy dogs and are not prone to medical issues. However, greyhounds can have sensitivities to some antibiotics and other medicines. They can also suffer from an eye disorder called “pannus” but it is very easily and cheaply managed. Due to the racing diet they often receive (high quality yet soft meats) they can sometimes have bad teeth. A pet greyhound should visit the vet once per year for standard canine innoculations.
How old are greyhounds at adoption and what is their lifespan?Most greyhounds finish racing and are rehomed as pets at around age 3 years. Some become available for adoption when younger if they were unsuccessful racers. Some are older if they have been very successful racers or have been used for breeding. Greyhounds generally live for 12 - 15 years.
How do greyhounds fare in the cold?They do OK provided they are rugged up. Greyhounds have very little body fat and are not able to regulate their body temperature as well as other breeds. Greyhounds in cold climates need coats to wear if they are going to be outside on winter days. A good rule of thumb is that if you need a jacket or coat on when going outside then so does your dog.
How do greyhounds fare in hot weather?Greyhounds can suffer heat exhaustion if they are not closely monitored on very hot days. It is best to keep your greyhound inside on very hot days, and if outside ensure they have plenty of shade and cool fresh water. A good rule of thumb is that if it is too hot ourside for you, then it is too hot for your greyhound.
Where should I go to get advice about greyhound care?You should consult a qualified veterinarian or your greyhound’s trainer.
Is there a specific type of collar or leash I should use?Yes. You should use a martingale collar which is specially designed for dogs with a dolichocephalic (long and narrow) head shape. Choke collars should never be used as they can cause injury. Retractable leashes are also dangerous because greyhounds can accelerate very quickly - it does not take much to imagine what will happen when a 30kg greyhound running at 70km/h reaches the end of a thin retractable leash! Does Greyhound Connections engage with the greyhound racing industry?Yes. To be able to successfully re-home greyhounds, we maintain close liaison and good relationships with greyhound breeders, trainers and owners who are usually active participants in greyhound racing. Some of our volunteers maintain membership at various racing clubs so that we are able to hear first of anything that may affect greyhounds or their ability to become pets. However we have a policy of not engaging in debate regarding the ethics of greyhound racing.