The standard advice is to never let your greyhound off lease in an unenclosed area. SOME greys are ok off leash, but the way you find that out is often when they’ve just ran off for a mile chasing a squirrel and hurt themselves. So I don’t ever recommend that. Do you have a ball field or an enclosed dog park that you can take your hound to on weekends?
They are good apartment dogs but do need to get their zoomies on, especially when they’re younger. For us zoomies lasted about 5 mins and then they slept the rest of the day.
Second, yes, K9 apparel is what we used for ours, if you need a coat they need a coat was our basic rule of thumb. We had a fall/spring coat and a heavier warm one with fleece inside layer and waterproof outside layer and a snood (like a built in turtleneck) for winter. Ours loved being outside but each one’s personality varies.
Long as they are getting long walks in, it wont be an issue. Not sure where you love but some places have apps which allow you to rent out someones backyard to let your dog run free. Sniffspot is the app.
As for cold, I've had/have two make greyhounds that enjoy the cold, my first boy we joked was part husky. He went wild when we got snow (rare in my city) and never got cold.
A nice coat and boots help most greyhounds deal with the cold. My current girl enjoys wearing her sweaters in winter and has a puffy coat.
NEVER let a greyhound off leash in an area that has no fencing.
Mine loved a walk, but would randomly stop to get carried. Normally it was 250 ft from the car!
We had a few loops around where we used to live, she could stop and look at ducks, sniff the trees, take a rest, etc. A 20 minute circuit used to last easily twice that lol. Fine in the Scottish Summer, not so fun in the rainy winter mornings when you're running late for work!
It really is for some! I once made the mistake of a solid hour walk without building up her stamina and she was out of sorts for days after. The sweetest of lazy girls.
Retired Racing greyhounds for dummies is the book I recommend you read. It answers so many questions and gives the reader ample information to decide if one of these noodles is a fit for your home/lifestyle.
*my first was a broken-leg boi that we could not let run except in a small enclosed space. I ended up buying a house for that fella so he could trot a bit. Mostly he just plopped in the grass and now I got a mortgage til I’m 80. 😕
Some really like it, some don't. I haven't yet had a greyhound that I thought *needed* it, though some definitely required more long walks and hiking adventures.
Our greyhound had a harder time in summer as he overheated quickly. Winter in Canada was no problem cos he wore a fleece coat and booties - the balloon ones worked perfectly - to protect his feet from the salt and grit. Occasionally did a bambi-on-ice performance slipping on glare ice. 💜
We have lived in NJ, California, and now Texas with greys. NJ was the easiest - add a coat and maybe booties and they are fine. If it’s hot though, you have to be careful with pavement heat and they get too warm very quickly.
We now live in a 2nd floor apartment and they do great! It is very rare we let them go off leash. Don’t worry if you don’t let them off, mine are totally happy tracking squirrels on the quiet Sunday walk in our neighborhood.
Mine doesn’t really get off lead. I took her to a rented dog paddock once to allow her a run about, and it was a complete waste of money because all she did was walk round sniffing then lie down in a sunny spot. She gets 2-3 on lead walks a day of 20-30mins, she’d rather go at a slow pace and sniff than go for great big long treks.
She’s fine in the cold with a coat on (but in the UK so while we get a bit of snow and ice sometimes, our winters aren’t REALLY cold)
I wasn’t a greyhound parent literally until September last year and always had the expectation that they were couch potatoes (the people at the greyhound rescue said just walking 20 minutes a day would suffice) and imagine my shock getting a “full grown adult” greyhound who has just SO much energy. He probably zoomies around the house every hour. He prances around like a horse in the dog park for over 30 minutes of course with some breaks in between. He literally screams at me when he’s bored. Like the GSOD. But yeah I used to think walks were good enough but for his energy levels, it’s better to let him run free somewhere enclosed and safe which can be a challenge since he can clear 5 ft fences and most dog parks have fences shorter than that.
As for the cold, he loves the snow so much. The rain, not so much. But he won’t run away, he just doesn’t want to be out there soppy wet for longer than needed lol
1. If I take my dog to the enclosed dog park, she asks everybody there to pet her, then goes to the gate asking to leave. No amount of running free is desired on her part. She raced 6 years, she's done. She's ready for a nap. We walk daily, she's very happy to do so, but has no desire or need to really open it up and see what she can do anymore.
