Sighthound Large size 27-32 kg

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.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
27-32 kg, 68-80 cm tall
High
Activity
Bursts of hard running; calm at rest
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Independent but bonds closely with family
Moderate
Handling
Aloof and self-reliant; needs early socialization
Low
Coat care
Short coat, minimal upkeep
Moderate
Fit with kids
Reserved; better with older children
Low
Other pets
High prey drive toward small animals
Moderate
Health burden
Bloat and cardiac risk

The Polish Greyhound typically weighs 27-32 kg, stands 68-80 cm, and lives 10-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you have a large, securely fenced area for daily sprinting,
you want a calm indoor companion that is powerful and athletic outdoors,
you can provide firm, patient handling and early socialization,
you appreciate an aloof, dignified dog rather than a needy one.

Do not consider this breed if…

you keep cats or small pets - its prey drive toward them is strong,
you rely on off-leash freedom in open, unfenced spaces,
you want an eager-to-please dog that obeys without question,
you have young children and want a demonstrative, patient family dog.

A typical day with a Polish Greyhound

  1. 7:00 · Morning
    Fenced gallop or a long leashed walk
  2. 9:30 · Midmorning
    Rests calmly, often on a soft bed
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk and sniffing
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Free run in a secure field or a lure chase
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second walk, then downtime with family
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Quiet and settled - a true couch sighthound

Temperament and training

Prey drive Very high
Independence High
Reserve with strangers High
Loyalty to family High
Trainability Moderate
Calmness indoors High
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off-leash near cats, wildlife, or small dogs · Skipping early socialization with a naturally aloof breed · Assuming a calm house dog needs no hard running outdoors

Family and environment

Kids Conditional
Reserved; better with calm, older children.
Dogs Conditional
Can be same-sex selective; small dogs may trigger chase.
Cats Cautious
Strong prey drive makes cats and small pets risky.
Apartment Conditional
Calm indoors, but needs daily hard running elsewhere.
House with a yard Ideal
A tall, secure fence is essential for this runner.
City Manages
Possible with reliable access to safe running space.
Countryside Ideal
Open, fenced land suits this coursing hound best.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

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
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested; feed smaller meals, avoid exercise right after eating
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) Raised risk in large sighthounds
Dilated cardiomyopathy Heart-muscle disease; screening advised
Anesthesia sensitivity Lean sighthounds need careful anesthetic protocols

Similar breeds - by reason

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

Large, aloof coursing sighthound
Borzoi
An elegant, quiet sighthound that lounges indoors but sprints after anything that moves - independent, tall, and needing a secure area to run.
View profile →
Calm-indoors sprinter with strong chase drive
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.
View profile →
Central European sighthound of similar type
Hungarian Greyhound
A calm, affectionate Hungarian coursing sighthound - a couch dog between sprints, but with strong prey drive and a need to run safely.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Polish Greyhound cost in the US?
Also called the Chart Polski, this sighthound is rare outside Poland, so US buyers typically import or join waitlists, with puppies commonly around $1,000-$2,500 plus import costs. Across a 10-13 year life, food and routine care for a large dog typically add $17,000-$26,000 or more, and an emergency like bloat surgery can add thousands.
Can a Polish Greyhound live with cats?
It is risky. The Chart Polski was bred to course and take game, so its prey drive toward cats and small animals is strong. Some individuals raised with a cat from puppyhood can learn tolerance indoors, but many cannot be trusted, and small pets are generally a poor match.
Is a Polish Greyhound a good apartment dog?
It can manage a flat because it is calm and quiet indoors, but only if it gets regular hard running in a securely fenced space. Without that outlet its athletic build and energy have nowhere to go. This is a couch dog at home and a powerful sprinter outside - it needs both.
Are Polish Greyhounds easy to train?
They are intelligent but aloof and independent, so they do not train like an eager retriever. They respond to calm, firm, consistent handling and early socialization, but expect a self-reliant dog that weighs commands rather than obeying instantly. Recall in particular is unreliable near prey.