Greyhound in Australia — the honest 2026 guide

By Dogthings Editorial · Updated 2026-05-06

Size

Large

Energy

Moderate

Lifespan

10–14 years

Height

68–76 cm

Weight

25–40 kg

Coat

Short, smooth, minimal shed

Price AU

$500 – $1,200 (adoption — most Greyhounds in AU come

Food/month

$100 – $160

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we'd use with our own dogs.

Counterintuitively, Greyhounds are one of the best apartment dogs in Australia. They sleep 18+ hours a day, need only a daily leash walk, and are almost entirely silent indoors. Adopt rather than buy — hundreds retire from racing each year.

Greyhound temperament

Calm, gentle, and quietly affectionate. Most retired racers have never climbed stairs or lived in a house — expect a 2-week adjustment period.

History in Australia

Ancient sighthound, depicted in Egyptian tombs 4000+ years ago. Modern Greyhound Racing NSW/VIC/QLD retire thousands of dogs annually via GAP (Greyhounds As Pets).

Who the Greyhound suits

Good for:

Apartment living
First-time large-breed owners
Seniors (low-exercise days)
Households with other calm dogs

Watch out for:

Strong prey drive — muzzle law varies by state
Cold/heat sensitive (thin coat)
Must not be off-lead except in fenced areas
Dental disease prevalent

Training a Greyhound

Most basic training is already done by the racing industry. Focus on stair training, house manners, and cat/small-dog socialisation (prey drive). Positive reinforcement only — they're sensitive to correction.

Owning a Greyhound in Australia — the essentials

Beyond the breed-specific notes above, every Australian dog owner needs to know:

Microchipping: Mandatory in every state and territory before sale or transfer. Around $60–80 at most vets, often included with the puppy's first vaccination.
Council registration: Required by 3 months of age in every state. Annual fee $30–250 depending on council, breed, and desexing status (desexed dogs are typically discounted 50%+).
Desexing: Required by 6 months in the ACT and parts of VIC; strongly encouraged everywhere else. Most council registration discounts hinge on desexing status.
Restricted breeds: Some breeds (American Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario) are restricted or banned in most AU states. Check your state's restricted breeds list before buying anything that looks similar.
Strata & rentals: Strata schemes can no longer impose blanket no-pet bans (post-2020 NSW law, similar reforms VIC/QLD), but they can impose "reasonable" conditions on size, breed, or behaviour. Read by-laws before signing.
Vet costs: Budget $400–900/year for routine care (annual checkup, vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental check) plus an emergency fund of at least $3,000 — a snake bite, GDV, or cruciate repair can hit $4,000–10,000.

Common Greyhound health issues

Dental disease
Bloat
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) — elevated rate in breed
Corns on paw pads
Malignant hyperthermia risk under anaesthesia

Insurance note: Low-moderate premiums. Retired racing Greyhounds often come with some pre-existing injury exclusions. Dental disease and corn/callus on paws are the most common claim categories.

Get a Greyhound quote from Knose Pet Insurance~2 min online

Best food for a Greyhound in Australia

Our top picks based on coat quality, digestion, and AU availability:

Advance Sensitive Skin
Royal Canin Large Adult
Hill's Science Diet Large Breed

Shop Greyhound food on Pet CircleFree shipping over $49 Compare on VetSupplyOften cheaper on parasite prevention

Essential gear for a Greyhound

Three things that genuinely matter for a Greyhound living in Australia:

PetSafe training kit

Wireless fence · training collar

PetSafe Stay+Play wireless containment + SMART DOG remote trainer — vet-recommended over no-name brands. Critical for off-leash training a Greyhound.

Newentor pet camera

Two-way audio · separation anxiety

Two-way audio + treat dispenser — useful if your Greyhound is left alone during work hours, especially if separation anxiety is in their watchout list above.

VetSupply parasite kit

Flea + tick + worm · monthly

Cheapest AU source for NexGard, Bravecto, and Simparica. Tick paralysis kills hundreds of AU dogs every year — this is non-optional protection on the east coast.

Frequently asked questions

Do Greyhounds need a muzzle in public?

State-dependent. NSW, QLD and some other states require retired racing Greyhounds to wear a muzzle in public unless they've passed a Green Collar assessment. Check your state's rules.

Are Greyhounds good with cats?

Some are, some aren't. GAP assesses cat-compatibility before adoption — ask specifically. Prey drive is strong in many retired racers.

How much exercise do Greyhounds need?

Less than you'd think — one 20–30 min leash walk plus 2–3 sprints per week in a fenced area is enough for most. They're sprinters, not endurance athletes.