Breeding purebred greyhounds can be a lucrative business, but there are many factors to consider before jumping straight into breeding. If you’re planning on breeding winning racing greyhounds, then you will have to do plenty of extensive research ahead of time and be sure to get the advice and guidance of fellow greyhound breeders. Professional breeders will give you unfiltered advice which is exactly what you need to hear! This guide to breeding with greyhounds is by no means exhaustive, and is only meant as a beginner’s overview.
The Basics of Greyhound Breeding
A common sense approach will most likely be the most successful one – you’ll only get out what you put into a greyhound. If you’re keen to get started with greyhound breeding, you have to start with a well-performed and well-bred female greyhound and do everything right from the moment you start breeding right through to the pup’s racing lives.
The Necessary Sacrifices
Becoming a greyhound breeder will require a lot of work – probably more than you even realise. It’s imperative that you speak to other breeders as they will be more than willing to share their experiences and advice with you. They will be able to best advice you on getting started in the breeding game and you have to be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort if you want to achieve the best breeding results. You have to make sure to look after your greyhounds to the best of your ability and forgo sleep your greyhound is whelping. You’ll definitely have to give your favourite betting apps a break during season!
The Intense Workload
Greyhound breeding is an intense full-time job – do not even consider doing this as a hobby! Most professional breeders will tell you that it’s a 14-hour / 7 days a week commitment and it’s not a task that should be undertaken lightly. Loving the breed is not enough, you will have to endure all the ups and downs of being a breeder and it won’t always be smooth sailing. If you treat your dogs like royalty, they will show their thanks by giving you little princes and princesses of racing.
Brood Matron Care
Your brood matron has to be your top priority at all times and if your dam is well looked after, you could see her producing litters right up to 10 years old. You absolutely have to treat her as well as you did when she was still just 12 months old and feed her the same as a racing dog. Give her lots of love and attention – don’t just discard her into the backyard until it’s time to breed again. As previously mentioned, you get out what you put in.
Brood Matron Feeding and Deworming
Right before your brood matron is mated, be sure to deworm her to make sure she is clean from the inside out. Be sure to give your brood matron plenty of special care during the 9 weeks of pregnancy and feed her on a steady diet of meat, high-quality dry food, and milk. Be sure to deworm her again just before she gives birth and you’ll have to up her food intake by about 3 times when she whelps. Feed her as much as she can eat so that she can produce vitamin-rich milk with which to feed her pups.
How to Choose a Suitable Retired Greyhound
While most potential greyhound owners first think of getting a greyhound puppy when considering a new additional to the household, there are in fact plenty of retired greyhounds who would revel in a happy and loving home. While the idea of a ‘retired’ greyhound might lead you to think of a dog in their golden years, most racing greyhounds retire between the age of 2-5 years and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years, these retired greyhounds still have plenty of years to provide companionship. Here’s how to choose your perfect match.
Find a Good Adoption Agency
If greyhound racing is particularly popular in the area in which you live, there will be plenty of well-established retired greyhound racing adoption agencies. Most local greyhound racing websites will have a resource page listing solid adoption agencies and you can always take to forums for recommendations on the best in the bunch. Visit a few of the adoption agencies in your area and see which ones catch your eye the most.
Meet with an Adoption Coordinator
It’s absolutely imperative that you meet with an adoption coordinator to discuss exactly what you’re looking for in a greyhound. Be honest and upfront regarding your expectations and wishes for your potential companion, as in this way the adoption coordinator will be able to best ascertain which dog will best match what you’re looking for. For example: do you need a dog that is good with cats, children, or other dogs? Do you require a dog that is quiet and happy to live in apartment or a more energetic companion?
Review Possible Matches
Just as you would carefully consider which NZD online casino to join, so should your consideration of a greyhound be. Once you have detailed exactly what you are looking for in your retired racing greyhound, your adoption coordinator will have a few ideas regarding which dogs may be suitable. There may be more than one option, so be sure to ask plenty of questions regarding each potential match. The more information provided, the better the chances of finding the most suitable greyhound for your living situation.
Meet Your Potential Matches
Once you’ve narrowed down which potential matches are best suited to your home and lifestyle, it will be time to meet these four-legged bundles of love! During these meetings you will be able to interact with the dog/s to ascertain which would be the most suitable choice. Be sure to relax and enjoy meeting the dogs and try not to be too nervous. When you’ve found the best match, you’ll know almost immediately. Trust your gut and don’t get distracted by looks.
Your Perfect Match Does Exist
If your living situation seems that it may not be conducive to adopting a retired greyhound, don’t fret: there is an adoption agency and greyhound right for almost everyone. If you’re looking to provide a happy, safe, and loving environment for a greyhound, then you will certainly be able to find the most suitable greyhound. The good news is that greyhounds are adaptable and easy-going dogs, making them suited to live in many environments.
Looks Aren’t Important
It’s understandable that many new adopters get hung-up on the looks of their potential matches. Go in with an open mind and be sure to make coat colour of minimal importance in your mind. The most important thing is how well your retired greyhound will acclimatise to your home and family.