Month: December 2016

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My Favorite Things

Today I am going to take a break from my regular blog post. 

Once a month I am going to dedicate a post to a Greyhound-friendly product that I love.  I love to shop and have tried various products for my Greyhounds.  I hope that my experience will help when you are deciding on what toys, collars, beds, and other hound needs to purchase.    

If you have looked at the photos on this blog you know my Greyhounds love a good ball. 

Balls are fair game in our house. You leave some brand new tennis balls lying around and you are sure to come back to some slobbery fuzz-less balls.  Balls are king in our house for humans and hounds alike!

You may be thinking balls are a dime a dozen and there can’t be one ball better than all the rest.  Well, I disagree!

When I look for a ball I want something that can easily be held in a Greyhound’s mouth, not too heavy and has some give; Jethro likes to squeeze and pump the balls in his mouth.  The ball also needs to hold up against heavy use, chewing, be able to float, and can easily be cleaned. 

Hands down the best ball meeting the criteria above is the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Orbee ball.  This ball is shaped like a globe and the continents are elevated and textured which is fun for chewing.  I thought those elevated continents were going to be goners but we have had this ball for about two years and the continents are still intact.  This ball does have some give, comes in various sizes, and is not heavy.  Orbee-Tuff toys are non-toxic and recyclable.  They are made out of thermo plastic elastomer (TPE) and have Olefinic oil and Peppermint oil to soften the toy.  The Peppermint oil also makes the toy and your Greyhound’s breath smell fresh. 

This ball was a game changer.  I use it most often for fetch, but if I need the boys to be extra good I will give one each of them and they will play and occupy themselves for extended periods of time.   Darla is always extra good!

Hope you try out the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Orbee ball and let me know what you think!

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Why performance matters: What Racing Gives Us

Boston Public Library, Print Department
Feature photo credit:
Greyhound racing in Florida at the finishing line from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, Print Department  is licensed by CC BY 2.0

 

Last week I discussed why performance is historically important to the Greyhound.  Without performance we would not have the Greyhound we know and love.  I also discussed that coursing was where all Greyhound sport originated and explored some of the history of the breed.  This week’s blog is about the recent history of the Greyhound in the U.S.

In the late 1800’s the Irish created park coursing, which used similar rules of coursing that were used in Britain; however, the size of the course was smaller.  Many feel that this is when folks decided that even with shorter courses the greyhound was still exhilarating to watch.  The Irish developed their coursing club in 1916.

The first mechanical lure was used in 1876.  It was used in a 400-yard straight course.  This was not found to be exciting and many spectators did not enjoy this type of sport.  It took about 30 years for the mechanical lure to become popular.

In the meantime Greyhounds were coming into the United States.  For the most part these dogs were settled out west to help with jackrabbit population control.  Even General Custer was a fan of the Greyhound, using them as scouts prior to battle.  You bet these Greyhounds were coursed out west!

In 1906 the National Greyhound Association (NGA) was organized.  The NGA was responsible for registering Greyhounds in America and keeping up with Greyhound breedings.

In 1919 the first Greyhound track was opened in Emeryville, CA.  This was designed by the entrepreneur Owen P. Smith and financed by George Sawyer.  The track used a mechanical lure that was propelled by a motorized cart on the inside of a rail.  The total length of the track was about 3/16th of a mile.  These early races were poorly attended but Sawyer had an idea on how to fix this.

Sawyer encouraged Smith to introduce wagering and they began allowing wagering on races.  While attendance increased, they were still unable to make money and the track ended up going bankrupt.  Smith took his mechanical lure and went to Florida.

Collection: The Tichnor Brothers Collection Location: Boston Public Library, Print Department licensed by CC BY 2.0The World’s fastest greyhounds race at West Flagler Kennel Club, Miami, Florida from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, Print Department licensed by CC BY 2.0

Tracks were popping up throughout Florida in the 1930’s.  These tracks were helpful for tax income throughout the Great Depression.  More and more states allowed Greyhound racing to flourish.  At Greyhound racing’s height it was the sixth most popular sport in America.   However, often times when money changes hands undesirable attention comes.

There were speculations of illegal actives associated with greyhound racing.  These speculations did not come to anything and did not hurt American Greyhound racing; it was at its height in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Nightly gathering for greyhound racing, West Flagler Kennel Club, Miami, Florida from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, Print Department licensed by CC BY 2.0

In 1987 The American Greyhound Council (AGC) was created.  The AGC oversees Greyhound welfare from puppyhood to retirement.  The AGC inspects Greyhound farms to make sure they are within their guidelines for proper Greyhound care.  Once the Greyhound arrives at the track there are state regulation in place for Greyhound welfare as well as track contracts that kennels must comply with to continue racing.  The AGC follows the numbers of greyhound adoptions.  They also follow the economic impact of greyhound racing.

