Blue Greyhound is one among the thirty-nine colors in the Greyhound breed. The dominant black gene dilutes to blue. Hence, for a Greyhound to have a blue coat, both parents must pass on the recessive gene. This unique gene makes the Blue Greyhound a rare one, with colors ranging from a pale misty blue to a deep blue or grey. However, Blue Greyhounds’ features are similar to the usual Greyhounds. Therefore, there is nothing more joyful than to have a loved Blue Greyhound in your house.
Table of Contents
Blue Greyhound Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Well adapted to apartment living
Potential sighthounds
Lower propensity for barking
Separation anxiety
Blue Greyhound Basic Information
Name: Blue Greyhound
Height: 2 Feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the shoulder level
Greyhounds have a long neck, narrow head, small folded ears, muscular, lengthy hindquarters, and long legs. They have a pair of dark, large, and round or oval-shaped eyes. Blue Greyhound’s coat looks almost metallic blue-grey. There are two kinds of Blue Greyhounds- Blue Fawn Greyhound and Regular Blue Greyhound. The Regular Blue Greyhound has a metallic blue-grey gloss, while the Blue Fawn Greyhound has a fawn coat color with an extra shade of blue. The coat color is a dilution of blue.
Parents pass on the recessive gene. This gene might not affect the color of the coat; sometimes, it can only change the color of the skin or eyes. In other words, there can be a Blue Greyhound with any color coat. The Greyhound shall also be considered blue as long as the nose is blue. Many a time, Grey Greyhounds would be registered as Blue Greyhounds.
Friendliness Overview
Good with Family
High
Friendly with Kids
High
Friendly with Dogs
Medium to high
Friendly towards Strangers
High
Adaptability Overview
Adapts well to apartment living
Medium to high
Good to New Owners
Low
Sensitivity Level
High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Tolerates Cold Weather
Low
Tolerates Hot Weather
High
Blue Greyhound Temperament
The Blue Greyhounds are loyal and affectionate. They are easy to train. Though Greyhounds are generally racing dogs, they are intelligent, family-oriented, sensitive, timid, and mild. However, they are shy and reserved to strangers.
Blue Greyhounds are high prey drive sighthounds. They are social and bear a good memory power. Playfulness is another prominent feature in the Blue Greyhounds. They are spirited and high-energy dogs. Like every dog breed, a Blue Greyhound needs early socialization.
Blue Greyhounds are kid-friendly and pet-friendly. They like to settle on a comfortable couch when there is no activity.
Blue Greyhound Training
Training Blue Greyhounds is great fun. Providing some basic training will help equip your Greyhound to accustom to his life after racing. Greyhounds are sensitive and do not respond to punishments. It would be best not to use aversive training techniques like shouting, physical punishment, or rattle cans as they cause behavioral problems. Greyhounds are reward lovers. Rewards may include food, praise, gentle petting, or games with toys.
If you want to let your Blue Greyhounds off the leash, he must have a strong recall. As Greyhounds are sighthounds, they can be distracted by movements and objects that we may not be able to see. Never leave your Greyhounds in public spots unless you know very well that your canine friend will return to you when called.
Trainability Overview
Easy to Train
High
Intelligence
High
Potential Mouthiness
Medium to high
Prey drive
High
Tendency to Bark
Low to medium
Blue Greyhound Exercise Needs
The Blue Greyhounds need an hour of exercise every day. Daily walks provide more mental and physical stimulation, building a bond between you and your dog. Your pet requires one or two 20 minutes’ walk every day.
Greyhounds will also enjoy a good run in the enclosed fenced area. His health condition and age will also determine the kind of activity you can engage him in. For example, a senior Blue Greyhound would like to tiptoe.
If not conditioned, a long run can be dangerous to your Greyhound’s health. Whether jogging or walking, make sure to monitor your Greyhounds for signs of fatigue or overheating. Blue Greyhounds are also prone to sunburn, so prefer early morning and evening walk. It would be best if you waited at least an hour after your Blue Greyhound has eaten before engaging him in any physical exercise to protect them from bloating or indigestion.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy Level
High
Intensity
Medium
Exercise Needs
High
Potential for Playfulness
Medium to high
Blue Greyhound Grooming
Blue Greyhounds have a short, smooth coat that’s easy to take care of. However, even though they bear a short coat, they shed. Hence it would be better to brush them daily to maintain healthy skin. While cleaning your Greyhound’s ears, use a wet cotton ball and remove the debris on the outer ears without harming the ear canals. Blue Greyhounds need not be bathed frequently.
