Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Greyhounds Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Greyhounds Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Greyhounds Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Greyhounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Greyhounds Easy to Train?
- Do Greyhounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Greyhounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Greyhounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Greyhounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Greyhounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Greyhounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Greyhounds
- Conclusion on Greyhound Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Greyhound
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Greyhound out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Greyhound based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Greyhound breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Greyhound by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Greyhound.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Greyhound for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Greyhound.
The summary table below shows the score of the Greyhound for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Nonsocial Fear | 56.1 percent |
| Stubbornness | 55.1 percent |
| Prey Drive | 50.9 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 42.7 percent |
| Excitability | 35.1 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 34.9 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 34.8 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 33.7 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 31.3 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 2.5 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 19.8 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 18.0 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 13.3 percent |
| Energy Level | 11.7 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Greyhound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Greyhound, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Greyhound.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Greyhounds are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Greyhound ranks number 123 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 2.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 9.6 % |
| 121 | Samoyed | 6.9 % |
| 122 | Irish Wolfhound | 6.6 % |
| 123 | Greyhound | 2.5 % |
| 124 | Siberian Husky | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Greyhounds are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Greyhound ranks average for aggression towards its owner.
The Greyhound ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has an owner-directed-aggression score of 13.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Border Collie | 14.4 % |
| 66 | Bullmastiff | 14.0 % |
| 67 | Borzoi | 13.3 % |
| 68 | Greyhound | 13.3 % |
| 69 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 13.1 % |
| 70 | West Highland White Terrier | 13.1 % |
| 71 | Belgian Malinois | 12.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Greyhounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Greyhounds are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Greyhound ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a dog-directed aggression score of 18.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.5 % |
| 114 | Whippet | 19.3 % |
| 115 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 19.3 % |
| 116 | Greyhound | 18.0 % |
| 117 | Collie | 16.1 % |
| 118 | Bearded Collie | 15.2 % |
| 119 | Eurasier | 13.2 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Greyhounds Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Greyhounds are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Greyhound ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Greyhound ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a stranger-directed-fear score of 33.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Great Dane | 34.4 % |
| 46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
| 47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
| 48 | Greyhound | 33.7 % |
| 49 | Havanese | 33.7 % |
| 50 | Poodle (Miniature) | 33.4 % |
| 51 | Tibetan Terrier | 32.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Greyhounds Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Greyhounds are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Greyhound ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Greyhound ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a dog-directed-fear score of 34.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Shiba Inu | 36.7 % |
| 65 | English Setter | 36.0 % |
| 66 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 35.7 % |
| 67 | Greyhound | 34.9 % |
| 68 | Basset Hound | 33.6 % |
| 69 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 33.6 % |
| 70 | Vizsla | 32.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Greyhounds Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Greyhounds are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Greyhound ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a nonsocial-fear score of 56.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Rat Terrier | 61.6 % |
| 11 | Redbone Coonhound | 59.3 % |
| 12 | Chinese Crested | 57.4 % |
| 13 | Greyhound | 56.1 % |
| 14 | Saint Bernard | 54.0 % |
| 15 | Cairn Terrier | 53.5 % |
| 16 | Lhasa Apso | 53.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Greyhounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Greyhounds are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Greyhound ranks low on dog rivalry.
The Greyhound ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a dog-rivalry score of 31.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Borzoi | 31.5 % |
| 86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 87 | Papillon | 31.4 % |
| 88 | Greyhound | 31.3 % |
| 89 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 31.1 % |
| 90 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
| 91 | Tibetan Terrier | 30.1 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Greyhounds Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Greyhounds are not easy to train.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very low for trainability.
The Greyhound ranks number 111 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the trainability of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a trainability score of 44.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | French Bulldog | 45.4 % |
| 109 | Beagle | 45.3 % |
| 110 | Yorkshire Terrier | 45.1 % |
| 111 | Greyhound | 44.9 % |
| 112 | Bull Terrier | 44.8 % |
| 113 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 43.7 % |
| 114 | Borzoi | 42.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Greyhound is and how the intelligence of the Greyhound affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Greyhound is.
Do Greyhounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Greyhounds are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Greyhound ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The Greyhound ranks number 57 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a chasing score of 50.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Irish Wolfhound | 53.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 53.1 % |
| 56 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 51.3 % |
| 57 | Greyhound | 50.9 % |
| 58 | Boston Terrier | 50.7 % |
| 59 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 50.2 % |
| 60 | Newfoundland | 48.4 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Greyhounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Greyhounds are not attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Greyhound ranks number 115 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 19.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Great Pyrenees | 21.6 % |
| 113 | Irish Wolfhound | 21.1 % |
| 114 | Cairn Terrier | 21.0 % |
| 115 | Greyhound | 19.8 % |
| 116 | Afghan Hound | 18.4 % |
| 117 | Siberian Husky | 17.9 % |
| 118 | Shiba Inu | 16.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Greyhounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Greyhounds are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Greyhound ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Greyhound ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a separation anxiety score of 42.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 43.3 % |
| 51 | Ibizan Hound | 43.2 % |
| 52 | Australian Kelpie | 43.2 % |
| 53 | Greyhound | 42.7 % |
| 54 | English Springer Spaniel | 42.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 42.3 % |
| 56 | Chow Chow | 42.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Greyhounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Greyhounds are quite a bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Greyhound ranks high for touch sensitivity.
The Greyhound ranks number 43 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has a touch-sensitivity score of 34.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 37.0 % |
| 41 | Keeshond | 35.6 % |
| 42 | Basenji | 35.3 % |
| 43 | Greyhound | 34.8 % |
| 44 | Papillon | 34.7 % |
| 45 | West Highland White Terrier | 34.5 % |
| 46 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 34.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Greyhounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Greyhounds are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Greyhound ranks low for excitability.
The Greyhound ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has an excitability score of 35.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Alaskan Malamute | 36.8 % |
| 91 | Golden Retriever | 36.4 % |
| 92 | Whippet | 36.2 % |
| 93 | Greyhound | 35.1 % |
| 94 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 35.0 % |
| 95 | Shih Tzu | 34.2 % |
| 96 | Great Dane | 33.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Greyhounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Greyhounds
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Greyhounds are not energetic.
This is because the Greyhound ranks very low for energy level.
The Greyhound ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 93 Greyhound owners reported on the temperament of their Greyhound in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Greyhound has an energy-level score of 11.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Greyhound are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 19.7 % |
| 120 | Pekingese | 18.2 % |
| 121 | Great Pyrenees | 17.1 % |
| 122 | Greyhound | 11.7 % |
| 123 | Anatolian Shepherd | 9.4 % |
| 124 | Kuvasz | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Greyhound Temperament
The temperament of your Greyhound comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Greyhound is exposed to.
You cannot change your Greyhound`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Greyhound to.
Exposing your Greyhound to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Greyhound to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Greyhound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Greyhound.
If you think the Greyhound is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Greyhounds cost and Greyhound puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Greyhound breeders in the United States and the prices of their Greyhound puppies.