Q There are so many people selling dogs. How do I decide who to buy from?
A Here are some guidelines to help you decide.
1) Research who you are buying from. Do they have a reputation for treating people fairly and honestly?
2) Are they selling well bred pups or backyard breeding? On the NGA website you will find the latest sire standings. Check to see where the stud dog is in the standings. See what type of race dog the mother (Dam) was. Both Rosnet and Greyhound Starting Box have searchable datebases. Take advantage of these tools to see the racing lines of the female and her littermates. If she already has pups at the racetrack, see how they are doing. Remember having one nice pup isn’t enough. You want a dam that produces a good all around litter, not just one star and 5 dogs that have been placed for adoption.
3) Make sure the pups that he/she sells race at the major tracks. This is the only way you will make money.
Here is what Gary Guccione, executive director of the NGA had to say on this subject "The nature of the business, being a high risk venture, makes it easy for unscrupulous people to take advantage of beginners. There is no law broken when someone sells a slow dog."
Do your homework and you will avoid a potential disaster!!
Q What does the price include?
A The price for your dog(s) includes boarding, schooling, training, vet bills (worming, shots), collars, leads, muzzles, shipping and management.
Q Are there any other costs?
A Your only costs would be agency fees, such as registration of your dog and your racing license.
Q How much do I get when my dog wins?
A The owner gets 35% of the commission earned in everyday racing and 50% in stake races. The owner earns commission when the dog finishes first through fourth.
Q Why only 35%?
A The kennel retains 65% of the commission. This covers the expenses, such as: feeding, vet bills, trainer's salary, kennel help, kennel rent, utilities, supplies, transportation, etc.
Q How often do I get paid?
A Most tracks now have direct payment. This means the track pays you on a weekly basis. Most kennels pay every two weeks or monthly.
Q Does every greyhound make the racetrack?
A No. Like any business, you are taking a financial risk. As a new owner, you should fully understand the hazards before investing. A devastating injury before a greyhound reaches the track is not common; it does happen about 5% of the time. Also, some just don't live up to their genetic potential.
Q What's the difference between a big track and a small track?
A The big tracks are those that do the most handle which means the commission is higher. However, the competition is tough. Some dogs need to race at small tracks. These slower greyhounds need to run at tracks where the competition is not as tough and, as a result, the commission is lower.
Q Can I name my pup?
A Yes. Before your pup is ready to leave the farm for the race track, you will submit to us your three chosen names. They must not be longer than 16 letters (including spaces). Names previously used in the past decade or in poor taste will be rejected. At the appropriate time we will submit your names to the National Greyhound Association, the sport's Registry located in Abilene, Kansas.
Q What age do greyhounds begin and end their careers?
A At 12 months old the pups start their training. It takes about 5 or 6 months to fully train them. At 17 or 18 months old they are ready to head to the race track. It takes another 5 to 7 weeks to get them used to their new environment. They then must officially school and qualify to race at the track. To qualify the greyhound must finish fourth or better in an official schooling race. Then they can start their racing career. They are allowed to compete until 5 years of age (and in some states beyond that), though the average retirement age is around 4.
Q What happens when my greyhound is no longer able to race?
A If you happen to be lucky enough to own one of the few superstar male dogs, you have a potential stud dog. If you have a female that had a nice career, she can be used as brood stock. D&D Greyhounds recommends you breed only those greyhounds that have run consistently in Grade A at a major racetrack.
If you choose to breed, we will help you in selecting a board farm. Once the greyhound retires, you are responsible for any expenses to ship, board and any breeding costs, should you decide to breed. If you do not wish to breed your dog, you can take it home as a pet or make a request to us to put the dog up for adoption through respected agencies who find loving homes for the retired racers.
Greyhounds in general love children of all ages and can get along with many other kinds of household pets. Please call us for information on adoption and placement for your greyhounds. Greyhounds make wonderful pets!
Q Who picks the dog? or "Does D&D pick/draw the dog for you?
A The answer is NO!, you pick what dog you want. This is done one of two ways: 1) YOU pick what tattoo letter YOU want or 2) YOU can visit the farm and YOU pick the pup.