Hey everyone names mitch im 18 and iv joined this forum because i am very interested in owning my own greyhound and racing it buy i dnt really know how to start.

i was wondering if anyone could give me a run down n chronological order of how i would go about this starting from me buying a pup?

with things such as breaking and rearing and stuff like that cause i have no idea what any of this means.

thank you id really appreciate it

Mitch

check out website justgreyhounds excellent site for choosing a greyhound,as for the other stuff head to the track and speak to the local trainers.

First thing to do is to read up on it, there are many handy greyhound books (use the Australian version as the overseas would be using different methods to us Ozzies) visit a lot of farms, have a chat to the rearers/trainers in your local area.

That way, you would get a lot more help than asking on an internet forum as it's much more practical seeing and hearing it in person from these rearers/trainers, and also handling a greyhound so you know what their personality are like. They're certainly not like pet dogs! lol they don't sit, stay, beg or fetch sticks/newspapers ;-)

Plus it's so easy to teach a pup bad habits, that they will never make it to the racetrack, if spoilt too much, or not handled enough, or not wormed properly, or not galloped enough or not galloped properly on the right surface (pups being reared in dusty yards with hard ground, are less likely to make it to the track without chronic injuries) etc etc

So the best place to start off with is to SPEAK with rearers/trainers in person. And pick up a rule book from your local greyhound racing authority, some forms as well for licensing costs of being an owner, handler, costs of naming a pup, etc etc

I reckon all young people should start with getting an older greyhound, that is ready to race/or already racing, have it with a good trainer, as this is the best way to learn quickly and gain all the information you want about the sport, because you will be at the track watching your dog racing and talking to other owners/trainers and making heaps of new friends!

Pups are sort of like an investment, you would have to spend a lot of money and you won't see any results for a fair while and there's always the risk after you've outlaid the purchase price, paid for rearing up to 12-14 months, paid around $300-350 for a month's breaking in costs, paid for the vaccination, naming and then for pre training (which can cost about $70 to $100 a week for as long as the pre trainer thinks necessary) and then you find out the pup isn't good enough to win a maiden.

Unless you're a pretty well off guy in permanent employment, now you can see just how expensive it is to get started with a young pup ;-) (unless of course you go the syndication route, which is pretty cheap and a whole more fun!)

Good luck in your pursuit! Hope you will keep us updated with how you are going.

Lily is on the money with our first go in the dogs should be a young one racing or very close to racing because the fact that going via buying a pup puts your % of it making the track a lot lower down and its a good way to make you think whats the point of being in the dogs and wanting to get out if your first pup doesnt make it. It can be very disheartening but that is the way it goes - Not all pups make it to the track and those that do we can hope are little superstars.

Least if you buy a young one you can get plenty of enjoyment on the track, an in that time learn more about the dogs with the trainer, to which that trainer can probably help and give you a better understanding of what you may want to look for when buying another race dog, or puppy.

Because your new to the sport also you wouldnt know how to look thru a pups damline to find the better traits, better performed dogs etc.

Just remember the #1 rule to buying - Greyhounds are like buses, theres always going to be another one there so dont just jump and buy the first one ya see cause there will be more for sale. Be happy with your purchase.