Greyhound racing is a particular type of racing in which greyhound dogs take part in a race that takes place on a racecourse similar to that of a horse race. In this breed, greyhounds are made to chase prey, which is usually an artificial hare or rabbit. The dogs try to catch their prey in competition with each other and the first to cross the line is declared the winner.
There are several countries that do professional greyhound racing. In some countries, the event is held just for fun. In the United States of America, there are certain states where greyhound racing is prohibited and in some states it is conducted professionally; the word professional here refers to the way the greyhound is trained to complete the race.
Most of the time in the US, pet owners will turn their Greyhound over to a trainer about two to three weeks before a major race. During this important period, the trainer will teach the skills necessary for the greyhound to complete the race. You will be taken around the track, to get used to the surroundings. During this training period, trainers must follow the guidelines provided by the American Gray Hound Association.
The American Greyhound Association provides a guide that instructors should follow without deviating from it. The instructions include what food the greyhound should be given and the type of training the greyhound should be given. There have been reports of trainers and owners overloading the Greyhound by providing excessive training. Therefore, the AGA conducts frequent audits where the greyhound is kept to find out if the dog has been abused. The AGA has been providing this service as animal welfare organizations frequently complained about the greyhounds’ poor health.
During the days prior to the day of the race, the greyhound must remain in the kennels near the racecourse. In the case of non-professional races, where this event is carried out as a recreational activity, the owner takes care of the dog himself and does not hire the services of a professional trainer. In these amateur races there is no money involved. In such casual races, there is no need for the dog to stay near the racecourse and there are no rules governing such casual races.