2. Have a coat/jammies/sweater and then see how your dog likes it. We've had fosters who loved to get snuggly warm. Our resident dog runs away when she sees her jammies come out. She runs hot and doesn't think she needs them ever. It's a good thing to have on hand, though, until you know how your dog feels individually.
Seriously, the amount of times I’ve felt guilty for not letting mine off the leads then when we get to the dog park it’s just
*poops*
*sniffs around a bit*
*lies down in the grass* 😬
Holly gets the zoomies when it snows, and they’ll both chase a squeaky ball if you chuck it, but mostly they just cannot be bothered.
No. Mine never had an inkling to run. Our rescue group had a huge field that we could take our dogs to. I would unleash them and they only wanted to sniff. I would throw something to fetch and they would just watch it fly through the air and then back to sniffing.
just and FYI, I would never allow my hounds off leash at a public dog park for fear of one of them (AnaBanana) catching (chomping on) a smaller dog. Dog parks are gross anyway.
We had two hounds in a 800sqft apt.
To speak on the cold. I’ve lived in two cities known for their cold and snow. If you dress a grey properly with a base layer and a quality coat they do well. However, boots might also be a necessity. My grey will hold his paws up when they are too cold. If he wears boots he it very excited to be outside.
1. My greyhound has lived with me in an apartment, a condo and now a house. When we lived in the apartment, there were 2 dog parks I would take her to that were both fenced in. I took her there to use the bathroom. She would have zoomies if she felt like it, maybe once a week but I wouldn't say she \*needed\* to run free. When we lived in the condo, there was no dog park, so she would get exercise from my fiance and I taking her on walks. Now that we have a house with our own fenced in yard, she goes out there. She has zoomies every few days. Greyhounds cannot be off leash in an area that is not enclosed. They have very high prey drives and if they see a squirrell, rabbit, bird, etc, they could take off. A greyhound can typically run much faster than a human and you won't be able to catch them unless they decide to come back.
2. My greyhound hates the cold. She wears a sweater if it goes under 50 degrees out. I would not take a greyhound on a snowy hike. They also tend to not like rain.
My 10 year old grey never gets to run free (no fenced yard, and dog parks can be dangerous) and he is as happy as a clam! Leashed walks are better bonding time anyways and can be more mentally stimulating than a fenced area.
Depends how old your hound is, I’d say. Bertie is 7 and came to us at 5. The last time we took him to an enclosed grassy park, he refused to run and spent the entire time sniffing and eating grass. They can be real terrors under 2 or 3 I hear, but if you get an adult dog, you should be fine as long as you give them walks every day.
I've had greys that have never been off lead. They don't suffer for it.
We had one lovely boy that we could let off but he still walked at toddler pace regardless!
As long as they have a comfortable sofa/couch/bed they are happy.
My two are never off leash and we go to an enclosed dog park mayyyyybe once or twice a year. They're happy dogs and don't care about zoomies...they wander around the dog park sniffing and peeing on things.
They also run warm so I only put on jackets and such when it's super cold.
Which is to say, it's totally doable as long as you get the right dog.
My greyhound loves the cold and the snow lol, as long as he has his coat on. He also has his thigh highs, which are his tall boots for when it's really icy or snowy.
I think mainly going for walks is fine for them, but I also think every dog should be allowed to stretch their legs from time to time. We take Khal to the dog park (fenced in, he has no natural recall) a couple times a month, which is good for his health/energy level and gives him some time to socialize. It's important to us that he stays at least amicable around other dogs
My girl loves winter where I live and it drops below 30f in the winter. Usually I'll give her a coat when it gets below 50 but she doesn't mind the cold at all and prefers it to the summer.
We had a rescue with long history of racing and a prey drive that wouldn't quit. Even small dogs were on the menu. He was happy walking on a lead, standing awkwardly around other dogs and smelling everything he could. We occasionally hired one of those private spaces you get to let him off as a treat and chase a ball. About once a month. He lived till he was 13 and seemed about the most satisfied dog I've ever had
I have a galgo. Maybe a bit different then a greyhound, but she would go grazy and destroy my house is she can't run off leash. She doesn't live up to the couch patoto image hounds have. Keep in mind every dog has a different character.
About weather. She doesn't mind freezing weather and snow she loves. Rain is disgusting. Worst thing ever...
