Sighthound Medium size 22-31 kg

Hungarian Greyhound

A calm, affectionate Hungarian coursing sighthound - a couch dog between sprints, but with strong prey drive and a need to run safely.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
22-31 kg, 62-70 cm
High
Activity
Needs hard sprints, then happy to rest at home
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Handles a normal workday with routine
Moderate
Trainability
Trainable but independent-minded
Low
Coat care
Short coat; weekly brush and shed control
Good
Fit with kids
Good with kids given supervision
Cautious
Other pets
Strong prey drive; caution around small pets
Light
Health burden
Generally sound; heart and bone concerns to watch

The Hungarian Greyhound typically weighs 22-31 kg, stands 62-70 cm, and lives 12-14 years.

Consider this breed if…

you can offer safe, enclosed space for regular hard sprinting,
you want a quiet, clean, affectionate dog that relaxes indoors,
you accept a recall that may never be reliable near running animals,
you have no small free-roaming pets, or can keep them fully separate.

Do not consider this breed if…

you have rabbits, cats, or other small pets loose in the home,
you rely on off-leash freedom in open, unfenced areas,
you want a biddable dog that hangs on your every command,
you cannot provide a soft, warm resting spot for a lean, thin-coated dog.

A typical day with a Hungarian Greyhound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Leashed walk plus a short safe gallop if a fenced space is available
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Deep rest; sighthounds sleep a large part of the day
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Sniffy leashed walk around the neighborhood
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Free run in a securely fenced field, or lure coursing
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Relaxed walk and calm family time on the couch
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Curls up in a warm, padded bed indoors

Temperament and training

Trainability Moderate
Prey drive Very high
Sensitivity High
Independence High
Affection to family High
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Trusting off-leash recall near wildlife or small animals · Underestimating how fast and far it can bolt after prey · Forgetting a lean, short-coated dog needs warmth and soft bedding

Family and environment

Kids Good
Gentle and tolerant; supervise rough play with a lean-boned dog.
Dogs Good
Usually sociable, especially with other sighthounds.
Cats Poor
Strong prey drive; risky with cats and small pets.
Apartment Conditional
Quiet and clean indoors, but needs regular hard running outside.
House with a yard Suitable
A tall, secure fence keeps a fast bolter safe.
City Conditional
Manages with access to safe off-leash space nearby.
Countryside Ideal
Open, enclosed land to run is exactly what it was bred for.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Light

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) Aggressive bone tumor seen in some sighthounds
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Heart muscle disease; periodic screening helps
Dental Disease Routine home care and cleanings reduce risk
Anesthesia Sensitivity Lean sighthounds need a vet experienced with the breed

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Larger, closely related coursing sighthound
Greyhound
The original 70 km/h couch potato - calmer indoors than most small breeds, with a hard-wired chase instinct that never fully switches off.
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Smaller, similar couch-and-sprint temperament
Whippet
A quiet apartment sprinter: 30 minutes of running, 23 hours of couch - just never trust it off leash near small animals.
View profile →
Another regional coursing sighthound
Polish Greyhound
A tall, powerful sighthound that is calm indoors but needs secure running space and firm handling - its strong prey drive makes off-leash and small-pet homes risky.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Hungarian Greyhound cost?
The Hungarian Greyhound, or Magyar Agar, is rare outside Hungary, so US buyers should expect limited litters, waitlists, and possible import costs, often in the $1,500-$2,500 range or more once travel is added. Lifetime costs are the bigger figure: food, routine care, and dental work run several thousand dollars over the years, plus a fund for the bone and heart issues seen in the breed.
Can a Hungarian Greyhound be let off leash?
Only in fully enclosed spaces. This is a coursing sighthound bred to chase, and a moving rabbit, cat, or deer can override training in an instant. Most owners keep it leashed in open areas and use a securely fenced field for free running.
Is a Hungarian Greyhound good in an apartment?
It can be. Indoors it is quiet, clean, and content to sleep for much of the day. The catch is exercise: it still needs regular chances to sprint hard in a safe, enclosed area, so apartment life only works if you can reliably provide that.
Are Hungarian Greyhounds good with cats?
Usually not. The breed's prey drive is strong, and small fast-moving animals trigger the chase instinct. Some individuals raised with cats can learn to tolerate their own household cat, but they remain a poor match for homes with small free-roaming pets.