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Hound · United Kingdom

Greyhound

A walker's guide to the Greyhound: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Large, 27 to 40 kgEasy-goingSighthoundEx-racerThin coatLow stamina
Exercise a day60 min plus
Energy2 of 5
Walk styleGentle stroll, brief sprints
With other dogsPolite, wary of small dogs

Overview

Most Greyhounds on a walker's books are ex-racing dogs rehomed through charities, and they arrive with a particular history. They have lived in kennels, walked on a lead, run in a muzzle and often never seen stairs, cats or a glass door. They are also some of the calmest, kindest dogs you will ever handle.

The build tells you what to expect: a deep chest, long legs, thin skin and almost no body fat. A Greyhound is a sprinter, not a hiker. It can hit high speed in a few strides, and then it wants to lie down for the rest of the day.

Exercise and walking needs

Two walks of twenty to thirty minutes a day suit most retired Greyhounds, with a run in a secure field once or twice a week if the owner can arrange it. Long hikes are not what the breed is for.

Cold and wet weather are hard on a dog with no fat and a fine coat. Most owners have a fleece or waterproof coat, and the dog should wear it. On hot days keep walks short and shaded.

Daily minimum60 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeEnclosed fields only

On the walk

  • Chase: A squirrel, cat or fluttering carrier bag can trigger a flat-out sprint. Keep the lead on anywhere unfenced, no matter how calm the dog seems.
  • Small dogs: Some ex-racers see small fluffy dogs as lures. Use the muzzle if the owner asks and give small dogs space.
  • Lead handling: Light and polite on the lead most of the time. A martingale collar or harness stops the narrow head slipping out.
  • Surfaces: Thin skin tears easily on brambles and wire, and ice or slick floors can cause falls. Watch footing and check legs after walks.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Put the coat on in cold or wet weather; the dog cannot keep itself warm.
  2. Carry a small first aid kit, as skin nicks and torn nails are common.
  3. Give the dog time at kerbs and steps if it is newly out of kennels.
  4. Let it stop and stare; sighthounds process the world by looking.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • Should the dog wear a muzzle around other dogs, and how does it react to small animals?
  • Is it a martingale or harness dog, and has it ever slipped a collar?
  • Any old racing injuries, corns on the pads or stiffness after exercise?
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