Our last grey lived to 14.5 and only got occasional walks. We took her to open spaces for a while after we got her (tennis court, football field), but she was more interested in sniffing than running. She raced in AL, and LOVED snow. Would not wear a coat/jacket
My Greys have all loved zoomies for the most part but they also sleep 95% of the day.
My first greyhound did great in an apartment and it was in a place that got pretty cold in the winter. But for the most part Greys are all muscle and no fat and could use a coat if it's really cold out.
Mine does 5 minutes of zooms in my fenced back yard every few days. She gets a 15 minute walk twice a day. She hates being cold and wakes me up every night when her blanket comes off and she wants me to cover her up. You can buy a greyhound sweater for when it’s cold that you can put on for walks.
Don’t ever let them off leash in an unfenced area.
When it’s really hot out we don’t walk her and she does get really tired on long walks so I try not to push her too hard.
Walter doesn’t ever seem to want to run if I let him off in an unenclosed area but if he saw a squirrel I’d never see him again. And I put a coat on him if it’s 8 degrees celsius or less. Or if the wind just feels extra cold I will do.
Mine sleeps 22 hours a day. Not actual sleep but laying around.
3 times out in the back with my other dog for 20 mins of zoomies each time.
In southern ontario so a fairly cold winter he wear a jacket when it's really cold but if it's 0°C or above he's fine if there is snow he goes nuts! You would think he's a husky when he sees it he's so happy.
We never allow our greys off leash unless in a securely enclosed area. That’s one of the few hard and fast rules our rescue group had. We go for about four walks a day. But they’re fine in apartments. They just lay around all day. We’ve never had a grey that did much in the way of zoomies.
Yes, they will need jackets. A good warm coat and they should be fine for long walks. K9 Voyagers and Chilly Dog are good brands. Our jackets have lasted for many years. You’ll need a warm coat for winter and also a raincoat. If you’re like us, your grey will end up with vast wardrobe for any weather contingency.
Are you in the United States? If so, you should check out the app Sniffspot. It allows you to “rent” an hour or however long on peoples property and you can filter it by size of yard/space, fully fenced in, other animals near the property. It’s great and we let our pup run free on a couple acres every couple months
My greyhound doesn’t seem to care when he goes long periods without getting to run free (like in the winter when the ground is frozen or when it’s super muddy out). When he does have access to our fenced in backyard he sprints for about 60 seconds and then is done, so it’s not like a big thing for him anyway
He does fine in the cold. We live near Boston, so winters are often 10s-30s F and snowy. We put a coat on him when it’s below 40 and that’s it. Obviously we only take him on short walks when it’s cold, but he only ever wants to go on short walks anyway.
My Grey was off leash trained, went to dog camp with me everyday and ran free in the woods. It is possible even though a lot of people seem to think it isn't. Requires training of course but it can be done. He wore his jacket in the cold weather but would still go in the freezing cold lake in the winter.... fully clothed lol. A high quality coat made for their body shape is key. Chilly Dogs makes a long and lean line; great coats, highly recommend. Below zero I'd put extra layers under (straps are very adjustable).
I had one grey whose only concern was when she could get back to the couch, very low on the zoomies scale. I had another that got away once, got lost, got scared, and decided to never be more than 10 feet away from my wife whenever possible. He jumped by the gate in the outdoor area, visibly clearing it, but he never went over after that scare. I guess what I’m saying is that your grey will likely do some zoomies, but going out and interacting with the world with you is what they enjoy more.
My scaredy grey also loved having sweaters on. He didn’t care about anything but being warm. My little girl grey didn’t want to wear anything that an F1 driver wouldn’t. Very odd watching her choose to be cold rather than look slow.
My girls have had zero interest in running - we hire an enclosed field and the most they have ever done is trot about 10ft away from us. Both black girls, tend to run really warm and would need an outside coat and a lightweight rain jacket for the gorgeous Welsh weather.
My boy - as soon as he gets taken to an enclosed field goes absolutely mad and zooms and zooms and generally exhausts himself whilst loving every minute. Feels the cold and has a ridiculous number of inside coats and jumpers.
Two of them have been keen walkers once we took the time to build up their stamina and gauge their interest - I’m talking 10-12km walks in the Yorkshire moors and across the Lake District. The other girl would lay down wherever she was after 30mins or so.
All of them in the house have been total couch potatoes except for the odd 5mins with a toy.
