Greyhounds are primarily known for being racing dogs. Originally bred as hunting dogs, they can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
But, although they are great athletes, it turns out that Greyhounds are excellent family pets being sensitive and loving dogs.
But, are Greyhounds good apartment dogs?
Greyhounds are good apartment dogs because of their calm temperament and because they don’t require a lot of space to live. They are dogs that adapt easily to their environment that have little grooming and exercise needs, and a friendly, caring, and sociable personality.
But it’s necessary to get to know better the temperament and the specific needs of Greyhounds to make sure it’s the right dog for our lifestyle.
What You Should Know About Owning a Greyhound
Greyhounds are friendly and loving dogs, with a gentle disposition. They are generally not aggressive dogs and are easy-going and calm.
They are good with other dogs and some get along well with cats. Although they are dogs that have a high prey drive so it’s common that they chase small animals.
They are good-natured dogs that tend to be sociable and very loving with their family.
Are Greyhounds a Good Family Dog?
Greyhounds are good family pets. They are affectionate and like to be in the company of their family, although they are reserved with strangers.
They are dogs that are adapt better to quiet environments although they can adapt well to families with children. But being dogs with a sensitive nature, it’s necessary to teach children to treat them properly with care and respect.
Are Greyhounds High Energy?
Greyhounds are commonly thought of as hyperactive and high energy dogs. But it’s a breed that was bred as a sprinter not for endurance races so it’s not a dog that needs a lot of exercise. They are quite calm dogs that need a moderate amount of daily exercise to be satisfied and healthy.
They are even considered a lazy breed although they will appreciate some time to run freely and stretch their legs.
Due to their calm temperament indoors and because they can sleep up to 18 hours a day, they are perfect for living indoors and small spaces like apartments.
Are Greyhounds Good Indoor Dogs?
Greyhounds are good indoor dogs. It’s a fairly calm and quiet indoor breed and a very clean dog.
It’s also a breed that is not recommended to live outdoors. They are very sensitive dogs to extreme temperatures because they have short fur and don’t have an undercoat, in addition to having little body fat.
In cold weather, they need to be indoors in air-conditioned environments or wear a sweater outdoors, and in hot climates, they should not be over-exercised and constantly supplied them with water.
Do Greyhound Dogs Bark?
Greyhounds barely bark, they are relatively quiet dogs which makes them good for apartment living.
Although there are a few reasons why a Greyhound may bark.
One of the main ones is out of boredom. A dog that doesn’t have enough exercise and mental stimulation is easily bored and can begin to bark excessively, especially when left alone.
It’s also common for them to bark when they ask for something specific like asking to be taken out to go to the bathroom. They also bark out of fear to try to drive away what they consider a threat.
What is not common is that they bark when a stranger tries to enter your house, they are terrible guard dogs.
Can a Greyhound Be Left Alone?
Greyhounds are independent dogs and can handle being alone well. When they are puppies it’s not recommended to leave them alone for a long time.
When a Greyhound just arrives at your home, try to be with him and not leave him alone while he begins to adapt to his new environment.
Gradually you can start leaving him alone at home for longer periods.
When you have to leave him alone for a long period it’s recommended to ask for the help of a friend or a professional dog walker so that he can take the dog out halfway through the day to allow the dog to exercise and stretch his legs.
Are Greyhounds Easy to Train?
They are quite intelligent dogs and tend to learn basic obedience commands fairly quickly and easily. However, they tend to be somewhat stubborn so they require consistency and patience when being trained.
You have to start training them as soon as they get home. Greyhounds are sensitive dogs so you have to be gentle and use positive reinforcement to train them.
Potty training a Greyhound can be quite fast. Puppies learn fast as long as they get outside often and consistently to go to the bathroom.
At the same time, most retired racing Greyhounds will already have the habit instilled as most of them are create train.
Are Greyhounds Good for Beginners?
Greyhounds are great for first-time dog owners. They have a very friendly personality and are not aggressive.
They are calm dogs that need less exercise than other breeds. A couple of walks a day is enough to keep them healthy and happy.
You just have to be careful not to leave a Greyhound without a leash because if he sees a small animal he will chase it and stopping him will be impossible.
They are also low maintenance dogs. They don’t shed a lot and grooming a Greyhound is easy thanks to his short fur.
It’s a relatively healthy breed if proper care is taken.
How Much Grooming Does a Greyhound Need?
The Greyhound smooth and short coat needs little grooming. An occasional brush is more than enough since it’s a low to moderate shedding breed.
They don’t need to be bathed often, with an occasional bath is enough. Although you do have to trim their nails regularly if he doesn’t wear them naturally and brush his teeth a few times a week to prevent bad breath and mouth diseases.
