Greyador: Your Complete Guide
The greyador is a mix between the Labrador Retriever and the greyhound. While this mix may be uncommon, that doesn’t mean they’re any less lovable than more popular mixes. Greyadors are incredibly affectionate, devoted, and gentle, and they’re well-suited to first-time owners who can properly manage their needs.
Greyadors grow up to 30 inches tall and weigh around 60 to 80 pounds. While their appearance can vary, most greyadors have sturdy builds and short, slick coats that accentuate their muscles. Many mixes also inherit the Labrador Retriever’s thick, endlessly wagging tail.
If you’re keen to adopt a greyador, or simply want to learn more about this increasingly sought-after mix, you’ve come to the right place! Below, we’ll delve into the greyador’s care needs, size, history, temperament, and everything else you need to know.
Quick Look at the Greyador
Below is a glance at this special breed regarding their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 24 inches to 30 inches tall, weighing 60 to 80 pounds |
| Coat Type | Sleek single coat or dense short double coat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Affectionate, devoted, smart |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years |
What Is the History of Greyadors?
While it’s not clear at what point in history (or why) breeders began to mix Labrador Retrievers with greyhounds intentionally, we can gain an understanding of their roots by delving into both parent breeds’ histories.
The Labrador retriever is widely considered to be the ultimate family companion, but they weren’t initially bred for home life. In fact, they were originally developed to assist fishermen. They helped retrieve fishing nets from icy waters, fetch dropped objects, and tow dories.
Many of the Labrador retriever’s physical characteristics seen today are a testament to this history, such as their webbed paws, water-resistant coat, and otter-like tail. The Labrador was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1917.
In comparison, the greyhound is a breed whose history can be traced back thousands of years ago to Ancient Egypt — a time when the pharaohs ruled. Greyhounds were revered as divine, noble beings and valued highly in this civilization, and they were selectively bred to be efficient hounds capable of capturing fast-moving prey like gazelles and hares.
No doubt thanks to their roots, the greyhound is the fastest dog in the world, with recorded speeds of up to 72 km/h. They have also dominated lure coursing and dog racing for decades.
The greyhound became an official part of the AKC in 1885, making it one of the first breeds to be acknowledged by the club.
What Do Greyadors Look Like?
The greyhound and Labrador Retriever aren’t exactly similar in appearance; the greyhound is built solely for speed, while the Labrador is built for battling tough water currents and icy temperatures. Due to this, it can be hard to predict what a greyador is going to look like.
That said, both parent breeds share some physical traits. For example, they both have alert expressions, athletic builds, and short coats. You can expect a greyador to have these traits. They may also inherit the Labrador’s thick otter-like tail and webbed paws or the greyhound’s slender muzzle and streamlined stature.
Greyadors come in a range of colors, though the most common hues are black, yellow, white, brown, fawn, blue, and red.
What Size Is a Greyador?
The greyador is a large-sized dog who typically stands 24 to 30 inches at the withers and weighs around 60 to 80 pounds. However, their height and weight can vary quite drastically, depending on which traits they inherit from their parents. Males are also usually larger than females in both weight and height.
What Is a Greyador’s Coat Type and Length?
A greyador has either a short, smooth single coat or a double coat that consists of a soft, water-resistant undercoat and a dense outer layer. Greyadors do not have feathering, and both coats have a sleek appearance.
What Is a Greyador’s Temperament?
A greyador’s temperament can be a surprise because of how different the parent breeds are — but whichever outcome, you’re in for a treat!
Dogs that take on more qualities from their Lab parent are incredibly affectionate, outgoing, and see a friend in practically everyone. They also love to play and appreciate an owner who can help them burn through all their excess energy.
In comparison, greyadors who are more akin to the greyhound tend to be more reserved and have a calm demeanor. While they are still playful, they also appreciate a good snooze and a quiet, peaceful environment.
Some greyadors are sensitive to stress, so it’s important you provide them consistency in their day-to-day lives and keep noise (or other potential stressors) at a minimum.