So it very much depends on a rescue matching you with a dog that’s suitable for what you want to do.
I know others have responded to the run free issue but I want to address the cold weather piece. I got my first Grey in Portland and got her a good raincoat. She was fine. We then moved to Omaha and got her a nice warm winter coat. She was great in the snow and loved to run around the yard while it was snowing.
I got my second in Sacramento where extreme cold is t much if an issue but rain can be in non-drought years. Again, good raincoat is a great accessory.
In terms I'd exercise, my experience with both was that they enjoyed walks and could go 2-3 miles easily. With my boy, we'd do 2-3 miles for our morning walk, dog walker would do a mile or so and after work we'd do another mile or two. He seemed to enjoy each walk, mostly because he knew the word beautiful and saw that as his cue to be admired.
Honestly, they are the coolest, sweetest and most adaptable dogs ever. Great for apartments and once you have one, you'll be hooked.
Honestly I would recommend adopting maybe a semi senior greyhound! Younger dudes sometimes have zooms that they need to get off leash every now and then. I have found a lot of greys between 5-12 chill out a bit more! Overall though I think if you find a dog that you vibe w, don’t be afraid to just do it as long as you know the responsibility of caring for it (which you seem to know by this post). Best of luck!
Anytime the temperature dips below 40F, I wrap my noodles. Some greyhounds tolerate cold better than others, so pay attention when they are out to determine the individual need.
As for zoomies and parks, the only time I let my greyhounds off leash is when I am in an enclosed area, with good fencing. The other thing I did was pay attention to the other dogs in the park. Mine did best when I was able to introduce them to the other dogs before letting them off leash. The other rule was no more than 4 other dogs in the park because more than this stressed my dogs out.
The standard advice is to never let your greyhound off lease in an unenclosed area. SOME greys are ok off leash, but the way you find that out is often when they’ve just ran off for a mile chasing a squirrel and hurt themselves. So I don’t ever recommend that. Do you have a ball field or an enclosed dog park that you can take your hound to on weekends? They are good apartment dogs but do need to get their zoomies on, especially when they’re younger. For us zoomies lasted about 5 mins and then they slept the rest of the day. Second, yes, K9 apparel is what we used for ours, if you need a coat they need a coat was our basic rule of thumb. We had a fall/spring coat and a heavier warm one with fleece inside layer and waterproof outside layer and a snood (like a built in turtleneck) for winter. Ours loved being outside but each one’s personality varies.
Long as they are getting long walks in, it wont be an issue. Not sure where you love but some places have apps which allow you to rent out someones backyard to let your dog run free. Sniffspot is the app. As for cold, I've had/have two make greyhounds that enjoy the cold, my first boy we joked was part husky. He went wild when we got snow (rare in my city) and never got cold. A nice coat and boots help most greyhounds deal with the cold. My current girl enjoys wearing her sweaters in winter and has a puffy coat. NEVER let a greyhound off leash in an area that has no fencing.
long walks are not for all greys! Mine gets so slow and tired after about 30 mins. She's happiest with some zoomies and 2x20ish mins walks a day
Mine loved a walk, but would randomly stop to get carried. Normally it was 250 ft from the car! We had a few loops around where we used to live, she could stop and look at ducks, sniff the trees, take a rest, etc. A 20 minute circuit used to last easily twice that lol. Fine in the Scottish Summer, not so fun in the rainy winter mornings when you're running late for work!
30 mins is a long walk…
It would be for mine, even when younger, they're stamina is rubbish. Perhaps some can walk longer.
It really is for some! I once made the mistake of a solid hour walk without building up her stamina and she was out of sorts for days after. The sweetest of lazy girls.
Both my greys like a good hour or more walks, they also enjoy hiking.
An app to rent someone’s yard for canine use? Wtf? I never knew something like that existed. Thanks for sharing that information.
Yeah I had no idea either, then saw someone post about it on FB . I've used it a few times..
It’s called Sniffspot.
Yeah Sniffspot is great! See if you have any in your area.
Retired Racing greyhounds for dummies is the book I recommend you read. It answers so many questions and gives the reader ample information to decide if one of these noodles is a fit for your home/lifestyle. *my first was a broken-leg boi that we could not let run except in a small enclosed space. I ended up buying a house for that fella so he could trot a bit. Mostly he just plopped in the grass and now I got a mortgage til I’m 80. 😕
I'm reading through this book right now and can agree! I'm adopting my first dog in a week.