The early 2000’s were a hard time for the racing.  There were reports of mistreatment of Greyhounds throughout the news.  There was also a decline in live betting.  This caused multiple tracks to close their doors.

During these hard times, the people of Greyhound racing did not tuck their tails and run.  They worked tirelessly with the AGC, adoption groups, and state regulatory bodies to ensure the welfare of the Greyhound and the integrity of racing.  Currently 90% of all retired racing greyhound are adopted or returned to farms as pets or for breeding purposes, a much higher percentage than that of other dog adoption organizations in the U.S.   The goal of AGC is to expand adoption efforts and increase that to 100%.  This percentage is sure to increase as more and more people want Greyhounds as pets and more adoption organizations are willing to take on complex cases.

In addition to creating wonderful pets, Greyhound racing is important economically.  It is estimated that the racing industry employs 14,000 people with an annual payroll of 194 million dollars.  The racing industry also pays an estimated 86 million in taxes to federal, state, and local governments.  The racing industry donates an estimated 6 million dollars to charities, including greyhound adoption groups.

Greyhound sports have always been the essential component of the Greyhound.  Without coursing and racing, the dog that we love would most likely not be in existence.  Continued support of athletic activities of the Greyhound is needed to promote this breed.  Continued recognition of performance is essential to for us to be the best stewards of our breed.  Thanks to the great work of AGC, adoption groups, and the NGA we are able to welcome these professional athletes into our homes to be wonderful companions.  We all know that greyhounds give us fulfillment but we must remember that our Greyhounds need fulfillment as well.  Greyhounds can find fulfillment in multiple ways but the most special is in their passion for the chase!

If you are interested in adopting a Greyhound or learning more about the breed please check out: Greyhound Pets of America and the American Greyhound Council.

Sources:
Economic Impact statics: The American Greyhound Council c/o The National Greyhound Association.  Retrieved from http://www.agcouncil.com/economic-impact-statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About Greyhounds as Pets: The American Greyhound Council c/o The National Greyhound Association.  Retrieved from http://www.agcouncil.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-greyhound-pets/

Pet Statistics: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved from http://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics  
The History of Greyhound Racing c/o The Greyhound Racing Association of America. Retrieved from http://www.gra-america.org/the_sport/history.html
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Why Performance Matters: A Simple History of Greyhound Coursing

Feature image from The Greyhound & the Hare

 

For many years it was thought that the Greyhound originated in Egypt and the Middle East.  However, there were written accounts in the 1800’s stating that the Greyhounds originated from Celtic lands.  In 2004 this was proven.  The paper titled “The Genetic Structure of the Purebred dog” evaluated the molecular structure and differences in 85 breeds of dog.  This study proved that the Greyhound, along with the Borzoi, Irish wolfhound, and other herding breeds, were of European descent and in fact were genetically different from the African and Middle Eastern sighthounds.

There are accounts of the Greyhound noted throughout British history.  In Shakespeare’s play King Henry V, Shakespeare uses the Greyhound in the King’s monologues prior to battle.  Henry V said to his men, “I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game’s afoot.”  Shakespeare compared Henry V’s armies to Greyhounds because he knew the keenness, tenacity, and passion of the Greyhound.

The Tudor family was also fond of the Greyhound.  Henry the VII’s coat of arms included both a red dragon as well as a white Greyhound.  Henry the VIII had a great love of coursing, then called hunting.  It is noted that he converted some of his land into a course and it was used by two coursing societies.  However, that land has now been repurposed into a golf course.

From The Greyhound & the Hare

In the sixteenth century Queen Elizabeth I and Lord Norfolk developed the first coursing rules, “The laws of the leash.” These rules formalized the rules for coursing, focusing on the scoring of the Greyhound’s performance, rules for the slipper, and the handling of the hare.

Coursing focuses on the Greyhound’s greatest skill, the speediness of the chase.  More points are awarded to the Greyhound for speed and ability to pass another Greyhound than actually taking-out the hare.

Throughout the Tudor reign, the Forest Laws were in effect; these laws were established in the middle ages and strictly enforced by William the Conqueror.  People and dogs caught breaking these laws were mutilated and often times killed.

Coursing continued to be a sport of the nobles, waxing and waning in popularity throughout the reigns of Charles I and II.  During the reign of George the III, in the eighteenth century, coursing no longer was a private sport for the nobles but a sport for gentlemen.  Most of the participants coursed either Greyhounds or Whippets and made wagers on their hounds.

