Editing Greyhound (section)

== Temperament ==
[[File:MargaretGormanPetDogApr1925Retouched.jpg|thumb|[[Margaret Gorman]] with her pet Greyhound, "Long Goodie", in April 1925]]
Greyhounds live most happily as pets in quiet environments.<ref>Livinggood, Lee (2000). ''Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies'', p. 31. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. {{ISBN|0-7645-5276-7}}</ref>{{dubious|date=March 2024|reason=You cannot measure the happiness of a dog and there is no way to substantiate such a claim}} They do well in families with children, as long as the children are taught to treat the dog properly with politeness and appropriate respect.<ref>Livinggood 2000, p. 55-56</ref> Greyhounds have a sensitive nature, and gentle commands work best as training methods.<ref>Livinggood, Lee (2000). Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. {{ISBN|0-7645-5276-7}}</ref>

Occasionally, a Greyhound may bark; however, they are generally not barkers, which is beneficial in suburban environments, and they are usually as friendly to strangers as they are with their own families.<ref>Branigan, Cynthia A. (1998). ''Adopting the Racing Greyhound'', pp. 17-18. Howell Book House, New York. {{ISBN|0-87605-193-X}}.</ref> A 2008 [[University of Pennsylvania]] study found that Greyhounds are one of the least aggressive dog breeds towards strangers, owners, and other dogs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Duffy |first1=Deborah L. |last2=Hsu |first2=Yuying |last3=Serpell |first3=James A. |date= 2008|title=Breed differences in canine aggression |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0168159108001147 |journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science |language=en |volume=114 |issue=3–4 |pages=441–460 |doi=10.1016/j.applanim.2008.04.006}}</ref> However, Greyhounds can be prone to sleep startle/sleep aggression if suddenly disturbed while napping.  Owners can encounter this problem, as many greyhounds sleep with their eyes at least partially open, appearing awake.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/sleep-startle-dogs#:~:text=Like%20all%20animals%2C%20a%20startle,woken%20up%20suddenly%20or%20unexpectedly | title=Sleep startle in dogs &#124; Battersea Dogs & Cats Home }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hectorsgreyhoundrescue.org/greyhounds-as-pets/sleep-startle-and-aggression/ | title=Sleep Startle and Aggression }}</ref>

A survey of those adopting rescue Greyhounds found that Greyhound adoptions have higher short term adoption success than shelters. The survey also found reported hyperactivity levels to be below that of shelter dogs.<ref>"The Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) in Australia and New Zealand: A survey of owners' experiences with their greyhounds one month after adoption" ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science'' Elliott, 2010 vol. 124, issue 3-4. pp. 121-135.</ref>

Greyhounds tend to be outgoing, happy and sociable with people and seem to relish human contact, even following owners from room to room at home (known colloquially as being a "Velcro dog"). Small animals including [[cat]]s may be the subject of prey-driven behaviour by Greyhounds.<ref name=dummies>{{cite book|last=Livingood|first=Lee|title=Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YGYD9pWfgWMC|date=4 April 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-05365-2}}</ref>{{Rp|58–60}}