Blue Greyhounds can have poor dental health. University of Bristol Vet School reveals that 39 percent of Greyhounds suffer from dental problems, the highest percentage for any other dog breed. Trim your pet’s nails regularly. As you groom, check for sores and skin infections. It is good to regularly check eyes, nose, and skin for any inflammation.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding
Medium to high
Drooling Potential
High
Easy to Groom
High
Blue Greyhound Health
Generally, Blue Greyhounds are very healthy dogs. However, since many adopted Greyhounds tend to be ex-racers, they may suffer from Hip, neck, joint problems and warrant extra care. The color of the coat is just the difference. Otherwise, the conditions are the same as in other Greyhounds. In addition, Greyhounds have little to no insulation and cannot tolerate cold weather. Therefore, put on warm clothes to protect them when the temperatures dip below 40 degrees. The following are the most common health issues that affect Blue Greyhounds:
Anesthesia Sensitivity: All sighthounds are extra sensitive to anesthetics because of their low body fat. It would be best to watch for a vet who carefully administers the Greyhound Anesthesia Protocol.
Musculoskeletal Injuries: Fractures, pulled muscles or ligaments, broken toes, paws, etc., are common when slender-legged sighthounds race. Blue Greyhounds should be left to stretch legs and gallop off-leash to maintain a good muscle tone. Osteoarthritis and intervertebral disk disease are common in Greyhounds because of excessive stress from racing on their joints and vertebrae.
Hypothyroidism: Low secretion of hormones by thyroid glands are responsible for hypothyroidism. The most obvious symptoms include obesity, mental dullness, and eyelids drooping. You can treat your Blue Greyhound suffering from hypothyroidism with daily medications.
Osteosarcoma: Generally affecting large dog breeds, osteosarcoma is bone cancer. Dogs are treated aggressively with amputation of limbs or chemotherapy. Although affected dogs look dull and lame, they can be diagnosed only by x rays.
Bloat: Bloating is caused by a sudden gas influx in the stomach. This causes the stomach to twist and can cost the dog’s life if not treated promptly. The twist is generally removed surgically.
Blue Greyhound Specific Health Conditions
The coat’s blue dilution is due to Color Dilution Alopecia, a state in which your pets might develop hair thinning gradually on their skin, resulting in hair loss permanently. This condition develops in some but not all dogs that have been bred for unusual coat color.
Health Overview
General Health
Medium to high
Potential for weight gain
High
Size
Medium to high
Blue Greyhound Diet and Nutrition
It is good to measure food and feed your Blue Greyhounds twice a day rather than letting the food on the plate all day long to eat. Since the Greyhounds are potential weight gainers, it is better to monitor the amount of food offered. The daily recommended amount is 2.5 to 4 cups of high-quality dry dog food for Males split into two meals; for Females, it is 1.5 to 3 cups.
Blue Greyhound Living Condition
Blue Greyhounds are well suited to apartment life as long as they are allowed for daily walks. They can be high in prey drives, so they need to be leash walked, and a sturdy fence is a must. Greyhounds are sensitive to cold; so warm winter wardrobes are necessary.
Blue Greyhounds are social animals. They are happier in companionships. Blue Greyhounds thrive for other animals to match their temperaments. They may be scared or nervous about new situations. Their independence should be valued and given little time to accustom to the new environment.
Adding a Blue Greyhound to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Breeding
Blue Greyhounds are highly sensitive. Therefore, you must treat them with tenderness.
Their skin is fragile compared to most other dogs. Hence, they bear lower tolerance to cold weather conditions.
They are costly to purchase and maintain.
They are capable of high exercise needs. Regular exercise will make them healthy dogs.
Cost of a Blue Greyhound Puppy
A Blue Greyhound can cost anywhere from $1400 to $2000. The price varies from breeder to breeder depending on the location, size, and other miscellaneous costs.