Are Greyadors Good With Kids?
Greyadors are gentle, patient, and doting over their families, so they can be wonderful companions for households with children.
That said, they may not be the best fit if you have toddlers in the house. Greyadors are large dogs that can get boisterous during play. If they jump about or get overexcited, they may accidentally knock over children, which can lead to injuries.
If you do have young kids and still want to adopt a greyador, just make sure to monitor them closely when they’re together. You should also wear the greyador out with plenty of exercise before allowing them to play boisterous games with your kids.
Are Greyadors Good With Other Animals?
Most greyadors get along well with other dogs and can happily live in multi-pet households. In fact, many do appreciate the company of having another playmate around! Greyadors can also tolerate cats with proper training and socialization.
However, it’s slightly riskier when it comes to prey-like animals like rabbits and hamsters. This is because some greyadors inherit the greyhound’s strong prey drive and instinct to chase anything small that moves. You can curb their prey drive to some extent with training, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to stop it entirely — it’s an instinct that has been bred into them over thousands of years.
Are Greyadors Aggressive?
Greyadors rarely exhibit aggressive behavior. Both parent breeds aren’t known for their aggression — they’re known for being too friendly! — but to get an understanding of just how rare aggression is among greyadors, we can take a look at the temperament test results of both parent breeds.
According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), greyhounds have a temperament passing rate of around 80%, and Labrador retrievers have a pass rate of 92%. This is certainly nothing to scoff at, especially when you compare it to other popular breeds like the Chihuahua, who has a pass rate of just 68%.
While aggression is rare, keep in mind that any dog can become aggressive if their needs aren’t adequately met. Socialize them properly from an early age and provide plenty of love, training, and stimulation to ensure they grow into a well-adjusted adult.
Do Greyadors Bark?
Greyadors aren’t excessive barkers. However, they often bark when they’re excited or want to gain your attention. They may also bark if they’re bored or under a lot of stress.
You can minimize barking by ensuring your greyador is getting enough mental stimulation throughout the day and feels secure and safe in its environment. If their barking gets out of hand, remember that you can always seek help from a professional dog trainer — you can use our search tool to find reputable trainers in your area.
Are Greyadors Affectionate?
Greyadors absolutely adore their owners and form extremely close bonds. They’re extremely affectionate, and they’ll show their unconditional love for their humans through plenty of licks, cuddles, and tail wags.
Greyadors are typically sociable around strangers. Some greyadors may be reserved, especially if they inherit more of the greyhound’s traits, but they’ll warm up quickly after some pets and praise.
Are Greyadors Intelligent?
Greyadors are intelligent pups. They can master practically any challenge thrown at them, and they have a knack for problem-solving. They can decipher advanced puzzle toys effortlessly, learn advanced tricks, and even ace agility courses.
Greyadors are also highly observant of their surroundings and can detect even the slightest of movements from afar.
Are Greyadors Energetic?
Now, answering this is tricky — the greyador’s parent breeds have vastly different exercise requirements.
The greyhound may have a reputation for being a stellar sprinter, but they’re actually a couch potato at heart. They prefer a laidback, easygoing lifestyle and usually only need around 40 minutes of exercise per day.
In comparison, the Labrador Retriever is one of the highest-energy pups out there and needs at least an hour or two of exercise per day.
What this means is that a greyador can either be incredibly energetic, easygoing, or somewhere in between. For this reason, it’s best to meet the greyador you’re considering adopting in person. Get to know their individual characteristics, including their personality, lineage, and energy level. All this information will give you a much better idea of what their exercise needs would be.
Are Greyadors Easy to Train?
The greyador’s eagerness to please their owner, combined with their intelligence and love for new challenges, makes them incredibly easy to train. They can master the ins and outs of basic obedience in a matter of weeks (sometimes even days), and they pick up advanced commands quickly.
Thanks to their agile, athletic statures, greyadors also make perfect candidates for agility training. They can tackle any obstacle and enjoy putting their brains and legs to good use.
