The greyhound is usually checked by a veterinarian prior to commencing pre-training to ensure that it is free from injury. The greyhound’s diet will be changed to a racing-type diet which is usually higher in fat and energy, but changed gradually to avoid digestive upsets.

The first weeks

The first weeks of pre-training concentrate on increasing the aerobic fitness of the greyhound, so there is plenty of free galloping exercise, along with some trips to the slipping track. Many trainers use ‘competition runs’ which are long runs side by side which encourage the greyhounds to ‘fence run’ - chase each other along the fence up and down.

The aim of these first two weeks is to increase the greyhound’s fitness and muscle tone, and to bring it to a suitable racing weight. Knowing what race weight the greyhound should be is a skill that comes with experience. Greyhounds at a race weight are typically quite lean. The greyhound will be losing fat but gaining muscle at this stage, so consider the weight in conjunction with the look and feel of its body.

From this point on, keep a training record for the greyhound which records its weekly weight, fitness regime, diet, and the details of every track run it takes.

Introducing track runs

As long as the greyhound is progressing in terms of its fitness, a few short runs can be introduced, usually on a straight track for the first few times. Runs should ideally be scheduled about 5-7 days apart, with the greyhound getting rested in between and taking account of any signs of injury. It should still have free-galloping exercise but will not run any trials on its “days off’, giving the greyhound’s body time to recover after each hard run.

If possible, take the greyhound back to the track where it was educated and give it a short run (about 300m), loading it into the starting boxes from the front again. The aim is to refresh the greyhound’s mind about its previous education. After that the greyhound can be introduced to a different track and loaded into the box from behind.

The greyhound should receive a thorough physical check over after every run, and anything unusual should be checked by a veterinarian. Running a greyhound when it is sore or injured will make the injury worse, and teach the dog that running at the track hurts.

Increasing the workload

If the greyhound has managed to run successfully over 300 metres several times and has pulled up well after the run, consider increasing the distance to 400-450 metres. This is done gradually, and should not be done if the greyhound is showing no signs of improvement at the distance it is currently running.

Deciding when to race

Consider formal trials that have smaller fields but are run under race conditions, to give training greyhounds an experience that is as close as possible to the events of a normal race meeting.

As the greyhound continues to trial competitively and recovers well after each run without injury or soreness, it will be increasingly ready to race. Nominate the greyhound for a maiden race over a suitable distance determined by its performance during training.

Generally, young greyhounds are not suited to distance racing. However, if a greyhound is ‘slow’ over 400-500 metres but is running on strongly at the end, it may be worth trialling it over a longer distance to check if the dog is a possible long-distance ‘stayer’.

Greyhounds must be named before they can be nominated for a race. The naming and clearance process can take several weeks, and the application for naming must be accompanied by a vaccination certificate showing that the greyhound received a C5 vaccination at 12 months of age.

Race-training

Race training is the maintenance of all the pre-training a greyhound receives. It includes maintaining the fitness required for racing, entering the greyhound in suitable races, and keeping the sport fun and interesting for the greyhound.

Racing schedule

Most greyhounds are raced approximately once a week. If the greyhound is free from injury and suitably conditioned, it may be able to run a little more regularly at a level similar to the frequency of training. Of course, racing is more strenuous and has the added stresses of kennelling, travel and racing at unusual hours of the day. All of this can affect a greyhound’s ability to race and recover, and hence affects the interval between races that is necessary to ensure the greyhound is presented in top form.

If the greyhound is racing once every 4-5 days, it does not really need much additional exercise apart from some free galloping in between starts to maintain condition.

If the greyhound does not recover well from a race or is unwell for other reasons, then it should be allowed to recover fully before being raced again. Time off for injury or illness will affect its overall fitness level, and it may be necessary to bring the greyhound back into work gradually until its fitness level returns to that prior to the time off.

It is not uncommon for a racing greyhound to reach its peak form several months into full training/racing. After this, some greyhounds will taper off and may need a break from racing to restore mental and physical freshness.

Greyhound form

Trainers should watch and monitor their greyhound’s performance at each race. A few minor changes may increase its chances of winning, such as a small change to its racing weight or a different distance or track.

If a greyhound has suddenly lost ability, have it checked thoroughly by a greyhound veterinarian. If the greyhound has no underlying illness, injury or dietary deficiency and is trailing well but is not doing well in races, then consider moving to a track where the form is not so strong.

Picking the right track, distance and company to ensure the greyhound has the best chances of success, and making any necessary minor changes to its schedule to ensure it is presented in peak condition, free from injury and soreness, are skills that come with experience. Good trainers pay close attention to all small details, responding to the individual needs of each greyhound rather than treating them all the same.