| Country of origin: | Great Britain |
| Registries: | AKC, UKC, CKC |
| Occupation: | Sighthound, racer, companion |
| Size: | 26 to 30 in tall; 60 to 70 lbs |
| Longevity: | 12 to 14 years |
| Exercise: | Couch potatoes who love to run |
| Training: | Easy; hard to motivate |
| Grooming: | Easy |
| Colors: | Black, black or red brindle, red, fawn, white, bicolour |
The fastest of all dogs, capable of reaching almost 72km/h (45mph). This gentle breed makes an ideal family companion that chooses to spend its leisure time on the sofa. When something small, fluffy, and moving enters its field of vision, however, the Greyhound undergoes an instant personality change. Regrettably, the racing industry produces a constant surplus of retired individuals in need of new homes.
The name “greyhound” in English is a misnomer. Grei is an old Saxon word meaning fine, or beautiful, and there is perhaps nothing finer or more beautiful in the canine world than a Greyhound running at full throttle. Confirming the antiquity of this breed, these speed merchants are depicted in Egyptian tombs almost 5,000 years old. No one knows where they were first developed, but representative breeds from India, Hungary, Poland, and Britain show that their values and attributes are recognized the world over.