Are greyhounds good apartment dogs?

Greyhounds make great apartment dogs! Though they love to run, exercise for them tends to be short-lived. Daily walks or jogs can keep them happy and healthy.

When they aren’t exercising, your pup will love to lounge around your home. They’re perfectly content chilling on the couch for hours at a time, especially with their family by their side!

Quick Greyhound Facts

Greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
They can run up to 44 mph!
Most Greyhounds live anywhere from 10-15 years.

How Big Are Greyhounds?

Greyhounds weigh between 60-70 pounds on average and are 24-30 inches tall.

These aren’t the kind of apartment dogs you can fit in your handbag. Rather, they’re a good choice for those looking for a large dog to suit their limited space.

If you love Greyhounds but are looking for a smaller breed, luckily there are Italian Greyhounds. These pups are essentially miniature Greyhounds.

Italian Greyhounds are 13-15 inches tall and weigh 7-14 pounds.

Do Greyhounds Bark?

Greyhounds don’t tend to bark often, which is great if you live in a quiet area with lots of neighbors.

However, keep in mind that every dog is an individual. What’s uncommon for the breed isn’t impossible, and your dog may bark more than other Greyhounds.

To minimize the risk of problem barking, be sure to give your dog the right amount of exercise so that they don’t get bored throughout the day.

Barking when you leave is a sign of separation anxiety, which can also be managed. You want your dog to feel safe and secure in their home, even when you aren’t around.

How Much Exercise do Greyhounds Need?

Although Greyhounds are known for being fast runners, they tire relatively quickly from exercise. That said, they should still get around 30 minutes of exercise a day to stay happy and healthy.

This can include playtime inside, daily walks, and time spent running on a jog, in a yard, or at a dog park.

If your Greyhound will be in an enclosed space, like a small backyard or a park, make sure that there’s well-enclosed, tall fencing that they cannot escape from. Greyhounds are chasers, meaning they can easily get distracted and run off, especially if they see another animal that catches their interest.

While Greyhounds are well-suited to a less active lifestyle, no dog can go without exercise completely.

Greyhounds who don’t get enough exercise will become bored. That boredom will make them prone to problem behaviors like chewing and barking. Think about it—you don’t want to sit and do nothing all day, every day.

Neither does your Greyhound!

Can Greyhounds Climb Apartment Stairs?

Yes, Greyhounds can climb apartment stairs. However, they might need some work to be able to do so safely. You should train your new Greyhound to climb stairs as early as possible.

Greyhounds, as a breed, have many problems with stairs. One is that they may jump down sets of stairs instead of walking, resulting in injuries such as broken legs.

Some dogs will need to be taught how to use stairs, as it doesn’t come naturally to them. This can be done by using treats to coax them up the steps, one at a time.

During this time, keep a leash or harness on your dog, ensuring you can guide them slowly and stop them from jumping or skipping steps.

Be patient, especially if your pup is afraid of stairs. Never force them, as that’ll only make the fear worse.

If you need more help, this guide will show you how to train your Greyhound to climb stairs.

How much do Greyhounds Shed?

Greyhounds do shed, but not heavily. Their hair is also fine and short, which makes it much less noticeable when shed.

To minimize your Greyhound’s shedding, you can brush them once a week. A vacuum extension or double-sided tape can help to remove hair from furniture.

Should I Adopt a Greyhound?

You should get a Greyhound so long as you can provide a safe, loving home for them. This includes providing the daily exercise they need, as well as training them.

Whether you adopt a new puppy or a rescue, they’ll need time to get used to your home and lifestyle. Training might include potty, leash, and crate training, learning to climb stairs, and socialization.

Greyhounds are relatively low-maintenance, but no dog is completely hands-off. They’ll still need plenty of time, attention, and love!

Where Can I Adopt a Greyhound?

You can adopt a Greyhound from a breeder, rescue, or shelter.

Don’t buy Greyhounds from pet stores. I say this because there is no way to properly vet the conditions a puppy in a pet store came from.

Often, pet store puppies come from puppy mills, where dogs are irresponsibly bred, kept in poor conditions, and abused. Every dollar a puppy mill makes supports their business—giving them more funds to continue their abuse.

Some states have legislation banning pet stores from selling dogs (with the exception of rescue dogs) for these reasons.

Greyhound Breeders

If you do want to buy a puppy from a breeder, make sure you see where the puppies are being raised first. Keep an eye out for red flags.

The breeder should allow you to see both the parents and siblings of your pup. They should all appear healthy and have a clean, appropriate environment.

If you’re happy with what you see, ask some questions! A good breeder won’t mind answering any concerns you have, discussing potential health problems in this breed, or providing vet records.

It’s important to see on paper that all the dogs are well taken care of. Parents and pups should be up-to-date on vaccines and screened for common health problems.

Parents should also be free of any genetic health problems so that nothing preventable is passed down to the puppies.

Shelters and Greyhound Rescues

I highly recommend not buying from a breeder, but rescuing a dog instead. There are so many dogs out there waiting for a good home, and Greyhound rescues are aplenty!

If you want to adopt a Greyhound from a rescue or shelter, you can check your local shelters and animal rescues to see if they have the breed.

You can also look into specialized rescues that rescue only Greyhounds. This will be your easiest route, as you aren’t guaranteed to find a Greyhound at a shelter or a rescue that helps all kinds of dogs.

Find great Greyhound rescue groups here!

Other Apartment-Friendly Dogs

There are so many apartment-friendly dog breeds! Many small breeds are great for apartments because they can get a lot of their exercise indoors and don’t need a big space to be able to run around.

Here are just a few more breeds you might consider adopting if you live in an apartment:

Pugs

Who can resist a Pug and their cute little rolls?

These dogs are perfect for apartment life as they don’t need a lot of space or activity. Due to their short snouts, they’re actually more suited to indoor play.

Pugs can have trouble in very hot or very cold weather, and can’t handle excessive amounts of exercise.

However, it’s irresponsible to adopt a pug from a breeder because of these health reasons. If you want to adopt a pug, we recommend visiting a shelter or rescue!

Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are so tiny and adorable!

Their size makes them a great fit for apartment living. Though Chihuahuas can be quite active, they can get a lot of their energy out indoors.

Barbets

Just look at that curly coat!

Barbets are great if you’re looking for a bigger dog who, like a Greyhound, will still be suited to apartment life. They do need moderate exercise, so daily walks are a must.

They’ll also need more grooming than Greyhounds due to their dense, long coats. However, they aren’t heavy shedders, which is a plus when it comes to keeping your apartment tidy!