Greyhound Care Guide (Australia)

Last updated: 2026-07-20

Greyhounds are sprint hunters — blindingly fast in short bursts, but famously "couch potatoes" at home, needing only moderate exercise and plenty of rest. They usually stand about 68–76 cm at the shoulder, weigh roughly 27–40 kg, and live about 10–13 years. Australia's Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) has made adult Greyhounds a popular adoption choice: most come already basic-trained, calm and quiet, and well suited to apartment life.

Who is a Greyhound right for?

Greyhounds suit quiet households that can provide a daily walk and are happy to keep them warm and comfy. They are often excellent for apartment life, and many first-time owners like their calm indoor energy. Not a good fit: homes with lots of small pets or families expecting a high-interaction, high-exercise dog.

What does a Greyhound puppy need?

• Puppies from a breeder are usually picked up from 8 weeks — book a first vet check to confirm vaccination and worming. If adopting a retired racer through GAP, the adult dog will typically already be vaccinated and desexed; the focus is an intake health check and settling-in period.
• Standard Australian puppy vaccination starts with C3; most vets recommend C5. First shot at 6–8 weeks, boosters every 4 weeks to around 16 weeks.
• Microchipping and council registration are legal requirements in every state; some states used to require Greyhounds to be muzzled in public, but this has been relaxed in several states in recent years — check your local council or state regulations for the current rule.
• Choose a medium/large-breed puppy formula, feeding to the pack guide and adjusting for condition — Greyhounds naturally run lean, so don't over-restrict food.
• Transition to new food over 7–10 days.
• Greyhounds have thin skin and a low fat layer, making them more sensitive to temperature and nutrition — aim for healthy condition rather than "lean" as a goal in itself.
• 8–16 weeks is the socialisation window — Greyhounds tend to be gentle and sensitive, so favour positive reinforcement and avoid high-pressure training methods.
• Prey drive is strong in this breed — small animals (cats, rabbits) can trigger a chase response, so recall and a "leave it" cue are important; keep them leashed during early outdoor outings.
• Retired racers are usually already leash- and command-trained, but household features like stairs, glass doors and flooring other than carpet may be unfamiliar and take some adjustment.

How do you care for an adult Greyhound?

One moderate-intensity sprint plus a daily walk is enough — Greyhounds don't need prolonged high-intensity exercise and settle quickly after a burst of speed.

• Low body fat means Greyhounds feel the cold — a dog coat is worth it for outdoor activity in cooler weather.
• Feed to body condition.
• Common health risks: dental disease (periodontal issues are common in the breed — regular dental care matters), thin skin that cuts and tears easily, and anaesthetic sensitivity (low body fat changes how the liver metabolises certain anaesthetics differently from other breeds — always tell your vet the breed before any surgery to confirm a Greyhound-safe anaesthetic protocol).
• Retired racers may also carry old racing injuries or muscle loss, so keep an eye on mobility and comfort, especially after hard play.
• Coastal and bush areas need year-round paralysis-tick prevention.

What changes for a senior Greyhound?

• Senior Greyhounds should switch to a senior formula and reduce calories to suit condition; discuss joint support with your vet.
• Annual or twice-yearly checks, focused on teeth, arthritis and heart function; retired racers may show joint wear earlier due to their racing years.
• Shift towards shorter walks, with warmth becoming even more important in old age.

Is a Greyhound easy to train?

Obedience commands themselves aren't hard to teach, but a Greyhound's sighthound prey drive is the real wildcard. Trainability: ranked #46 on Coren's dog-intelligence list ("average" tier) — they are gentle and easy to live with.

Time to expect: basic commands (sit, wait) usually land within 2–3 weeks. Recall is the number-one challenge — even with extensive practice, instinct can override training the moment something small moves fast. Most Greyhound owners recommend lifelong lead/long-line walking rather than relying on off-lead recall.

The catch: many Greyhounds are retired racers who've never lived in an ordinary home and may need to relearn basic life skills — recognising glass doors, using stairs, keeping footing on slippery floors.

Simple steps (long-line recall practice — a supplement to leash walking, not a replacement):

1. Use a 5–10m long line in an open area with no small animals around; call name + "come", rewarding with a high-value treat.
2. Gradually increase distance and distraction level; the moment you see prey-chase body language, shorten the line and end the session.
3. Repeat in the same location for at least 4–6 weeks before trying a new location.
4. Even with reliable recall, keep walks on a lead or long line — the instinctive reaction can happen in a fraction of a second.

What's Australia-specific about owning a Greyhound?

• Adopting a retired racer through your state's GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program) is an established way to get a Greyhound in Australia — the process usually includes a temperament assessment and training records.
• Several states have removed mandatory public muzzling for Greyhounds in recent years, but the rules vary by state — check your council's or state agriculture department's website before heading out.
• Greyhounds are not on the restricted-breed lists in NSW/VIC/QLD/WA/SA/TAS/ACT/NT, but historical muzzle rules still vary, so check the current state and council requirements before public outings.

What are the pros and cons of a Greyhound?

Greyhound suitability ratings

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