Greyhound
Breed Stats
Greyhound Puppy Overview
Greyhounds are some of the most sought-after dogs around. What makes these big dogs special is their speed and agility paired with their gentle nature – sort of like gentle giants. Furthermore, many people enter greyhounds into competitions and racing events that can have big payouts, so it might not be as easy as you think to get your hands on one. Plus, who wouldn’t want a dog that can run more than 40 miles per hour? Not only is that super cool, but the training options are limitless.
We also love greyhounds thanks to their calm temperament and trainability. In other words, you don’t have to worry about these dogs being unruly or aggressive as long as they have enough space to roam. For these reasons, you shouldn’t be intimidated by greyhounds if you’re a first-time puppy owner because they might be a great fit!
While greyhounds are awesome dogs that deserve awesome human companions, that doesn’t mean they’re easy to find. Due to their high demand and trainability for major events, finding greyhounds in shelters isn’t always likely unless they’re older. The good news is that you can purchase a greyhound at a reputable breeder if you know where to look, and this article takes you through everything you need to know to get started. Read on to learn more about greyhound puppies for sale.
How to Find Greyhound Puppies for Sale?
Finding greyhound puppies for sale isn’t always easy because the breed is simultaneously rare and popular. Therefore, you need to find a reputable breeder that you can trust if you want to buy a greyhound puppy. The good news is that plenty of resources are available to help you find a good breeder, and you can work with the American Kennel Club (AKC) if you want to find a greyhound locally. They also have some great resources that will help you understand what exactly a greyhound is and how to spot the difference between real ones and mutts from breeders who are trying to get one up on you.
It’s even more important to find greyhounds from reputable breeders to ensure that they don’t have health issues or other problems. Aside from buying greyhounds directly from breeders, you can buy greyhound puppies via the adoption process. While you can wait for your local shelter to have a greyhound available, the best thing you can do is work with Dog Academy to find greyhounds available for adoption. We streamline the process and make sure you don’t have to do any of the busy work. Plus, adoption is a more affordable process than buying a greyhound, so you can save money along the way.
Last but not least, you can also work with greyhound rescue organizations. While you may not have luck with greyhound puppies for sale through these organizations, you can adopt adult greyhounds who used to race in events when you work with Grey2k USA and other similar organizations. If you don’t find any puppies for sale in your area, this isn’t the worst path to take.
How to Find a Good Greyhound Puppy Breeder?
Unfortunately, finding a good breeder for greyhound puppies isn’t as simple as visiting your local dog breeder and buying yourself a greyhound puppy. You need to spend time looking for breeders you can trust, and you can start by researching breed-specific clubs. Local clubs, and even national kennel clubs like the Greyhound Club of America, make it easy to find breeders in your area that have greyhound puppies for sale.
Another way to find a reputable greyhound breeder is to visit a greyhound dog show or event. Breeders will often take pride in their dogs, so it’s a good place to find healthy greyhound puppies. Aside from finding the right breeder, make sure you take some time to look into them to ensure that they’re following healthy breed practices and keeping detailed records of their health history.
How Much Does a Greyhound Puppy Cost?
Greyhound puppies can vary a lot in cost depending on how you purchase them. If you go the adoption route, expect to spend around $500 to $1,000 depending on the organization. That said, some adoption agencies may not require steep fees, especially if you foster before you adopt. However, this is more common for older greyhounds that are put up for adoption once their racing days are over.
If you go the purchasing route, however, expect to spend between $2,000 and $4,000 on average. Factors that influence the cost include the specific breeder, the color of the greyhound, and sometimes even their health history. For example, greyhounds that are bred from a long line of racing greyhounds with a history of success will be more expensive than greyhounds that don’t have that same level of heritage.
Make sure you also consider their health and eating needs before you adopt or purchase a greyhound puppy. For example, you will have to spend another few hundred dollars on food and vaccinations from the get go, more if they need surgery or other medical attention. These are all factors you must consider when adopting or purchasing greyhound puppies.
Greyhounds For Sale
How to Care for a Greyhound Puppy?
Caring for a greyhound puppy may seem daunting since they’re such big dogs, but they’re actually easy to work with. Due to their long history of racing and participating in agility events, greyhounds are easy to train for these activities. That said, you need to start with a strong foundation, so we recommend taking your greyhound puppy through our Puppy Kindergarten course that covers basic commands and training techniques you can use to get started.
Aside from training, make sure you’re helping your greyhound release their energy with short walks and about one run daily. Playing and training will also help in this department, but to ensure they properly grow into their bodies you’ll need to feed them a healthy diet and make sure they use those big hind legs.
When it comes to grooming, greyhounds aren’t too high maintenance. You should only have to clean them once every few weeks (even months) and running will do a lot of the nail-trimming work for you. Still, if your greyhound isn’t too active it’s not a bad idea to trim them regularly. Also, make sure you brush their teeth a few times a week and check their ears, eyes, and skin for allergies. Last but not least, make sure you take them to the vet often.
Is It a Good Idea to Buy a Greyhound Puppy As Your First Dog?
Greyhound puppies may seem like an intimidating breed to buy as your first dog, but you may be surprised by how easy they are to care for. As long as you purchase a greyhound puppy from the right breeder, you shouldn’t have any problems with them because they’re low-energy dogs that like to hang around, eat, and go for an occasional run.
The only thing that may pose a challenge if a greyhound is your first dog is their size. As larger dogs, you’ll need a lot of space to keep them happy and healthy. You may also want to avoid the more complex training paths for agility and racing if that’s not something you’re comfortable with. Overall, due to minimal health issues (aside from their hips) and grooming needs, you’ll find that greyhounds are pretty easy to care for.
Greyhound puppies are also a great choice for people who want to develop something special with their dog. Due to their unique traits and responsiveness to training, first-time dog owners and experienced dog owners alike can develop a unique bond with their greyhound; one you just don’t get with some other breeds.
Buy the Right Greyhound Puppy for You
When it comes to buying the right puppy for you, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, especially with a breed as rare and popular as greyhounds. You want to make sure you have the space necessary to care for them, along with the time necessary to take them on walks and runs to keep their hips strong.
It’s also important to focus your efforts on their health and wellness through a healthy diet that’s high in proteins, fats, and even carbs if they’ll be training for speed and agility often. You also have to consider the age of the greyhound puppy you want to buy as younger puppies are more work than older ones once you factor in training, vet bills, energy levels, and food needs. Typically, a four to six-month-old greyhound puppy is a good place to start.
Still, greyhounds aren’t the right puppies for everyone, and availability can make them hard to find. The good news is that there are plenty of dog breeds out there that have a similar temperament and energy level. Check out our list of the top 8 fastest dog breeds to find similar breeds that may be more accessible.
