Greyhounds: Why Are They The Second Class Citizens of the Dog World?
Why do we treat our Greyhounds so badly?
It’s a question I’ve been pondering a lot lately.
I worked in kennels from the day I was old enough to leave school. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to different countries, see other kennels in action, see lots and lots of dogs from lots and lots of different backgrounds and disciplines. From top level competition dogs to ‘ordinary’ – but much loved – pets.
I have never met an unpleasant Greyhound.
I’ll qualify this. I feel I need to.
I reckon, on a conservative estimate, I’ve personally met about 10,000 dogs. Working in a commercial dog training kennel and a boarding kennel and, for a short period, being resident at a quarantine kennel, I think I’ve met at least 10,000. Easily.
The vast majority of dogs I’ve encountered I have enjoyed. But I won’t lie, some of the dogs – particularly dogs who have come from owners who haven’t installed any kind of discipline or manners in their pets – have left a less than favourable impression on me.
The first Shih-tzu I ever met tried to pull the tendons out of my arm. All I did was pick her water bowl up to clean it. Fortunately I’ve met some real gems from this breed since then.
The very first dog that ever properly scared the pants off me was a Doberman x GSD. His name was Scooby. He barked in a fashion that lead me to believe he was a maniac and wanted to eat me. He was a big chap too. Big and loud and scary and, it seemed, a little unhinged. I was only young and very wet behind the ears and I was astonished that my boss thought it would be ok for me to take Scooby out for a walk. “He’ll kill me”, I whimpered. “No he won’t. He’s just got a cob on when he’s behind bars”, was the unreassuring attempt at reassurance my boss offered. For those not from the North, a ‘cob on’ means he’s moody when in kennels.
I duly approached Scooby’s kennel. He duly threatened to tear my heart out and cast me in to a lake of fire should I dare to keep heading toward him. I braved it, opened the door and slipped a lead round his neck, gritted my teeth and hoped that if my demise was to be at the jaws of this brute, at least make it quick and as bloodless as possible.
As it turned out, Scooby was a real charmer the second his paws found their way out of his kennel. He was actually a fun loving dog who had a real sense of humour. I liked him. I really, really liked him because he gave me one of my first lessons about dogs in general. Not that I hadn’t already had the ‘books should not be judged by their covers’ lesson when I was 5-years old, but here it was again, the canine embodiment of that oh so very glib phrase.
I was sad when Scooby’s owners came to collect him for we had become friends. Every morning when I’d turn up for work, Scooby would shout through his kennel door at me, using canine language which I can only assume would make his mother and father blush. Boy, he was rude. He really did have a cob on about being behind bars. He’d keep the shouting game up right until the point where I’d let him out, at which point he’d instantly turn in to a Care Bear – all sweetness and light.
Where am I going with all this?
Ah yes. Dogs. Books and covers.
The Greyhound. I’ve met loads of them. Lots and lots. In fact next to Springers, Cockers and Labradors I’ve met more Greyhounds than any other breed. And unlike even the three gundog breeds I just mentioned, hand on heart here, I’ve never met one that wasn’t nice to me.
Big deal? You might think. So what? Hardly the world’s greatest endorsement is it?
Well no. But it’s an endorsement all the same. An endorsement that I wanted to air.
You see anyone who’s ever worked in kennels and around lots and lots of other people’s dogs in an environment that is alien to them will probably testify to the fact that other folks dogs can have a habit of being – shall we say – ‘distant’. But Greyhounds never were. They were always incredibly friendly and giving of themselves.
Very often they’d sit at the back of their kennel space, cowering. Laying in their bed peaking over the side and generally making themselves ill with worry. They seemed timid. And it was my experience that timid or nervous dogs were the ones most prone to launching themselves at me in a frenzy of teeth and claws (except for that Shih-tzu, she wasn’t timid, just a bitch.). Not Greyhounds though, I’d go in to their space and have a chat with them and they’d get up, check me out and make friends pretty fast. I’d take them out for a walk and they’d be thrilled for the company and conversation. I developed such a fondness for them for, as I have said, I never, ever met one that wasn’t nice to me – every last one. In fact there’s only one other breed I can say that about and somewhat ironically it’s a breed that has similar problems to the Greyhound, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier – the other breed that is literally elbow to elbow with far, far too many of it’s own type in British rescue shelters.
So I want to know, why is it that Greyhounds seem to have earned this image as second class canine citizens?
It’s just something that stands out to me. They get abandoned in their thousands and they have been terribly shortchanged by the industry that profits from racing them. What did they do to ‘deserve’ this?
Not that it means anything, but I’d just like to give the Greyhound my ringing endorsement and hope that anyone who’s in the process of thinking about getting a dog might consider a Greyhound. Personally, I’ve never met one that I didn’t like. A 100% record.
