To better understand the ex-racer and potential pet for your home, we’d like to offer a glimpse at a greyhound’s upbringing. Yes, they are a purebred dog, but the former racing greyhound is very unique from all other canines.

Firstly, great care and forethought is taken in the breeding of racing greyhounds. Pedigrees, line breeding and proven racing results are taken into account. Greyhounds ultimately are bred for temperament and speed. Unlike AKC dogs, size, color and sex do not determine a good racer.

The National Greyhound Association (NGA) is the governing body over greyhounds. For two dogs to be bred they must be DNA Registered with the NGA. The breeding must then be registered. Once the pups are whelped a “Litter Registration” is submitted, some of the information includes number of pups and their gender. At three months of age the pups are tattooed in both ears. The left Ear is the breeding / registration number. Each dog in the litter would receive this number. The right ear contains 2-3 numbers and a letter. The first numbers represent the month of whelping and the last indicates the year. A letter (always starting with the letter A) is given to each subsequent pup. For example, 62C would stand for June, 2002 and C the third dog tattooed. It could also represent June of 1992 but you would probably notice if the dog was a senior! Prior to a greyhound heading off to racing the dogs are individually registered and given their own name.

The unique thing about greyhounds is that they remain with their littermates to almost a year of age. They spend these days together in long fenced runs, and usually alongside another litter. It is very much a pack environment. If it is a large litter they may split the pups into a couple of groups but for the most part they are with their siblings. Eating out of the same dish at feeding time, running, playing and even fighting teaches where their place is in the pecking order. Ever wonder where a torn ear or scar along their side comes from? It could be from romping and wrestling during their puppy months. Dogs are pack animals but with greyhounds it is truly instilled in them and their way of life.

At approximately one year of age the dogs are rounded up and placed into individual crates. They are fitted with plastic collars and muzzles. From this point on they spend their time within their own safe quarters. The first week in a kennel setting is an adjustment, learning to be alone – despite being alongside other greyhounds. Getting along in the turnouts is similar to a child going to a new school, there is an adjustment period. At this time they are also now given their own food dish at feeding and may be viewed as a highlight of their day.

Training with chasing a lure (usually a fur-skin hide) containing a squawker along the ground and then it is raised up higher. Experiencing a starting box and coming out of it to chase the lure is all part of the training process. The dogs are worked with patiently, some catch on quicker than others. There is no doubt based on my brief exposure to watching some of the training processes that they greyhounds natural instinct and desire to run and chase by sight is exactly that. Instinct. Always remember that no amount of training or obedience will erase a hound’s natural sight and chase instinct.

At approximately eighteen months of age a greyhound is sent to the race track. They are given a chance to settle into the daily routine and unofficially schooled This consists of hand slipping a greyhound on the race track by holding them by the collar, watching the lure go past and then letting them chase. This gives them an opportunity to get familiar with the track and surface. Official schooling follows this where the dogs run against other newer pups; this could be pups new to racing or new to this particular track.

And so the racing career begins, along the way there could be bumps and scrapes or success. Racing is not entirely about speed, but also intelligence. There is no one riding on their backs to direct them or whisper in their ear. The greyhound has to rely on its own ability and intelligence. During this time we wish the dog’s success and a safe career.

The GALs then wait for a call from an owner, or trainer to take the retirees. We hope we have enough foster homes ready at any time to offer a space for an ex-racer. As volunteers we work very hard to secure applications for folks wanting to adopt an ex-racer. We need to be ready so the greyhound can start their life as a happy and loved pet. One hundred percent adoption is our goal.