How Much Does It Cost to Adopt and Own a Greyhound?

Greyhounds are a large breed, so it is natural to wonder whether they come with a large price tag too. Here is a realistic breakdown of what to expect, from adoption through to everyday life, so you can budget with confidence.

What's included when you adopt through GAP

Every greyhound adopted through GAP is vaccinated, desexed, microchipped and health checked before going to their new home. This is a meaningful saving, since these are typically the biggest upfront veterinary costs when bringing home any new dog, and they are already taken care of by the time you meet your greyhound.

Adoption fees can change over time, but for most GAP greyhounds it is currently a flat fee of $100. Those greyhounds aged six years or older are $50. For these fees, you are welcoming home a pedigree, purebred dog who is already desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated, along with a coat, collar and lead. Each greyhound has also been temperament assessed and suitability matched to help find the right fit for your household, and GAP provides lifetime support long after adoption day.

Arranged separately, this combination of veterinary work and purebred pedigree would typically add up to a much larger cost.

One-off setup costs

Once you bring your greyhound home, there are a few initial items worth budgeting for.

• A comfortable, well padded bed, greyhounds have very little body fat and appreciate a soft place to rest
• Council registration, which is often discounted for desexed dogs
• Basic bowls and a crate or safe space if you plan to use one during the settling in period

General care and maintenance

Beyond the dollars and cents, it helps to know what day to day care actually looks like. Greyhounds are refreshingly low maintenance once settled into a routine.

• Feeding: one to two meals a day, with portion size based on your greyhound's weight and activity level
• Exercise: a couple of short walks a day, around 20 to 30 minutes each, plus plenty of rest
• Grooming: a quick weekly brush to keep their short coat glossy, with no need for professional grooming
• Nail care: regular trims, particularly important given how much time greyhounds spend resting rather than wearing nails down naturally
• Dental care: routine brushing or dental chews, alongside professional cleans as recommended by your vet
• Health checks: an annual vet visit for vaccinations, a general check up and parasite prevention

None of this requires specialist knowledge or a big time commitment. Most greyhound owners find the day to day care routine settles in quickly and becomes second nature within the first few weeks.

Ongoing annual costs

According to the 2025 Animal Medicines Australia Pets in Australia report, the average Australian dog owning household spends somewhere in the range of $2,500 to $4,000 a year on their dog, covering food, preventative care, vet visits and everyday extras. Where your greyhound sits within that range will depend on their size, health and your choices around insurance and food quality.

The main ongoing costs to plan for are food, vaccinations and parasite prevention, routine vet check-ups, and council registration renewals. Many owners also choose to take out pet insurance for peace of mind against unexpected vet bills, particularly for larger breeds.

Where greyhounds can help save you money

While greyhounds are not necessarily cheaper to own than other large breeds across the board, their low grooming needs mean most owners spend little to nothing on professional grooming, a saving that can add up quickly compared to breeds with high maintenance coats.

Their calm, already well mannered temperament also means many greyhounds settle in without the need for extensive obedience classes, and their low indoor energy means less spend on high intensity toys and enrichment gear compared to more active breeds.

Adoption versus buying a puppy

When comparing the cost of adopting a greyhound to buying a puppy of another breed, it helps to look at the full picture rather than just the upfront price. Puppy buyers typically pay for the purchase price itself, plus vaccinations, desexing and microchipping separately over the following months, along with the higher food and vet costs that come with raising a puppy through its first year.

With adoption, that vet work is already done, and you are welcoming an adult greyhound whose temperament is known, rather than budgeting for the unpredictability of puppyhood.

Is a greyhound cheaper than other dogs?

When it comes to upfront cost, adopting a greyhound is one of the more affordable ways to bring a purebred dog into your home. Greyhounds are a pedigree, purebred breed, yet at $100 the GAP adoption fee sits well below the purchase price of most other purebred dogs in Australia. Cavoodles, for example, typically range from around $1,500 to $6,000 or more from a registered breeder, while French Bulldogs commonly range from $3,000 up to $7,000 or higher for show quality lines. Even a Labrador or Golden Retriever puppy from a reputable breeder often costs somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000.

On top of the purchase price, puppy buyers typically need to budget separately for vaccinations, desexing and microchipping, often adding several hundred dollars more in the first few months. With a GAP greyhound, all of that is already included in the $100 fee.

Ongoing costs for food, vet care and registration are broadly comparable across most dog breeds of a similar size, so a greyhound is not necessarily cheaper to live with year on year than another large breed. Where greyhounds do have a genuine edge is in the areas that catch many new owners off guard, low grooming needs and a temperament that rarely calls for extensive training classes, both of which can meaningfully reduce the overall cost of ownership over time.

You're never on your own: the support of GAP and the greyhound community

The value of adopting through GAP goes well beyond what is included on adoption day. Our team offers lifetime support, so whether you have a question about settling in during the first week or need advice years down the track, we are only ever a phone call away. That ongoing access to genuine greyhound expertise is worth a great deal, and it comes at no extra cost.

You are also joining a genuinely welcoming community of fellow greyhound owners. From adoption events and meetups to an active online community of adopters swapping tips, photos and support, many new owners find this sense of community becomes one of the most valued parts of greyhound ownership. Our resources hub is also there whenever you need it, covering everything from feeding and training to health and behaviour, so you are never left guessing.

When you weigh up the true cost of greyhound ownership, this support network is part of the package. It is one of the reasons so many GAP adopters go on to adopt a second, or even third, greyhound down the track.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to adopt a greyhound from GAP?

Most of our greyhounds are $100, and those six years or older are $50. That fee goes toward the cost of caring for greyhounds in our program, and it already includes a pedigree, purebred dog who is desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, flea treated, temperament assessed and suitability matched, complete with a coat, collar and lead, plus lifetime support from our team.

Are greyhounds expensive to feed?

Greyhounds are a large breed, so their food costs are broadly in line with other dogs of a similar size. Their low activity levels indoors mean they do not typically require the higher calorie diets of more active large breeds.

Do greyhounds need pet insurance?

Pet insurance is a personal choice, but many owners of larger breeds choose to take it out for peace of mind against unexpected vet bills. It is worth comparing policies to find one that suits your budget and your greyhound's needs.

Are greyhounds cheaper to own than other large breeds?

Overall costs are broadly similar to other large breeds, but greyhounds can work out more affordable in specific areas such as grooming and training, thanks to their low maintenance coat and naturally calm, well mannered nature.

Thinking through the numbers and ready to learn more? Get in touch with the GAP team on (03) 5799 0166, we are always happy to talk through what adoption and ongoing costs look like for your situation.