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A ringing endoursement of the Greyhound as a pet, and indeed everything that's said here is true. It is, as the author points out, that they are perhaps seen as a second class citizen though, for once they were a dog that was the choice of kings. Infact back in about 1016 a law was passed stating that no commoners may own Greyhounds, they were a breed for nobility only. You might note the date there, 1016, that makes the breed pretty old doesn't it? Well infact it is believed the breed actually dates back as far as ancient Egyptian times, painting in tombs depict Greyhound like dogs being used to chase down food for their owners. Notable Egyptians who owned the Greyhounds of their day were Tutankhamun and Cleopatra. So Greyhounds throughout history (at least until the invention of Tescos) have been very much a working dog. It seems that since their 'work' chasing down food for us to eat dried up that they have fallen from their prominent position is human society.
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I have seen comments on forums here stating that the racing of Greyhounds is cruel, however this is simply not true, the actual race itself is simply a demonstration of what the Greyhound has done for the human race throughout history. However what does need constant checking is that the absolute best care possible is afforded to all these fantastic animals at all times, from their training, to their racing to their retirement. A huge amount of effort and progress has already been made on this front, but there will probably always be more to do, and it maybe there is a requirement to weed out certain irresponsible ownerstrainers who are not treating their animals with the great respect and care that they deserve. So please, if you are thinking of giving a dog a home, in addition to all the other deserving animals out there PLEASE consider a Greyhound. There are loads of rehoming centres out there, some are independent, others are tied to http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk.
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TrudyB Reply:
January 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Greyhounder – as to whether greyhound racing is cruel, I would have to disagree with you on a number of counts. The actual race is performed on an a manmade oval track forcing 6 greyhounds to race at speeds of up to 30mph – many already carrying injuries from pervious races – to risk sustaining yet another injury – often proving 'uneconomical' to treat and therefore euthanased.__Clearly, owners and trainers are in breech of the Animal Welfare Act, as they quite knowingly subject their dogs to a high risk of injury and suffering. __Despite you attempts to liken modern day greyhound racing to 'what greyhounds have done for the human race throughout history' – Greyhound racing is nothing more than a demonstration of animals exploited as a betting medium to generate millions of pounds profit for the bookmakers.__The amount of effort and progress as regards improved welfare has always been forced on the racing industry- by the public. __Welfare costs and those who profit from greyhound racing – the government – bookmakers – owners and trainers will always compromise their level of welfare to ensure maximum profits. Having said that I do believe there are some owner/trainers who rank welfare high on the agenda.__
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The Greyhounder Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Trudy, you raise some valid points, unfortunately though where sport exists gambling will inevitably take place, whether that's horse racing, greyhound racing, football etc. etc. That's nature of the World we live in. I agree with you that when a hound is running the risk of injury is high, be that on a track, in a field, the speeds are high, therefore the risk is significant. However you'll never stop a Grey from wanting to run, like most dogs. The Greyhound racing we know today stemmed from coursing (an activity now fortunately banned), when initially introduced it didn't take off and it was some years before it did start to draw in the crowds. I'm not entirely sure the dogs are 'forced' to run, they're placed in a trap and it opens, if an animal doesn't want to do something it simply won't. And yes agreed, it is more about the public jumping up and down about Grey welfare that has forced the organisations behind the sport to act, and quite rightly so.
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The Greyhounder Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Incase you wondered I walk for and get involved in fundraising events for my local Greyhound rehoming centre, pub quizzes, meet and greets etc. etc. Unfortunately at present my wife and I are not able to home due to our work commitments, but as soon as we're able to we will provide a home for two Greys, and I certainly hope once we get there we'll be able to continue to provide a home for ex-racers throughout the rest of our lives.
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I believe that it remains unclear how many Greyhounds are put to sleep at the end of their racing career, it would nice to believe that the answer is none, and that they all go to rehoming centres or are kept as pets by their owners. However it would be naive to subscribe to this utopian idea. Therefore until satisfactory legislation is brought in by government we can only do our best to remember the Greyhound, remember the effort put in by rehoming centre staff, most of whom are volunteers and give up their time for free to look after the hounds they have for homing, raise money for their charity and promote the fact that Greyhounds do make great pets.
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TrudyB Reply:
January 18th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
The RSPCA believes: "at least 20 greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four – simply 'disappear', presumed killed"
Unlike the Retired Greyhound Trust, all independent re-homing staff are volunteers, receiving no funding whatsoever from the industry to re-home the many 1,000's of greyhounds irresponsibly and heartlessly abandoned or handed over to the local vets for euthanasia.
So unlike the RGT, independent greyhound re-homing charities have to rely on raising funds through generous public donations – they are not subsidised by the industry or given a donation from the trainer or owner, such as Tia – http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U2zlPSAxJ3s&fea...
As Greyhounder rightly points out there are many RGT branches but also many independent greyhound rescue centres such as http://www.greyhoundsgalore.org.uk/Welcome.htmlwho tirelessly raise funds and re-home the endless greyhounds constantly leaving the tracks.
Why? simply because this beautiful breed is the most gentle and exploited breed in Britain today – let a greyhound race into your heart!
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