The Greyhound dog breed has long been known for its incredible speed, sleek features, and hunting capabilities. Yet, Greyhounds also make wonderful pets due to their sweet and calm temperament.
There are numerous types of Greyhounds to choose from, but one of the most adorable, loving, and unique types is the Brindle Greyhound.
What Is a Brindle Greyhound?
Greyhounds are typically known as hunting or racing dogs due to their extremely fast speeds — anywhere from 40 to 45 miles per hour — and capabilities for hunting foxes, deer, and rabbits. Aside from their athletic abilities, Greyhounds are also known as loving, calm pets.
A Brindle Greyhound is just one of many types of dogs under the Greyhound breed umbrella:
- Russian Greyhound
- Spanish Greyhound
- Scottish Greyhound
- Persian Greyhound
- Arabic Greyhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Afghan Hound
- Whippet
All of these different types of Greyhounds make great pets for any family, but what separates a Brindle Greyhound from other Greyhounds is its distinctive color combination.
Brindle Greyhounds have all of the other attractive characteristics of the Greyhound breed, yet also don unique color and coat types that set themselves apart.
Greyhounds are one of the breeds most frequently associated with the distinguished Brindle coat. They’re coveted for their speed and agility as well as their calm temperament and “couch potato” qualities that make them pretty well-rounded, low-maintenance pets.
Greyhounds have a unique build with the iconic narrow head, long legs, and muscular build. They come from one of the oldest breeds and have been prized racers and competitive dogs throughout history. They’re the perfect combination of grand appearance and friendly mannerisms towards humans.
Greyhound Colors and Coat Types
A Greyhound has unique color combination patterns of browns, reds, blacks, and even silvers and blues.
The color combination a Brindle Greyhound has depends on a recessive gene the dog carries. The American Kennel Club officially recognizes 10 different breed colors and markings of Brindle, with 6 recognized as a standard color.
Standard Brindle Colors:
- Black Brindle
- Blue Brindle
- Red Brindle
- White and Blue Brindle
- White and Black Brindle
- White and Red Brindle
Other Brindle Color Types:
- Blue Brindle and White
- Black Brindle and White
- Red Brindle and White
- White and Liver Brindle
Greyhounds with a brindle coat have solid lines and a marked pattern that build their unique color combination. Some Greyhounds may even have a “reverse Brindle,” which means the base color of the dog’s coat is darker than the stripes.
Wondering which dogs display brindle coats? Our guide to the Best Brindle Dog Breeds lists common brindle breeds and their traits!
Are Brindle Greyhounds Purebred?
Since the AKC recognizes Brindle Greyhound coats, does that mean Brindle Greyhounds are purebred? Not necessarily.
The AKC recognizes 6 Brindle Greyhound coat colors as standard colors, but not all of them. If you have a purebred Greyhound and it happens to be brindle, then you can rest assured that your Brindle Greyhound is indeed purebred.
How Much Does a Brindle Greyhound Cost?
If you want a puppy, you may need to fork up thousands of dollars for a young Brindle Greyhound. If you’re working with a breeder, you could be asked to pay more than $3,000 for a Brindle Greyhound.
Greyhounds are more expensive than other breeds, and this holds true for a brindle. If you don’t need a pup, greyhounds may be found at rescue centers for only a few hundred dollars. You probably won’t find a Brindle Greyhound puppy at a rescue center. However, you may find older Brindle Greyhounds up for adoption.
One benefit of purchasing an adult Brindle Greyhound is their long lifespan. Most dogs live between 10 to 12 years, but healthy Greyhounds have been known to live more than 15 years with their families. This means if you adopt an eight-year-old Brindle Greyhound, you may have 6 or more loving years with your new pet.
Common Health Problems
Compared to other purebreds, Greyhounds are fairly healthy dogs with only a few common health issues.
Greyhounds are quite popular for their unique, sleek shape, but their deep-set chests could predispose them to a life-threatening condition called gastric torsion. This is when the stomach enlarges and twists and can be fatal if not treated.
Greyhounds may be prone to hip dysplasia, which is an abnormality in the hip joint that makes the ball at the top of the dog’s leg not fit correctly into the socket.
Hypothyroidism is also found in the Greyhound breed, which means the dog produces low levels of the hormone in the thyroid gland. A bone cancer called osteosarcoma is also seen in Greyhounds.
Greyhound neuropathy is a degenerative disorder common in descendants of show dogs from the 1960s. This disorder can lead to muscle weakness and sensory loss, both detrimental to a fast and active dog like a Greyhound.
One of the most perplexing ailments of a Greyhound is its sensitivity to anesthesia. A normal dose given to a dog of the same size could be fatal to a Brindle Greyhound since it has such a low body fat index.