In 1776 The Lord of Orford in Swaffham, England created the first coursing club.  The original “laws of the leash” created by Lord Norfolk were still in effect and used.  Interest in coursing grew and more and more clubs originated.

From The Greyhound & the Hare

 

By the time of the industrial revolution, more people had free time and money to participate in hobby sports.  Coursing was also much cheaper than foxhunting.  Greyhounds and Greyhound coursing took off. Participants of the sport realized that if they had a winning hound there was additional income for breeding and selling puppies.  While these breedings were documented within the kennels, there was not an official Greyhound stud-book until 1882.

So why is this a big deal?  Coursing gave us the modern day Greyhound. The competition of coursing created a well-engineered dog that was thrilling to watch and fast.  The history of our beloved Greyhound gives us more insight into why people continued to breed Greyhounds and created the Greyhound that lives with us today.

There is still more to the story.  With the invention of the mechanical lure Greyhound Racing was created.  I will talk about racing in part two of this series, stay tuned!

 

Sources:

Alchin, L.K., Elizabethan Era. e.g. Retrieved December 3rd, 2016 from www.elizabethan-era.org.uk
Parker, H. G., Kim, L. V., Sutter, N. B., Carlson, S., Lorentzen, T. D., Malek, T. B., … & Kruglyak, L. (2004). Genetic structure of the purebred domestic dog. science, 304(5674), 1160-1164.
Shakespeare, William. King Henry V. Retrieved December 14th, 2016 from http://shakespeare.mit.edu/henryv/henryv.3.1.html
Winters, Jane. Early English Laws: Forest Laws. Retrieved December 3rd, 2016 from http://www.earlyenglishlaws.ac.uk/reference/essays/forest-law/
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Why all the chatter about breed standard?

A few days ago I wrote an article about what it means to adopt a Greyhound.  Overall this article was well received.  However, some comments I found thought provoking.  I also reviewed other posts throughout social media and there continued to be a theme:  what is the standard for a greyhound and why that matters to you as an owner.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) judges each breed of dog based on a written standard.  You can review the AKC written standard for greyhounds below.

Head –  Long and narrow, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible stop, little or no development of nasal sinuses, good length of muzzle, which should be powerful without coarseness. Teeth very strong and even in front.
Ears ­ – Small and fine in texture, thrown back and folded, except when excited, when they are semi-pricked.
Eyes ­ – Dark, bright, intelligent, indicating spirit.
Neck – ­ Long, muscular, without throatiness, slightly arched, and widening gradually into the shoulder.
Shoulders – ­ Placed as obliquely as possible, muscular without being loaded.
Forelegs ­ – Perfectly straight, set well into the shoulder, neither turned in or out, pasterns strong.
Chest ­ -Deep, and as wide as is consistent with speed, Fairly well sprung ribs.
Back ­ – Muscular and broad.
Loins ­ – Good depth of muscle, well-arched, well cut up in the flanks.
Hindquarters ­ – Long, very muscular and powerful, wide and well let down, well-bent stifles.  Hocks well bent and rather close to the ground, wide but straight fore and aft.
Feet ­ – Hard and close, rather more hare than cat feet, well knuckled up with good strong claws.
Tail ­ – Long, fine and tapering with a slight upward curve.
Coat ­ – Short, smooth and firm in texture.
Color ­ – Immaterial
Weight ­ – Dogs, 65 to 70 pounds: Bitches, 60 to 65 pounds

If you are like me when you read this, it sounds very similar to what you see in a National Greyhound Association (NGA) greyhound.  First, what is the difference between the AKC and NGA?  Both are registering bodies; however, the NGA is special as they only register greyhounds.  All American racing greyhounds are registered with the NGA.  The NGA doesn’t have a written breed standard so to speak; rather, NGA greyhounds are bred to a performance standard, meaning they are judged on their ability to excel in running sports.  When we look at the AKC written standard for the breed, the NGA greyhound fits the description in that standard.  So why do we find ourselves disagreeing on the breed standard again and again?  The answer is rather complicated.   I think that show breeders thought that breeding a greyhound with exaggerated structural features was sexy and the dog would be able to compete in the group and best in show ring at dog shows.   They succeeded.  There is no functional purpose or advantage for the exaggerated changes we see in most greyhounds that compete in the show ring.

Actually, dogs that are exaggerated are not good for our breed and here is why.  These dogs are not functional in that they are deficient in athletic ability.  They are able to participate in running sports but unable to compete on the same level with coursing-bred greyhounds or racing greyhounds.  If you read into the written standard above you will understand all these qualities are desirable because they improve the greyhound’s speediness and athleticism.  By exaggerating the structural features called for in the written standard we are taking the functionality and the most important part of the greyhound away.

