Exercise

Your Greyhound will not need a lot of daily exercise, and the amount of daily exercise they need or want will vary based on several factors. Age, condition, weight, environment, temperament, and health all contribute to the type, amount, and frequency of exercise your dog needs.

Let’s consider the options.

Daily Walks – Length, frequency, and pace (considering temperature). Most Greys will want at least one, or two, walks a day. They appreciate 15-30 minutes at a moderate pace to allow them to sniff and toilet. Social sniffing is incredibly important for a dog’s mental health so allow them time to do this.

Dog Parks – present a good option and you will need to keep your grey on its lead (even in an ‘off-lead’ dog park). The value of a Dog Park is the sniff factor, and your Grey will thoroughly enjoy the mental stimulation.

Hydrotherapy – is excellent for many situations, old and arthritic dogs, injury rehabilitation, and fun. Not all Greyhounds can swim so introduce them gently and safely.

Zooming – the best and safest in an enclosed yard with few obstacles. They will generally self-regulate and stop when hot or tired.

NOTE: If over-stimulated and allowed to sprint in an uncontrolled way, a Greyhound is capable of serious injury or death from over-heating, and chemical poisoning.

Socialisation

Greyhounds are generally gregarious, trusting, and friendly. When meeting people, being sighthounds, they don’t relate to sniffing your hand as a way of introduction. They will have gauged your energy from a distance.

They will generally be happy to approach other dogs and will feed off your energy. They are wonderful citizens and never instigate any trouble. If attacked, they will want to defend themselves. Avoid fights as their skin is easily torn.

They are usually great with other dogs, large, and small, and will even happily live with other pets, including cats. They are generally not great with poultry and should be kept away from them if unattended.

NOTE: Not all dogs are safe to approach and there will usually be a moment of energetic change you will notice in your Grey, that will indicate an upcoming incident.

Protect your hound in all cases by employing the following strategies.

1. Notice any shift in energy
2. Remove your hound from the situation.
3. Hold on tightly as they are very strong and capable of pulling very quickly.
4. Stand between your dog and the other.
5. Be prepared to interject, as a last resort.