Greyhound clubs and tracks are located all over NSW, so participants often travel long distances to attend race meetings. Successful greyhounds may be taken interstate to contest the bigger ‘Group’ races, and be transported by air to avoid long road trips.

There will also be regular travel to the trial track, veterinary clinic or the slipping/training track. To perform well, greyhounds should arrive at their destination in the same condition they left home in, not dehydrated, stressed or injured.

The NSW Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice includes minimum standards that participants must meet to ensure that greyhounds are transported safely, and the GWIC Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy includes additional requirements for transporting greyhounds in hot weather.

Types of transport

The family car or van is often used to transport a small number of greyhounds - one or two - but is not suitable for larger numbers of dogs as cars rarely have facilities to keep dogs separated from each other or from other passengers. Greyhounds MUST NOT be transported in a sedan car boot or on the open tray of a vehicle or trailer.

Transporting larger numbers of greyhounds safely will require a dog trailer which attaches to the car tow-bar. Trailers may have 2 or 3 berths up to about 10 berths, separated by wire mesh. The size of the berths, and trailer width and features may vary. Trailers usually have two doors – an outside, lockable door, and an inside wire door.

Comfort and safety

Greyhounds are quite thin-skinned and, at racing weight, do not have much excess body fat as ‘padding’. Travelling greyhounds will need enough clean, dry and thick bedding to protect them from bumps and jolts and insulate them against heat from the road (especially in trailers with metal floors) or from the cold. Layers of towels or blankets may be safer than foam style bedding. The bedding in a float or trailer should be thicker than bedding used inside a car, due to the greater ‘bounce’ of the ride.

Each greyhound must have enough space during transport to sit, lie down, turn around and stand in a natural position without contacting overhead structures. Adult greyhounds must be physically separated or individually enclosed by a compartment or cage, and safety restrained to avoid distracting the driver or injuring themselves or occupants in an accident. Collars and leads must not cause any discomfort or injury.

If trailers or vehicles are used as temporary housing for greyhounds when away overnight, greyhounds must be given regular opportunities to stretch their legs and relieve themselves. Vehicles and trailers must not be used as on-going (i.e. more than two days) housing for greyhounds.

Temperature and humidity

Greyhounds require roughly the same temperature range as people. They can tolerate short periods where the temperature moves outside their comfort range, but exposure to long periods of excessively hot or cold weather is very stressful for them.

The normal air temperature of a greyhound’s environment should be between 23 - 30°C. Temperatures outside this range will require greyhounds to expend extra energy, and risk dehydration or hypothermia.

Greyhounds cool themselves mainly by panting. This requires good air flow to keep moving the moisture away. Any increase in humidity, such as being in an enclosed car, can adversely affect their ability to cool themselves.

Potential indicators of heat stress in greyhounds are dehydration, panting, skin feeling warm, fast heart rate and pulse, drooling, red gums, muscle tremors and seizures. If you think a greyhound is suffering from heat stress, seek veterinary treatment at the nearest possible location.

In hot weather and longer trips, the greyhound may suffer some dehydration unless provided with adequate drinking water during the trip. Be careful giving greyhounds electrolytes, as they contain salt and may actually dehydrate the dog. Take a supply of water with you, rather than relying on water at rest stops.

Greyhounds have naturally thin coats and are sensitive to cold. If travelling in cold weather, greyhounds require warm bedding and participants should carry sufficient dog coats for rugging greyhounds if they show signs of cold stress.

Signs of hypothermia (extreme cold stress) include shivering, cold skin to touch, slow heart rate and pulse, pale gums, or non-responsive (coma). Seek veterinary treatment at the nearest possible location if you think a greyhound is suffering cold stress.

Rest stops

Allow adequate time for rest stops. The NSW Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice requires at least every three hours to allow greyhounds to drink and toilet, and stopping every two hours is advisable.

In warm weather, try to pull up in a shaded area so that the vehicle does not heat up. In colder weather, keep the greyhound warm and dry wherever possible.

Greyhounds should not be left unattended in a stationary vehicle or trailer for any longer than 20 minutes. In hot weather, greyhounds should not be left unattended in a stationary vehicle or trailer for more than 5 minutes – or even less if it is very hot. Remember: if the car or trailer is too hot for a person, it will be too hot for a greyhound – and dogs get dehydrated more quickly than humans.

GWIC’s Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy prohibits greyhounds being left in vehicles unattended during race meetings or trials. Trailers can be used as temporary housing for greyhounds for short periods (for example, when attending a racing carnival) but greyhounds must be provided with water and regular breaks.

If travelling with young greyhounds, rest stops need to be more frequent. Younger dogs are less reliable toilet-wise, and it is better to have a couple of extra stops than to have to clean up a wet or dirtied bed. Most dogs do not choose to mess their own bed, but there is little they can do to avoid it if they have been confined for too long.

Local councils have by-laws about removal of dog waste, so it is important that to carry a supply of plastic bags and pick up after the greyhounds.

Poor travellers

Many greyhounds take a while to get used to travelling, and anxious greyhounds can find travel stressful. Greyhounds should be introduced to travel at a young age through short trips with a pleasant outcome such as a walk or run at a slipping track. If the greyhound only associates travel with an unpleasant consequence (a painful veterinary procedure or rough rides causing vomiting), it will learn to anticipate bad things and become stressed.

Some greyhounds get motion sickness which may prevent them from racing at their best, or predispose them to injury. Badly affected greyhounds may need medical intervention to help them relax during travel, but some of the medications will return a positive swab if used in a racing greyhound. Ask a veterinarian about the various options for poor travellers.

Travelling and racing in hot weather

The Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy describes the management of race meetings and trials in hot weather. Race meetings will be cancelled if the temperature at the track is forecast to exceed 38°C, or exceeds 38°C during the meeting. GRNSW makes efforts to re-schedule meetings that are cancelled, so it is important to watch its website for announcements.

Extra precautions should be taken with greyhounds when travelling to and from the track on hot days. If hot weather is forecast and trainers wish to avoid travelling, greyhounds can be scratched without penalty where the temperature is forecast to reach 32°C or higher, although note that trainers must scratch ALL greyhounds they have nominated for that meeting.