What is the life expectancy of a greyhound?
Greyhounds generally live to be 12 to 14 years old.
An interesting fact: greyhounds do not suffer from hip dysplasia.

How much does it cost to own a greyhound?
As with any dog, greyhounds should visit a veterinarian annually for rabies and DHLPP vaccinations, heartworm testing, and heartworm preventative. An annual budget of $150 for vet expenses and $150 for food costs is usually sufficient.

Are greyhounds good with children?
Yes! Greyhounds have a gentle, non-aggressive disposition, are very tolerant of children, and will generally walk away from an overbearing child. Like all dogs, however, they do have their limits, and should not be subjected to prolonged harassment. Some hounds are more tolerant of misbehavior than others. Because males are more laid back than females, we recommend that families with small children adopt a male greyhound.

How are greyhounds with other pets?
Greyhounds are friendly by nature. Ex-racers socialize well with other dogs as a result of cohabitation in the racing kennel.

Greyhounds placed through Fast Friends are screened for their compatibility with cats and other small animals to ensure the success of potential placements.

Many greyhounds do well in homes with cats. Proper introduction of the greyhound to the cat(s) is critical. Close monitoring is a must for the first few days. We do recommend the use of a muzzle (which we can supply) for the first day or two, just to be safe.

Are ex-racing greyhounds housebroken?
Ex-racers are "kennel-trained," which means they have been trained to do their business outside and keep their crate clean. Walk them frequently at first and praise them when they do go outdoors. They will quickly learn that their new home is the place to keep clean and outside is the place to go.

Using a crate to facilitate housebreaking is a very humane and effective training tool, especially since the greyhound has spent the majority of its life in a crate. A dog left in a crate for a reasonable amount of time will rarely soil in the crate. The key is to take the dog outside immediately after letting it out of its crate.

Do greyhounds need a lot of exercise?
Greyhounds are sprinters. Given the chance to run, a greyhound will sprint for 5-10 minutes and then relax. Greyhounds should be taken for three or four long walks a week or be taken to a fenced-in area where they can sprint once or twice a week. Greyhounds make excellent walking and jogging companions, as they rarely pull when on a leash.

Would a greyhound make a good watchdog?
Greyhounds generally do not make good watch dogs. Their gentle friendly nature is not very threatening. Greyhounds are clean, gentle, good natured dogs who get along with other animals and children. Greyhounds seem grateful for their new homes and never stop rewarding their new owners with devotion and affection.

Can greyhounds be kept outdoors?
The Greyhound is not an outdoor dog. It has virtually no body fat which makes it susceptible to hyporthermia in cold weather and to the heat in the summer. The short coat and the lack of body fat, however makes for a near odorless dog and minimal shedding. Often people who complain of allergies have little or no problems with the clean Greyhound.

What differs between male and female greyhounds?
Female greyhounds weigh 45-65 pounds and tend to be a bit more alert and active than males. Males weigh 60-80 pounds and are generally more laid back.