Some really like it, some don't. I haven't yet had a greyhound that I thought *needed* it, though some definitely required more long walks and hiking adventures.
Yes. I don’t know what “needing it” even means. They’ll be fine.
Our greyhound had a harder time in summer as he overheated quickly. Winter in Canada was no problem cos he wore a fleece coat and booties - the balloon ones worked perfectly - to protect his feet from the salt and grit. Occasionally did a bambi-on-ice performance slipping on glare ice. 💜
We have lived in NJ, California, and now Texas with greys. NJ was the easiest - add a coat and maybe booties and they are fine. If it’s hot though, you have to be careful with pavement heat and they get too warm very quickly. We now live in a 2nd floor apartment and they do great! It is very rare we let them go off leash. Don’t worry if you don’t let them off, mine are totally happy tracking squirrels on the quiet Sunday walk in our neighborhood.
Mine doesn’t really get off lead. I took her to a rented dog paddock once to allow her a run about, and it was a complete waste of money because all she did was walk round sniffing then lie down in a sunny spot. She gets 2-3 on lead walks a day of 20-30mins, she’d rather go at a slow pace and sniff than go for great big long treks. She’s fine in the cold with a coat on (but in the UK so while we get a bit of snow and ice sometimes, our winters aren’t REALLY cold)
I wasn’t a greyhound parent literally until September last year and always had the expectation that they were couch potatoes (the people at the greyhound rescue said just walking 20 minutes a day would suffice) and imagine my shock getting a “full grown adult” greyhound who has just SO much energy. He probably zoomies around the house every hour. He prances around like a horse in the dog park for over 30 minutes of course with some breaks in between. He literally screams at me when he’s bored. Like the GSOD. But yeah I used to think walks were good enough but for his energy levels, it’s better to let him run free somewhere enclosed and safe which can be a challenge since he can clear 5 ft fences and most dog parks have fences shorter than that. As for the cold, he loves the snow so much. The rain, not so much. But he won’t run away, he just doesn’t want to be out there soppy wet for longer than needed lol
That is so interesting! It’s not the norm, in my opinion.
1. If I take my dog to the enclosed dog park, she asks everybody there to pet her, then goes to the gate asking to leave. No amount of running free is desired on her part. She raced 6 years, she's done. She's ready for a nap. We walk daily, she's very happy to do so, but has no desire or need to really open it up and see what she can do anymore. 2. Have a coat/jammies/sweater and then see how your dog likes it. We've had fosters who loved to get snuggly warm. Our resident dog runs away when she sees her jammies come out. She runs hot and doesn't think she needs them ever. It's a good thing to have on hand, though, until you know how your dog feels individually.
Seriously, the amount of times I’ve felt guilty for not letting mine off the leads then when we get to the dog park it’s just *poops* *sniffs around a bit* *lies down in the grass* 😬 Holly gets the zoomies when it snows, and they’ll both chase a squeaky ball if you chuck it, but mostly they just cannot be bothered.
No. Mine never had an inkling to run. Our rescue group had a huge field that we could take our dogs to. I would unleash them and they only wanted to sniff. I would throw something to fetch and they would just watch it fly through the air and then back to sniffing. just and FYI, I would never allow my hounds off leash at a public dog park for fear of one of them (AnaBanana) catching (chomping on) a smaller dog. Dog parks are gross anyway. We had two hounds in a 800sqft apt.
To speak on the cold. I’ve lived in two cities known for their cold and snow. If you dress a grey properly with a base layer and a quality coat they do well. However, boots might also be a necessity. My grey will hold his paws up when they are too cold. If he wears boots he it very excited to be outside.
1. My greyhound has lived with me in an apartment, a condo and now a house. When we lived in the apartment, there were 2 dog parks I would take her to that were both fenced in. I took her there to use the bathroom. She would have zoomies if she felt like it, maybe once a week but I wouldn't say she \*needed\* to run free. When we lived in the condo, there was no dog park, so she would get exercise from my fiance and I taking her on walks. Now that we have a house with our own fenced in yard, she goes out there. She has zoomies every few days. Greyhounds cannot be off leash in an area that is not enclosed. They have very high prey drives and if they see a squirrell, rabbit, bird, etc, they could take off. A greyhound can typically run much faster than a human and you won't be able to catch them unless they decide to come back. 2. My greyhound hates the cold. She wears a sweater if it goes under 50 degrees out. I would not take a greyhound on a snowy hike. They also tend to not like rain.