Yet, for the most part, Greyhounds will live long and happy lives with the proper diet, the right amount of exercise, and love in their home.
Do They Shed?
Brindle Greyhounds may have a smooth, short coat, but they’re still known to shed. This means you’ll need to groom your dog daily, including daily brushing and frequent bathing to keep his beautiful coat nice and clean.
Brindle Greyhounds also need dental care since the breed is known for the following oral issues:
- Poor dental health
- Bad breath
- Tartar buildup
Besides the daily brushing to keep shedding at ease, bathing, and dental needs, Greyhounds are pretty low maintenance when it comes to other grooming methods. They only need their nails trimmed roughly once a month and a weekly exam of their ears, eyes, and skin to make sure your pet stays healthy.
What Kind of Temperament Do These Dogs Have?
Besides its sleek, beautiful features, an attractive aspect of a Greyhound is its loyalty to family. That being said, their playful temperament will need proper training if they’re going to be around small or young children.
Even though they’re loyal, Greyhounds are big, fast, strong creatures who could unintentionally hurt a small child. The chasing ability ingrained in the Greyhound genes could also be dangerous to smaller dogs or cats, making them less than ideal in a home with smaller pets.
Remember that Greyhounds, in general, are natural-born chasers, dating back to the days in ancient Egypt when Greyhounds were used to chase wildlife in the desert.
This aspect of their temperament can be controlled with proper training, but that takes time and should be considered based on who — or what — is currently living in your home.
This certainly doesn’t mean that a Greyhound isn’t good for a first-time dog owner. A young Greyhound could make for a rewarding first-time dog for new owners, but if you rescue a Greyhound that was mistreated, it could be difficult for new owners because of a shy and wary temperament.
What Are Their Exercise Needs?
Greyhounds may be some of the fastest dogs in the world, but that doesn’t mean they need to be running day and night. You’ll find that your Brindle Greyhound will love relaxing on the couch as much as running around the dog park. Daily walks are not necessary compared to other dogs that need constant activity.
If your Brindle Greyhound is properly trained to come to you when called, you can feel free to let him or her off of their leash so that they can show off their impressive speed.
However, if they’re not properly trained, a Greyhound should always be leashed due to its chasing nature. They’ll also need socialization training if they’ll be around other people and animals.
After a bit of running around, it’s not uncommon for a Greyhound to act like a couch potato and sleep the day away. Their lethargic nature makes a Greyhound perfect for smaller homes or even apartments. They simply need a small area on the couch in which to curl up and would be fine with a sporadic walk outside.
Greyhounds are pretty low-energy compared to other dogs, but they can still become bored if left alone for long periods. If you do leave your Greyhound home alone, be aware that it will need some exercise to let out its energy and not become destructive to your furniture and other items around your home.
Pros and Cons
Brindle Greyhounds are pretty easy to housetrain and are generally low-maintenance. They do need socialization training if visiting a dog park and going off-leash, as they can be timid around others while wanting to chase every little animal at the park.
For more on socialization training, check out our Obedience Classes for Dogs Guide!
One pro of the Greyhound is its superb temperament. They’re independent and intelligent dogs who are more than happy with a corner of the couch. However, they can be reserved with people they don’t know and take a while to warm up to your family. Once they do, however, they’ll be a loyal family member for life.
Pros:
- Elegant, tall, slender build
- Easy-grooming, beautiful coat
- Fast
- Calm and quiet temperament
- Loves to sleep
Cons:
- Prone to chasing small creatures
- Could be iffy with small children
- Timid and shy with strangers
- Independent, which could lead to difficult training
- Take a while to housebreak
Depending on how big of a dog you want in your home, the vital stats of a Brindle Greyhound could be seen as a pro or a con:
| Lifespan | 12-16 years |
| Weight | 50 to 85 pounds |
| Height | 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches at the shoulder |
| Suitable for | Single individuals or families without small children |
| Grooming requirements | Daily brushing to avoid shedding |
| Health concerns | Hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, hypothyroidism, osteosarcoma, sensitivity to anesthesia |
| Temperaments | Loyal, playful, natural-born chaser |
If you have a former racing dog, your Brindle Greyhound will probably weigh less than other Greyhounds, but this breed is prone to become overweight. A retired racing Greyhound may gain weight after retirement. This weight gain is very unhealthy for an older Brindle Greyhound and his food should be monitored.
As with any dog, there are pros and cons to owning a Brindle Greyhound. If you have the time and commitment to acclimate this loving dog into your home, it could end up being an affectionate and loyal family member for years to come.