I have listened and read comments about show greyhounds and see things such as “isn’t she beautiful” or “she’s living art”.  I appreciate these opinions but I want to know if they have ever seen a greyhound running after a lure or quarry.  Have they ever seen true poetry in motion?

I am not sure that I will ever feel that a hound standing in a ring is more lovely than a hound doing what they were bred to do for centuries.  I will never see how loping in a ring can be more beautiful than raw power on the coursing field or sand being flung all over the track by a hound that can scoot.

I understand that dog shows are a lot of fun to a lot of people.  I wish we would see more functional dogs at these shows.  I proudly support the breeders that are promoting functional hounds and I hope that in the future at Greyhound specialties you will not see a dog win breed in the ring that is not able to compete in the field but instead a Greyhound that can win in the ring and on the lure coursing field.

As stewards of our breed we must advocate for functionality.   Our focus should not be on what can win the group and best in show ring but what can make a hare turn and break track records.  We simply must focus on the raw power of our breed; after all, it’s why they are still with us.

Official Standard of the Greyhound. c/o The American Kennel Club.  Retrieved December 1st, 2016 from http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Greyhound.pdf_ga=1.268297802.576806201.1479637347
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Greyhound Nails

One of the best parts of greyhound ownership is the lack of grooming they require.  Greyhounds are wash and wear dogs.  They do not need a lot of brushing, trimming, or bathing.  However, their nails do need some attention.

First things first, what is a nail?  The nail is protective covering of the bones and vessels under the tip of the foot.  Nails are made up of a strong fibrous protein called keratin.  This protein is also found in skin and hair.  Nails protect the tip of the foot from damage and help with gripping while running.  

 

 

So what happens if your greyhound’s nails are too long?  Well, multiple issues can occur.  The most concerning issues are the changes to the gait associated with long nails.  When the nail is touching the ground this puts pressure on the bones of the foot.

Remember the old saying about greyhounds? “A greyhound should be headed like a snake and necked like a drake, backed like a beam, sided like a bream, footed like a cat and tailed like a rat”.  This poem should be taken to heart when thinking about the greyhound foot.  When the nails of the hound are too long it creates an uneven balance of pressure in the foot.  This pressure lengthens the ligaments in the foot causing the toes to appear longer and the dog to not walk properly.  This can also be painful.

Pressure sores or decubitus ulcers can also occur with overgrown nails.  The overgrown nails come in contact with the thin skin of the foot and can cause breakdown.  This can lead to infection and can be very painful to the dog.  Pressure sores are difficult to heal.  The offending agent or pressure has to be removed so that the wound can heal properly. 

You can see why nail care is important but what do you need to trim nails?  I recommend plier-style clippers with a safety stop.  I find that guillotine clippers are difficult to use.  Guillotine clippers do not give you the control of the scissor clipper.  It is also more difficult to see what you are doing while trimming the nails.  You should also buy septic powder.  This is good to have on hand in case you do nick the nail quick.  Remember to hold pressure to stop the bleeding as best as you can then apply this.  Septic powder works best on dry surfaces.  Grinding tools are also useful tools to have in your nail bag.  They can file the nail down and if you are worried about the quick there is no clipping involved.  I would recommend grinding nails outside and with a mask on and eye protection.  Also move the tool over the nail as it will heat up.  Continued pressure in one spot will heat the nail and can be painful to the greyhound. 

So you have your tools but how do you successful clip greyhound nail?  I understand that nail clipping can be scary.  We know all too well that there is a sensitive quick in the nail and clipping it can cause bleeding and pain for the dog.  Well friends, I have news for you.  If you look at your hound’s foot you can easily spot the quick even on black nails.  

Once you know where the quick is you make you first cut at about 45-60 degrees.  I recommend then making two additional cuts to the side of the nail to make sure you have removed all the overgrowth.  Once this is completed you can file the nail with an emery board or grinding tool.  A rule of thumb for nail length is that you should be able to slide a credit card under the dogs nail while standing   

Most retired racers are well accustomed to nail clipping as this was a regular part of their routine.  However, if your hound is not so cool with the idea of clippers coming close to their toes some positive reinforcement could help.  I find that using a plastic toy stuffed with food will keep a hound busy while clipping.  The clicker could also be used for this.  Creating a positive association with the clipper can be helpful with a lot of dogs.  Remember to channel your inner leader while nail clipping, dog can sense if you are not confident in your skills.  Getting you and your hound accustom to nail clipping can take some time but well worth the effort!

I hope that this has been helpful to you and you now ready to clip you hound’s nails with confidence!