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Monthly Archives: May 2013

What to Look For When Buying A Greyhound Puppy

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What do you look for when buying a greyhound puppy for racing?

A lot of people would say that pedigree is definitely the most important thing. We think so too.

It’s just common sense. Don’t be fooled by anything. If the parents, siblings of the parents and grandparents haven’t won races, then you need to have a good hard think on whether you want to take the risk.

 

You want to look for pups who’s parents balance each other out. For example if the dam took off slow and that was her weakness, you want the father to have been quick out of the gates. Its like with humans, if both parents are short, the chances are that the child will be short too. Look for a pup who’s dam and sire have opposite weaknesses.

The dam and sire should have great racing blood lines for obvious reasons, but more importantly the dam and sire should have notched a few wins under their belt’s and or had their brothers and sisters win races. No good buying a pup from two parents that won a handful of races and where their retired for breeding.

The pup should look fit, look like a future racer. You don’t want one that looks weak. You want to see a nice full chest, long legs and a positive demeanor  Although we don’t believe in choosing pups strictly off of their behavior and temperament as its too much of a gamble, but it’s definitely a good idea to take some notes, if he’s constantly taking nips of his brother and sisters and he’s a known rat bag, this will mean he has some aggression which can be a good thing but when it comes to training he/she may be too wild.

Go back for a second look. Some pups will change remarkably in a single week. So the one you thought was the weakling may end up being the biggest and strongest. Never hesitate to go for a second look. Now days with technology it should be easy for a breeder to hook up Skype or send you some new pictures.

Look for a good breeder. A good breeder isn’t a top breeder or an established breeder by definition because all breeders at some point where new to the game. A good breeder is someone that knows about the animals. Knows them well. Good breeders put the dogs first and money second, you cant have a breeder that just wants to haggle prices with you but is feeding the pups b grade quality food. A good breeder also knows his bloodlines and wont breed for the sake of breeding unless he or she knows there is a good chance the litters will produce winners.

Last but not least, go with your gut. Listen to your instincts. Whatever your first impression says is usually your best one to be honest.

What do you look for in a puppy? Comment below.

To look for pups or upload your own for free >>> http://www.ozgreyhoundsales.com.au/

Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) Australia

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What is GAP?

Greyhound Adoption Program otherwise known as GAP is an Australian state based greyhound adoption initiative created and supported by each of the states greyhound racing groups.

Currently there are six programs running across Australia.

The GAP programs are non profits and are exclusively setup to put greyhounds into adoption and or foster them until they can be put into adoption. Among other noble deeds.

Below you will find links to each of the GAP programs.

Please take a moment to have a look and or share information regarding the GAP programs with your friends or family.

Greyhound Adoption Programs (GAP)

Victoria

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

OzGreyhoundSales supports and promotes greyhound adoption and we believe it is everyone’s responsibility to look after these great animals! Well done GAP!

How to Raise Greyhounds for Racing

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It’s a question some have asked and unless they are in the business or know someone who is, they have never truly known…

Before you decide to buy Greyhounds for sale, be warned that it takes commitment, time and effort. Consider it as an investment and keep in mind that only the best bred actually make it and succeed on the racetrack. With this said, here are some things to guide you in raising a Greyhound for racing.

Keep the puppy healthy and happy.

Breeders tend to keep the pups with their mothers for as long as possible. To avoid separation anxiety, they are gradually separated. But in about eight or nine weeks’ time, the pups are ready to be on their own.

Once you have carefully selected a quality Greyhound for sale, you need to make an effort to keep the puppy both happy and healthy. The rearing years are crucial and you really need to pay attention to nutrition. Give the puppy the best nutrition possible so it can possibly develop into a champion athlete on the racetrack. The breeder may be able to share a couple of tips and strategies in rearing the pup, so listen closely.

At this stage, training may begin. The pup can be sent out to roam freely. It is favorable if you can provide a good amount of space. Such will allow the puppy to practice running and help in the development of healthy and strong limbs. It is also beneficial to their cardiovascular system.

Train gradually.

Greyhounds are natural keen hunters. In the puppy’s formative years, it is important that this is further developed. It can be done with the use of aid materials such as rags and mechanical lures.

During the early years, a Greyhound pup is more than eager to learn. And pups also tend to enjoy the training as it allows them to play. As the pup, advances in skills, you need to move on to other training materials and strategies. Gradually, you can put the puppy into a racetrack.