Is a Greyhound a Good Apartment Dog?
A Greyhound is a dog that adapts very well to apartment life. With a gentle and friendly personality, they are low-maintenance dogs that adapt easily to their environment and, contrary to popular belief, need little exercise and tend to be quite lazy.
Tips for Raising a Greyhounds in an Apartment
Don’t Leave Them Off-Leash for Even a Moment
Greyhounds like to run and chase small animals. They are high prey thrive dogs and when they see or smell a cat or other small animal they will run to chase it and nothing will stop him.
It’s common to hear stories of Greyhounds chasing after something and never coming back or being run over by a car.
You can train your Greyhound to come back to you when called for years and he may normally obey you, but if the chase game starts, there is nothing you can do to stop it. When a Greyhound chases something, it pays no attention to anything else.
The only way to keep a Greyhound safe is to keep them all the time on a leash whenever he is outside your home. Just leave them off-leash in secure, fenced areas.
It’s said that the biggest mistake a Greyhound owner can make is to trust them off-leash.
To take care of a Greyhound, the first rule is to trust that when a Greyhound is chasing prey, there will be no way he will obey you.
Establish an Exercise Routine
A Greyhound can spend the entire day relaxing and sleeping on the couch, but he needs to be physically active daily to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Due to the conditions of living in an apartment, the best way to exercise a Greyhound is to go for a walk since, in addition to exercising, it will also provide mental stimulation.
Establishing a fixed walking routine allows your dog to efficiently distribute his energy throughout the day. It also has the benefit that your dog knows what to expect during his day and this makes him feel calmer and safer.
Greyhounds need at least an hour of exercise a day, although they may require more depending on the needs of each dog.
A Greyhound will need three to four short walks or two long walks daily.
Greyhounds also need to be able to run freely a few times a week. We just have to make sure that it’s a completely closed and safe area, although in an urban area this can be difficult to find.
Beware of Dog Parks
It’s important to be able to allow a Greyhound to stretch its legs and run freely a couple of days a week. One option that dog owners have, mainly in urban areas, are dog parks.
In general, dog parks are a good option to socialize our dog with other dogs and give them space to play and run off-leash.
When taking a Greyhound to a dog park, some precautions must be taken for the safety of our dog and that of others.
When taking a Greyhound to the dog park the following precautions must be taken:
- Take off his sweater before entering the park. It’s common for Greyhounds to wear a sweater in cold weather due to their short fur and lack of undercoat. The sweater can cause him to get hurt while running or playing with other dogs.
- Be careful he doesn’t get dehydrated. Greyhounds are very sensitive to extreme temperatures and can easily dehydrate in hot weather. Always carry water with you to keep him hydrated.
- Don’t let your dog run in hot weather. For the same reason as the previous point, if a Greyhound runs for a long time in hot weather it may suffer from heat exhaustion.
- Avoid taking them to parks where there are small dogs. Most Greyhounds are high prey drive and if they see a small dog in the park he can start chasing him and can cause him serious injury.
- Make sure the fences are in good condition and high enough to prevent your Greyhound from jumping over and running away.
- Find the best time to bring your dog to the park. Take your dog at a time when there are not many dogs and when the weather is cooler.
If you cannot find a good dog park that has adequate security, it’s not recommended to take your Greyhound to a dog park.
Consider Adopting a Retired Racing Greyhound
There is a lot of controversy surrounding Greyhounds racing, but the biggest is what happens to the dogs when they are no longer fit for racing.
Before various organizations intervened, many Greyhounds were put down and others were sold to laboratories for experimentation.
Currently, there are many organizations dedicated to rescuing and finding retired racing Greyhounds a home. Some of these organizations are:
Adopting a retired Greyhound, in addition to the features noted in this article, has many advantages:
- Puppies require more effort than an adult dog. In addition to needing to be housetrained, puppies need more exercise, care and attention than an adult dog.
- Retired racers are dogs that adapt easily to new environments and almost any lifestyle.
- A misconception about racing Greyhounds is that they are aggressive dogs because they use muzzles that cover their faces when they run. But the muzzles are used to protect them and don’t get injured. They are very friendly, social and gentle dogs.
- They are very healthy dogs. They don’t have many of the inherited diseases that other breeds have.
- Greyhounds have a longer life expectancy than most large breeds. Retired Greyhounds are generally two to five years old when they are given up for adoption, and they tend to live 12 years or more.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a companion and friend to live in an apartment, a Greyhound can be the perfect roommate.
Although they are low maintenance dogs, Greyhounds have quite specific needs and you have to be sure that they can be met.
Having a dog takes time and effort and is a long-term commitment. You must ensure that you can meet the physical, mental and emotional needs of a dog in order to offer him the life he deserves.
