Life as a greyhound puppy is fun, carefree and a time to learn.
A racing dog does not just have to chase, they also need a range of life skills that are required to ensure that they are calm and confident with everything that happens around them.
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A greyhound will need to successfully navigate rearing, breaking in, racing, and then life in a family home is quite long, so it is up to owners and trainers of the litter to start them on their way so they are prepared for the wider world.
Unlike domestic breeds, once the time comes for the puppies to leave the care of their mothers, they generally remain with their litter mates for many months and sometimes for the entirety of their racing careers.
With whelping complete, the litter goes into rearing yards and is divided into groups for rearing.
Rearing is one of the most important phases in the life of a racing greyhound and it can be the difference between winning races and a dog not making it to the racetrack at all.
This period is about building strong, healthy and well socialised dogs, so proper nutrition, plenty of handling and access to the space where they learn to run and to stretch out are vitally important.
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Life for the pups during this phase is very carefree and their days generally consists of running, sleeping and eating. It is all about them getting stronger and healthier. For their safety they can’t have very young pups in big yards. So, initially they run and play in a whelping yard, a grass area usually five metres square.
As they develop and get bigger and stronger (about eight weeks) they are also given access to bigger paddocks under supervision.
At about four months the litter will be divided into two groups and then halved again at eight months. While litter mates generally socialise well together, occasionally there are pups that don't get along, so care is taken to separate them and match the pups with those with a more compatible temperament.
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As pups develop, they will become more and more co-ordinated, and their play will start to mature as their characters form. During this period the pups learn all about what is ‘normal’ in their world, so it is important to expose them to the things they will experience later in life – both at the race track and as a pet when they retire.
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This socialisation is more than getting them used to other dogs, it includes exposure to people, handling, noises, and smells. This way pups can be prepared for their racing life by getting them used to being examined and handled, getting them used to travel in the float or car, exposing them to the sounds of the track, they can even be introduced to the starting boxes – all in a positive way.
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Pups at this age also need to get used to different types of flooring so they are confident walking on surfaces other than concrete or grass – it makes walking into the vet, into the kennels at the track and in domestic homes much easier later on.
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One of the most important behaviours encouraged at this age is chasing. The more fun they have chasing and playing with toys (pulled on a rope, or moved with your hands) as puppies, the more likely they are to engage in chasing behaviours later in life.
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Another life skill introduced at this age is to get the puppies used to short periods of time on their own, away from their litter mates. This can help prepare them for times when they may need to be confined on their own (such as a trip to the vet, or when they have to travel to the track alone), and provided it is introduced in a positive way, it can build confidence in the pup.
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At this age greyhound pups can also introduced a warm bath and they should also be introduced to wearing a collar and trained to walk on a lead.
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Eventually from about 12 months to 14 months old. depending on the maturity of the dog, the pups will leave the rearing yards and move into the kennel environment and the next step in their journey.
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