56 Cool Facts You Never Knew About Greyhounds

Even if you have owned greyhounds for decades, there will be facts here that delight and amaze you!

Greyhound Puppy Life Facts

Greyhound puppies are known as “landsharks” for their love of exploring everything with their sharp, little teeth.
Teen greyhound pups are called “saplings.”
Greyhound puppies often play in kiddie pools.
Greyhounds are raised on a farm until they are about a year old.
The greyhound’s exceptional social skills are taught to him by his mother, with whom he remains for most of his first two years.

Greyhounds have a much higher red blood cell count than other breeds.
The greyhound’s bloodwork values differ from other breeds.
Greyhounds are highly desired doggie blood donors, due to the being universal donors, as well as their high red blood cell count.
Greyhounds have high blood pressure, compared to other breeds.
Greyhounds get “White-coat Hypertension-” super-high blood pressure readings at the vet’s office.
Greyhounds are genetically predisposed to bone cancer
Greyhounds have a reputation for having awful teeth and gums.
Greyhounds can get rather large corns on their paws.
The greyhound is the only large breed that doesn’t tend to get hip dysplasia.
A greyhound can become so overjoyed, he wags his tail and accidentally whacks it on something, breaking it. This is known as “happy tail.”

The breed is also known as the English Greyhound.
The greyhound is said to have originated in Egypt.
Greyhounds have been seen depicted in 8,000-year-old cave drawings
The greyhound is the only breed mentioned in the Bible.
Greyhounds were royal pets in ancient Egypt
The greyhound is revered in ancient Egyptian art from as far back as 3,000 BC, in tombs, on statuary, and on coins & jewelry.
In ancient Roman and Greek cultures, the greyhound is pictured with Diana, goddess of the hunt.
The greyhound almost went extinct in Middle Ages, but was saved by clergy
Greyhounds are mentioned in England’s Canute Laws (c.1040), which stated that they only could be owned by nobility.
Under the Canute Laws, the penalty for killing a greyhound was death.
There is a famous epic poem written about a greyhound (“Beth Gêlert; or, the Grave of the Greyhound” by William Robert Spencer , c. 1800)
A greyhound named Grim lived in the Whitehouse under President Hayes (1876).
During this same era, Gen. Custer owned greyhounds, as well.
The first racing oval in the U.S.A. was built in 1920.
In the 1930’s, track star Jesse Owens raced a greyhound for 3/16 mi.. Owens won.

The greyhound is the only creature on earth that can bank a turn without losing any speed
A greyhound can run up to 45 mph.
The record speed is 50 mph
A greyhound can see up to half a mile away.
Greyhounds are not built to sit
Greyhounds have very low body fat.
Greyhounds are sensitive to heat and cold.
Greyhounds have thinner skin than other dogs
Many Greyhounds lose the hair on their backsides when the weather warms up; and it grows back again after the hot weather passes.
Greyhounds are said to be “Dolichocephalic (long-faced)”
Gray-colored greyhounds are referred to not as “gray,” but “blue.”
Due to a lack of fat near the skin surface, greyhounds have less “doggy-odor” than other dogs.

Greyhounds are docile and sweet in nature
Never tie a greyhound up, even just for a moment, because he could suddenly bolt and break his neck.
A greyhound needs 12-16 hours sleep a day
Greyhounds have sensitive temperament
Greyhounds rarely bark.

Greyhounds were originally bred for coursing hares.
At the kennel, males and females are turned out separately
A racer’s meal is various mixtures of kibble, meat, rice, pasta, veggies, and fruit.
After a race, the dog is cooled, massaged as needed, and carefully cleaned off.
The post-race spa treatment often includes a whirlpool bath.
The greyhound’s tattoo in his left ear is his litter registration number; the right ear has his month & year of birth, and tells where he was in the birth order of his litter.
Due to their calm nature, greyhounds make good therapy and service dogs.