Greyhounds are an incredibly popular breed that is known for their athleticism and speed, but if you’re raising one of your own you’ll probably want to know, how big do Greyhounds get?
Greyhounds are classified as a large breed, and they generally grow to between 25 and 30 inches in height, measured from the ground to the top of their shoulders. In terms of their weight, female greyhounds usually weigh between 55 and 65 pounds whereas males usually weigh between 65 and 85 pounds.
If you are thinking about raising a Greyhound, there are a lot of things that you will want to consider about how they grow, and just how big these “large” dogs actually are. This article will go into detail about the growth that you can expect from a Greyhound and more information about their size and body type that is important for an owner.
How Big Do Greyhounds Get Overall?
Greyhounds are usually considered fully grown once they are about 13 months old. After this time, it is rare that one of these dogs will get much bigger, though their body shape can mature, and they can fill out a bit over the next 6 months or so.
Usually reaching a maximum height of up to 30 inches, and a weight of up to 85 pounds, Greyhounds are considered to be large in size compared to other breeds, but they are surprisingly compact and slender animals.
Compared to other large breeds, Greyhounds are much skinnier, and they have a sleek body shape that can make them appear a lot smaller and more petite than they actually are. Compared to a Bernese Mountain Dog, for example, a Greyhound can look tiny but a Bernese will actually rarely grow taller than 28 inches, though they can weigh more than 100 pounds.
What is the Expected Growth Rate of a Greyhound?
As an owner, understanding what the expectations for your dog’s growth might be is important so that you can keep an eye on their health and wellbeing. Although every individual dog is different, knowing how big they should be as they reach their age milestones can help you to monitor how they are growing.
Newborn – Birth to 2 Weeks
When they are first born, Greyhound puppies are very tiny, but they will grow rapidly throughout the first couple of weeks. This is when they should be spending a lot of time with their mother, or being very closely looked after if this isn’t possible.
In these first couple of weeks, your Greyhound pup is likely to weigh less than 3 pounds and be small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
Puppy – 3 Weeks to 3 Months
Probably the most dramatic period of change for a Greyhound is in the puppy stage before they become an adolescent and start growing to full size. They will need a lot of nutrition at this time to support their development.
From the first month to the third month, male Greyhounds will usually grow from between 3-5 pounds to 15-25 pounds, and females should change from 2-4 pounds to about 10-20 pounds.
Adolescent – 4 Months to 13 Months
After about 4 months, Greyhounds will start growing towards their full size, which they won’t usually reach until they are more than 1 year old. During this period they will gain a lot more strength and stamina, and be able to get more active in their daily routines as well.
At about 6 months, a male Greyhound usually reaches 30-40 pounds in weight, and a female is usually around 25-35 pounds. With each passing month, you can expect a Greyhound to gain around 5 pounds, which should slow down or even stop completely around 13 months of age.
Adult – 1 Year+
After about a year, most Greyhounds are about as large as they are ever going to be, though their bodies may fill out a bit within the next year or so. At this time, you should be settled into a very consistent diet and exercise routine that will maintain a healthy weight for your dog.
While most Greyhounds reach a height of between 25 and 30 inches and weigh somewhere between 55-65 pounds for a female and 65-85 pounds for a male, these are just estimates.
Don’t panic if your dog is not exactly within any of these measurements, particularly if they are not purebred Greyhound. Throughout their first year, you should be consulting regularly with your vet who will be able to let you know whether or not your dog is growing as expected.
Should All Greyhounds be the Same Size and Weight?
Every dog is different, and some Greyhounds will be smaller or larger than others. There are also different expectations for Greyhounds depending on their breeding background. Dogs that were originally bred for racing tend to grow differently from dogs that were bred for the showroom.
- Racing Greyhounds. Racing Greyhounds are generally a bit smaller and sleeker, as they were originally bred to be fast and nimble. These dogs are often between 25 and 29 inches tall and maybe on the lighter side of the weight spectrum.
- Show Greyhounds. Show Greyhounds are slightly larger than their racing cousins and usually grow to between 26 and 30 inches tall. These dogs were often bred to fit into strict breeding standards that are necessary to compete in competitions.
Just like any other animal, Greyhounds shouldn’t be bred to fit a mold, work a job, or win a competition. These are diverse, unique, and beautiful dogs that each have an individual body and personality of their own.
It is always better to adopt or rescue a dog, and there are often a lot of Greyhound puppies and adults that are looking for a new home. Part of the joy of raising a dog is seeing how they grow and change. Whether it’s with a brand-new puppy or an older ex-racing dog, finding out who they are and watching them develop is an incredibly rewarding experience.
How Do You Make Sure a Greyhound is Growing Healthily?
The two most significant factors that will affect the growth of your Greyhound are diet and exercise. If they are eating healthily and staying active, you can expect them to grow up to be big and strong.
You can generally tell that your Greyhound is eating well and feeling good by how sleek and shiny their coat is, and how content and happy they seem.
Diet
Like all dogs, Greyhounds need a healthy and balanced diet to get all of the nutrition their bodies require. High-quality food will be more nutritious and contain better ingredients, whereas cheap food is often made up of additives, fillers, or excess fats and sugars.
In whatever dog food you choose to give them, an adult Greyhound should be eating between 250 and 300 grams of meat per day, which should be supplemented with healthy vegetables, fish oil, and some dry food. Many dog foods are specifically formulated to cater to Greyhounds, so these are a good option to look out for.
Greyhounds are notorious for snacking on the wrong things, so you should be very careful about leaving any food within sniffing range! In particular, make sure that they avoid:
- Food with stones, like avocados.
- Fat trimmings.
- Caffeine Products.
- Sugary Products.
- Dairy Products.
- Chocolate, Macadamia Nuts and Raw Potatoes. These can be very toxic for dogs and even fatal, so they are ones to keep an extra careful eye out for.
Exercise
Despite how athletic they are, Greyhounds are relatively relaxed and sedentary dogs most of the time, but they definitely need a good amount of dedicated exercise throughout the day. They should be getting out for at least an hour daily, and they will want to be getting a good run in as part of that.
Greyhounds usually prefer to do a couple of high-intensity runs during the day rather than one long walk, but they should also be kept mentally and physically stimulated in other ways. Active play, interactive toys, and daily training are great ways for your Greyhound to stay occupied.
Can a Greyhound be Too Big or Too Small?
You might do everything right for your dog and still have worries about their weight or size. Growing up and getting older is an unpredictable process for any dog, so don’t worry too much if they seem a little big or small.
The most important thing is to make sure that you are giving them the diet and exercise that they need, and you are consulting with a vet when you have any concerns. Very small or very large Greyhounds, either by size or by weight, may have additional medical needs that your vet can help you to provide.
The exact body that your Greyhound has will have an impact on what they can eat as well as how much activity they need, so it’s worth asking questions when you’re at the vet’s so that you know you are doing the right things.
The Verdict: How Big Do Greyhounds Get?
So, how big do Greyhounds get? The answer is: pretty big, though they are more slender than most of the other dog breeds that are considered “large”.
You can expect a Greyhound to reach between 25 and 30 inches in height, and weigh somewhere between 55 and 85 pounds. Male Greyhounds tend to be larger and heavier than females, and show Greyhounds are often larger than racing Greyhounds.
Though Greyhounds are classified as large dogs, they are quiet and gentle animals that will fit into almost any home. Raising one from a puppy or taking in an older dog and giving them a new home are incredibly rewarding experiences because these animals are just so easy to love.