Do greyhounds make good first dogs?

Greyhounds are often cited as a top choice for first-time dog owners, and for good reason. They’re known for being calm and low maintenance, especially in the case of ex-racers, who are past the crazy puppy phase. However, if you’re considering adopting a greyhound, it’s important to assess if they are the right fit for you and your lifestyle. This article breaks down the main reasons why greyhounds make good first dogs, and where there are exceptions to the rule.

Why greyhounds are easier than most first dogs

1. They’re already adults: If you adopt an ex-racer, they will likely be a few years old already. This means you don’t have to deal with the chaotic puppy phase that most first-time dog owners struggle with!
2. They love to sleep: Greyhounds are built for short bursts of activity, so even 5-10 minutes of zoomies or 20-30 minutes of walking can tire them out for hours. 16+ hours of sleep per day is expected!
3. They have low exercise needs: Most greyhounds require just a few short walks a day, making them the perfect dog for anyone with a similarly laidback lifestyle. Some greyhounds are capable of walking long distances, but this isn’t super common, especially in the early days of adoption.
4. Low maintenance grooming: Greyhounds don’t require much in the way of grooming, aside from regular brushing, nail clipping, teeth brushing and the odd bath.
5. You have the support of a rehoming centre/rescue: If you adopt a greyhound, your rehoming centre or rescue should support you both pre and post-adoption. They will match you to a suitable dog, do a home check, and ensure the dog is neutered and health-checked before coming to you. They should also be on hand for any questions you have after your hound comes home. Typically rescues will provide “lifetime” support.
6. You have access to more history than the average rescue dog: Racing greyhounds are unique in that their lives should be heavily documented, from birth until the day they are “retired”. This means you can find out things like where they were born, who their parents were, how many races they ran, who their trainer was, etc. In some cases you might even be able to get in touch with their trainer or kennelhands. This isn’t the case for all ex-racing greyhounds, but for most in the UK. This means you can get a lot more context for their behaviour, unlike many other rescue dogs.

When a greyhound might not be the right fit

We are huge advocates for adopting greyhounds, and - as first-time dog owners ourselves - we genuinely believe that they make great beginner dogs. However, we also don’t want to sugarcoat things and say that an ex-racing greyhound will be a good first-time dog for 100% of people. So if you’re considering adopting a dog, here are a few reasons why an ex-racing greyhound might not be right for you:

You’re not prepared to learn about and manage prey drive

Prey drive refers to a greyhound’s innate desire to chase and catch small furry things. It is not bad behaviour, or aggression, or something that can be “trained out”: it is a genetically hardwired trait that you must learn to manage.

If you’re out on a walk and your hound’s prey drive kicks in, it may result in explosive reactions like barking, jumping, lunging, snapping, and completely forgetting you exist. Not to sound scary, but it’s important to acknowledge the reality of it, as many first-time greyhound owners - us included - get caught off guard the first time it happens, as your typically chill hound suddenly turns into a raging demon!

It’s also important to know that levels of prey drive vary massively between greyhounds. Some may only react strongly to small furries like rabbits or squirrels; some may want to chase cats outside, but indoors will demonstrate little interest; some may want to chase anything and everything including smaller dogs. Intensity of prey drive will also vary significantly, as some greyhounds will be content to stop and stare, while others will literally run across a road and through a wire fence to get to whatever they’ve set their sights on.

Regardless of your greyhound’s flavour of prey drive, as an owner of an ex-racer you should be prepared to do the following:

• Muzzle your hound on walks for at least their first month or so, until you get to know them
• Keep them on-lead at all times in public, with few exceptions to this rule
• If you own a cat or other small animals, work with an adoption group to find a suitable hound and supervise very closely during the settling in period

If the above are dealbreakers for you, an ex-racing greyhound is likely not a good fit.

You don’t have the time or patience to help them adapt to home life

Racing greyhounds are kept in kennels. Things like stairs, mirrors, slippery floors, hoovers, doorbells, TVs, washing machines, sofas…are all brand new to them. This means that some hounds take a while to settle into home life, and may be anxious around “ordinary” items and household noises for a while.

It may also lead to behaviours such as separation anxiety, sleep startle, resource guarding, reactivity and general nervousness.

It’s important to keep in mind that many greyhounds will demonstrate one or two “undesirable” behaviours from the above list, but none of the others. For example, our greyhound has had significant issues with freezing on walks, but he settled beautifully in the home from day one: no sleep startle, no destructiveness, no accidents, no separation distress.

If you are expecting a dog who will be perfectly settled within a few days, an ex-racing greyhound is likely not a good fit. Realistically, expect it to be several months before the “settling in” period passes.

You’re not prepared to deal with pre-existing injuries

3,648 injuries were officially recorded against UK racing greyhounds in 2025. According to the GBGB, the “vast majority” of injuries are minor, and greyhounds who sustain more serious injuries receive first-aid treatment plus “onward veterinary referral”.

Beyond officially recorded injuries, ex-racers will often deal with long-term chronic conditions resulting from high-speed oval racing, including asymmetric joint stress, early onset arthritis and flare ups from unnoticed micro-fractures.

As with any dog, you should be prepared to invest in pet insurance and/or medical treatment over the course of their lifetime. But you should also be aware that an adopted ex-racer may present with unexpected physical issues due to their background, and budget accordingly. Also be aware that they are a little more fragile than the average dog - cuts and scrapes should be expected!

Before adopting, get quotes for pet insurance, and consider having an emergency fund for unexpected costs. If you think you will struggle, a greyhound might not be the right fit for you.

Personality or lifestyle mismatch

If you want a long-distance hiking or running companion, or a dog who can be off-lead at all times, or a biddable obedience champion… then a greyhound probably isn’t for you.

I say probably because there are absolutely exceptions to this rule. But you may need to search a little harder to find them.

How greyhounds compare to other popular first dogs

Thinking of adopting a greyhound?

We think that greyhounds are an amazing choice for 99% of first-time dog owners. If you’re not convinced, check out all of the reasons why we recommend adopting a greyhound, or head to the blog to find out more about this quirky, beautiful breed.

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