Greyhound Grooming

Greyhounds have short-haired, wispy coats that don't really require much grooming. While the coats shed pretty regularly, brushing several times a week will help with that. Otherwise, Greyhound coats are basically "wash-and-go"!

Here you'll find plenty of details on maintaining your Greyhound's coat, including info about brushing and bathing. You can also learn more about caring for the dog's teeth, ears, and paws--and you'll find out exactly why shaving a Greyhound's coat is never a good idea.

Overall Greyhound grooming is pretty simple--and these dogs' "wash-and-wear" coats are similarly easy to maintain. The coats do shed regularly, but regular brushing with a bristle brush or Greyhound grooming mitt will minimize the shedding somewhat. Baths are only necessary every 6-8 weeks, unless your Greyhound gets especially dirty or stinky. Haircuts aren't required at all.

And while most owners fulfill all their Greyhounds' grooming needs themselves, it's a good idea to take the dog to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog's coat a nice makeover, offer advice on various Greyhound grooming products, and provide tips on how to groom a Greyhound in general.

Caring for these dogs' coats will also require a few Greyhound grooming tools, including a bristle brush or grooming glove and canine shampoo.

Since these dogs shed a good bit, it's best to brush Greyhounds 3-4 times per week (or daily if you notice the dog shedding excessively). The best Greyhound brush is either a bristle brush or a grooming glove.

(A word about greyhound combs: While their name might suggest otherwise, these are not the best tools for brushing dogs of this breed. The original greyhound comb, made in Belgium, is a brand name, not a description of its use. And just what is a greyhound comb? It's a metal comb with finer teeth on one side and coarser ones on the other. Greyhound combs are for dogs with longer or thicker coats, and are often used to help remove tangles and mats. While a metal greyhound comb will work okay on an actual Greyhound's coat, a bristle brush or grooming glove are better.)

How to brush a Greyhound: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle. Then starting at the shoulders, brush the entire coat section by section with the brush or glove, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you notice a good bit of hair coming out when you brush, it's good to go through the coat a second time just to be thorough.

Do Greyhounds smell? While not really known for the infamous "doggy odor," these dogs can get stinky if they spend lots of time outside, where they're more likely to roll in dirty or smelly things. In general, though, Greyhounds will only need baths every couple of months.

It's also important to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans can irritate a dog's skin. (Plus, canine shampoo will make your Greyhound smell clean and fresh!) Since these dogs' coats are relatively thin, their skin flakes and itches pretty easily--so the best shampoo for Greyhounds is the kind containing oatmeal and other skin-nurturing ingredients. Recommended brands include Rocco & Roxie, Paws & Pals, and Pro Pet Works, all of which have offerings containing oatmeal.

Before your Greyhound bath, be sure to give the dog a thorough brushing. You can bathe a Greyhound either in a bathtub, or in an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose. Wet the coat thoroughly, then apply a quarter-sized amount of Greyhound shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Clean the dog's face, head, and ears with a washcloth, then rinse the coat until the water runs clear.

Towel-dry the coat, then finish by giving the dog another quick brush-through to make the coat look clean and neat.

With the breed's short-haired, thin coat, Greyhound cuts and hairstyles aren't really possible. It's also important to note that shaving a Greyhound coat even shorter is not a good idea. A shaved Greyhound will be more susceptible to sunburn and heatstroke, and the dog will get cold extremely easy. Shaving a Greyhound's coat won't stop the shedding, either, it'll just make the shed hairs shorter.

So for anyone thinking of shaving their Greyhound's coat: in short, put those clippers away!

Care for your Greyhound's paws in the following areas:

• Nails: If the dog's nails "click" on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Your Greyhound nail clippers can be a standard set of clippers; cut Greyhound nails as short as you can--but be sure not to cut into the "quick" (the blood vessel running through the nail), as doing so can make the nail bleed and be painful.
• Toe Hair: If the hair between your Greyhound's toes gets too long, it'll collect dirt and debris, and can even get infected. Use a small pair of scissors to trim the hair short if needed.
• Paw Pads: Your Greyhound's paw pads can get dry or cracked, especially if the dog walks a lot on hot asphalt or snow and ice. Apply commercial paw pad moisturizer (available at pet stores or online) to the dog's pads weekly, to keep them soft and moist.

Regardless of how meticulous owners are, fleas and ticks on dogs can be impossible to avoid entirely. The best flea treatment for Greyhounds--and the best way to prevent them, too--is to ask your veterinarian. Here are more details on Greyhound flea treatment and prevention:

PREVENTION:

• Put a flea collar on the dog
• Wash the dog's bedding once a week
• Keep yards free of organic debris like yard clippings, leaf piles, etc; pests like to live in moist vegetation
• Use commercial products like sprays, powders, and shampoos

TREATMENT:

• See a veterinarian
• Clean your house thoroughly, including vacuuming of carpets and upholstery and washing of all bedding in hot water
• Commercial flea treatment products (powders, shampoos, sprays)
• Extreme cases may require use of indoor foggers or sprays, and possibly even lawn treatments

Your Greyhound will need regular maintenance in a couple of other areas as well:

• Teeth: Just like humans', Greyhound teeth need regular brushing to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, and to minimize that Greyhound bad breath! You can do your Greyhound teeth cleaning 2-3 times per week with a regular toothbrush--but be sure to use canine toothpaste, as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it. Also regarding these dogs' teeth: you might know about Greyhound teeth chattering. And why do Greyhounds chatter their teeth? They do it not because they're cold, but as a sign of pleasure! Just as dogs wag their tails, Greyhounds often chatter their teeth when being petted or in anticipation of food.
• Ears: If not cleaned periodically, your Greyhound's ears will become dirty with wax, dirt, and debris, and can get infected--which often leads to hearing loss. Use commercial canine ear cleaning solution to clean the ears once a month. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but the typical method is to squirt a generous amount of solution into the dog's ear canal, close the flap, and massage the ear for a few seconds to work in the liquid. The dog will probably shake its head vigorously--this is normal--and after that use a cotton ball (never a Q-Tip!) to wipe out any remaining solution.