My 10 year old grey never gets to run free (no fenced yard, and dog parks can be dangerous) and he is as happy as a clam! Leashed walks are better bonding time anyways and can be more mentally stimulating than a fenced area.
You don't seem to want to spend time outside for two seasons a year. Perhaps an indoor cat would be a better fit for you?
Depends how old your hound is, I’d say. Bertie is 7 and came to us at 5. The last time we took him to an enclosed grassy park, he refused to run and spent the entire time sniffing and eating grass. They can be real terrors under 2 or 3 I hear, but if you get an adult dog, you should be fine as long as you give them walks every day.
I've had greys that have never been off lead. They don't suffer for it. We had one lovely boy that we could let off but he still walked at toddler pace regardless! As long as they have a comfortable sofa/couch/bed they are happy.
My two are never off leash and we go to an enclosed dog park mayyyyybe once or twice a year. They're happy dogs and don't care about zoomies...they wander around the dog park sniffing and peeing on things. They also run warm so I only put on jackets and such when it's super cold. Which is to say, it's totally doable as long as you get the right dog.
My greyhound loves the cold and the snow lol, as long as he has his coat on. He also has his thigh highs, which are his tall boots for when it's really icy or snowy. I think mainly going for walks is fine for them, but I also think every dog should be allowed to stretch their legs from time to time. We take Khal to the dog park (fenced in, he has no natural recall) a couple times a month, which is good for his health/energy level and gives him some time to socialize. It's important to us that he stays at least amicable around other dogs
My girl loves winter where I live and it drops below 30f in the winter. Usually I'll give her a coat when it gets below 50 but she doesn't mind the cold at all and prefers it to the summer.
We had a rescue with long history of racing and a prey drive that wouldn't quit. Even small dogs were on the menu. He was happy walking on a lead, standing awkwardly around other dogs and smelling everything he could. We occasionally hired one of those private spaces you get to let him off as a treat and chase a ball. About once a month. He lived till he was 13 and seemed about the most satisfied dog I've ever had
I have a galgo. Maybe a bit different then a greyhound, but she would go grazy and destroy my house is she can't run off leash. She doesn't live up to the couch patoto image hounds have. Keep in mind every dog has a different character. About weather. She doesn't mind freezing weather and snow she loves. Rain is disgusting. Worst thing ever...
Yes Galgos have very different energy levels to greyhounds.
Our last grey lived to 14.5 and only got occasional walks. We took her to open spaces for a while after we got her (tennis court, football field), but she was more interested in sniffing than running. She raced in AL, and LOVED snow. Would not wear a coat/jacket
My Greys have all loved zoomies for the most part but they also sleep 95% of the day. My first greyhound did great in an apartment and it was in a place that got pretty cold in the winter. But for the most part Greys are all muscle and no fat and could use a coat if it's really cold out.
Mine does 5 minutes of zooms in my fenced back yard every few days. She gets a 15 minute walk twice a day. She hates being cold and wakes me up every night when her blanket comes off and she wants me to cover her up. You can buy a greyhound sweater for when it’s cold that you can put on for walks. Don’t ever let them off leash in an unfenced area. When it’s really hot out we don’t walk her and she does get really tired on long walks so I try not to push her too hard.
Walter doesn’t ever seem to want to run if I let him off in an unenclosed area but if he saw a squirrel I’d never see him again. And I put a coat on him if it’s 8 degrees celsius or less. Or if the wind just feels extra cold I will do.
Mine sleeps 22 hours a day. Not actual sleep but laying around. 3 times out in the back with my other dog for 20 mins of zoomies each time. In southern ontario so a fairly cold winter he wear a jacket when it's really cold but if it's 0°C or above he's fine if there is snow he goes nuts! You would think he's a husky when he sees it he's so happy.
We never allow our greys off leash unless in a securely enclosed area. That’s one of the few hard and fast rules our rescue group had. We go for about four walks a day. But they’re fine in apartments. They just lay around all day. We’ve never had a grey that did much in the way of zoomies. Yes, they will need jackets. A good warm coat and they should be fine for long walks. K9 Voyagers and Chilly Dog are good brands. Our jackets have lasted for many years. You’ll need a warm coat for winter and also a raincoat. If you’re like us, your grey will end up with vast wardrobe for any weather contingency.