All these depend on the development in training as shown by the puppy. Some may learn more quickly than others may. If you have a puppy that is a late bloomer, do not force it.

Prepare for racecourse trials.

Before a Greyhound is allowed to race for money, it has to go through a couple of racecourse trials first. This is a way to match the dog’s skills with others of its kind.

Watch out for injuries.

Greyhounds are one of the healthiest breeds of dogs. But when they are racing, they are more prone to injuries and you need to prepare for such things too. In fact, a racing Greyhound needs careful medical attention to ensure it is always at optimum health to get a guarantee of peak performance.

Greyhounds can race on average of four to five years. After that, they may need to retire from their racing careers. Those without a home are put up for adoption.

You however, can make certain adjustments and ensure that the transition from racetrack to house life is nothing less than smooth for the dog. The Greyhound can prove it can offer more than bet winnings on the racetrack. It can be a reliable home companion too.

 

Do Greyhounds Make Better Pets or Racers?

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Its a tough questions and one that is sure to spark a little debate.

Just like horse racing, greyhound racing is probably one of the most profitable ventures. It may not yield as much as betting on horses but the industry is a real income generator. And this is encouraging to independent breeders to raise their own champions.

Greyhounds are groomed for racing but they can be wonderful house pets too. They may not be the fastest breed of dogs contrary to what a lot of people think. But they come at a close second to the Sight hound or Whippet. Naturally, this breed of dogs is paid a lot of attention especially for owners that intend to put them on the track. And if you intend to join the racetrack, you should start by choosing quality Greyhound puppies for sale.

What makes Greyhounds perfect for racing?

On the track, Greyhounds are given a lure to chase after until the finish line. And this is perfect because this is a breed that relies heavily on vision rather than smell like most breeds do. Moreover, they have better vision for seeing moving objects rather than stationary ones.

Greyhounds were initially bred of hunting. In ancient times, they were bred, groomed and trained for hunting hares. To be able to chase after and catch the hares, the Greyhounds needed to run at top speeds. So, you can say, their kind had been well groomed to adapt to the demands of today’s racing industry.

Today, their speed and wild game skills are put into good use on the racing field. In fact, a Greyhound bred for racing can run as fast as 39 or up to 43 miles per hour.

The Impression of Racing Dogs

There are many heated debates regarding the treatment of racing Greyhounds. And many people are worried that they may not be able to house train retired Greyhounds for racing. This is why they shy away from adoption.

Some think that dogs for racing are maltreated and abused. Handlers are of course interested in training the dogs for optimum performance. But in order to sustain a dog’s racing career, proper care needs to be practiced. A compromise on health can jeopardize its fate on the racetrack.

Adopt or Buy Greyhound Puppies for Sale

Training can be quite a feat especially if the dog had been used to a different kind of environment. However, it is not necessarily impossible. This breed of dogs is quite known as the gentle breeds. Even those that have been exposed to strenuous training and life on the fast track can be lured into adapting to the quiet and relaxed environment of a house.

They are naturally friendly and non-aggressive. Greyhounds cling on human companionship and they thrive on attention that makes them excellent as household pets. That said whether you buy a Greyhound as a puppy or adopt an adult one, it really does not matter because it can bounce back and adapt to new environments quite easily. With love, patience and care, you can raise one as a house pet too.

Tell us what you think and comment below.

How A Self Taught Trainer Became A Group One WINNER!

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This is a great video produced by TheDogsTV team from 2012 about self taught greyhound trainer Ken Lewis from the Western suburbs of Sydney and how he got into greyhounds and eventually won a group one race!

Tell us what you think about Ken and Bye Bye Bucks by commenting below!

 

 

Behind The Scenes With A New Zealand Greyhound Breeder

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This is an old video, but still a good one. 

If you ever wondered what a Greyhound breeders looked like, this it basically it.

Comment below.

If you have ever thought about getting into the dogs yourself or want to sell your current dogs check this out.

Naughty Italian Greyhound Stealing Num Nums

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This little guys owner says he’s a Kleptomaniac. OzGreyhoundSales vocabulary is not that big so we had to Google what Kleptomaniac means and apparently it means the little guy is addicted to stealing things. Lol, how funny!

Don’t forget to drop us a comment below!

Hahaha! Now that we all know that the word Kleptomaniac means thieving Italian Greyhound, how about you go look at a real greyhound or even better, sell one here!