Rearing & Breaking-In
Go and have a look at property's which specialise in Rearing and see that the pups have big yards which will enable them to develop their ling capacity and also their galloping - make sure those yards are clean with little or no droppings on the ground which is a breeding haven for worms which can severely stunt your greyhounds growth (PS: Don't expect to see NO droppings in yards and NO flies around as we are talking about animals, but make sure the droppings haven't been there for days)
Expect to pay between $60 and $75 per week to have your Pup reared which should include a regular worming plan, good food, plenty of galloping and lots of TLC.
Breaking-In:This is where your greyhound is taught to jump from the starting boxes and to chase the lure and it is generally done when a pup is between 13 and 16 months of age to enable it to handle the rigours of such a program.
There are a number of Breaking-In and Trial Track establishments registered with GWIC and your Rearing proprietor will also have a number of contacts they can suggest.
The breaking-in course will normally take 4 weeks and cost approx. $125 per week after which your pup would normally be expected to go for a spell of around 4 - 6 weeks to recover from the stresses before it enters the kennels of a Trainer to begin its racing career. Some trainers like to continue a pup’s education straight away but it wouldn't normally go from the Breaking-In course straight to the track.
Sometimes the 'penny doesn't drop' and some greyhounds may need to be re-educated but this is generally an exception rather than the rule.
Getting ready for the Track - Finding a Trainer:There are a number of professional trainers registered with GWIC if your Rearer can't suggest one. Most of our top trainers will only take 'City-Class' greyhounds and they will generally want to see your pup trial to accurately gauge their ability before taking it on.
The Trainer you get for your pup is largely determined by the greyhound’s ability. The top City-Class greyhounds are normally prepared by our best professional Trainers; TAB and Country-Class greyhounds are sent to Trainers in regions where they will be given the best chance to win a race.
There are also a number of different Training arrangements which are made between yourself as an Owner and the Trainer which could include you paying no Training Fees but agreeing to a 50:50 split of any prizemoney won.
Again, seek out a Trainer and ask them what the fees are and then make an informed decision as to where to send your prized possession.
Good luck in your quest to race a winner because I can assure you one of the greatest feelings you can ever experience is seeing your own greyhound be first past the post.
The information above is offered as a guide only and Gold Muzzle Auctions accept no responsibility