The Life of Racing Dogs

Racing dogs have a very different life than pet dogs.  Racing greyhounds is a serious, organized sport and the animals are treated like thoroughbred livestock.  Contrast this to the pet dog who is socialized into human society from when he or she is a small puppy.

The fact is that however differently they have been brought up, racing greyhounds can still make great pets when the time comes for them to retire.  This usually takes place at a relatively early age when they still have plenty of years left to enjoy pampered pet lives.

Just as pedigree dogs are bred for certain characteristics, breeding racing dogs is a serious business.  Racing greyhounds are athletes first and foremost, so successful racers will be bred to produce even more successful racing dogs.

This does not necessarily mean that the dam and the sire need to have had fabulous results on the dog track. They do need to have the essential bloodlines to produce potential champion racing dogs.  The instinct to chase small fast-moving prey is paramount, as is the ability to run fast for short distances.

The good news for the owner of a retired racing greyhound from all this is that the utmost care is taken when breeding them.  The incidence of genetically-inherited disorders is rare in greyhounds.  At least in the early stages of a greyhound's existence, his health is thought of as paramount.

Young greyhounds do enjoy a certain degree of freedom, in order to exercise and develop their muscles and co-ordination.  They often enjoy unlimited playtime and freedom.  They do tend to meet people who visit and of course their handlers, but they are not "trained" as pet owners know it.  They should be confident around people but otherwise tend to be a rather unruly pack who very much enjoy each others company.

Once they reach the age when schooling begins, they are kept in individual crates or small kennels.  They still have exercise and play periods when they go to the bathroom and play and run around.  Also they have training periods when they are expected to chase a lure, get used to starting traps etc.

There are some racing greyhounds who enjoy life in their trainer's house.  This is obviously the province of the small owner-trainer.  This would not be practical for the larger racing kennels.

It's true that running is in their blood, therefore racing greyhounds enjoy what they do.  Many are very well cared for with excellent diets and frequent massages and grooming.  They do tend to be kept on the skinny side though, which is why many people perceive it as normal that all their ribs are visible.  When racing dogs retire, they tend to put on about three kilos (seven pounds) or so.  Whilst they should never look fat, they do fill out a bit on "civvy street".

The tragic part of a racing greyhound's life comes at the end of his or her career as a racing dog.  There are so many thousands of these lovely animals needing loving homes, and it is only the lucky few who get to a greyhound welfare charity.  Many others are destroyed, or worse, abandoned and abused.  Greyhound rescue organizations usually have no problem with the way they are kept when they race: it's what happens after that which is often sad or horrific.