Why Do Greyhounds Have to Fit in a Box?

All images are of Hounds in Homes greyhounds - Rehabed with time, love and patience. 

Today we were asked, why does he have that on his face. I hear they are all “Couch potatoes” (A Marketing term thrown around way to much in our opionion)

We had this ready to go, so thought it timely.

Why do greyhounds have to fit in a box — and really, why do we expect any dog to conform to some perfect, cookie-cutter version of what a dog "should" be?

We’re frustrated. Tired, honestly. Why does the world insist on putting greyhounds — or any dog — into neat little categories? Because of poor rehoming practices and a lack of dog-savvy understanding, people keep trying to force a square peg into a round hole, a star into a rectangle — like a toddler with a shape sorter toy. And here’s the truth: it doesn’t fit. It never will. But find the right shape — the right home, the right approach — and bingo! Everything clicks into place.

They’re either labelled as prey-driven, muzzle-wearing hunters who can’t be trusted around a leaf blowing in the wind…
OR
They’re the lazy couch potatoes, snuggle bugs, the “sweetest dogs in the world” (and okay, we secretly know they are ).

But here’s the thing—we know better.

Why can’t a greyhound just be… a dog? A complex, unique individual with their own needs, quirks, preferences, and struggles—just like us?

Why can’t a greyhound wearing a muzzle simply be in training? Maybe they’re building confidence. Maybe they’re learning the world isn't so scary. Maybe they’re just figuring out how to dog after years in racing kennels. A muzzle doesn’t mean dangerous. It means someone is taking care, being thoughtful, and helping a greyhound on their journey.

Why do we have to pick between extremes?
Why does it always have to be either left or right?

What about the middle? What about the greyhounds who don’t fit either label, who just need time, patience, and proper socialisation—the kind they missed out on as pups?

Every greyhound is a puzzle piece, and not all pieces are the same. But with the right support, they all belong somewhere.

So let’s stop oversimplifying them to make them more marketable or palatable. Let’s tell the truth:

They’re individuals.
They’re worth the effort.
They’re not perfect—no dog or human in the planet is and that’s exactly what makes them beautiful. 

How else do you get to this, safely.

A muzzle, time, and a whole lot of love — that’s what gets us here. And it’s okay if a greyhound never becomes best friends with small animals. They’re still good dogs. The muzzle doesn’t limit them — it helps them thrive. It helps us understand what they can and can’t tolerate. But that kind of understanding takes time. It can’t be rushed or forced into a two-week turnaround.