Are Greyadors Good Watchdogs?
Greyadors keep a close eye on their surroundings at all times, but while they are alert, they aren’t the best watchdogs out there. This is because they’re a lot more likely to greet intruders with affection and love than snarls and yaps.
Or, if they’re more akin to their greyhound parent, simply sit and silently watch as the intruder takes your valuables, clothes, decor, and, well, pretty much everything else.
Are Greyadors Good Service Dogs?
Yes, greyadors can make exceptional service dogs! Both parent breeds have qualities that make them well-suited to service work, so it’s no surprise that greyadors thrive in this field. They can pick up service tasks extremely quickly and perform them reliably wherever they are, and they’re also highly perceptive.
Plus, the greyador has the strength and physique to perform more physically demanding service tasks, such as deep pressure therapy (DPT), mobility assistance, and item retrieval.
How to Care for a Greyador?
Greyadors are relatively easy dogs to look after because they’re eager to please and aren’t prone to any particular behavioral issues. However, they do need plenty of attention, exercise, and training to live healthy and happy lives.
You should also begin socialization as soon as you bring your greyador pup home. Socialization helps to ensure they grow into a confident, outgoing adult who sees the world as a comfortable place to be rather than something to be afraid of.
Do You Need to Groom a Greyador?
Greyadors have short coats, but don’t let their coat length fool you into thinking you don’t have to brush them — they require frequent grooming to keep their fur looking sleek. How often you have to groom them mainly depends on which coat type they inherit.
Greyadors that inherit the greyhound’s single coat have relatively low maintenance grooming needs, only requiring a good brush once or twice a week.
But the same can’t be said for greyadors that inherit the Labrador Retriever’s double coat. This thick, dense coat requires grooming two to three times a week, with daily brushing during periods of particularly heavy shedding. You will also need to use a slicker brush to dislodge and remove trapped under hairs.
Whichever coat type your greyador inherits, it’s a good idea to take them to a professional groomer once every month. A groomer can clip their fur to keep it at a suitable length and tackle any mats or tangles that have formed. They can also examine their skin and check for signs of ticks, irritation, and sores.
Do Greyadors Shed?
Greyadors can generally be classified as moderate-shedding dogs, though again, the exact amount of shedding to expect depends on their coat type.
If your pup has the greyhound’s coat, you can expect low-to-moderate shedding throughout the year. If they have the Lab’s coat, expect moderate shedding for most of the year, with periods of heavy shedding during seasonal changes when they blow their fur.
What Health Problems Do Greyadors Have?
The greyador is generally a healthy mix. However, as is the case for most large breeds, they are prone to physical conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis. Greyadors are also more susceptible to ailments such as:
- Bloat
- Polyneuropathy
- Eye problems
- Ear infections
While these conditions may seem daunting, they can usually be managed with proper care, frequent vet visits, and the appropriate health tests.
How Long Do Greyadors Live?
Greyadors have an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years. You can help your dog experience a long, healthy life by ensuring you exercise them regularly and feed them a nutritious diet (i.e. no table scraps). Some greyadors can live longer than this, though it’s extremely rare for a dog of this size to live beyond 15 years.
What Should a Greyador Eat?
Greyadors usually fare best on kibble that has a high protein content, and most need to eat between 2.5 to 4 cups of dog food per day. However, because greyadors can vary so significantly in size, energy level, and metabolism, it’s best to consult a veterinarian for dietary advice.
If your greyador inherits the greyhound’s deep chest, make sure to invest in a slow feeder bowl — this can potentially help to reduce the chances of bloat. You should also avoid exercising them immediately after meals.
Is a Greyador the Right Dog for Me?
Greyadors are affectionate, playful, and intelligent pups. They make wonderful companions for families and thrive under the care of those willing to put their brains to work. They also make great pets for first-time owners because they’re eager to please and take to training well.
While greyadors can be sensitive to stress and may require a fair bit of grooming, the challenges involved are worth it: They’re incredibly devoted and will reward you with their unconditional love and contagious optimism.