Breeding & Raising
A racing greyhound begins its life after a gestation period of about 60 days, and litters generally range from five to nine pups. At birth, it will weigh from three-quarters to one and three-quarters pounds, growing to a normal size of between 65 and 75 pounds in approximately one year.
Except for size, the adult males and females of the same litter may appear identical, but sex, size and color have nothing to do with their speed.
When a pup is three months old, it is given an identifying tattoo. An owner must register a greyhound with the National Greyhound Association in Abilene, Kansas. With the registration papers, a name–with no more than 16 characters–is submitted. Unless these procedures are followed, a greyhound will not be permitted to race.
After two months, a greyhound is placed in a run to begin exercising its legs. A normal breeding farm, a pup’s home for its first year, consists of stud dog quarters, brood bitch quarters, whelping kennels, puppy quarters, exercise yards and kennel runs of various sizes.
Training
At the age of one year, pups (generally kept together in litters) are transferred to a training kennel. Training begins on a small schooling track where puppies are handheld so that the lure (generally a mechanical device) is in sight at all times. As its ability progresses, the greyhound graduates to a starting box, long distances and increased fields of competition.
Once on the training track, during the first couple of schooling sessions a greyhound will establish a running pattern (inside, outside, fast-breaker, slow-breaker, pacesetter, closer, etc.) which it may use for the rest of it running life.
Diet
A normal meal for the racing greyhound consists of two to two and one-half pounds of ground meat, vegetables and roughage, supplemented by vitamins. Signature feeds only the best products available for racedogs.
Racing Kennels
Generally between 16 and 18 months of age, sufficient training has been completed and a greyhound is placed in a racing kennel to begin qualification for a racing career.
Each kennel has a trainer who is responsible for its care. Usually each kennel is kept together, kenneled under one roof. A trainer could have up to 70 racing greyhounds in his charge and attends to all their needs. The trainer will know each greyhound by name and affectionately describes them by their individual characteristics. A greyhound, like any other good athlete, is extremely well cared for by its trainer.
Registered Racing Kennel
Every greyhound must have a registered owner and must be from a registered kennel. Each racing kennel enters into a contract with a track to race a certain number of greyhounds during the track’s season. The names of the greyhounds to be raced are given to the track, and during the season they cannot be raced at any other track, except with permission of the track holding the contract. Because of this system, a close relationship develops between a greyhound and track personnel, who show as much pride as owners and trainers.
