Celebrating Sighthounds: The Great Global Greyhound Walk 2025

If you love greyhounds, lurchers, whippets, salukis (or any other sighthound for that matter), then one of the highlights of the year must be the Great Global Greyhound Walk (GGGW). It’s a day when owners, adopters, charities and dog lovers all come together to celebrate these graceful four-legged besties, and to help raise awareness of how wonderful they are as pets. 

What is the Great Global Greyhound Walk? 

The event launched in 2010 in the UK originally as the “Great British Greyhound Walk,” this event has evolved into a truly global celebration. Every year on the same day, usually the last Sunday in September, greyhound lovers around the world arrange walks, big ones, small ones, public or private, to show their support for greyhounds and their sighthound cousins. 

The goals are simple yet powerful: 

Raise awareness of sighthounds (greyhounds, lurchers, etc.) and what loving, gentle breeds they are. 

Promote the adoption of greyhounds who are in homing centres waiting for their forever homes. 

Bring people together like owners, charities and volunteers, for a fun, relaxed, community-focused walk. 

Where are the Walks based? 

This year’s GGGW went ahead on Sunday 28th September, where the event broke records numerically! This year 16,562 sighthounds took part in 659 walks in 47 different countries all around the world! The walks are often organised by local greyhound homing charities, and a great way to meet new people and for the greyhounds looking for homes to meet new dogs and people too.  

How did the UK do? 

In the UK, many homing charities and sighthound organisations joined the fun by hosting their own walks. These local walks ranged from casual meetups with a few friends and dogs, to larger community events with fundraising stalls, refreshments and information stands. Here is some fun from our partner charities:  

Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders drew quite the crowd at the breathtaking Blickling Estate in Norfolk, where an amazing 42 hounds proudly strutted and strolled together on the walk! The line-up included their much-loved kennel stars - Hippo, Babe, Biglad, Annie, and Libby - alongside waiting-list favourites Mario, Bud, and Norman, who stole plenty of hearts as they soaked up cuddles and attention from new friends. The atmosphere buzzed with smiles and wagging tails, showing the true community spirit that makes events like this so special. 

Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue went for triple the fun this year, hosting not one but three walks! Groups of hounds and their humans strolled proudly around the historic grounds of Carlisle Castle, a kennel walk out in Dumfries, and the scenic beauty of Lochmaben. A grand total of 59 hounds attended, with 28, 11, and 20 attending, respectively! These walks were a chance to show off just how adaptable and affectionate these dogs are in any setting- whether it be beside ancient walls or alongside the sparkling water.  

But the Great Global Greyhound Walk isn’t just for homing centres - anyone can organise one! Greyhound owner Rob Carter did exactly that in Huntingdon, where 8 local hounds paraded proudly in their raincoats despite the drizzle. “Rain can’t stop a greyhound parade!” Since welcoming his retired racer Tigger from Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust in 2022, Rob has fully embraced the greyhound community, making GGGW walks a yearly tradition. Best of all, setting up your own walk takes just five minutes via the GGGW website!  

These UK walks are especially important because they help raise funds and awareness locally, and people can meet adoptable dogs, learn about sighthound welfare, and often support local rehoming groups. Will you be joining in next year? Make sure to keep an eye on the GGGW socials and website for when the 2026 date is broadcasted!