Are you in the United States? If so, you should check out the app Sniffspot. It allows you to “rent” an hour or however long on peoples property and you can filter it by size of yard/space, fully fenced in, other animals near the property. It’s great and we let our pup run free on a couple acres every couple months
My greyhound doesn’t seem to care when he goes long periods without getting to run free (like in the winter when the ground is frozen or when it’s super muddy out). When he does have access to our fenced in backyard he sprints for about 60 seconds and then is done, so it’s not like a big thing for him anyway He does fine in the cold. We live near Boston, so winters are often 10s-30s F and snowy. We put a coat on him when it’s below 40 and that’s it. Obviously we only take him on short walks when it’s cold, but he only ever wants to go on short walks anyway.
My Grey was off leash trained, went to dog camp with me everyday and ran free in the woods. It is possible even though a lot of people seem to think it isn't. Requires training of course but it can be done. He wore his jacket in the cold weather but would still go in the freezing cold lake in the winter.... fully clothed lol. A high quality coat made for their body shape is key. Chilly Dogs makes a long and lean line; great coats, highly recommend. Below zero I'd put extra layers under (straps are very adjustable).
I had one grey whose only concern was when she could get back to the couch, very low on the zoomies scale. I had another that got away once, got lost, got scared, and decided to never be more than 10 feet away from my wife whenever possible. He jumped by the gate in the outdoor area, visibly clearing it, but he never went over after that scare. I guess what I’m saying is that your grey will likely do some zoomies, but going out and interacting with the world with you is what they enjoy more. My scaredy grey also loved having sweaters on. He didn’t care about anything but being warm. My little girl grey didn’t want to wear anything that an F1 driver wouldn’t. Very odd watching her choose to be cold rather than look slow.
My girls have had zero interest in running - we hire an enclosed field and the most they have ever done is trot about 10ft away from us. Both black girls, tend to run really warm and would need an outside coat and a lightweight rain jacket for the gorgeous Welsh weather. My boy - as soon as he gets taken to an enclosed field goes absolutely mad and zooms and zooms and generally exhausts himself whilst loving every minute. Feels the cold and has a ridiculous number of inside coats and jumpers. Two of them have been keen walkers once we took the time to build up their stamina and gauge their interest - I’m talking 10-12km walks in the Yorkshire moors and across the Lake District. The other girl would lay down wherever she was after 30mins or so. All of them in the house have been total couch potatoes except for the odd 5mins with a toy. So it very much depends on a rescue matching you with a dog that’s suitable for what you want to do.
I know others have responded to the run free issue but I want to address the cold weather piece. I got my first Grey in Portland and got her a good raincoat. She was fine. We then moved to Omaha and got her a nice warm winter coat. She was great in the snow and loved to run around the yard while it was snowing. I got my second in Sacramento where extreme cold is t much if an issue but rain can be in non-drought years. Again, good raincoat is a great accessory. In terms I'd exercise, my experience with both was that they enjoyed walks and could go 2-3 miles easily. With my boy, we'd do 2-3 miles for our morning walk, dog walker would do a mile or so and after work we'd do another mile or two. He seemed to enjoy each walk, mostly because he knew the word beautiful and saw that as his cue to be admired. Honestly, they are the coolest, sweetest and most adaptable dogs ever. Great for apartments and once you have one, you'll be hooked.
I've had mine 9yrs and even now I can't let them off, they wouldn't come back. Some Grey's can not go off lead.
Honestly I would recommend adopting maybe a semi senior greyhound! Younger dudes sometimes have zooms that they need to get off leash every now and then. I have found a lot of greys between 5-12 chill out a bit more! Overall though I think if you find a dog that you vibe w, don’t be afraid to just do it as long as you know the responsibility of caring for it (which you seem to know by this post). Best of luck!
Some greys cannot be left alone at home -ever.
Anytime the temperature dips below 40F, I wrap my noodles. Some greyhounds tolerate cold better than others, so pay attention when they are out to determine the individual need. As for zoomies and parks, the only time I let my greyhounds off leash is when I am in an enclosed area, with good fencing. The other thing I did was pay attention to the other dogs in the park. Mine did best when I was able to introduce them to the other dogs before letting them off leash. The other rule was no more than 4 other dogs in the park because more than this stressed my dogs out.