Ex-racers make wonderful companions; they are quiet, affectionate and good-natured dogs that often get along well with children and other pets.

Greyhounds bark rarely, are very calm and gentle, have almost no "doggy odor" and though they do shed it is very little compared to other breeds - oftentimes people who are allergic to dogs can live comfortably with Greyhounds.

Greyhounds come in a variety of colors (see chart below), they range in hight from 26" to 30" tall at the withers, and their weight is anywhere from 50 lbs to 80 lbs - with males generally being larger than the females.

Most Greyhounds who are at the end of their racing careers are from 2 to 4 years old, but they still have a lot of life to live as their average lifespan is 12 to 14 years.

Though Greyhounds are bred and built for speed they are best known as "40 m.p.h. couch potatoes."  Greyhounds are not at all hyper - they are exceptionally calm dogs, to the point of making great dogs to visit nursing homes with!

• The speed of a Greyhound around the track averages out to be about 40 mph, with the fastest speed being attained at the beginning of the race at about 50 mph!
• Greyhounds can see clearly for the distance of about a half mile.
• In 11th century England, the law forbade "commoners" from owning a Greyhound.
• The mythical Greek goddess Diana is often pictured with a Greyhound by her side.
• Greyhounds are the only canine mentioned in the Bible by name.
• The name "Greyhound" is possibly derived from several different sources, with the "Grey" part of it from words meaning "fair, dawn, shining, bright"
• The first circular track was opened in the U.S. in the 1920's.
• For every 1 Greyhound registered with the AKC, about 150 are registered with the National Greyhound Association.