Galgo Espanol

Also known as: Galgo, Spanish Greyhound, Spanish Galgo, Garrotting the galgos

The Galgo Espanol has hunted hare across the Spanish plains for centuries, likely descended from ancient Iberian sighthounds crossed with other coursing types that arrived during the Middle Ages. Unlike a Greyhound, it wasn't built for a short track sprint but for longer runs over uneven, rocky ground, so stamina matters more than top speed. The coat comes in two variants, smooth or rough, and both need minimal grooming. A male weighs up to 29 kilograms, extremely lean with almost no body fat, so it needs a coat in cold weather. In Spain the breed carries a troubled history of mistreatment once dogs are no longer useful for hunting, and rescue organizations now put considerable effort into rehoming and rehabilitating them. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Galgo Espanol: how old in human years?

60–70 cmHeight
20–29 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Azawakh

FCI group: Sighthounds
FCI section: Section 3: Short-haired Sighthounds
FCI: 285
Country of origin: Spain

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

2/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 62–70 cm

Females 60–68 cm

Weight

Males 20–29 kg

Females 20–27 kg

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

smooth-haired (short) or rough-haired variety (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Galgo Espanol's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 2/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 2/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Galgo Espanol's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 3/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 4/5

Guarding & Alertness

Galgo Espanol's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 1/5

Grooming & Care

Galgo Espanol's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Galgo Espanol

On the sofa it folds itself up until it barely seems to be there: just four long legs pointing in different directions and one eye watching to see whether you're about to get up. The Galgo Espanol is a sighthound, a dog built for speed and bred to course hares across the open plains of Spain. It can look like an arrow in full sprint and spend the rest of the day sleeping like a cat. A few fast runs in a fenced space and a long, easy walk are enough to keep it content.

Fenced is the key word: a Galgo's prey drive is very strong, and once it spots a running hare, a cat or even a plastic bag in the wind, it simply won't hear you. It learns at its own pace and on its own terms: a harsh voice makes it shut down, while patience, treats and short sessions work far better. It won't become an obedience champion, but a calm, well-mannered life at your side is well within reach.

It is quiet, barely barks, usually gets on with other dogs and is gentle and sweet with its own people. With strangers it is cautious and sometimes shy, so it needs time to settle somewhere new. With small children it can be too sensitive to noise and sudden handling, so it suits a calmer home. Many Galgos reach European families through shelters and rescue groups; a dog like that may need extra patience before it believes the sofa really is its own.

Grooming and coat

The Galgo Espanol comes in two varieties: smooth, with a short, close-lying coat, and rough, whose hair is longer and harsher, with a beard and eyebrows. Either way the upkeep is modest. A smooth Galgo needs a once-a-week going over with a rubber mitt; a rough one is worth combing through, especially around the muzzle and legs, where grass and mud collect. It sheds little, and there is hardly any doggy smell.

A thin coat on a very lean body means a Galgo feels the cold on a wet winter day, so a coat for the colder months is a sensible buy, and so is a soft bed at home, because bony joints on a hard floor soon become uncomfortable. The skin is thin too, so as you groom, look for scrapes from dashing through undergrowth. Trim the nails regularly and give the long, fine ears an occasional check and wipe.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (29 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 320 g of dry food a day, from €17,53 a month For a neutered, normally active 24 kg dog. Calculate for your dog