Cross Breeds

skinny greyhounds?

I went to a race track to see the greyhounds (never seen one before in my life) and they were all so bony! Their ribs were all visible and I could easily see their hip bones and spine. Would it kill the people to feed their dogs a little more? Or are grey hounds supposed to be that thin?

Public Comments

1. Breed standard. Barrel chest and narrow hips.
2. Try going to a dog show sometime - you want to see skinny, you will see skinny there!
3. Greyhounds are supposed to be skinny. They're bred for sprinting, and carrying much extra weight wouldn't help. You will see heavier greyhounds, however, after they retire from racing - they're notorious couch potatoes. Don't worry, it's not some "skinny dogs are in" or a dog eating disorder epidemic. The dogs probably eat well, but expend all the energy from the food in their sprinting.
4. my 2 greys are the same they are ment to be that way if they get too fat its dangerous for them coz there legs are scrawny..my 2 are lean and fit..my female is thin and is show standard but i wont show her she was boarding at henlow race track and gave the other dogs a run for there money she is very quick and if she was fat she wouldnt be able to reach the speed i have witnessed her run both my greys are not big eaterds but are healthy xxx
5. Greyhounds are naturally thin and muscular. My sister in law owns one she adopted through Greyhound rescue. They are really one of the sweetest breeds around.
6. greyhounds are always skinny no matter how much u feed them its just they way they are
7. They are bread to be skinny, but there are a lot of the trainer that won't feed them enough the day before the race in order to get them to chase the rabbit they use in the race. This just ensures that the dog will run. I'm not saying that it's right, but it is done very regularly.
8. There are some Greyhounds that are too skinny. But what people normally think of as skinny is what GH people think of as "fit" and lean. Race weight is different than show weight, even in Whippets. My girls are at a fine weight for running (they eat twice a day as much as they want), but for show they need about a pound more. Show weight, the hips are normally covered somewhat. So mine are on a weight gain diet for now. So substitute lean for skinny. Fat GHs and Whippets are prone to injuries....yes you can make them fat....it's not healthy for them. ps Wanger, the trainers skip breakfast the morning of a race to ensure the dog does not bloat ! It is not cruel, it is to keep the dog safe. My dogs are fed lightly or skip breakfast if they are running early in the day. Mine don't bloat, but a heavy meal right before running is NOT a good idea. The track GHs are fed well after they cool down.
9. When a greyhound is still racing, they're deliberately kept on the thin side because less weight makes them more streamlined, carrying less weight makes them faster. It's for that reason they don't cut their nails - extra long nails gives them better traction. When they're rescued and fostered or adopted, they all put on about 5 pounds or so in pretty short order. You're supposed to be able to see a greyhounds ribs clearly, but not to the point that you can rest a finger in the hollow between them.
10. Racing greyhounds are lean and some have such a high metabolic rate - it is difficult to keep weight on them. A healthy greyhound should show the last 3 ribs - keep in mind they are athletes and that most dogs we see in the general public are over weight and that is more unhealthy than being under weight
11. Greyhounds are naturally thin. I do feel that the ones at the track are thinner than need be. I have a grey and a golden. My golden is a bit overweight, but only eats about 2/3 of what my grey eats- plus the golden is on diet food and the grey is not. My grey is still thin. He has put on about 7-8 pounds since we adopted him 4 years ago. He eats well, and gets healthy table scraps as well. Their metabolism is really high. When a grey gets "fat" they form love handles, but their ribs still show (my friend's grey has love handles!)
12. They are supposed to be that way. To me they are quite exotic looking. I have one and she is beautiful!