A Day in the Life of a Pet Greyhound

Meet Bella, a three-year-old greyhound who came home through GAP a little over a year ago. Her days are not exactly action packed, and that is precisely the point. Here is how Bella likes to spend a typical day.

6:30am - Rise and shine (slowly)

Bella stretches out long and slow, back legs first, then front, before wandering over for her first pat of the day. She is in no rush. Mornings are a gentle affair, with plenty of time for a good yawn and a lean against her favourite person's leg before anything else happens.

7:00am - Breakfast

Breakfast is easily the most enthusiastic part of Bella's morning. Bowl down, and it disappears in record time, easily the fastest 45 seconds of her entire day.

7:30am - The morning walk

A brisk 20 minute walk around the block gives Bella a chance to sniff every letterbox and greet the neighbours. She trots along happily on lead, tail doing a gentle wag whenever she spots a familiar face. By the time she gets home, she is more than ready for what comes next.

8:00am - Settling in for the morning nap

This is where the bulk of Bella's day happens. She circles her bed twice, flops down with a contented sigh, and settles in for a long stretch of sleep in her favourite sunny spot by the window. Greyhounds are known to sleep for up to 18 hours a day, and Bella takes this very seriously.

12:00pm - A brief stretch and check-in

A quick trip outside, a drink of water, and a lazy stretch mark the middle of the day. Bella might wander over for a scratch behind the ears if anyone is around, before heading straight back to her bed.

1:00pm - The afternoon nap, part two

Not to be confused with the morning nap, the afternoon nap is an entirely separate and equally important event. Bella has simply relocated to a new sunny patch on the floor by now, because the light has moved and so has she.

5:00pm - The evening walk

As the day cools down, Bella perks up for her second walk, usually with a little extra spring in her step. This is often her favourite part of the day, a chance to stretch her legs properly and take in the sights and smells of the neighbourhood before dinner.

6:00pm - Dinner and family time

Dinner disappears just as fast as breakfast did. Afterwards, Bella joins the family in the living room, usually angling for a spot on the couch beside someone rather than on her own bed, because company is always the better option.

8:00pm - Cuddle time

Late evening is prime cuddle time. Bella curls up with her head resting on a lap, perfectly content to spend the evening being a very large, very affectionate lap dog while the television plays in the background.

9:30pm - Lights out

One last trip outside, then it is back to her bed for the night. Bella is usually asleep within minutes, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Add it all up

Look closely at Bella's day and the pattern becomes clear. Two walks totalling around 40 minutes, two meals, and somewhere between 16 and 18 hours of sleep. The rest of the time is spent quietly keeping her favourite people company.

• Roughly 40 minutes of walking a day, split across two short walks
• Up to 18 hours of sleep, mostly in a favourite sunny or comfortable spot
• Two meals, usually gone within a minute
• Plenty of downtime spent close to family rather than off exploring alone

For anyone weighing up whether a greyhound would fit into their life, this is about as accurate a picture as it gets. It is a genuinely low key, low demand day, built around routine, comfort and closeness with their people.

Think a day like Bella's could suit your household? Get in touch with the GAP team on (03) 5799 0166, we would love to help you find a greyhound of your own.