OBJECTIVE: To ensure that greyhounds are bred in a safe and responsible manner, resulting in healthy greyhounds and puppies.

Suitability for breeding

4.1 Participants must obtain from a veterinarian a written certification that a greyhound is fit to breed before the greyhound may be registered for breeding.

4.2 Participants must not allow breeding between greyhounds that are closely related to each other, such as father-daughter, mother-son, or brother-sister. Second degree matings (for example, grandfather and granddaughter) are not recommended without appropriate prior expert advice.

4.3 A greyhound must not be involved in breeding if it has been diagnosed by a veterinarian as having a heritable disease or defect, or there is a reason to believe that the greyhound has a heritable disease or defect.

4.4 Where a greyhound is suspected of having a heritable disease or defect, the participant must seek veterinary advice to:

• diagnose the disease or defect and provide any required treatment;
• protect the on-going welfare of the affected greyhound;
• prevent further propagation of the heritable disease or defect in the greyhound population.

4.5 Neither male nor female greyhounds are to be registered for breeding before they are at least 18 months of age.

4.6 A female greyhound must not be caused or allowed to have more than two litters in any 18-month period.

4.7 A female greyhound must not be caused or allowed to have more than three litters, without the prior approval of the Commission.

Natural mating

4.8 Natural mating pairs must be physically separated from other greyhounds.

4.9 If the female greyhound is being unduly harassed by the male greyhound, they must be separated immediately.

4.10 A male greyhound must not be put with more than one female at any one time for the purpose of natural mating.

4.11 After mating, both greyhounds must be physically separated, assessed for signs of injury, and veterinary treatment provided if necessary.

4.12 Dog breeding stands must not be used in mating. Artificial insemination

4.13 Artificial insemination must only be conducted by a veterinarian or a registered artificial insemination technician.

4.14 Surgical artificial insemination can only be performed by a veterinarian using general anaesthetic, with appropriate pain relief during and post-surgery.

Whelping

4.15 A whelping box or other suitable whelping area must be available to a whelping greyhound at least seven days before her estimated whelping date. The whelping box or other suitable whelping area must be clean, safe, quiet, and separated from other greyhounds.

4.16 After whelping is complete, the dam and her puppies must be closely monitored to ensure the puppies are feeding normally and maternal acceptance has been firmly established.

4.17 The whelping area must be cleaned and disinfected within 24 hours of the completion of whelping.

Lactating

4.18 Dams must be examined twice a day for mastitis during the first two weeks post-whelp, and veterinary treatment sought where mastitis is present.

4.19 Participants must seek veterinary advice in relation to any puppies which are not feeding properly, or do not gain weight.

Puppies

4.20 Unless directed by a veterinarian, puppies must not be sold, leased or otherwise transferred before eight weeks of age.

Note: Participants who keep retired greyhounds are required to comply only with those standards marked “R” in relation to those greyhounds.